Checking myself once more in the mirror, I threw open my door and raced down the stairs. To my satisfaction, I was the first one in the kitchen. My mom and dad had left a heaping pile of steaming pancakes on the table, with plates and silverware already set out. Smiling, I sat down and helped myself to the top pancake. Just as I put my fork into the first bite, I heard about 10 doors crashing open and all my siblings running in, all dressed untidily and their hair unbrushed. Everyone sat down. And I mean everyone. Beth, Jaime, Jasmine, Matt, Jessica, Hannah, Liz, Joe, Kathleen, Krystal, Lysel, and little Timmy.
"Man, Daina, how you get down here so fast?" said Liz, exasperated.
"Self-discipline, Liz. Beth, can you make sure Timmy gets enough?"
"Sure, Daina," said Beth, the second oldest.
"After we're done here who wants to go down and get the mail, then go swimming in the pond? Its certainly hot enough and we shouldn't stay cooped up inside," I said.
All my siblings cheered and I grinned.
"Allright then, get your swimming stuff, or an old pair of jeans and a dirty shirt and come on!"
The walk down to the mailbox was about three quarters of an hour walk, but I had always enjoyed it. It seemed so peaceful to me, unlike our busy household. As I strolled down the dirt road holding Lysel's hand, with everyone else running ahead. It was only when Lysel tripped and scraped her knee and began to bawl when I had to stop and take her back to the house.
My mom heard her and came up from their office. Her and Dad are the town veterinarians, so my Mom had some blood on her smock. Depositing Lysel ito her arms, and kissing Mom on the cheek I ran back to the pond where my siblings were playing. I saw Jessica sitting on the bank, with the mail in a pile across from her. The day was so hot, and i suddenly had a ton of energy, so without even bothering to put my swim suit one, I took of in a run and jumped into the pond. It felt so refreshing! This pond was so beautiful, in the middle of a lovely glade, with waterfalls all around us. Everyone cheered me on, as I came up from underwater.But Jessica on the shore just scowled at me. Not wanting her to be mad at me I shouted "what do we got in mail today, Jess?"
"Oh! Bills, a letter from Gram, bills, a postcard from Dad's friend in Jamaica, bills, a free cd, bills, and -something for you"
"Cool. My magazine?"
"No, it says from -Hogwarts, wherever that is!"