Chapter 4 "You Have No Idea"
Strong sunlight forced Michaela awake the next morning. As soon as she got up to the attic, she went to sleep. She didn't hear Ruthie or Lucy come in and wasn't even sure if they had, maybe she scared them? The thought made her laugh happily. As she got dressed, she wondered what havoc she could wreak that day. Sunday held a world of possibilities....
On her way downstairs, she ran into Annie, who smiled cautiously at Michaela, "Hi, sweetie, I was just coming to get you."
"For what?" Michaela searched her brain for what it could be.
Annie's smile faltered even more, "For church, of course."
Uh-oh. Church hadn't even occurred to her. Fact was, Michaela didn't believe in organized religion and didn't intend on going to any church, especially not the Camden's mystery one.
"Um, Mom", her mouth choked on the word as she posed the question many many viewers were asking, "What religion are we?"
Annie's face contorted in an inhuman way, "What are you talking about? You know."
Michaela smiled slightly, "Refresh my memory".
Annie threw her hands up, "This is ridiculous. Just go eat breakfast."
"You don't know, do you?" She grinned.
"Of course I do. Honestly, I don't know what is wrong with you lately. First your outbursts with Matt and us, now the questions".
"Questions you can't answer."
Annie twisted her face even further and Michaela inwardly wondered how it was possible, "Look, we are trying to be patient with you, but if you aren't careful, you'll be on restriction."
She rolled her eyes, "Grounded! Everyone in the world but you says grounded! What is with this "restriction"? Are you too good to use the normal word? Do "sinners" use it or something?!"
The older woman gasped and grabbed her chest, "How can you speak to me this way?"
"Easier than you might think. Anyway, it doesn't matter, I'm not going to church." She began to walk away but her "mother" stopped her.
"What?????" She looked so horrified, one would think Michaela had just suggested drinking half a beer.
"I don't believe in organized religion, no matter how ambiguous it is."
"But... But your father is a minister."
"Actually, right now, he's a faithless old man who writes sex novels and stares at the sky a lot. Maybe he should see a minister."
Annie's eyes almost fell out at the "S" word and Michaela sighed, "What? "Adult relations novels" Is that better?"
The eyes came back and narrowed to evil little slits, "You are a minister's daughter! You aren't to say such words and you will go to church!"
The sane girl shook her head slowly, "No, no I won't. What is it with you people? First Matt couldn't get it through his head that he is powerless, then Kevin not admitting the abusiveness, now you and church. I am not going! It's against my beliefs! And don't say anything about mine, you don't even know what yours are!" With that, Michaela stormed off, muttering to herself, "Stupid people who are Christian but never mention Jesus, have a rabbi cover services, idiots".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
She walked into the living room where the twins were playing. And by playing, it is meant that they were taking their toys and banging them against various surfaces. They're gonna break something she thought to herself And, of course, it'll be someone else's fault, hmm, wonder where Ruthie is. They noticed her and looked up, speaking together, "Hi sister". Michaela shivered involuntarily, it was like the scene out of some horror movie. Soon, they'd all find out that the twins were actually possessed by some evil spirit. Or, possibly, God himself, who, being very angry about how the Camdens portrayed Him, decided to smite them all. The idea made her smile contently. Of course, the twin's would be spared, for they were but innocents in the insanity of CamLife. They'd be given to a nice, sane couple and forever forget their time in hell.
She walked closer, "You guys do know that you can talk more, right?"
"Of course we do", one answered independently, surprising Michaela, "But it seems to please all those people for us to act like we're mindless drones."
The other, shorter, one nodded in agreement and added, "They aren't the brightest bunch, you know."
"Oh yes, I know", she sighed, "How do you put up with it?"
"Like this", the shorter one said and threw something at a glass object, shattering it, "Now, when that odd woman comes in, we'll just say whomever we wish to suffer was supposed to be watching us."
The taller one laughed, "Silly people, they'll take the blame and we'll get cookies. Which, of course, we will throw all around the room. It's rather fun, actually."
She smiled at them, "You really are much smarter than you're given credit for."
They answered in unison, "You have no idea."
Annie came running in, "Oh no! What happened? Who was supposed to be here?"
The twins smiled innocently and answered, "Brother Matt."
"MATT!" Annie hollered and went off to find him, leaving the twins right next to a sea of sharp glass.
Sam, David , and Michaela all grinned at each other and began plotting....