A/N Hey! Thanks as always for reviews. Sorry I haven't updated in a really long time. I just started school. Not fun. Suffered through Senior/Freshmen Ice cream social Friday, only got one measly scoop of ice cream! On a funnier note, the kid I sit next to in math looks like Doogie Howser. Only mentioning this because Max Casella was on that. Because I'm so creative I call him "the Doogie Howser kid." Yeah, so I have less and less time on my hands now, and with swimming starting next week…oh, God……updating will be hard.

Saturday morning and the start of my Labor Day weekend began when the damn sun decided to shine directly through my second floor bedroom onto my face. What did I ever do to the sun? I lay there staring at the ceiling; I had made it through my first week of school without incident and succeeded in getting some friends. Not a bad start. Out of school though I was still completely clueless, I lived in a small housing complex that consisted of maybe 6-9 blocks on the outskirts of Manhattan. (A/N. I made up this place. I don't even think there are such places!) So far, I'd seen absolutely zilch of my neighbors, unless you can count the little boy on the porch of the yellow house next door. He was attempting to jump the steps on a scooter until his father came running out. I groaned, I just couldn't lie in bed any longer, I had to get up. I rolled out from under my comforter, crossed the four feet to my closet and pulled out a pair of pajama pants to pull on. It was just to hot to sleep with pants on, in the summer months I wear a large t-shirt and underwear to bed. I mean, I put on pants before leaving my room so it's not a big deal or anything. Unlike my brother, Tom, who walks around in boxers till 12o'clock.

I wondered downstairs, through the dining room to the kitchen.

"Morning Retard."

Ah, just how I love to start my morning, with Tom sitting at the island, eating cereal in his boxers, he should seriously consider trying a sport that builds muscle.

"Why the hell are you still here? Go to college!" I snapped at him, slamming a bowl down on the counter top.

"I'm going to be a day student." He said a little too cheerfully to me. The worst part of us moving here, Tom, attending NYU can travel between school and home.

"Why can't you stay at the dorms? You don't want to miss that aspect of college life!" I tried weakly. I thought I'd gotten rid of the idiot. Now he's living at home again?

My mother chose that moment to walk in to the kitchen, "Anna, It's great that your brother wants to spend time with us. Don't discourage him."

I rolled my eyes and grabbing the milk from Tom, poured it into my Honey nut Cheerios, a cereal I've been addicted to forever and sat down. Mom was already dressed and ready to head off to an eleven o'clock job interview. I don't understand what my mother does, something to do with Public Relations. We actually moved here because there isn't anything for her profession in Tolland and her old office closed down.

"What time is it?" Tom asked her

"Ten o'clock." She answered, "Time to get moving. You still have to get your textbooks."

"hmmmm." He mumbled around a mouthful of cereal. Yes, I cheered to myself. Tom has to go up to NYU and buy school books today! Idiot for putting it off so long.

The doorbell suddenly rang and Mom put her coffee mug on the counter, rushing to the door which was visible from my position so I leaned a little bit out of my seat to see. Mom opened the door to a woman, who looked to be about her age with dark brown hair.

"Ah, Hello." Mom said opening the door a bit wider.

The woman stepped in and smiled. "Hi. I'm Marie from next door."

Mom positively beamed at her, she'd been worried that we'd moved to an un-social neighborhood, "Rachel."

The two of them shook hands and Marie decided to get to her point, "Are you busy this afternoon?"

Mom shook her head, "No. I don't believe so."
Tom raised his eyebrows at me. I raised mine in return, were we being invited over?

"Wonderful! You should come over for our Labor day cookout!"

Interesting, they had their barbeque on Saturday instead of Monday?

Marie continued, "It's a tradition for the whole neighborhood to get together for a big cookout. This way, everyone can go to their family parties on Monday. It would be wonderful for you to come; we haven't had new people in years."

Mom stared blankly at her, "You fit all nine blocks in your backyard?"

Alright, so it was nine blocks and that was one hell of a good question, especially if their backyard looked anything like ours.

"Oh, No. Half of the neighborhood refuses to come every year; something about the children being too loud." At this point she glanced over Mom's shoulder to see us "I see you have children of your own."

"Tom and Anna."

"Oh, I have five."

Five kids, wow, I thought just Tom was tough. Mom apparently felt the same way.

"You must have a lot more patience than I. What time would be good to come over?"

Marie smiled happily, "Oh, anytime. Most people start showing up around 11."

"Oh," Mom sighed, "I'm afraid we'll have to be late, I have a job interview for eleven and Tom has to buy textbooks for NYU."

"I completely understand. Come over whenever. When should you be back?"

"12:30." Mom glanced at her watch, "I'm so sorry, but I really have to get going now."

Marie nodded and the two women shook hands parting with "I'll see you later then."

Mom walked back into the kitchen, "Isn't this wonderful?" she picked her keys up out of the duck bowl sitting on the island, "Tom, when you finish the cereal drive over to Greenwich and get your books. Anna, when your father decides to come downstairs, tell him that we're going to a cookout."

I nodded and Tom ignored Mom completely, I knew he didn't want to go Greenwich and NYU to get books. I seriously question Tom's ability to read. I've never seen him even looking at a book. How he even got into college is beyond me, and He hasn't even thought about what to major in. Knowing him, he'll pick something stupid and completely pointless.

Mom left, shortly followed by Tom fifteen minutes later. I wandered upstairs, figured since I took a shower last night; it'd be ridiculous to take one now, so I slammed my bedroom door and faced the closet. After a decision of 'grab whatever I touch first." I walked downstairs in a jean shorts and my New England Swimming Regionals t-shirt. I found myself back in the kitchen sitting at the island drinking orange juice, telling Dad that we have an appointment with the neighbors this afternoon.

"Bet your mother was happy." He said biting into a piece of toast.

"She was ecstatic." I mimicked my mother's voice, "We have such social neighbors. Now, Anna, see what comes out of being social. Be a butterfly Anna dear, you'll get nowhere in life glaring. Positive thoughts!"

Dad laughed at me, I loved his laugh, he held nothing back. "Don't let her hear you doing that."

I grinned, "She'd just be thrilled that I actually remembered what she'd told me."

He smirked, "Most likely."

We sunk into silence, him eating toast with strawberry jam and me studying him. My father was of average height, it was my guess that he would actually stand smaller than Skittery or Jack. He still had a full head of Auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes, Skittery had been right, I looked nothing like my mother with her sandy blonde hair and pale blue eyes, Tom had taken more after her. Dad was currently working as a substitute teacher and was trying to get a full time position.

He looked up at me, "I found a position at the elementary school."

"That's great Dad," I said grinning at him, "which one?"

"It's the one three streets over from Duane. Most of the kids at your school also attended it. Pulitzer Elementary. I've got first grade, the teacher unexpectedly left."

I couldn't help but laugh, the idea of my father running around controlling little first graders cracked me up. How many men do you know that teach a grade level below fourth? Most of my male teachers were in High School, except for the one in fifth grade.

Dad it would appear did not find it nearly as amusing, he threw his toast crust at me. I ducked it and waved as I strolled out of the kitchen and upstairs to check my e-mail and wait until I was dragged next door to be a social butterfly. Something, I am not looking forward to.