"No, Brock. I've seen her before, that Crystal."said Lily. "She's just a good for nothing snob. She loves to throw it in your face, too. I haven't seen one person who likes her, except her aunt, and maybe, some of the rich folks who consider her a well-bred young lady. She is quite an actress."
"I think she's all right."said Brock.
"Wait till you see how wrong you are. She'll be up any minute now. Luckily, she always bathes when she gets up, so you have time to prepare her breakfast, meanwhile, I should go and clean up her bedroom when she gets out of bed."
"And what should I cook for her, do you know?"
"Um…"Lily thought. "Oh, I guess anything will do."
"Right, then I should make…blueberry pancakes."
"Oh, she'll love them, hopefully. And she only eats black raspberry jam, no other kind, remember that, because she can tell. And seedless, too, I think."
"Right."
Brock got straight to work. He made sure he did his best to impress Crystal.
"Your breakfast, Ms.Crystal."he said, as he brought it into the dining room.
"That's nice."she said, as she put down the magazine she was reading.
She looked up.
"It looks just delightful."she exclaimed.
Brock noticed that Crystal was like his brothers and sister in the fact that she didn't talk much when she was eating, and it was clear that she enjoyed the food.
"Very good."she said, as she finished. "I may just have to extend my stay here, even if it is just for the food. Though, I will not get such good coffee as I do back home."
"Coffee?"
"Oh, yes. The girl, Petra, makes the best coffee."she said, earnestly.
"Oh, it's not a very common drink here, but I'll find it for you, if it's something you like."he said.
"I certainly hope you will."she got up. "What's that sound?"she asked.
"Which one?"
"I was sure I heard kids arguing. I hate kids. They give you such bad headaches. I never plan to have any myself. It only shows my good sense."
"Right."said Brock uncertainly, as Crystal got up and left.
"That ought to teach you a lesson."said Lily, as he walked into the kitchen.
"What?"
"What else, but the fact that that Crystal didn't pay the slightest attention to you. She only sees you as a servant, no more."
"Well, in a way, I am a servant, aren't I?"said Brock.
"You know what I mean."
"She seemed all right. Not snobby. More like…my family. At least, where the food is concerned."
"Maybe the food, but nothing else."
Brock began to wash the dishes, as he said to his siblings, "Didn't I tell you to be quiet? Why did I hear you from almost clear across the hall?"
"Billy took my doll."said Suzie.
"Billy, give Suzie her doll, and no more arguing, please. We could have been in quite a bit of trouble this morning."
"Why?"
"I already said that Ms.Crystal Balmaceda is not fond of noise. She doesn't like to be where there is a lot of noise. She likes the quiet."Brock explained.
"I was quiet."said Cindy.
Brock smiled at her.
"You should all behave a little more like Cindy in that respect. Now, please, I want no more noise. At least while we're here, once we get to the gym, there everyone can laugh and play as loud as they like, but while we're here, we should all be quiet, all right? Promise?"
"Yes, Brock."they replied.
Brock hoped they would keep their promise. Perhaps his own future could depend on that one small promise.