Disclaimer: I don't own 7th Heaven.
Vacation Time Blues
"I hate this," Cecilia griped. "It's not fair. This is supposed to be our vacation and here we are working."
"Tell me about it! We've been scrubbing this stupid floor for four hours and it doesn't look any cleaner. In fact, it looks dirtier," Simon glanced over to where Cecilia was polishing. "Didn't I just clean that spot?"
Cecilia shrugged. "There was mud on it."
"I know I scrubbed that exact spot not five minutes ago! How-," That was when Simon caught a glimpse of brown disappearing up the kitchen stairwell. Everything fell into place. "RUTHIE! Get down here!"
Ruthie came down from her hiding spot, trying to keep a straight face. "Yes, dear brother?"
"What did you do to the floor?"
Ruthie smiled innocently, "Why, whatever do you mean, dearest brother?"
"Stop calling me that," Simon snapped.
"Oh, alright. What are you talking about, Simon?"
"Don't play dumb," Simon barked, "We have scrubbed this entire kitchen twelve times over, yet it's not getting any cleaner! And, what's more, I just cleaned by those stairs, again, and there's dirt already there. Why, dear sister?"
Ruthie shrugged.
"Stop it," Simon hollered. This kid was driving him crazy. Why couldn't she be a normal teenage girl who loved shopping and primping and boys? Why'd she get her pleasure out of torturing her siblings, namely him? "I know you're the one putting dirt everywhere. You're not as sneaky as you used to be."
"Not as sneaky as I used to be!" exclaimed Ruthie, "It took you four hours to figure out that anything was even wrong in the first place. Four hours!"
She had a point. Simon hated it when Ruthie had a point. "He sighed, "Just go clean the bathrooms."
"No way. I want to have at least a little fun while you guys are here."
"Ruthie, do those bathrooms shine?"
"Ruthie turned around to face the Colonel, who had somehow magically appeared behind her. She straightened up. "No, sir, they don't."
"Then, About-Face," the Colonel commanded.
Ruthie put her right foot behind her and pivoted, facing the steps.
"I'm glad you've been paying attention to my moves," the Colonel praised. He meant it, too. Ruthie had almost perfected that maneuver.
She, however, didn't see it as such an overwhelming accomplishment. "Yeah, yeah," she muttered.
"Forward March," ordered the Colonel.
As Ruthie headed upstairs, he called, "And, I don't want to see you down here bothering Simon and Cecilia until I've inspected those toilets."
Simon and Cecilia high-fived.
"You two, back to work."
The couple grimaced as they started their task again.
"That's better. Well, I'm off to check on the others," the Colonel exited the room.