Disclaimer: Well nope, I don't own Holes. Again, I'm just a pathetic wanna-be writer. So hah!

A/N: Thank you all! You love me! Well not really, but oh well. Read and Review pwease?

Riley- Hey! You would really wish that creulty on poor lil' him? Oh well, I might just do that. You haven't seen the last of his mother! Dun Dunn DUNNN!

Stefani-Heya chicka babe! Remember next time you get on please sign out of my sn! but thanks anyways! Love ya lots! muah

Well on with the third chapter "Of Early Mornings"...

A week or two after my mom left, I woke up from my slumber on a crisp, fresh Saturday morning. I didn't really want to wake up, so I just stayed under the dark blue blanket with my eyes tightly shut, but once I'm up, I'm up for the day. I don't know why, but I am.

I still hadn't told anyone about my mother coming to visit me. I think they all think that Seth is my dad or something, and maybe they should stay thinking that way though Mariah suspects something is wrong because I've been quieter than usual. I guess it's because I haven't really picked on her.

I rolled over again, trying to get comfortable, but I rolled right off the bed, making a loud thump. A groan of protest escaped my lips as I attempted to snuggle into my pillow, but instead I hit my head on the leg of the side table. I don't know what I was thinking. It must have been my sleep-addled brain because I really had thought I was still in my bed.

By then I'd figured out that today was just not my day.

Anyways, after that incident, I decided bed wasn't safe enough for me today, so I just decided to grab some clothes and take a hot shower. Yes, hot shower, I never tire of hot water after Camp Green Lake. Well that didn't turn out to be a safe decision either. I jammed three of my fingers as I was pulling out clean clothes to wear, that hurt too. Then in the shower, I slipped and fell, that hadn't happened again after the first week out of Camp Green Lake. Hey! No laughing, I was used to dirt as the flooring in the shower at that camp!

Then I managed to somehow get down the stairs without falling, don't know how. I slowly made my way to the kitchen without much except a stubbed toe. What a relief that was! I guess I shouldn't have decided to cook a hot breakfast for myself and Seth because I burnt myself three times.

When that torture was over, I took off out of the door and down the street to Mariah's house. I promised I'd go over there, and, plus, she could always use a wake-up call, right? Instead of going in the traditional way by knocking on her door and waking up her little sister, that little girl is a lighter sleeper than Caveman, I went straight to her window, sliding it up and crawling through.

Her room was decorated with lots of green and blue, with hints of plaid here and there everywhere. Lots of pillows decorated her big bed and amid them was her head that you could barely see. Her small body was hidden under the big, over-stuffed comforter and behind all those pillows. I crept over the dark purple carpet and sat on the edge of her bed, getting comfortable. I leaned over her face, feeling her breath lightly tickle my nose, and yelled, "BOO"! She jerked up at it and hit my head with hers.

I rubbed my face, groaning softly. "Ow!"

"Well, it serves you right!" she said, sticking her tongue out at me. I don't know how, but she never seems to get hurt when we collide and stuff. I wish I knew her secret.

"Good mornin', Mariah," I whispered softly. A sweet smile crossed over her lips and her blue-gray eyes danced with joy. Her dark hair was mussed up, her longish braid starting to come undone. I smiled at her fragile form as she got up, her long t-shirt going down to her slender knees.

"Turn around while I get dressed, AJ," her gentle voice held a velvet command to it that I couldn't help but obey, so I did as she said. A few rustles sounded as I closed my eyes tight, letting her get dressed in peace.

By the time she told me I could turn around again, she was sitting on her bed with her braid over her shoulder as her nimble fingers slowly let it out. I sat down on the foot of the bed, watching her as she started brushing it out.

"So, what have you got planned for today?" I asked her. She was humming softly. I couldn't tell what it was exactly, but I know it was a song that I had heard.

"Watchin' Monica. That's about it." Her tone held a bored air about it as she re-braided her hair slowly and deliberately, not missing a single strand. I'm always amazed at how effecient she was, no matter the job you gave her, she gave it her all and got it done as close to perfect as she could get it. She held reliability around her like a cloak.

"Well, how about I take her, and you, off to the park for the day?" I suggested. Monica wasn't too bad, annoying at the best of times and always playing Twenty Questions, but she didn't understand the concept of there only being twenty to that game. Oh well.

A slow, but vivid, smile crept over her features. I smiled and hugged her, murmuring, "I'll take that as a yes." She nodded and got up, pulling me with her, before making up her bed. Seth always wanted me to follow her example of her being so neat and organized, and of course, her straight-A's.

We left her room and went just down the hall to wake up the smaller and lighter version of Mariah, Monica. Monica's room was full of pastel pink, purple, and yellow. In a way, it kind of creeped me out by all the femininity of it all, but I couldn't show that. The faint ticking of the clock was definate as we creaked across the pink carpet. I don't know why, but Monica's floors always creak and yet Mariah's never do, which I'm glad for or I'd never be able to sneak in.

Well, by the time we crossed the room, Monica had already awoken. She is way too light of a sleeper. She bounced up out of bed, her blonde hair going every which way. I smiled at her energy. Did I mention her hyperness? She can bounce even when she's asleep, I swear.

Mariah got her little sister dressed and ready to go as I fixed them each a bowl of cereal. Don't you love my cooking skills? After they ate, we took off out of the house, only pausing while Mariah locked up the house.

The two sisters only live about a block to the park, so the walk wasn't long. I had Monica up on my shoulders, her small fingers playing through my hair as she giggled. Mariah smiled at the scene as we went into the park, lazily walking up and down the foot paths.

"What makes the sky blue? Why do birdies chirp? What holds the sky up? Will it ever fall down? If so, when? Why aren't you answering me?" Monica bounced on my shoulders, her words bubbling out of the pouty, pink lips that matched her sister's almost identically.

"Monica, stop bouncing. You're hurting AJ. Blue is one of the shortest color wave lengths, so that is why the sky appears blue. Birds chirp to communicate to other birds. Atlas holds up the sky, it's his duty. Only if he messes up will it fall. I just answered you," Mariah said in her quiet voice with all the patience in the world.

"Ooh. How do you know all that, Mariah?" was the next question.

"So I can answer your questions." We all laughed at that one. A few people passed us, but not too many as it was early still and it was a Saturday. Nobody wants to get up early on a Saturday, unless they watch the weekend cartoons.

"I wanna go see the fishies!" The little blonde whined. I grinned and started running for the pond, Mariah following. Monica's giggles bubbled in my ears as we neared the pond.

When we got there, we all noticed there were others there. Someone we probably shouldn't have stumbled upon. Monica pointed at the older girl that was seated upon the bench with the stranger. Mariah caught up to us and followed her sister's arm to gaze at the sight before us.

"Awww! Isn't that your friend Isabel?" There was a hint of conviction in the little girl's voice.

Please Read and Review. Love, DeathSighter