"Mo-om" the voice drawled out the name before a silent pause
Sam grinned and shook her head, before opening the bedroom door as she got dressed
"Yes dear?" she called back in reply
"I can't find my baseball cap, have ya seen it"
"You left it in on the back porch hon"
"Oh yeah right" came back the rushed reply, trailing off
Sam closed the bedroom door once more and smiled at her reflection as she sat back down at her dressing table, before picking up the blusher brush.
"Mo-om" came another muffled yell through the door. About to stand, Sam paused as she heard footsteps bounding up the stairs and her door flew open to reveal her daughter standing half dressed, tousled hair lying about her shoulders.
"What is it Catherine?" she asked as her seven year old approached.
"Will you braid my hair?" asked her daughter, as she leaned on the dresser and picked at the clutter lying a top.
"Course I will, just let me get finished myself" replied Sam, planting a kiss on the blonde head beside her.
"Can I have some make-up on?" asked Catherine settling on the seat next to her mother.
"Yeah, you need something to make you look normal" said a voice from the doorway
"Mo-om" whined Catherine, throwing her brother a disgusted face
"That's enough Jon," said Sam, brushing the blusher brush over her cheeks, before dropping a few short taps on her daughters upturned face
"I was only joking," said the boy, walking in and dropping himself onto the bed
"Did you find your hat?" asked Sam
"Yup" said Jon, holding up an arm with the prized possession in hand
Sam smiled at her ten-year-olds reflection in the mirror as he placed it on his head, before swiping her daughter's eyes with an eye brush.
"Well now, I think that's us nearly ready kiddo" smiled Sam as she looked down at her daughter "Turn around I'll braid you hair. Jon, did you wash your hands"
"Yup"
"And your face"
"Yeah"
"Brush your teeth"
"Yeah mom, I did all that," said Jon exasperated
Sam finished pulling her daughter hair in a braid trailing down her back and fastened it neatly at the bottom.
"Mom, can I have a ribbon in my hair?" asked Catherine
"Sure, but you'll have to go find it, I think it's in the top drawer of your dresser. And get your shoes. Jon go and help your sister"
"Aw mom do I have to"
"Yes you do," said Sam standing "I'll be ready in a moment and then we can get going"
"Fine" sighed Jon standing and following his sister to her room
Within minutes Sam was dressed and pulling on a shoe as she looked through her jewellery case for her earrings.
"Mom, we going yet" said Jon from the doorway
"Mom, can I wear some jewellery" said Catherine from beside him
"We're going now Jon, and Catherine, where's your locket?"
Catherine gave a look of deep thought before spinning around and rushing towards her bedroom once more. Sam found her favoured earrings to compliment the outfit and was fitting them in place when her daughter re-appeared, locket in hand.
"I found it," she said with a smile
Sam smiled and took the necklace from her, before fastening it in place about Catherine's neck.
"There, I think we may now be ready. Let me have a look at you two"
The two children stood side by side as their mothers looked fondly down at them.
"Well I doubt your father will recognise you" smiled Sam
"He will so, cos I'm wearing my locket and Jon's wearing his lucky hat. And he said you're the most beautiful person he's ever known and I don't think he could forget the most beautiful person he's ever known could he"
"Well no I guess not" smiled Sam at her daughters thinking, "Shall we depart my dears. We don't want to keep people waiting do we"