3

Timberley Johanssen skipped rope on the sidewalk in front of her house. "Cinderella dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss a fella! Made a mistake and kissed a snake! How many doctors did…HEY!" The little girl screamed as a flood of water came rushing down on her head. Giggling came from the second story window.

"That's not funny! I'm telling! MOMMMM!" She yelled as she ran in the house.

Upstairs, Jamie-O and Sid slapped five. "That was great!" Sid said, grinning from ear to ear. "I've always wanted a cool big brother!"

"Trust me, Kid." Jamie-O slapped his back. "I'm as cool as they come!" He grabbed Sid and gave him a noogie.

"Jamie-O, time to do the laundry! Let's go!" Mr. Johanssen called up the stairs.

"Now you'll find out the coolest part of being a big brother!" Jamie-O's smile changed. It became less cool and more sadistic. "You get to do all my chores!"

"What?" Sid's eyes got big. "How is that cool?"

"I didn't say who it was cool for."

"But…" Sid protested.

"Move it Kid!" Jamie-O pointed to the door. Sid gulped and slunk out of the room. "He's not so cool." He muttered.

"And later, you can help me practice for my wrestling meet!" Sid ground his teeth.

"Darn!"

"Wow!" Harold cried, opening the door to Phoebe's room. "Look how big it is in here! Bwahaha!" He ran around, looking from window to window. "Hello people!" He called to passersby in the street. "Look at me! I'm in a big room!"

The large boy flopped on Phoebe's bed. POP! Air rushed out of the mattress as it slowly sunk to the floor.

"Whoops."

Mr. Hyerdahl opened the door, looking very unhappy. "Hi, Mr. Phoebe's Dad! Say, you wouldn't happen to have another mattress would you?"

"Young man, what is this I found in your back pack?" He thrust a piece of paper at Harold.

"It's my math test."

"It's an F!" Mr. Hyerdahl crossed his arms. "In this household, F is unacceptable! You must try harder!"

"Ok, I will!" Harold closed his eyes and relaxed.

"No, I mean now, Harold! We must get your grade up if you are to go to university!"

"University?" Harold blinked. "What's that?"

Mr. Hyerdahl sighed and rolled his eyes. "It is a very big college where you will study science, medicine or law!"

"But I want to be a butcher!"

"And with these grades you will be! Now let's go!"

"Aw, gee!" Harold climbed out off the flat mattress and slunk out the door.

"And remember!" Called Mr. Hyerdahl. "Posture!"

"Aw!"

Phoebe adjusted her paper hat. "Are you ready to help me prepare this chicken, Phoebe?" Asked Mr. Green.

"I'm sure it will be an educational experience to remember!"

"Yeah, yeah." Mr. Green gestured towards the raw poultry on the counter. "Now that I've plucked it and cut it head off, it's time to remove the insides."

Phoebe made a squeaking sound. "You mean, its internal organs?"

"Yeah, its insides." Mr. Green handed her gloves. "All you gotta do is reach inside and pull."

Phoebe felt her stomach retch. "Me? Sir, while I enjoy certain medical dramas, actually touching the organs is quite different…"

"Oh come on! Just do it!" Mr. Green grabbed Phoebe's hand and shoved it inside the bird.

Phoebe became pale. "Oh my…"

"See it's easy!" Phoebe's eyes rolled back on her head and she slunk onto the floor, the chicken still on her hand. "Phoebe? Phoebe? Aw, great."

Lila slurped her soup. "My, Mrs. Gamelthorp, this gumbo is ever so tasty!"

"Thank you, Darling!" Curly's mom patted her head. "I always wanted a sweet little girl!"

Mr. Gamelthorp finished his soup and pushed the bowl aside. "Ah, another fine meal, Meredith!"

"Mrs. Gamelthorp," Chirped Lila. "I would be ever so happy to help you with the dishes!"

"Isn't she just precious?" Mrs. Gamelthorp grabbed Lila in a crushing bear hug. "Ooh, I just want to eat her up!"

"Don't worry about dishes, Lila." Mr. Gamelthorp winked at his wife. "We can do that later. Right now, we have our own little tradition." Mrs. Gamelthorp got up and went to the kitchen cupboard.

"Oh, what is that?"

"On the first of the month, every month, after dinner, we have haircuts!" Mrs. Gamelthorp pulled out a white ceramic bowl.

"A haircut?" Lila said in surprise. "But I am ever so certain that I do not need a haircut! I just had one…"

Mrs. Gamelthorp placed the bowl on the girl's head. "Now, Honey, you don't want to mess with tradition, do you?"

"Well, no but…" Mr. Gamelthorp plugged an electric razor into the wall.

"Don't worry, Sweetheart! This won't hurt a bit!"