Mr. and Mrs. Barret paced around the living room, agitated. It was 5:20 and there was no sign of either of their kids, and they were understandingly displeased. If they had known their kids had nearly died, they still would have been angry.
"I can't believe they stayed out so long in the afternoon of all times," Mr. Barret said. "What could they possibly be doing so late?"
"And Brenda and her parents are coming soon," Mrs. Barret complained. "If David and Janet aren't here then we'll have to entertain them for their stay here."
Th two sat down on the couch and groaned. Immediately afterwards, they heard a knock on the door.
"Oh great, the Collins are here already," Mr. Barret mumbled. "And they came early. Oh well, better invite them in and hide the fact that are kids are missing."
With a groan, Mrs. Barret flung the door open, but lucky for them, it wasn't the Collins, but instead David. He was soaking in the pouring rain, and his school bag was half-open.
"David Barret, you have better have an excellent explanation for not returning to the house in nearly two hours!" Mrs. Barret shouted. "And where's Janet?"
David rubbed the back of his head, nervous, when Janet appeared. "Oh, we have a good explanation alright," She said, revealing an unconscious Sam in her arms.
Their parents gasped in shock. "What happened to him?" Mrs. Barret asked. "He got hit by a truck saving us from death," David explained quickly.
Mrs. Barret pulled on the blue streak in Sam's hair. "Wow, you know what you usually find blue hair on?" He asked her husband.
"You don't think we're really staring at one?" Mr. Barret said in amazement. "You can't be serious," David said in disbelief.
"Yes, the blue streak, the suspicious pattern of his clothing, his eye color," Mrs. Barret said. "Great Heavens, we've found one. We've a mirror person!"
"Oh for the love of..." David said but was cut off by his parents.
"We'll be famous!" Mr. Barret said. "We'll be known as the family that captured a live mirror person!"
"Mom and dad, it's a little boy!" Janet shouted, causing everyone to quiet down. It was rare for Janet to yell at anyone, least of all her family.
"He was hit by a truck and nearly drowned, and you're accusing him of being a mythical creature that may or may not be real?" Janet accused angrily.
Silence filled the room as the three stared at Janet in disbelief. Eventually, however, their dad said, "Well, how about we let our little...'guest' stay over until he heals properly, now should we?"
His wife nodded.
"Besides, I'm sure he'll be in a chipper mood once he's awake," Janet suggested, calming down and regaining her cheerful demeanor.
...
Sam's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurred. He could see the ceiling, but it looked different from the one he was used to. Then he turned his head around and saw two figures.
"Oh, sweet, he's awake," Janet said to David "Hi, little kid!"
Sam's eyes snapped open and in an instant, he jumped up into the air and landed on the ground. The two siblings could here a groan of pain from the other side of the bed.
"Um, are you okay?" David asked.
A hand gripped the covers, and Sam pulled himself up. However, the siblings saw his appearance had been greatly altered. He now had his blonde hair, green eyes, and pale complection.
The two siblings stared in confusion at Sam.
"Well, will you tell me what I'm doing here?" Sam asked, acting like he didn't notice his new appearance.
"Weren't you a brunette a few moments ago?" David asked. "And had blue eyes, and a blue streak, and darker skin?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sam said with a glint in his green eyes. David's eye twitched. "Oh, of course you have an idea what you're talking about," He said.
"The real question is, who are you and why did you abduct me?" Sam asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm Janet Barret, and this is my big brother David Barret," Janet introduced. "And who, may I ask, are you? I've never seen you around here in my life."
"Well I have," David said. "You're that homeless orphan who loiters around in the forest like some creep." Janet elbowed him in the arm.
"So is that why you brought me here?" Sam asked, taking an unsteady step towards them. "You think I'm freaky for not having a home so you decided to kidnap me and give me a home against my will?"
"No, you were hit by a truck and nearly drowned, but I saved you," Janet said.
"You...saved me?" Sam asked, and a look of shock crossed his face. "Yeah, but you were hurt so we had to bring you here to try and nurse you back to health," Janet continued.
Sam retained his uninterested expression and took a few more steps towards the door. "Where do you think you're going," David asked.
"I'm going back to my family," Sam explained. "My brother and sisters should be able to heal me." However, the moment he opened the door, he collapsed onto his knees, groaning in pain.
"You're still injured," Janet said. "There's no way you can get all the way from the neighbourhood to your home, wherever it is?"
"So...you're holding me hostage!" Sam accused, pointing a rigid finger at them. "Well, if you creeps think you can keep me here, I'll...I'll...oh no." He collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
Right at that moment, Mrs. Barret burst into the door. "The Collins are here!"
"Are you kidding me!" David shouted. "No, they are downstairs," Mrs. Barret said. "Make Brenda Collins feel welcome, and get that kid off the floor." With that, she shut the door.
David sighed heavily. "Janet, occupy Sam," He said. "I'll deal with Brenda downstairs and keep her away from both of you."
Janet stared down at Sam, confused. "But you're a boy and he's a boy, and since I'm a girl and Brenda's a girl, shouldn't I be the one to occupy her?" She asked.
"No questions!" David said, and he vanished out the door.
"Um, okay then," Janet said. She glanced at Sam, uncertain. "Oh boy, how am I going to do this?"