It was the first day of school in early September. The weather in the small Texas town was still quite warm even in the early morning hours as Sandy and her brother walked at a lax pace towards the high school where there were both about to start their sophomore year. The leaves on the trees still yet to begin to change despite the random cool breezes that warned of the upcoming fall season.
"Ya got any extra pencils?" Randy casually asked his twin sister as he tried to follow behind her while balancing on a dilapidated garden retaining wall in front of the trailer park they currently called home.
Sandy let out an annoyed sigh as her brother's question. They both had far less school supplies than was generally needed, as aways, and only had any at all because of their church charity program, despite the fact that they almost never made it to service. Calling their family poor would be an understatement. The twin siblings, and only children their parents had, were still using the same backpacks that had been gifted to them 3 years prior. The bottom part of young male squirrels bookbag had been held together by duct tape the past year. Sandy had far more since in taking better care of what little they had then her far more reckless, and seemingly carefree, brother.
"We both got four, Randy. Dat should be more den enough for at least a few months." Sandy responded not bothering to look back at her brother who finally gave up on his balancing act and jumped back down to the gravel sideroad that she was walking on, but now much further ahead of him.
"Well, me and da boys were making some catapult things da other day, and a few broke." Randy spoke fast hoping his sister wouldn't get a word in edgewise. "Ya should'a come Sandy! We were able ta break a few bottles. It was so cool!" Randy grinned but easily showed a bit of regret on his face, as his sister looked back at him with disapproval.
Sandy pulled her pack off her back and dug into the smaller compartment before handing her bother one pencil. "Don't break dis one, Randy." She demanded and then put her bag back on her back and stormed off. Her twin quickly caught up after shoving the pencil in his bag without much thought.
"Why are ya so pissy?!" Randy huffed as he finally caught up with his sister and started to walk by her side. "I thought ya loved school, ya nerd." Randy then laughed to himself at his pathetic tease of his sister, that he was still proud of due his youthful ignorance.
"Ya should take school more serious, Randy." Sandy scolded as she picked up her pace to try to leave her sibling behind. "Da way yer going ya won't graduate on time, and ya can't expect me ta put off muh studies ta help ya all da time!" Sandy groaned while tightening her hands into fists. "I ain't always gonna be able ta save ya!" She shouted back, but was surprised to see her brother quickly pick up his pace and keep a stride to stay beside her once again.
"I know." Randy agreed after catching his breath. "I'm trying, Sandy." Randy shot back. "I got up early, like Ma asked, so we could walk ta school tagether, cause yer crazy and want ta go in early all da time. I'm much rather sleep in a little and come in with Ben, Tray, and Rex, but I'm trying ta do muh part since..." The male squirrel trailed off thinking about how their father was passed out drunk on the couch and unable to drive either of them to school this early, and their mother had only been in bed two hours after her late-night shift at the local bar.
"Thanks." Sandy finally breathed out while looking down at the broken sidewalk, they just stepped up on, on their mile and a half trek to their high school. "Just please try harder dis year ta keep up." Sandy now stopped and looked her brother dead in the eyes.
Randy pushed Sandy playfully as his smile took on a far less amused demeaner. "Uh course." Randy forced a laugh seemingly a bit distort. "We're in dis tagether." He tried to force his smile more but only to have it more obvious he didn't believe what he was saying. "So, after school we're meeting by da flagpole like normal?" Randy asked as he looked down seemingly a bit upset as he now took the lead in their walk to school.
"Sounds good." Sandy sighed not wanting to meet her brother's pace as she could tell he was very upset. He'd gone off on her many times before about how she was the favorite in their family, and leaving him the punching bag. The two twins were very close, besides when that divide came up, and as they got older it was far more apparent... even without her brother speaking on it.
"Alright... see ya later." Randy spoke once the two came up on the school. "Ya got yer voucher for lunch?" Randy asked referring to the fact their family didn't make enough money for them to pay for school lunch. "Ya ain't gonna wow no one hungry." Randy teased.
"I got it. Just make sure ya hold on ta yer own, Randy." Sandy shoved her shoulder into her brother.
"Oh, I am!" Randy finally chimed in happy. "Not like we can ever count on dinner." Randy tried to grin... as his stomach turned in pain from having no breakfast. "Have a good day, sis!" He called out before running off to see if he could get some free, leftover, food in the breakfast area.
"Bye, Randy..." She sighed while walking into the large, yet fairly small, high school building.