The atmosphere was warm, the meal prepared and the family gathered on the table. Malina, despite her Aunt Isha´s request, sat next to her father. He was probably the least inquiring of the individuals. Serving bowls of maize, her mother scattered around the table, rather impulsively, not having been used to acommodate so many.
Across the table sat Mia, Malina´s little sister. Her equally brown wide eyes were hidden underneath black locks which componed her short hair. Though her looks resembled lots of her older sister´s attributes, Mia had more of a rebellious disposition. When Malina saw an opportunity to improve and perfect, Mia saw a chance to bend the rules to her liking. Mia had just started her first year at Kuzco Academy, eagerly waiting to experience the wonders of adolescent debauchery.
¨Mia, I would really appreciate it if you didn´t leave your scrolls on the table we eat. How many times have we told you that this is a house, not your bedroom….¨ her mother scorned, attempting to clean up the pile of homework, love notes, and pencils with one hand.
The teen protested and crossed her arms, not wanting to be told off.
¨Wait, Mom, so you´re telling me that you consider that pig sty a bedroom?¨ Malina yelled from across the table, annoyed at her sister´s disconsideration.
¨Girls…¨ their father warned. It had been the fifth night in a row of sibling rivalry. Their aunts looked back and forth from across the table, following the quarrel.
¨Hey, I´m not the one who obsessively reorganizes her socks every week!¨
Malina was provocked. She stood up from her seat pounding her fists on the table.
¨Yeah, well, it wouldn´t hurt if you had just a little bit more responsability and order!¨
¨Goody-Goody!¨
¨Good for nothing!¨
¨Allright!¨the father interrupted the argument, strectching his hands against his daughters. ¨Enough. You girls need to get along. Mia, you know how much it means to your sister that you act decent around her, considering you may not see her for a very long time…¨
¨Oh yeah, I forgot…¨
Malina crossed her arms in satisfaction. ¨I´m glad you understand.¨
¨…she´s off to boss the world around with Mr. Humble. Are you sure he would not rather make out with a mirror?!¨ She snickered.
¨Dad!¨
¨Mia, I will take of your going-out priviliges if you don´t behave.¨ her father finally stated, glaring at his youngest.
Sticking their tongues out, both girls returned to their seats, reluctantly taking their food. A smaller, plumber woman spoke from a corner.
¨So…did anyone happen to see that llama fall in the mud today? Ha! I haven´t seen a funnier thing since…¨
The room didn´t seem to respond to anything as of now.
¨…I´ll shut up now.¨
Politely, Malina´s mother cut her own piece of stew, aware of any more future interruptions from the table. Having her 5 sisters around, plus her own daughers at odds would usually result in turmoil. Malina ate in silence, having at last, her moment´s peace.
¨So, dearie…¨a gentle voice spoke. ¨…have you and young Kuzco thought about…well, you know…¨
Malina lifted her eyes slowly. Somewhere in the back of her head, she knew what she was bringing up and she wanted to avoid talking about it.
¨No, Aunt Yoli, I don´t know what you mean…Wow, Mom! This is the best llama stew that you´ve made so far. Is that…fresh ground pepper?¨ Malina inconspiciously avoided the question.
¨Of course you know what she´s talking about! When are we going to start seeing more younglings in this family?!¨ Aunt Isha blurted out.
At once, Malina, Mia, and her parents choked on their meals. The idea of kids comino out of Malina was completely unprecedented in the family. Nobody had really thought about it, not even Malina herself.
¨Hehe, I think it´s a little early to think about that, isn´t it?¨her mother responded, maintaining her cheerful attitude.
¨Just when I had just started eating…could you imagine the kids that could come out of those two?! Bossy and arrogant!¨ Mia complained.
¨And besides, Malina is much too young to…¨ her father brought up.
¨THE POINT IS…¨Malina clinched her fists, enraged. ¨…me and Kuzco haven´t really thought about kids right now…¨she coughed ¨we´ll let that happen later.¨
The room was fervently waiting for more of an answer.
¨Well, good luck with that. I´m going to go visit Kiar..¨Mia rose from her seat and casually walked outside the door.
¨No, you won´t. This is important for the family and you will contribute your own part.¨ her mother snapped.