Max whistled. "She ate Dad's pudding cup…that's brave."
Emily set it down and looked around. "Nice place! Oh! What's this do?" She ran over to the TV and pushed the power button. The screen went blank.
"Uh oh," she said nervously. "I didn't break it, did I?"
"No, that's the power button," Justin said, pushing it again. "See? It turns it on and off."
"What is it?"
"A televison," Max said in a "no duh" tone. "Geez where have they lcoked you up all these years?"
Emily frowned. "Hmm…the orphanage I'm guessing. Home for the orphans."
Jerry looked around. "Uh, well," he said. "Seeing as you will be staying with us for awhile I think we should introduce ourselves. I'm Jerry, this is Justin, Alex and Max."
"Wow you all have boy names!" Emily said. Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" she said. "Did you just call my name a boy name?"
"I love it! I wish I had a name that could go two ways. My name is so…girly." Emily shudddered.
Justin snickered. "Boy name." He nudged Max and they began to laugh.
"Hey! Don't laugh at her!" Emily said. "She has an awesome name! Levitadis!" Suddenly, a wand was in Emily's hand and the boys were ten feet off the ground.
"Hey!" Max cried. "Put us down!" He strugggled to reach for the counter.
"Uh, Emily," Jerry said, reaching over to take the wand away. The boys fell to the ground with a loud thud. "We don't use magic in this house…"
"Why?" she asked arrogantly.
"Because I'm no longer a wizard and only one of my kids will keep their powers when they grow up so they can't get used to using it."
"Oh, problem solved," she answered, taking her wand back. "I'm not your child so I'm good! Where do I stay?"
"Nice, bratty and smart. I like this one," Alex said, giving the girl a hug.
Emily stared at her. "Why are you touching me?"
"It's called a hug," Max said.
"Hug…hug…" Emily stared off into space. "Huh?"
"Dang no TV and no love? That's bunk," Max shook his head.
"What happened to your family?" Alex asked.
"Who knows and who cares? Wait…isn't there usual a women also living in a home?" Emily looked around, then at Alex. "Unless your it."
"NO!" all four shouted.
"Our mom's downstairs in our sandwich shop," Justin filled in. "We better go tell her about….you."
"Oh, I love sandwhiches!" Emily said. "Especially when the cook gives us day old bread. There's hardly any mold on those ones."
The Russo's exchanged a glance. "Dad," Max said. "Maybe we should show her a real sandwich."
"I'll do it," Alex disagreed, taking the girls hand and towing her to the stairs. "If you make one, it'll give her food poisoning."
"Oh I get that every other week. No biggie." Emily smiled charmingly.
Downstairs in the sandwhich shop, Jerry took Teresa off to speak with her and Emily sat on one of the stools.
"Okay, what do you want on it?" Alex asked. "Do you like turkey?"
"Yes! We had a pet one in our room!" Emily grinned.
"Uh…"
"But then Thanksgiving came around," she added sadly. "Poor Mildred."
"Turkey it is, then," Alex placed the meat on the sandwich. "Tomato?"
"Oh, I had that once. Yes, please!"
"Mustard?"
"Pardon?"
"Here, taste it," Alex squirted some onto the girls finger.
Emily put it in her mouth. "Yum!"
"Okay, mustard. Lettace?"
"Is it a week old?"
"No."
"Then yes."
Just then Harper came into the shop. "Hey Alex, ready to hit the mall?" she asked, not noticing Emily.
"Oh sure! Let me finish this sandwich for Emily and I'll be with you in a second," Alex piled more stuff onto the sandwich and pushed it at Emily. "Enjoy."
"Where are you going, Alex?" Emily asked quietly.
"Who is this?" Harper asked.
"I'm-"
"She's my cousin. Excuse me a second. Emily, come."
Emily followed her adoptive older sister. "What?"
"We need to keep the magic a secret. And pretend I'm your cousin, all right?" Alex handed her five bucks. "Deal?"
"Add another five and let me come with you and you gotta deal."
"Fine," Alex sighed and handed it too her. "Okay, come on Harper."
"I'm her cousin!" Emily piped up.
Harper smiled at the twelve year old. "How cute, Alex. Looks like Max has another person to play with."
Max happened to be walking by just then. He and Emily eyed each other, then answered in unison.
"No."