Chapter 2: Things I'll never say
Bart rose up in bed at 1 a.m with a wrenching stomach. He reluctantly lifted the thick blanket with a shiver and started searching for slippers. He didn't like to leave the sleeping lamp on. The only brightness in his room came from the street lights piercing through the curtain. At last he walked on bare feet and decided that it's fine for just a few minutes until he reached the kitchen.
Lisa never came back for dinner that day. Homer came back telling them that she had a sleep-over.
Indeed a good thing. Bart thought. He wouldn't have to do that stupid apology thing that he promised his mother in the morning.
"What have we here? An idiot walking on bare feet in the middle of winter?"
Speaking of the devil, she popped out right in the kitchen, brewing coffee.
"Damn it... Butt out! You're supposed to be at Sara's house. No?"
The top irritating thing for Bart of the Simpsons is to be occasionally mocked by Liza in a better-than-thou way. And the worst thing is that her mocking always has to make sense.
"I forgot tomorrow's Chemistry lab report at home so she dropped me in a moment ago."
"Oh?..."- Is all he responded.
For now Bart's main concern is to quickly get a midnight snack before dying from starvation.
"I made a sandwich in the microwave. Take it if you want to." She said, as if she was reading his mind.
"And... you'll catch a cold in no time if you don't put on some slippers." At last she dropped her empty coffee cup into the sink and turned around.
Bart stared at his sister for a few seconds with eyebrows shot halfway up his forehead. She pretended not to notice and walked past him. He suddenly thought about the apology promise.
Wait a second. He's swayed for a sandwich? Na-ah! That just sounds stupid.
"Hey Liz...Look, I..."
Bart heard himself muttering. He can't believe what he's about to say but it doesn't feel as bad as he thought.
"I'm sorry."
Did he say it?
No. Liza did.
Impossible. He must be hearing things. She will never say that to him. Not if he hasn't done it first. She hates being wrong.
"I'm sorry Bart..." She repeated, as if to confirm it "...for what I said this morning."
The little sister promptly strode away, leaving him in utter disbelief.
It's gonna be a long winter night...