Rays of Hope chapter 9: early birds make a big mess

Muhaha, lo' and behold it's chapter 9 XD I told you I had it mostly finished. Though I bet you didn't expect me to be this fast now did you ^.^ All I can say now is enjoy (P.S. what happens in this story is based on a true story in my surroundings)

7 o'clock in the morning and all was quiet in the lair. The members of the little rag-tag family were still asleep. It was too early for anyone to be awake. But even though it was too early, someone was awake.

Little Hope couldn't sleep though she didn't know why. She had been woken up by something, but now she couldn't figure out by what. The little kunoichi in training lay on her back, staring at the ceiling and cursing her luck. Suddenly, her stomach grumbled and Hope realised that this was what had woken her up. She was hungry but there wouldn't be any breakfast until 8.30.

A few fruitless attempts to sleep later had Hope up and about. She decided that she was a big girl now and big girls made their own breakfast. Hope wandered into the kitchen area.

She was glad that master Splinter always left on a little light to prevent thirsty little children from crashing into something. It didn't take her too long to find the small, shabby cupboard where they stored the food they found. A quick glance inside told her that there wasn't much left to eat and Hope decided to just make food for everyone. She'd be turning 5 next week and if she could do ninjutsu than she could do this. Hope grabbed some food and turned to the table.

First she figured that she'd get some cereal for her brothers;

She found four bowls and she filled them with the flakes. She took one of the flakes and put it in her mouth, it was a bit stale but still edible. Some close-to-date milk was found in the taped-together refrigerator. She poured it into the bowls, accidentally spilling a little. Hope grabbed a towel and attempted to clean it. She leaned over the table, her hand sought for balance and landed in one of the bowls, tipping it over. The milk and cereal spilled on the table. Startled, she froze and she listened for any sounds from her family. All remained silent and she let out a sigh of relief. She picked up the spilled cereal with her hands and she put it back in the bowl. For Raph she thought. She poured some new milk in the bowl and she figured that she'd clean up after she was finished.

Second she looked for some food for herself. Her eager hands landed on a pack of crackers. She returned to the refrigerator. There she found some leftovers from a big baby shower in one of those fancy hotels. Hotels often threw out leftover food and the small family lived from those leftovers. She noticed that they still had some cheese spread left.

Third she went to find something for her father. He was the most difficult. Master Splinter loved chocolate spread, oddly enough. Hope grabbed a blunt knife from the drawer and she spread the choco on the slice of bread she found. She somehow managed to spread the choco over both her hands and face before she finished covering the bread with it. Hope put the knife on the table, leaving a thick, brown chocolate-stain on it. She scratched her head as she thought about what she had to do next. Hehe, making food is easy. Now… what to do next…. Oh I know!

Hope went trough another shabby cupboard and she pulled out six plastic cups. They were a little worse for wear but as long as they didn't leak…. She went to the tap and turned it on, filling the cups with water. Her tiny hands grabbed two cups and she went to put it on the table. However, she didn't notice that some of the milk she spilled earlier had formed a puddle on the floor. Hope slipped on the milk and fell backwards. Her back collided with the rackety kitchen counter, making it quake. The other cups had been standing relatively close to the edge of the counter and as it began to quake they toppled over. Hope sat in a daze on the ground when four cups hit her head and she was drenched in cold water. Blue eyes glared at nothing from underneath wet, white hair. She stood up, careful not to slip again, and she refilled the cups.

Hope took breakfast to the living room. She just finished setting the table to the best of her abilities when she heard master Splinter call her name.

'Hope?'

'Over here master Splinter!'

She did not know the time because she could not read the clock yet but she knew that master Splinter had gone to wake them up, just like he did every morning.

'Now what are you doing over here?'

Master Splinter walked into the living room.

'I made breakfast.'

The four-year-old beamed up at him, obviously very proud at her accomplishment. His gaze went from the table to his daughter. He took in her drenched appearance, the chocolate stains in her hair, on her hands and on her face and the milk stains in her clothes. She must've seen the weary look on his face because her face fell.

'Well done my daughter, you are a very big girl now.'

She grinned at him and she went to sit at the table, waiting for her brothers. One-by-one her brothers filtered into the living room. The four went to join their father and sister and they dug in. The small family ate in silence until Raph started gagging.

'Eww, Raph. What are you doing?'

'Mweaugh.'

Raph pulled a hair out of his mouth, a look of disgust on his face.

'Hope, what the heck did you put in here.'

'Raphael! Mind your language!'

'I didn't do nothing Raph!'

'I didn't do anything, my child'

'I didn't do anything Raph. How should I know why you eat hair?'

He looked like he was ready to retort but a look of master Splinter made him fall silent.

After breakfast, Splinter send his children off to play and relax before training. He cleared the table and carried the dishes to the kitchen. The moment he walked into the kitchen area he had a shock. Everywhere was water, chocolate spread, milk and other 'reminders' of Hope's little breakfast adventure. He sighed and he vowed to keep his daughter away from the stove for a very, very long time lest she'd set the lair on fire.

Well.. not much to say. Thank you all for sticking around even though I'm so slow. Please review :) and stay tuned. (Losing Hope chapter 3 is almost finished)