I start out the day with chores, chores, chores, my dad says “its to make you a more independent person”. Why does my sister not have chores? I think that it’s because she’s my parents favorite. I sit in my beanbag chair and start reading my Greek mythology book. Have I Mentioned I’m fond of Greek mythology. “Hon” my mom calls. “It’s time for dinner”. Great dinner where we have enchiladas that I don’t even like and my sister knows that. That’s why she choses enchiladas. I stumble downstairs. “I don’t like enchiladas” I grumble. “Well you can always try something new,” my mom says. New? Ok this is just weird we have enchiladas every night so i don’t know what makes it “new”. “I’ll make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich” I say walking into our nice and clean kitchen because I cleaned it. Can we have lime jello for dessert? My sister asks. Sure mrs. Bunny, my dad says. Bunny is what my dad calls my sister whose real name is Mallory but my parents don’t like it because it doesn’t show how independent and courageous she is. I make myself a sandwich and take a bite. “Ew” I say and spit out the bite. What happened? Uh I spit in it earlier Mallory says. Oooooh isn’t that cute mom says. “Mallory” I say a little annoyed. Why did you have to spit in my dinner? She shrugs. I’m only five. But she’s independent, my dad says. Mallory smiles bits of turkey were stuck to her teeth. I walk up to her and spit in her dinner. Hey! She screams but not all that loud actually. My mom looks up Joshua k. Smith go to your room right now and no dessert for you. I shrug this always happens. I wish I were Poseidon’s son. I could march up to the ocean and live with him in his water castle. I sit down and start doing my math homework. I’m in fourth grade so i guess it’s a little easy: 467+723=1,190 see what I mean or maybe I just have a thing with numbers I don’t know.

Ok good morning. I didn’t know that today I was going to do something I would regret for the rest of my life. I walk downstairs and Luke is already waiting for me. Pause pause. Thank you. I want to describe Luke first. Okay Luke has slick black hair that is combed well. He has light blue eyes that makes him attractive. He wears a white shirt sometimes with words on it sometimes without words on it he would wear a blue sweatshirt and he had a English accent. Luke smiled. I made you some sliders. But usually I have sausage and eggs for breakfast. I usually pause without burgers. Luke chuckles I know but my mum just taught me this recipe. I want to see if they’re scrumptious. Okay I’ll eat I say. It’s just something about his chuckle that makes you want you to do what he wants. I take a bite of the slider. This is incredible. I tell Luke I’ll take it. Then Luke does something unexpected his smile washes off his face nah you should eat it here he says. Oh okay I say. I may know why he did that and I took one more bite. Lets goooooo. I call. Come along Luke says. We get outside and do what we always do when we go to school. We hook our arms around each other’s arms. And skip saying in English accents: “ whaddya do?” Whaddya do? Until we crack up. today that was at the lake Luke would start snorting as a sign he couldn’t go further without laughing. Then we would both crack up. We started walking normal to school. You like school? Luke asks me. This catches me off guard, I uhhhh I 

stammer Er yeah I like school. Luke nods of course he says he nods again then mutters of course again. Are uh you Er okay? I ask. Luke looks at me oh yeah sure I’m fine he says. Okay and your fine. Here’s one thing: Luke is a tearable lire and so right now I am 99% sure that he’s lying about being fine. I give Luke the look. Luke turns to look at me wha? He asks. Somethings wrong and I know that so spill your guts, I say. Nothings wrong Luke says. Really? I ask. I know I shouldn’t be pushing him but I mean what harm can it do? Okay fine Luke says Jose is going to a boarding school in Santa rica. Now I feel bad Jose is Luke’s twin brother. I understand Jose is up to no good sometimes but seriously a boarding school in Santa rica? Mum says it’s for the good Luke says. then mutters it’s a military school. A military school? Even though Jose is up to no good sometimes doesn’t mean you send him to a military school. Luke continues walking toward school and then there it is the beautiful school. We walk to class 101. Kids are high-fiving luke. When we get there, surprise! Luke’s mom ms. Warmwater is waiting. Hi hon ms. Warmwater says to luke. Mum? Luke asks. Your normal teacher got sick so I decided to be your teacher for now also I want to keep an eye on Jose Ms. Warm water says. Hi Ms. Warmwater I say. It’s after school mistake time. My mom usually picks me and lukeks up but it turns out she’s late so Joshua K. Smith runs across the street and runs past all the houses. Joshua k. Smith what are you doing? My mom’s voice booms across the street. I pause uh oh I’m in big trouble. My mom storms across the street and stops in front of me. I uhh I was just going to uh I give her my big brown eyes. You are grounded, young man my mom says(explaining what happens or mom’s reaction)I walk with Luke behind my mom. You’re not the only one upset Luke says sadly. I nodded, grounded. I kick a stone on the ground. I look up. Mallory is humming and skipping and mom is smiling at her while holding her hand. Mallory is sucking a lollipop. Hey Mallory gets a lollipop? I say. Well she didn’t try to run away like you. So what you’re saying is you have a lollipop in your pocket that would’ve been for me if I didn’t run? I ask. Um yeah I guess. My mom stammers. I sigh as I’m walkin, home by myself. You can’t do that your grounded Mallory says. Mom nods your sisters right my mom says. Of course smart little Mallory is right, right, right, right. We reach the house in your room my mom says.

It’s a day after that happened now I’m sitting in my room and I’m still grounded. I should do something I think to myself. I walk downstairs to the mom I call. My mom appears in the doorway. Uhhhh I would like some… Er independence. Sure you can have independence hon. Really like you guys being nicer? I ask hopefully. Sure why not hon my mom says. I smile thanks mom. No problem hon oh and here’s your lollipop. I grin and walk to my room. 

Joshua has an upset friend and an upset himself. His sister as the favorite gets anything she wants and her nickname seems to be quite annoying Joshua only wants freedom. What more would a kid his age want. Joshua solves the problem by getting in trouble but getting back up again and asking his parents for a little help with his freedom.