리틀팍스

It was Saturday morning. Jael was staring into a book near the middle of the staircase in her pajamas. Mike was just finishing his craft project from school. He stretched, and walked out of his room for breakfast. Then, he spotted Jael on the middle of the stairs.

"Hey, don't block the way." he complained to his sister.

"No. I'm doing my thirty-minute book-read, so I'm not suppose to move a centimeter from how I'm sitting here right now." Jael snapped. Mike glanced at the clock.

"It's already 11:55. When did you start?"

"Just now," Jael shrugged, and turned her back to Mike once more.

"What? Then, are you going to sit here until lunchtime?"

"Yup,"

Mike shook his head to himself and stepped right over his sister, wobbling dangerously on the steps. He almost stamped on Downy's tail.

"Sorry, boy!" Mike cried, scooping up the ferret. Just then Mrs. Robbins shouted from the kitchen, "Kids! Don't you want a plum cheese pie? It's today's breakfast!"

"YES!" shouted Mike back. Then a live object dashed past him and down the stairs. It was Jael.

"Hey!" he yelled again. "What happened to your thirty-minute book-read?" then he angrily put down the ferret and ran down the steps after his sister.

"So, Jael," said Mrs. Robbins when everyone was seated on the table. "Do you still want to quit art lessons?"

"Needless to ask," was what Jael muttered under her breath. Outwardly, she put on a cheerful face and said, "No, thanks, Mom. I'm sure I can practice on my own."

Mrs. Robbins nodded. "You have talent, so I trust you. But the problem is your brother," she agreed, glancing toward Mike.

"That's what you think. Mike is natural at every sport he tries!" Jael shouted, nodding at her brother. They gave each other a thumbs-up under the table.

Mrs. Robbins put down her fork on her dish. The clashing sound made the twins' ears strain to what she'll say.

"I want to be supportive to your dreams, but...you've got talents that doesn't go along with them. Darlings, you're old enough to choose a job that you're good at." was what Mrs. Robbins said very seriously. Jael jabbed the table with her fork, and a piece of cheese plum pie barely slid down Mike's throat.

Thankfully, Jael had just finished her pie. "Let me think about that, Mom. But it's saturday! I'll go play by the swing." she said as she slammed her fork down-hard enough for the table to rattle and Mike's dish almost fell off-and scurried up the stairs.

"Didn't she just say she was going to play by the swing?" Mrs. Robbins sounded skeptical. "I'll go check it out. Leave my pie alone!" Mike shouted and bolted up the stairs also to check on his sister. Then he poked his head the view the kitchen and said, "I hope Jael is not up to something ridiculous."

'Too bad!' thought Mike to himself. 'Jael always does something ridiculously brilliant.'

When Mike flung open the door to Jael's bedroom, she was not there. After a short search, he found her in their parents' bedroom. Paintbrushes and paint cans were spread all over the available floor found. Horrified at what his sister had done, Mike mouthed,

"What ARE you thinking? Get out of here, ASAP!"

Jael squinted and cocked her head. She didn't seem to know what Mike was trying so hard to tell.

"What on earth on you doing in HERE?" Mike almost shouted, glaring at Jael. "Do you really want to paint?" she asked suddenly. Mike became confused and speechless. He did like to draw and paint a lot, but paintbrushes and sharp colored penciled were all Jael's, who took away all his talent for drawing, so he nodded.

"Well, I'd cherish the moment I fence, but Mom wouldn't let me buy any fencing equipment!" complained Jael. That was true.

"Put on your bathing suits and meet me by the swing. We are going to paint and fence," she concluded, turning back to her work. Mike was reluctant to do what Jael wanted him to do. When they were young, Mike was always being dragged by his sister, and was always considered as a younger brother. And now that they became eleven...things were 'just the same'.

"Agreed..." said Mike in a muffled voice. Jael wanted to scream, "Thanks, bro!" and give him a whole-hearted hug. Mike was independent, and the case of Mike going along with her plan so easily, was rare. Usually, the twins would have a 'serious' talk forever before deciding upon or against something. And that usually led to a fight!