So in my last story, I gave my readers the opportunity to vote for what story they wanted next, and I liked a couple of ideas. Unfortunately for me, it was a bloody draw! Anyway, here's the one that won, mostly because I thought it would be the shortest of the options.
Three's A Crowd.
Gilbert walked absently through the grassy field behind his house. It was set to be a fantastic day – the sun was shining, no sign of rain anywhere, he had his fishing net and his mother had packed his favourite sandwiches, and best of all, it was the first day of the summer holidays! He was determined to catch as many frogs and tiddlers as he could at the creek, and if he was certain his mother couldn't see him, he might even go into the field on the other side of the river! That was his mission this summer – to go play somewhere that he couldn't see his house! That was really grown up, that was – Antonio from school got to play where-ever he wanted (although he had a really big family, so there was always someone around to watch him).
He reached the creek – the water was clear and fast, and he could see the little fish swishing about in the current. Chucking his net and bucket down, he pulled off his shoes. A rustling in the tree above him caught his attention and he looked up.
"GRARR!"
"WHAAA?!"
A body fell out of the tree, landing squarely on top of him. Shocked, he squealed like a girl as the body fell against him – that really hurt! The body laughed hysterically. Luckily, it wasn't much bigger than he was, decked out in a yellow t-shirt and shorts.
"Why did you do that?!" Gilbert demanded "That's mean! And dangerous!"
"Hm?"
The other kid looked at him – he had big green eyes, his brown hair tied back into a ponytail. He grinned at him mischievously.
"I wanted to hear you squeal." He admitted with a grin "You screamed louder than my little brother!"
"I did not!" Gilbert argued "I only screamed 'cos it hurt!"
"Whoa!"
The boy got right in his face, staring at his eyes and hair.
"Your eyes are red!" he pointed out "That's so cool! How did that happen?"
Gilbert grimaced.
"I was born with them." He pouted "And they aren't cool! The guys at school make fun of me…"
"Those guys are lame." The boy said right away "Your eyes are amazing!"
Gilbert didn't get compliments often, so this made him very happy – despite his abrupt introduction, he was starting to like the boy.
"I'm going fishing." He pointed out "Wanna join me?"
The boy grinned and nodded, finally getting up off him and helping him to his feet.
"Oh, but I only have one net." Gilbert remembered.
"That's okay!" the boy assured "My house if just over there, I'll go get mine – stay here, okay?"
The boy ran right through the creek and into the field on the other side, bolting through it to the houses behind. It felt like it took an eternity for him to reappear, brandishing a bright orange net triumphantly. The two mucked about in the creek until they got hungry, catching all the biggest fish they could find and depositing them safely in their buckets. Gilbert was liking this boy more and more – he could catch frogs with his bare hands! Gilbert liked him so much that he shared his special lunch with him. Sick of fishing, the two played 'it', hide-and-seek and knights-and-dragons, whacking each other with the sticks they found in the field.
At dusk, Gilberts mother appeared out the back gate, calling for him to come in. She was surprised to see him playing with another child, and Gilbert was eager to show off his new friend, pulling him along by the hand.
"…And he catches frogs and can run really fast and climbed trees really high and-"
"Slow down, sweetheart." His mother laughed "Slow down!" she turned to his new friend, leaning down to look him in the eye "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Elizavetta Herdavary." He introduced enthusiastically, holding out his hand "Pleased to meet you!"
His mother looked surprised a moment, then smiled and shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, sweetie." She greeted "I'm Gilberts Mummy. Where do you live?"
"Over there." His friend pointed across the field "In the red house. We just moved in."
"Really? Is it a nice house?"
"Yeah, I have my own room now!" he enthused.
"That's great."
Gilberts mother stood strait, smoothing out the creases in her sensible skirt.
"Does your Mummy mind you being so far away?" she asked "Won't she worry?"
"Mummy's in a grave." He answered bluntly "And Daddy doesn't worry about things like that."
A loud, deep yell echoed over the fields. The kids looked around to see a large man standing on the far side in front of the red house.
"That's Daddy." The boy pointed out "I have to go in now."
"Let's play again tomorrow!" Gilbert insisted.
"Ask your Daddy if you can come over for lunch, okay Lizzie?" his mother offered.
"I will!" the boy assured as he ran off back down the field.
Watching him run away, Gilberts mother brushed her fingers through her sons hair.
"Come on, sweetheart." She said again "Dinner's nearly ready."
"Don't touch them!"
"It's alright, they're fine!"
"You'll break them!"
"Will not!"
The two balanced precariously in the trees branches, admiring the little blue eggs in the nest.
"Such a pretty colour." Lizzie cooed "I wish my bedroom was that colour."
"Well I-WHOA!"
The branch broke under Gilbert, sending him plummeting to the ground, where he landed squarely on his bum.
"You okay?!" Lizzie called.
"Oh yeah." Gilbert groaned "That only hurt a lot."
Lizzie jumped down to him, helping him stand as he fought back the tears.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
"No!" Gilbert insisted, even as the tears rolled down his pained face.
"You wanna go home?"
He nodded, and the two of them headed back to Gilberts house – they were scolded by his Mummy for climbing so high before being given a plate of watermelon and told to go back outside. Lizzies Daddy had said it was okay for him to come over, only so long as it was okay with Gilberts Mummy, so the two of them were together a lot – the boys from school lived too far away for Gilbert to play with them every day like he did Lizzie.
"I like watermelon." Gilbert confessed "But I hate the seeds."
He spat a seed out onto the ground. As he did so, he realised he'd be in really big trouble if his Mummy caught him spitting and spun around to see if she had noticed – luckily her back was still turned, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't tell Mummy I spat!" he urged Lizzie anyway "I'll get in trouble!"
As if in answer, Lizzie spat out his own seed. He laughed triumphantly as it went further before hitting the ground than Gilberts had.
"I totally beat you!" he declared.
"No way!"
Gilbert stuffed a massive bite of watermelon into his mouth, removed the seeds with his tongue and swallowed the rest. He spat them all out, cheering when one landed further away than the rest. Lizzie grimaced – he wouldn't be beat, and soon the two of them were locked in competition. They only stopped when Gilberts Mummy caught them, scolding them for being dirty and giving them both a good clip around the ear.
They ran off into the field, sore but laughing.
"I'm sorry about this." Lizzies Daddy said to Gilberts Mummy "I know how last minute it is."
"It's alright." She assured him "It's not that long ago I was working myself – I remember how unreasonable bosses can be."
"I'll repay you any way I can." He assured, handing Lizzies little brother to her.
"It's alright." She assured again as she took the lad "Just you come back in one piece, Sadik."
Lizzie and his little brother waved goodbye to their Daddy – his mean boss had called him away because of meetings, so the two of them would be staying with Gilbert and his Mummy and Grandpa for a couple of days. Gilbert was super-excited – he had never had a friend sleep over before! Sure, Lizzie came over all the time during that day, but this was different!
"Let's play Mariokart!" Gilbert suggested, grabbing Lizzies hand and dragging him to the living room.
"Gilbert, not so rough!" his Mummy scolded, but the two of them were long gone.
Gilberts Grandpa read the paper in the living room, looking up briefly as the two kids bundled into the room. The boy grabbed up the two controllers and held them out to his friend.
"Green or blue?" he asked.
"Green!" Lizzie chose immediately.
The two played Mariokart for some time that evening. Lizzies little brother Heracles toddled over and sat with them, and they gave him a spare controller (that wasn't plugged into the machine) to play with until Grandpa told them it was time for dinner. They ate sausages with mash potatoes, and after Gilberts Mummy put Heracles to bed, she read the two of them stories until they fell asleep.
"He looks like a monkey."
"He does not!"
"He really does – Heracles looked like a monkey when he was born too."
Gilbert pouted at Lizzie – his little brother did not look like a monkey! Sure, his face was a little scrunchy, but he had just been born!
"Doesn't look like a monkey." He muttered.
"I'm putting you down." Grandpa announced "Old mans arms are getting tired."
He put the kids down in the hospital corridor, and they stood on their tip-toes trying to look back into the room with all the babies to keep looking at Gilberts new brother.
"His eyes are blue." Lizzie pointed out "That's too bad."
"That's good!" Gilbert insisted "He won't get picked on by those jerks now."
"That ain't right!"
"Whassat?"
Lizzie looked at him seriously.
"You're his big brother!" he pointed out "It's your job to make sure no-one picks on him! If they do, you have to beat them up! That's what big brothers are for!"
"Really?"
"Of course!" he insisted "When Heracles comes to school with us, I'll beat up anyone who picks on him!"
"Wow, that's cool… alright!" he agreed triumphantly "By the time he's old enough to go to school, I'm gonna be super strong and great and make sure no one ever picks on him!"
"Hey, keep it down, you two." Grandpa urged, patting them both on the head "The babies are trying to sleep."
They hushed up, peaking into the room again, and Gilbert waved to his baby brother, who he would swear for the rest of his life waved back.
Summer ended all too soon – the sky started getting dark earlier and it was colder during the day. Worst of all, it was time for school to start again. Lizzie was worried because he didn't know anyone, but Gilbert assured him it was going to be fine, because they were friends and he was going to be there too.
Grandpa dropped him off early. He didn't like being back in his itchy uniform, but he was super excited to see his friends again. Francis' Mummy had gotten married, and he hadn't cut his hair since the end of school, and Antonio had gone to stay with his Grandma and gotten super tanned! Gilbert told them all about his monkey-faced little brother and his awesome new friend, and the others were looking forward to meeting him.
Gilbert got a shock when Lizzie finally turned up – he looked thoroughly unhappy, had his hair tied in bunches at either side of his head, and most importantly, was wearing a girls uniform. His Daddy spotted Gilbert and his friends and called them over.
"I have to talk to the head master for a bit." He told the boys "Will you show Lizzie around for me, Gilbert?"
"Yes, sir!" he swore.
They didn't move or say a work until his disappeared into the school building. Gilbert couldn't help but snicker.
"You look stupid in a dress." He pointed out.
"Gilbert!" Francis scolded him.
"I know!" Lizzie protested anyway "I hate dresses! I wanted to wear shorts too, but teacher said I couldn't!"
"Hey, is 'Lizzie' short for 'Elizabetta'?" Antonio asked airily.
"That's close." She admitted "It's Elizavetta, with a 'v'."
"Of course, a pretty girl needs a pretty name." Francis said like it was obvious.
"Whaaaa?!" Gilbert shrieked.
"You trying to pick a fight?!" Lizzie challenged, squaring up to him.
"No no no!" he backed right away, hiding behind Antonio "I hate fighting! I'll get dirty!"
Antonio just laughed while Lizzie looked confused. Gilbert was of course most confused – Lizzie was a girl? But that was impossible! Girls liked pink and dolls and brushing hair and hated frogs and climbing trees and videogames!
The bell rang, calling them all in to start lessons. Gilberts mind was still reeling as Francis and Antonio pulled him inside.
With the return of his friends came the return of the kids that picked on him. As soon as the playtime bell rang, the kid with the spikey haired and the lurch with the glasses had him pinned.
"Hey, rat eyes, how was your summer?" the spikey haired kid asked, poking him in the head "Did you meet any other rats outside of school?"
The lurch with the glasses said nothing, like always. Gilbert looked for an escape, but his friends were nowhere around and the teachers were in the staff room. These kids were bigger than him, and he didn't want to get into a fight on the first day back.
"What's that, rat eyes?" the spikey haired kid challenged, leaning down so they were eye-to-eye "I didn't hear you. Squeak louder!"
He really, really wanted to punch him, especially as he started laughing, but he didn't want to get hit. The spikey haired kid started slapping him 'playfully' on the top of the head.
"Hey!" a voice commanded.
The three looked around – Lizzie squared up to the bullies.
"You leave him alone!" she ordered "Or else!"
The spikey haired boy just laughed, completely dismissing her.
"Go make some daisy chains with the other girls." He quipped.
That was his mistake – Lizzie tackled him immediately, slamming him into the wall in front of him.
"Take that, cockerel head!" she swore, causing the lurch with glasses to snort in laughter.
The spikey haired boy was furious, spinning around quickly to hit her, but Gilbert punched him hard in the chest, causing him to lose his balance and fall down painfully.
Lizzie may be a girl, but she sure fought like a boy. The spikey haired boy was told off the worst when the teachers found them scuffling in the playground, but Lizzie and Gilbert got told off too. His Mummy was very concerned that he had been fighting, but Lizzies Daddy seemed to think it was funny, so he didn't ground her. If anything, Gilbert was told off more by his Mummy for getting Lizzie involved. Lizzie herself was more upset that she hadn't hit the cockerel head harder.
The sun was setting as they sat under the tree by the creek – they wanted to put their feet in the water, but they didn't want to get their feet dirty when they walked back across the field.
"Hey, is Francis a girl?" Lizzie asked Gilbert suddenly.
"It's hard to tell." He admitted "I think he might be."
They both laughed. With yells coming from each side of the field, they bid good night and went in for their tea.
"I'm going to smack you in the head until you get up, Gilbert."
"You're an evil woman."
"Evil and impatient."
"Ow! Ow! Okay, okay!"
14 year-old Gilbert glared at his friend, who wielded her notebook above his head. It was the Easter holidays, why couldn't he sleep in?! Despite their long friendship, he was getting to the age where he was self-conscious about his scrawny frame, and was a little uncomfortable with Lizzie seeing his bare chest.
"Would you mind leaving me alone so I can get dressed?" he asked her.
"You'll go back to sleep." She knew.
"I will not!" he swore.
"You will." came a dissenting voice from the hallway.
They looked around – Luddy wiped his eyes sleepily, dragging his blanket behind him. Seeing her opportunity, Lizzie grabbed him up.
"Luddy, you're such a good boy!" she cooed "Stay here and make sure your brother gets up and I'll make you anything you want for breakfast!"
"Can I have waffles?" the child asked, clearly still half asleep.
"Of course, sweetie!" she swore, putting him down on Gilberts back as he lay on the bed "You take this and hit Gilly with it when he doesn't get up, okay?"
"Okay." Ludwig agreed, taking the notebook.
Lizzie left. Gilbert sighed to himself – didn't girls grow up faster than boys? How was she not awkward about seeing him in his underwear? Luddy smacked him on the head with the notebook.
"Knock that off, Luddy." Gilbert asked.
He smacked him again. With a growl, Gilbert spun around, grabbing his little brother and foisting him onto the bed. Luddy squealed as Gilbert pulled up his pyjama top and planted a planted a series of wet raspberries on his stomach. The boy screamed and laughed hysterically, kicking his legs, but couldn't break free of his brother. Gilbert only stopped when his Grandfather opened the door.
"Don't you and your friends have plans today?" he pointed out "When are you meeting? Hurry up and get dressed."
Free from his brothers grip, Luddy ran off. Gilbert and his friends were going swimming, so he put his swimming shorts on under his jeans, stuffing a spare pair of pants into his sports bag with his towel. His ran his fingers through his still-white hair (the dye hadn't taken, which was a pain) and ran a brush over his teeth before heading downstairs. Lizzie had left her bag by the front door, and was in the kitchen making waffles for Luddy.
"Good morning, mum!" Gilbert greeted the beautiful photograph that sat on the counter by the front door "We're going swimming today! Look after Luddy while I'm out, okay?"
Soon enough, Lizzie reappeared, and Grandpa gave them the usual lecture before letting them head out.
"…And look out for cars." He finished "Just because it's the middle of the day doesn't mean you don't have to be careful."
"We know, Mr Beilschmidt." Lizzie promised.
"Alright then. Where's your brother today?"
"His friends cat had kittens, so he's practically living there for the next week." She revealed with a laugh.
"Sounds about right." Grandpa laughed as well before turning to Gilbert "Enjoy your time with your friends – next time you're taking Ludwig swimming with you. Dinner will be ready at 7. Will you be staying, Elizavetta?"
"If that's okay, sir."
"Ja. Okay, have fun."
"Yes, sir!"
They finally left, jogging down the road.
"And be careful!" Grandpa called after them.
"Yes, sir!" they both called back.
The town of Hetalia wasn't a big place, and was known for its large number of families and low crime levels. The streets were clean and the people were friendly, so the two kids could go about their business with impunity. They met Francis and Antonio at the corner store, where the boys had had the foresight to stock up on drink and snacks.
"What a surprise, only half an hour late!" Francis criticised, crushing his can and throwing it in the trash "You are improving!"
"What's eating him?" Gilbert asked, as being openly confrontational wasn't Francis' style.
"His mother is getting married." Antonio revealed as he handed the two their drinks.
"Again?"
"Any siblings this go round?" Lizzie asked.
"Four of them!" Francis shrieked "Three older, one younger, all boys! I have to share my room!"
"No wonder you're pissed." Gilbert laughed.
"Hey, we've all got brothers." Antonio pointed out "You're one of us now, Francis."
"One of us, one of us." The three chanted together maniacally, freaking Francis right out.
After swimming, the four loitered around town – none of them really had any money, so they lay about shooting the breeze, skipping rocks into the big river in the centre of town and window shopping in the high street.
"But I reeeeaaaally want it." Antonio whined, face pressed up against the turtle tank in the fish shop.
"You can't afford it." Gilbert pointed out.
"But it's so cuuuute."
Lizzie pulled him out so they could continue. Getting tired, they found some steps to loiter on, passing around the leftover drinks and snacks.
"Lizzie, isn't your dad back today?" Antonio remembered.
"Yeah, he should be home by now." She confirmed "He's got a little time off before he has to go back to work."
"What does he do anyway?" Francis asked.
"Something to do with coffee." She knew "I'm not exactly sure what."
"I wish my old man would go away every now and then." Antonio mused "Not forever, you know, just like a week or two. If he did, maybe I wouldn't have to work in the restaurant so much." He turned to Gilbert "Heard from your dad lately?"
Gilbert huffed.
"That waste of space? I haven't heard from him in months. Grandpa might kick his ass if he called."
No one asked Francis about his father – they all knew the answer.
Since Antonio had to pull his weight at the family restaurant, they parted ways before it got late. Francis walked with Lizzie and Gilbert most of the way home, grumbling about his mothers upcoming marriage and having four new brothers. He startled all of a sudden, catching the other attention.
"That's him!" he declared, half way between a whisper and a yell, pointing down the road "The younger one!"
They looked down the road – a scruffy urchin glared at them from around the corner, running off before they could get a good look at him.
"Oi!" Francis yelled "Arthur, get back here!"
He ran after the kid, throwing his goodbye over his shoulder. Deciding to take a shortcut, the two of them headed to Lizzies house to cut through the field at the back. As expected, Lizzies fathers big car was in the driveway and the living room light was on.
"Hi Dad!" Lizzie called as they walked in.
"Hey, Sadik!" Gilbert called as well to let him know he was there.
"Hey, kids!" he called back, voice as deep and rich as ever.
They found him sat at the kitchen table, technically still in his suit, but with his tie completely disappeared and every button on his shirt undone. The whole kitchen smelled of coffee as he sat reading the paper.
"How was your trip?" Lizzie asked as she gave her father a hug.
"Hot and boring." He reported as he hugged her back "Your present's on your bed. Is your brother still at that little Japanese boys place?"
"As far as we know." Gilbert admitted.
Sadik took a good look at Gilberts face, smirking in approval with his cigarette between his teeth.
"That shiner healed up nicely." He pointed out "You staying out of trouble, boy?"
"Of course." He assured.
Sadik laughed in a way that stated that he didn't believe him, but didn't really mind.
"I'm eating at Gilberts place today." Lizzie reported as she threw the contents of her swimming bag into the wash.
"That's fine. I didn't feel like cooking anyway."
"Would you like to join us?" Gilbert offered.
"If it's okay with the old man."
"Sure, I don't think he's started yet. I'll go ask."
Lizzie went to leave with Gilbert, but her father grabbed her hand.
"Not you." He ordered "I have something I need to talk to you about."
Lizzie and Gilbert looked between themselves, wondering what they had done that he had heard about.
"You're not in trouble." He promised "I just need to talk to you."
Reluctantly, Gilbert left, and Lizzie took a seat at the kitchen table with her father. He was silent for a moment, staring at her face, before putting his cigarette out and taking a swig of coffee.
"I've been thinking lately." He admitted "How would you feel if I got married?"
"Do you even have a girlfriend?" Lizzie asked, because as far as she was aware, her father hadn't even been on a date since her mother died.
"No." he admitted with a laugh "Between work and you kids, who has time for romance?"
"Then what's this bull about getting married?" she laughed.
"Aah, just something people at work have been saying." He admitted "'Girls need a mother', they say. I figured I could raise you alone well enough. I mean, you're alive and got all your limbs, so I can't be doing that badly. But it's been bugging me lately – they say it's obvious you don't have a mother, and it kind of pisses me off."
"Girls at school say the same thing." She admitted "But it doesn't bother me. I like out little family. Besides, the idea of you getting married just so I have a mother is kind of sad."
"You sure you wouldn't like having another woman around?"
"What the hell for?"
Lizzie got up from the table, punching her father playfully on the arm as she left.
"Dinner's at 7!" she reported "Don't be late or Grandpa will tan your hide!"
Sadik just laughed, taking another mouthful of coffee.
"My hand hurts." Gilbert moaned "I have never seen so many potatoes. I think I may never want to see another one, like, ever."
"Stop whining and kill those zombies." Lizzie ordered as she took out a horde herself "You act like you've never peeled a spud before."
"I've never peeled that many before!" Gilbert pointed out "You usually help."
"So get Luddy to help."
"Grandpa won't let him have knives." He reminded her.
"What about those blunt ones your mother used to give us?" she asked.
"Not after the hand-stabbing incident."
Lizzie snorted in laughter as she remembered.
"Oh yeah, I had forgotten."
"And let's not forget the hair-cutting incident!" Gilbert reminded her again as he took out the zombies "Or the setting-the-christmas-tree-on-fire incident, or the shoes-over-the-telephone-wire-incident."
"Is that why Luddys shoes are all Velcro?" Lizzie laughed.
"They're still up there, you know!"
"Ah, stop yakking and kill those bastards!"
The two yelled at the screen and mashed the buttons frantically, Gilbert complaining about his achy hands and Lizzie telling him to stop whining. The level ended, and they settled down at the cutscene.
"So what did your dad want?" Gilbert asked.
"Nothing important." She assured "That whole 'girls need a mother' B.S."
"Been hearing that a lot lately." Gilbert thought.
"I know, it's lame. I got all my limbs. I got a roof over my head and food to eat. If I'm that desperate to talk to a woman I can always talk to Francis' mother. I may not remember my mother, but I remember yours – I'm not deprived. Not at all."
Gilbert paused the game. Something in her tone rung false. Sure enough, she looked a little upset. She pulled a thoughtful face, putting her controller down and looking at Gilbert. She clearly wanted to say something, but was unsure.
"Gilbert…" she started "Am I… pretty?"
"Ha?"
She blushed heavily, looking in the other direction.
"Not that I care!" she assured "It's not like I want a boyfriend or anything. I'm happy the way I am, but…" she sighed "I guess…I'm starting to become aware of how different from the other girls I am. When people compliment other girls it's all 'you're so pretty!', but with me it's like 'you're so strong!'"
"You don't like being strong?" Gilbert asked.
"Of course I do!" she assured "Have you seen these guns? I've got more muscles than you, skinny!"
They both laughed, but Lizzie grew serious again.
"It'd just be… I dunno, nice… if I was pretty too."
Gilbert thought a moment – he didn't know Lizzie thought about things like this – she was undoubtedly the toughest of their little gang, always the first to throw down and the last to run away. Thinking off her as a girl, rather than just, y'know, Lizzie, was a little odd.
"Well, you're a girl." He reasoned "And it's against the law for girls not to be pretty, so you must be."
Elizavetta smirked at him, pulling her 'are you kidding me?' face.
"But anyway, you don't want to be too pretty!" he pointed out "Or else Francis will want to go out with you! Or Worse! You'll start to look like him!"
Lizzie burst out laughing at the thought.
"You're right!" she cried "He is the prettiest girl in town, isn't he?"
They both laughed – Francis had been mistaken for a girl on more than one occasion, and his long hair and frilly clothes certainly didn't help! Lizzie sighed as they stopped laughing.
"Aw, I needed that." She admitted "Thanks, Gil."
"No sweat." He assured "And don't worry about what those other girls say – you're awesome the way you are!"
Lizzie smiled at him, blushing slightly.
"Turn the game off!" Grandpa called from downstairs "You need to bathe Ludwig! It's time Elizavetta went home!"
"Yes, sir!" they chorused.
As they left his bedroom, Gilbert was suddenly struck by inspiration and ran into his mothers bedroom. If Lizzie was worried about not being pretty, well, his mother had been the prettiest woman in the whole world! He rooted around in her dresser drawer a moment.
"Gilly, what are you doing?" she asked, poking her head around the door "Grandpa's gonna get mad!"
"He he'll get mad." He reasoned "Found it!"
"Found what?"
He pulled out his mothers hairclip – it was by the far the very girliest thing in the entire house! It was a bright orange flower cluster made from silk, with delicate little beading in the centre of each. Supposedly, his father had given it to his mother years ago, but Gilbert doubted that prick had ever been so generous. Flicking on the overhead light, Lizzie held very still as he slipped it into her hair.
"Take a look!" he urged, pulling her to the dresser.
She took a look – she was the same as always, of course, but with a thing in her hair. But it was a girly thing, and that was the crux of it. However, it seemed to make her pretty happy, and she fingered it gently.
"Is it really okay for me to have this?" she asked.
"Of course!" Gilbert reasoned "My hair will never be long enough for it."
Lizzie laughed at the thought.
"And I doubt it would suit Grandpa, although his hair is long enough!" he elaborated, causing her to laughed even more "We could put it in Luddy's hair, but he might cry!"
"What's taking you so long?"
Grandpa appeared in the doorway, attracted by the noise – he didn't like the kids going into his daughters room, so they immediately held their breath, thinking they were in for a serious lecture. However, the old man held his tongue, inspecting the scene before him.
"It suits you." Is all he said before proceeding to the bathroom to run Luddys bath.
So, that was a short (long) intro chapter. We get into the story proper next time! Please look forward to it!