Chapter Text
“We should go out tonight.” Sarah told her twin brother, David, as they sat together on the floor of their childhood bedroom that they shared with their little brother Les who was already asleep on the bottom bunk of his and David’s bunk-bed.
David put down the old picture book he had been reading with Les; The novelty of having Sarah and David back at home hadn’t worn off on the little boy yet and the ten year old was happy to be babied by his big sister and brother.
“...But we’re having SO much fun.” David whispered sarcastically, waving the book at her.
Sarah and David were twenty-two years old. They had finished college and soon they hoped to be moving into an apartment with their best friend, Katherine. But for now they had agreed to spend the summer at home and they were wondering how they had ever managed to fit into the tiny apartment before they went away for college.
“Kath invited us out.” Sarah shrugged, looking at her phone.
“You mean she invited you out.” David smiled, raising his eyebrows,“You both know I don’t like going out.”
“Well I thought you might like to come along!” Sarah reasoned, walking to the other side of the curtain that divided the small bedroom into two; Les and David’s side, with the bunk beds and Sarah’s side;a loft bed with a small desk crammed underneath it and a small built-in wardrobe with a door that didn't shut properly.
“Are you really going out?” David asked her tiredly, looking at his watch “It’s….Nine thirty.” he mumbled, defeated. “...I hear you laughing.” he accused when his sister poked her head through the curtain and grinned at him.
“We’re going out. Come on, get changed. Let’s go see our friends!” She begged.
David groaned but nonetheless he stood up and pulled out a suitcase from under his bed to find something nice to wear while Sarah rushed between the bedroom and the bathroom as she got ready.
“Where are you going? Can I come?” Les mumbled sleepily, blinking awake and sitting up in bed.
“Go back to sleep, Leshem.” David said gently as he put on his favourite shirt: Blue and white gingham…He smiled down at it.
It reminded him a little of Dorothy’s dress from The Wizard of Oz: when she arrives in Oz and everything changes and becomes bright and colourful.
Les got out of the bottom bunk and quickly climbed up the ladder to the top bunk where he usually slept.
“Can I come next time?” the little boy asked hopefully in a whisper: loud enough for Sarah to hear.
“Yes and you can drive.” David teased, standing on the bottom rung of the ladder to reach up to tuck him in.
Sarah and David had been twelve when Les was born and they loved being older siblings. They had been so involved in raising him and taking care of him that sometimes they felt like parents. Especially after their father had been in an accident five years ago. It meant a lot of practical things to do with raising and looking after Les, who at the time was five, were left to David and Sarah.
“You need to get a car first!” Les teased.
“Katherine lets us borrow her car.” David told him.
"Will she let me drive her car?" Les asked seriously.
"No point having a car in New York." Sarah commented, walking back through the curtain and doing a pose to show off her outfit.
"You look nice!" Les complimented.
"Thank you, my heart." Sarah beamed.
Les grinned, showing off the gap in his teeth where his baby teeth had fallen out but the grown-up teeth hadn't come through yet.
“Ready?” Sarah whispered to David as she rushed over to hug their baby brother who was giggling.
David grabbed his phone that was almost done charging, his wallet and keys then nodded.
“Curfew. Be back before midnight.” Their mother told them as they tried to leave the apartment without saying goodbye to their parents: Not easily done because they had to walk through the kitchen/living room to get to the door, unless they left through the fire escape. Something they didn’t want to encourage Les to do if he saw them.
“We are not Cinderella!” Sarah protested.
David gave his sister a look as if to say This is the best deal we will get.
“You both be back home by…one?” their father reasoned from his place sitting in a chair in the cramped living room. His leg stretched out in front of him resting on a foot stool and his right arm folded across his body, unmoving. Though he lifted his left arm slightly and Sarah rushed over to meet his hug.
“Thank you, Aba.” she smiled, sitting beside him and kissing him on the cheek, then she stood and gave their mother a hug, wishing them both a good night.
David hung back leaning against the wall.
“Look after her.” Ester warned her son, pointing at him almost accusingly.
“I think she’ll be looking after me.” David replied quickly with cheeky grin.
Their father chuckled but Esther gave David a serious look.
“Yes, Ima.” David nodded, looking down at the floor.
The twins left quickly and once outside they began messaging Katherine who they would be meeting soon.