Sisters

I never said you could borrow my sweater! It’s my favorite one! And now you ruined it! We’re sisters, Caroline, we’re supposed to love each other! But how can I love someone like you? I screamed at my sister. She stole my favorite aqua blue sweater and spilled spaghetti all over the front.

But I’m older, so I can do what I want! Go wash it for me so I can wear it tomorrow! she howled back at me, and violently slammed the door shut. The strength of her words knocked me down to the ground as I sobbed, the salty water falling onto the wooden floor. 

You are the worst sister ever! I wish I wasn’t born into this family! Ugh!

Caroline and I were the only two kids in our family, and we didn’t get along well. She took my clothes, so I took hers. She swore at me, so I swore at her. She told on me, so I told on her. But the worst part was, no matter how ridiculous she made her story sound, Mom always believed her. Never me. Because she’s older, and she would never do anything like what I described. It was as if we weren’t even sisters. 

I got up, kicked her door, stomped through the hallway, and slammed the door to my room shut.

Dawn, don’t slam the door! That’s been twice today!

MOM, that was CAROLINE before! Ugh! My mind started to race in a thousand different directions. How was I going to deal with this? What would my plan be? How would I make Mom believe me the one time I was making it up? Was I even going to do anything? Then, I got it. I was going to stay home from school and wait for my parents to go to work and Caroline to go to school. Then, I was going to set up a very intricate system of ropes and buckets and wires outside of her door. The hope was that she would get her foot caught on the string that was going to be set up that causes the giant bucket of paint to dump on her head. The paint was also going to be red, the color she hated most. Finally, the day came. 

Caroline and Dawn, come down to the kitchen! Dad and I need to tell you something! Mom announced. 

Ugh, but I wanna stay in my room! I yelled down to Mom and Dad, but I went anyway. Caroline and I sat down on the couch as far away from each other as possible, practically sitting on the armrest. 

Caroline, Dawn, Dad and I need to tell you something. We’re having another baby girl! 

Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it! I’m gonna have another baby sister! I get to experience it all over again! Caroline exclaimed. The smile on her face went from ear to ear. You know, it might seem like I hate you, Dawn, but deep in my heart, there’s a special place for you. A place where no one but a sister could ever be. I love you so much, Dawn. She hugged me as if we had never fought before. As if there were no tomorrow. As if she were my sister. My feet lifted off of the floor and I got this warm feeling in my chest. I hugged her back. 

I love you too, Caroline.

~ Sara F.