The night before they were to leave, Slater was lying on the couch in the living room just staring out the screen door. He thought about how he had become very close to his sister Karen. He thought about how his mother and he had become close. Was it too close? He didn't know, except he loved her so much that he would do anything in the world for her and Karen. Thinking further on the subject, he found he would do anything for his other siblings too. He loved them all. It was just that he loved some of them differently right now.
He was startled and sat up when Mom sat down with him. She patted him on the back as he was jerked from his thoughts. He smiled at her. She hugged him, then sat back looking into his eyes.
"Did Emily get to sleep?" Slater asked.
"Karen finally got her down and I think she's asleep. That was a complete surprise. She is a very perceptive little girl," Eileen said softly.
"She is at that," replied Slater. "She had us all in tears this afternoon."
"I just hope this doesn't...hurt her in any way."
"Me too. It would be a shame if a smart little girl was sidetracked by this."
Mom nodded.
"Well, we better get some sleep, we leave tomorrow morning."
"And two weeks later Karen and I are gone. Are you going to hire a nanny before we leave?" Slater asked.
"Yes. I hope you and Karen could help with that," replied Eileen.
"Sure, whatever you need, Mom. I'm going to bed, I'm exhausted."
"Me too. Give me a kiss goodnight," Eileen said leaning toward Slater.
They kissed. It wasn't a mother, son kiss, but they didn't linger. Both got up and went to bed.
~~~~~
When Slater woke, he found Emily snuggled up to him. He was surprised, to say the least. She had gotten into bed with him without waking him. Karen poked her head in the door, just minutes later. She smiled at finding Emily, and upon seeing her brother awake. She nodded at him as she closed the door. Slater just smiled down at Emily as he waited for her to wake on her own.
He lay there a long time. The rest of the house was quiet. He wanted to close his eyes, but he didn't want to miss Emily waking. Eventually, sleep overtook him.
He woke once more. When he opened his eyes, Emily was laying there staring at him. He smiled at her, as she reached up and caressed his cheek.
"You sure do sleep a lot," Emily said softly.
"And you are a sneaky little girl," Slater said caressing her head.
"I'm not little," she complained.
Slater laughed at her as he sat up swinging his legs over the edge of his bed. Emily sat up, then she stood up and kissed Slater's cheek. He hugged her, she hugged his neck. Then she was gone, laughing as she hurried out the door. Slater got up and went to the bathroom. The door was closed. He heard the shower running. He looked in Karen's room. She was gone. He peeked around the corner into the kitchen. Emily was sitting at the table waiting.
When Slater tried the door, it was unlocked. He stepped inside. Karen was in the shower. He smiled as he listened to her sing. She had a nice voice. Then he was peeing. She looked around the shower curtain and gasped. He laughed as he held his hand over the flush handle.
"Don't you dare," Karen growled swatting at Slater.
He ducked and was out the door. In the kitchen, he found his mother and Emily. His mother looked at him and smiled. He smiled back.
"Is Karen in the shower?" Eileen asked.
"She is," Slater replied.
"Did you peek?" Emily asked shocking both Eileen and Slater.
"No, I didn't peek. I told her I needed to use the toilet."
"Did she peek?" Emily asked.
"No. Emily, you shouldn't ask questions like that and you should never peek," Slater said.
"Then how am I going to learn?" she asked.
"I will teach you, dear," Eileen said softly to her daughter trying not to laugh.
"Oh, okay mom," Emily said. "Can I go watch some TV?"
"Of course dear," Eileen said still trying not to laugh.
Slater was trying not to laugh also. He looked at his mom. She shook her head.
"She is a precocious child," Eileen said.
"She will be a handful when she gets older, mom," Slater said shaking his head.
"Don't I know it, just like you and Karen."
"Where we really that bad?"
"When you both turned thirteen you and she were hellions. I was thinking of shipping you off to military school, but you father forbid me." Mom giggled as she reminisced.
Actually, Slater did remember her threatening him with military school way back when. He heard mom and dad arguing and promised to not to be trouble to his mom. If he remembers correctly, that was when he fell in love with her. He coughed then looked up at his mom. She was watching him.
"I know that you heard dad and I arguing. After that scuffle, you turned your life around and became the best child a mother could wish for. I know you tried to ride herd on your sister, but she just didn't learn."
"I love you mom," Slater said.
"I know, dear, you told me that for the first time right after your father and I argued. I almost fainted."
"Sorry mom," he croaked.
"I know. Now go pack your things. We leave in about an hour or so."
"Yes, mom," Slater said going to his room.