Peace and quiet


“It’s so quiet here. Allison? Don’t you think it’s quiet?”

Allison opened her eyes and glared down at her little sister. “It was before you started talking.”

Mandy frowned. “Why do you like just standing there with your eyes closed? That’s boring.”

“If it’s so boring to you, why don’t you go away?”

“Fine. I can find something a lot more fun than hanging around with you.” Mandy stomped away, hitting branches with every step.

Allison closed her eyes again, ready to finally have some peace and quiet. She loved just listening to the sounds of nature without anybody interrupting. 

“Jimmy! Look at this!”

Allison sighed. Someday people would leave her alone. Apparently that day was not today.

Bunk Beds


“Can you imagine sleeping in that bed?”

My sister and I were touring a history museum, and I had to admit, that bed didn’t look very comfortable.

“Do you remember that old bunk bed we used to sleep in?”

“Of course I do. How could I forget? You insisted on the top bunk, and I could never get any sleep.”

I frowned. “Why couldn’t you get any sleep?”

“Because that thing was creaky and you rolled around constantly.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

“I did. You told me you didn’t care.”

Oh. Maybe I wasn’t as nice of a sister as I thought I was growing up.

“Sorry,” I said. “I guess this kind of a late apology.”

“I suppose I can forgive you. Better late than never.”

Waterfall


“All that hiking, and this waterfall is just a trickle.”

I stared at my friend. Fine, there wasn’t a ton of water in this waterfall today, but it was still a lovely waterfall, and this canyon was so beautiful.

“Why are you always so negative?”

She shrugged. “You’re the one who likes hiking and waterfalls so much. I’m just along because you dragged me here.”

I sighed. I knew I needed to find better friends to hike with. In the meantime, I was fully planning to enjoy this hike and any waterfalls we might find, regardless.

A year later, I hiked to the waterfall with a friend I had made in a hiking club.

“Look at this! Isn’t this amazing?”

That was more like it.