A Gift-Wrapped Christmas by Michelle Lenear-Stimpson & CaSandra McLaughlin

Author:Michelle Lenear-Stimpson & CaSandra McLaughlin [Stimpson, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michelle Lenear-Stimpson

6

Bryce and Chase packed and labeled boxes in the guest room while Megan tackled bathroom cabinets. With the house clearing out, Megan could hear their conversation in the next room over.

“How much are we getting paid to do this?” Chase whined.

“We are not getting paid, we’re just helping out from the kindness of our hearts.”

“Mannnn, I could have been doing something else. You’re working me like some kind of indentured servant.”

Megan giggled at their discussion as she poured out the contents of cleaning bottles and tossed the empty containers into a garbage bag. She was no stranger to sibling arguments. Once, when they were in middle school, she and Casey had actually gotten into an argument that ended with a wrestling and hair-pulling match. It had taken both of their parents to pull them apart.

“Hard work is good for you. Besides, Megan needs our help.”

“She didn’t need me. She needed you. And besides, I need to go anyway, I’m going to hang out with Zack and Mitch.”

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from those two?”

“Look you’re not my dad so stop trying to boss me around,” Chase shouted.

Hoping to keep the two brothers from their own wrestling match, Megan left the bathroom and entered the adjacent room. “What’s going on in here?”

“What’s going on is Bryce thinks that since my dad died, that he can just boss me around and tell me what to do,” Chase fumed. His hair was plastered to his head with sweat.

“I’m sure that whatever Bryce is telling you is for your own good.”

Chase pointed at Bryce. “Why are you taking his side?”

“I’m not taking his side.”

Bryce interjected, “There are no sides to be taken. I don’t want you to end up getting expelled again, you have come a long way, so why mess things up.”

“Chase, you need friends who will encourage you to do what’s right. You don’t want to end up in trouble. Listen to Bryce. He knows what he’s talking about because he’s waaaaaaay older than you.” Megan laughed trying to lighten the mood.

“Yea. He is pretty old.” Chase joined in laughing.

“You two do see me standing here, right?” Bryce pointed out.

“Yep” Both Megan and Chase said in unison and laughed.

“Chase, I’ll make a deal with you. If you stay here and help us finish packing, we can go play laser tag afterward,” Bryce offered.

“Ok. But only if Megan comes. We might need her to referee.”

“I’ve never actually played laser tag, but if it’ll keep you from hanging out with the wrong crowd, I’ll go.”

“Wait – how do I know you’re not the wrong crowd?” Chase asked.

Megan rolled her eyes and smacked her lips. “As if!”

Chase joked, “I mean, we haven’t seen your criminal record.”

Her mouth dropped open in a playful “O.”

“He has a point,” Bryce joined in.

Megan snapped off her rubber glove and threw it toward the brothers.

“See how violent she is!” from Chase.

“Oh, if you want to see violence, wait until I hit you up with this laser tag thingy,” she threatened, not even sure what she meant.

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