The Last Laugh
Chapter 2 - Heather and Sawyer
***
The first down was Heather. I recognised her. Her pretty face hadn't changed much but she'd grown taller. Not taller than me though.
"Uncle Paul!" she screamed happily and ran over to hug him. She hadn't noticed me.
"Ooh, my pretty little Heather! How are you??"
"I'm fine, uncle Pauly," she giggled.
"I can see that," my dad laughed. "And where is my other princess? Sawyer?"
Sawyer too appeared at the bottom of the stairs. She was different from what I expected. She had nothing to do with the baby I'd known. It was like her face had changed. She was pretty too. But not as much as Heather. Sawyer had a more serious face. The kind of kid who hardly smiled.
"Uncle Pauly!" she too called happily as she ran to hug him too.
"My pretty Sawyer! You're almost as tall as Heather! Wow! You grow fast."
They both giggled.
"I'll be ten next week uncle Paul! You'll buy me a present right??" Heather asked.
"Really??"
"Yeah, she will be ten! Uncle Paul I turned eight last month! You owe me a present too!" Sawyer added.
Guess I missed out on their ages but they were right. I was turning twelve at the end of the year.
"Girls, stop disturbing uncle Paul and sit down for breakfast," Aunt Christina said.
"Oh, okay," Heather said softly and obediently went to her seat. Sawyer on the other hand rolled her eyes first before going to her seat.
"Sawyer, what did I tell you about rolling your eyes at your mother," Uncle Ken said strictly.
"Sorry, mommy," she apologised. My dad chuckled.
"This one's gonna be as tough as you, Christina," he said.
"I'm afraid that might be true," she replied and they all laughed.
Heather still hadn't noticed me. Like seriously?
"Who's this?" Sawyer asked courageously pointing at me. And that was when Heather looked up from her plate and noticed me.
"You can't remember him, Sawyer. You were too little. It's my son, Sheridan."
"Sheridan??" Heather asked surprised in her low voice.
"You didn't recognise him?" her dad asked amused.
"N– no I didn't," she smiled shyly at me. "Hi,"
I smiled back.
"Hey."
"Hello," Sawyer cut in troublesomely for being left out.
Everyone laughed.
"Hello," I replied with an amused smile. She didn't smile back though, she gave me a little smirk. Almost not visible. She was probably a tough kid. She didn't seem to appreciate me.
"Okay, now let's eat," Aunt Christina said. We said the Lord's prayer and began to eat.
*
After breakfast, aunt Christina sent the girls to go clean their room while dad and uncle Ken went out. I decided to go sit on the grass outside and watch the cows from the front of the house.
I stayed there for like 20 minutes, watching cows until I heard:
"PST! Pssssst!"
I turned and looked up. It was Heather on the little balcony of her room. She smiled shyly. I smiled back.
"You've changed," she said in a low voice. I stood up and went to stand below the balcony so I could hear her better. She couldn't speak loud because her mother would surely scold her for not arranging her room.
"You haven't changed much," I replied in a loud whisper.
"I know," she smiled again. I smiled back.
"Let me finish with my room. I'll be joining you downstairs in some minutes so we go stroll round the ranch."
"Good idea. Won't your mom scold?"
"No."
I smiled. "
you too," she
moment, Sawyer appeared by her, giving me an impassive stare. Heather turned to
"Later."
"Okay."
room. Sawyer remained. I waved at
she
"What? Why?"
"I don't know."
she went back into the room.
returned to my
*
patiently for Heather. After about ten minutes, she appeared behind
up. Let's go stroll," she said
went to parts of
"Hey, Heather?"
"Yes?"
that little lake not far from the ranch where
"Oh yes, I remember."
"Should we go?"
Her smile faded.
can't.
"Why?"
because it's out of the ranch. Anything
we used to play
don't want
"She's still so strict?"
"Yeah."
changed topic. "Sawyer said she doesn't like
"She said that??"
"Yeah."
Maybe it's because she doesn't know you well.
to do with
horses were kept. We
them, I noticed a beautiful white horse. It looked a lot like strike, my own horse. I
horse is
Heather joined me.
she asked, giving it
"Yeah!"
this one. He said when I'll be ten I could learn to ride it. I called
lot like my own horse. As white too. But mine is a stallion.
that's nice," she caressed
we'll ride our horses together.
not a bad idea."
she smiled back, her cheeks reddening.
Sawyer called, coming into
"Yes?"
play together." she
play. But with Sheridan
Sawyer turned to me.
want to
"Why?" Heather asked.
supposed to be only the both of us,
me because she felt that with me around,
Let's play hide and seek. I'll count," I
She looked doubtful.
while he looks for
Sawyer smiled. Finally.
last person found wins!" she screamed
and went to the
giggle and run to go
-
and started my search.
you??" I shouted
that was when I spotted Sawyer hiding behind a stock of hay. I pretended not to see her. I believed
left the barn. I strolled around the ranch when suddenly someone tapped me on
would be happy," she whispered with
I smiled.
"That's what I thought."
both returned
Sawyer, Sheridan caught me!" Heather said as we
joyful Sawyer hopped out of her
I win!" she said
I guess,"
right to ask you what I want now,"
"Um, okay," I shrugged.