Chapter 3 - Tessa and Rose

"You should go first, Tessa. You are the older one," said my sister.

"If you insist," I answered.

"I do you need to be a little more aggressive."

"I am only waiting for you to finish speaking."

She opened her mouth as if to reply then changed her mined and stuck out her tongue. I ignored this and spoke my part.

"We have been living in this house with these people for almost two years now..."

"Yes, and that reminds me. What are we going to do for our birthday, mother?" I glared at Rose. "Oops. Sorry." I continued.

"And we have learned to get along with and respect one another. We still have our differences because we are each a unique person, but it is good, most of the time to see things differently. Despite his being a boy, Samuel and I manage to enjoy each other's company quite often. He is almost as knowledgeable about the ancient wars as I am. He has a very good collection of maps and model armies and we often sit and debate battle strategy. Whenever we disagree on an issue and we can not find an agreement or solution we go into the back yard and spar using different martial arts styles. We agree that whoever comes out on top is the winner of the argument. I, of course, always come out on top, but sometimes I see the logic of his points and concede to him as the winner of the disagreement.

"One thing puzzles me, though, mother."

"What is that, darling?"

"He has begun to say he wants to marry me when we grow up and I do not know why. I am not very pretty like Cecily, I do not sing as well as Rose, I can not dance like Heza or calm people with my words like Leena. What is so special about me?"

"You are pretty in your own way. No one can sing as good as Rose or dance like Heza or calm people quite like Leena can. I'm sorry my child, but you must find the way in which you are special on your own. And you can do this because you are very strong in mind and body and spirit. Have patience and never act without thinking. Now, I think it is your sister's turn as I see her restraining her mouth with barely enough energy left to sit still."

"Oh thanks momma! I just have so much to tell you," I said all in a rush.

"I hope not too much. I do want to get some sleep tonight. That is why we made this schedule. I have a meeting tomorrow morning so please try to make it as short as your sisters, dear."

"I'll try, momma."

" Thank you, dear."

"Ok. Like Tessa said, we're getting along really well. Me and Andy- oops, I mean, Andy and I like playing together. It's especially fun when he plays the piano and I sing; it sounds so nice. Today was so amazing, though, because I heard Andy sing by himself for the first time. He sings relay good too, only he says he's not too fond of singing all by himself, and he was singing a relay pretty song but he said it would sound much better when I sang it cuz I sing the best but I said I like it when you sing! So I said why don't we sing it together it to me and we sang it together and it was just so beautiful." Here I paused to sniff a little and take a breath. " When we were finished we heard clapping, and as we looked up we saw everyone standing in the doorway of the music room. They all looked so proud of us. And then a thought came to me. This must be what peace feels like. Was I right momma?"

"Yes darling. You were very right, and I'm so glad that you feel this. But soon you too will need to find out exactly why you are special because it is not just that you can sing so beautifully. Please do not worry about this unnecessarily; you will look and you will find when the time is right."

"Yes ma'am. Good night and have a sweet sleep Momma."

"Yes. Goodnight, Mother," Tessa added.

"Goodnight my children. May God's angels watch over you."