RED: A gift or curse?

Chapter one “She’s perfect, look at her little blonde curls.” Maddie said gazing at her newly born baby. “Yeah she looks just like me with those blonde curls.” Justin teased Maddie chuckled. “Yeah, like I don’t have blonde curls too, she has my eyes.” they both laughed keeping their gaze on their child. * * * ”Sandy you are going to be late for school, don’t forget to pack your assignment in your bag pack.” Running down the stairs came Sandy. “Mum its kindergarten not third-grade.” Sandy said laughing. ”Mum, Dad isn’t home?” “He’s off to work, here is your lunch, cereal for breakfast?” Sandy hummed excitedly in agreement, stretching out her hands to collect her bowl of Fruity balls, she gently poured milk into the bowl and started scooping. Maddie watched from the side smiling as something popped into her brain. “How is Jane? She didn’t come over this weekend.” “She is fine, she said something about going to her Grandma’s house. Mum can I ride my bicycle to school today?” “No you can’t.” “But you said someday you will let me?” she put on a pleading look “Yeah, but someday is not today.” Sandy pouted her lips feigning anger. “But Jane gets to ride to school?” Maddie sighed looking at her daughter helplessly but she stood her ground. “No, you are not old enough, besides Jane only rides because her Mum is sick and her Dad has to go out early.” “But she is just one year older than me and she gets to ride anyway.” Slamming the cooking spoon into the sink Maddie looked furiously at her daughter. This girl won’t just give up, for God sake she’s just six years old, this has been the topic throughout this week. She let out a sigh trying to calm down. “Sandy it’s dangerous, another reason Jane gets to ride is because her house is close to school so it’s the same as walking to school but for you do you know how many street roads you will get to cross? A lot.” At this point Maddie was leaning on the table trying to coax the child. Sandy was startled by the spoon slamming so when she saw her Mum talking calmly to her she nodded in agreement as she stopped pretending to be angry. “Okay I understand.” Phew I thought this will last all morning. “Eat up or you’ll be late.” Maddie turned to continue her dish washing. Justin and Maddie have been married for eight years, after Sandy was born he got a nice job offer in New York so the family of three moved from South Carolina. Justin works at a company, ROBOTTIICS CO, while Maddie is an Interior designer. On Justin’s way home he picked up Maddie and Sandy. “What should we have for dinner?” Maddie asked “Pasta!” Sandy shouted at the top of her voice. They all laughed. After they had dinner Maddie helped Sandy wash up. “Time for bed sweetheart.” Maddie helped Sandy up to her bed, tucking her in as Justin walked into the room. “Just in time for my goodnight kiss.” he looked at his beautiful wife and daughter looking as Angelic as ever. ”Sweetheart your Mum and I have good news for you.” Justin paused for a while brushing the hair away from Sandy’s face then he continued. “Uhm, do you know what it means to have a brother or a sister?” He paused feeling he just asked a crazy question, he thought for a while then continued “How would you like to have a brother or a sister?” As soon as he finished his question he grinned proudly. “Finally done with your questions?” Maddie smiled “Really?” An elated Sandy asked grinning from ear to ear. Great now I can have someone to play with here at home, and if Mum has someone else to focus on I might get to ride my bike to school. Seeing the smiles on her parents’ faces she continued. “I’d really love to have a brother or a sister.” Seeing the happy child Maddie couldn’t help but wonder. "What was I so worried about, it seems not every elder sister or brother hates the idea of a sibling." Just as they were about to leave the room Sandy sat up and spoke her mind. “Can I have my brother or sister tomorrow?” Justin and Maddie were shocked by the request which made them burst out laughing, Maddie walked back to tuck Sandy back in, seeing through her daughter. “It seems you have something up your sleeves but it doesn’t work that way.” She placed a kiss on her forehead. “Get some sleep.” Everything seemed to be going perfectly well, Justin and Maddie’s job paid really well. Sandy was everyone’s favourite, friends and family trooped in every now and then to see their little angel and most of all to bestow gifts on her. Sandy felt her life was perfect, she did really well at school which made her family proud of her because for her age she was really smart. Chapter two As time went by Maddie’s stomach grew bigger and bigger by the month. It was eight in the morning when Maddie was rushed to the Hospital. Justin wanted to be with his wife so he called his Sister, Jennie, to keep an eye on Sandy. “Dad is Mum going to be okay?” “Yes Sweetheart Mum will be just fine, stay here with Aunt Jennie and be a good girl let me check up on Mummy okay?” “Okay Dad.” Justin gave Sandy a kiss on her hair, nodded to Jennie then walked down the hospital’s corridor to the room his wife was in, this isn’t how the last pregnancy was why is she going through so much pain and why is it taking so long. Hours later Justin came out of the room with a worried look on his face. “Jus what’s wrong? Are they okay?” “Yeah they’re both okay.” He sighed “Jennie, th.. the baby is different.” Jennie's eyes widened. “Do you mean she’s….?” Justin nodded, she took a deep breath to absorb the information. “I think so, that’s probably the only explanation.” Sandy sat with them, wondering why they were so worried. Everyone is different, she thought. After a few minutes Jennie relaxed herself. “Can I see her?” “Yes, she’s in the nursery now, please take Sandy with you while I go talk to Maddie.” Jennie nodded. “Okay sure.” Years later “Mum, why is Ashley’s hair red?” a curious Sandy sat at the eating table. Maddie thought of everything Justin told her the day Ashley was born. “That’s a good question honey, uhm let’s see, do you know the meaning of the word hereditary?” she smiled lightly. “Yes I do.” She grinned. “Okay, your Great-Grandma from your Daddy’s side, that is your Grandma’s Mum not your Grandpa’s, okay to make this less confusing I’m speaking of Great-Grandma Ellie, well her hair is red too so I think Ash got it from her.” “That’s cool, although she never comes for a visit, I wish my hair was red too or maybe some other cool colour.” “Your hair is cool honey.” Maddie ruffled Sandy’s hair. While Maddie and Sandy were talking Justin and Ashley entered the kitchen. “Good morning Mum.” “Good morning honey. Eat up or you’ll be late.” “Okay.” She forced a smile. “Are you okay? What’s bothering you?” Maddie looked at the dejected look on Ashley’s face Ashley sighed. “Can I not go to school today?” “Why what’s wrong Ash, do you feel sick?” Justin worriedly placed his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. “No it’s just that some kids at school don’t like me very much, they make fun of me and sometimes they call me red riding hood, I don’t even wear a hood.” She shrugged. Sandy laughed. “Red riding hood.” “Sandy don’t say that.” Maddie snapped. “Ash, I want you to listen to me” she leaned on the table gently grabbing her chin “I want you to know that you are special, beautiful and smart, yes your hair is red and you are different but always remember we love you just the way you are, you and your Sister, you’re just six and you have a whole life ahead of you so don’t give in to negative things and embrace who you are.” She placed a kiss on her forehead. “Thanks Mum.” Justin grabbed the opportunity to squeeze her into his arms giving her a tight hug. “Yes and Dad loves you so much, Dad loves all of you so much.” He grabbed Sandy into his arms, before releasing them he placed a kiss on their heads. “Eat up or you’ll both miss the bus, I love you but if you miss the bus you’re riding your bikes to school, I won’t drop you off.” He smiled. {BELL RINGS} At the school cafeteria Sandy walks in with her close friends Jane and Kyle, walking over to where Ashley was sitting with her best friend, Liliana. “Hello Red, it seems you forgot your hood need me to go get it for you?” Sandy teased “Mum said you shouldn’t say that.” Ashley glared at her “So what are you going to do, go cry to Mummy?” she narrowed her gaze. “Hi Lily.” “Hi Sandy, that is not very nice.” She said looking disappointed. Sandy smirked and walked off with her friends. “What’s up with her?” Hearing the question directed at her, Ashley furrowed her brows. “I don’t know for sure, she has been acting weird lately, she isn’t exactly a bully at least not to others but it seems she has made up her mind to make my life at school miserable, although she seems to be better when we’re at home, acting all goodie.” She took a quick glance at her sister. “Maybe I’ll find out when she’s in a good mood, let’s go to the music room, Abby is probably waiting for us.” After school Ashley and Liliana walked to the entrance chatting and giggling about their music class session. “I’ve said this before I’m not a harpist I’m a violinist.” Lily said imitating their music teacher. They both laughed “My Dad’s picking us up today, want to ride with us?” “I’d love to but my Mum is coming to see our science teacher today, Mr. Brook, so we’ll head home together afterwards.” “Are you in trouble? I could plead on your behalf.” Ashley look worriedly at her friend. Lily had a wide smile. ”I don’t think so, it has something to do with the upcoming project." "Dads here.” they hugged and said goodbye. Justin had a wide smile as Ashley walked over to his car. “Hi Dad.” She beamed in excitement as she entered the car. “Hi honey.” He turned to ruffle her hair. “Where's your sister?” “She’s coming.” “How was school today?” he turned to her. If I really want to know what’s wrong with Sandy I have to not get her in trouble.