SteeleKizz, Inc

Isolated

Sean

Sean was the first one to wake up the first day in their new home. Taking a quick shower and change of clothes, he took a quick glimpse into his sister’s room to see her fast asleep in her bed. Slipping down the stairwell, he overheard a variety of voices on the first level. He was determined to investigate the house and property as much as he could get away with today. Sean wanted to see if there was a way to sneak out and call his grandparents to let them know that they got to their new house safe. Also, to let them know, they didn’t take the intended plane ride.

As it was, guards seemed to be alert on all his moves, even when he wasn’t trying to be mischievous. His last foot landed on the carpet and his name was called out from the kitchen. Erick’s booming voice carried through the house causing Sean to freeze before knowing whether he should speak or just head to where his father may be.

“Sean.”

He looked around briefly and determined just to make his presence known and follow the sound of his name.

“Yes, Sir,” he replied approaching the kitchen area that had three stools nestled under an island facing the rest of the kitchen area, the dining room was behind with a decorative ensemble atop it. Something similar to what their mom would do, primarily around the holidays. Still, it was a memory that Sean quickly recalled.

“Sean, this is Nina. She’s will be the housekeeper and chef. I expect you to mind your manners. I should come home to any complaints. Understood?”

Sean looked over at the petite dark haired female. Just guessing, she was older than their mom, but younger than Grandma and that she may have older children, maybe even younger grandchildren. He gave a casual nod listening to his father’s demands, but trying to figure out the new lady in charge.

“Yes, Sir.”

Erick looked over Sean like he questioned the boy’s sincerity. His attention was quickly diverted as Cara skipped down the steps. She too took a glimpse around the house before coming around the corner to where everyone was congregating.

“Cara, like I told your brother a second ago. I plan not to repeat myself any more today. This is Nina. She’s the housekeeper and chef. I shouldn’t hear about any more, situations. Understand me?”

Still waking up, Cara gave a shrug of her shoulders.

“Yes,” she said softly.

Erick cleared his throat to start to correct her, but Nina spoke up instead.

“How about some breakfast, Sean, Cara?” she said with a pleasant smile. Her eyes went from the partially awake kids to their father, Erick. “I think we’ll be perfecto today, Senor Hadley. No issues.”

She turned back into the kitchen and brought back to the counter some fresh fruits cut and the option for oatmeal or a healthy corn flake cold cereal. Sean opted for the cereal and Cara the oatmeal with fruit.

“Very well,” he said. “Oscar. Let’s head to the office.”

With that, everything felt like a normal day back in California. Sort of. The twins didn’t have any extracurricular activities to be driven to, no more nightly calls their grandparents, or midnight snacks with a bedtime story with their mom. It would be a new normal. Erick would scold them for misbehavior and then depart from the house for an unknown amount of time.

While they ate and exchanged glances, Nina explained that their new tutor would be coming by today to introduce their self. The plan was to look over their previous schools academic grading and learning curve to see where the twins were at and their styles to learn. Neither child was very excited about the new schooling option. They’d rather go to school like normal. They each gave their own sigh of frustration and disapproval.

The kids ate breakfast quickly and Nina cleaned up after them, but stated that she would be showing them a few things to begin to learn to clean up after themselves. The kids dashed out the back door but nearly stumbled over each other as one of the many guards turned to look around the corner at the sounds of a small stampede coming through the small corridor and mudroom to the back door. Sean and Cara looked up at the taller dark complexioned man with sunglasses, a curly q cord in his ear, a black polo shirt and dress pants. Sean did notice that he was wearing black sneakers, unlike the other guards he seen.

Cara pulled Sean further out into the yard where a swing set was and a small in-ground pool. The swing set was partially shaded by trees at the back of the property.

She watched the guard carefully for a few minutes before she confirmed he was only watching them and not listening to them.

“How are we going to tell Grampa and Grandma?” she muttered to Sean. “I want to talk to them, but I’m sure Dad won’t let us any more.”

She gave a disgruntled groan.

“I don’t like this either, Cara.” added Sean. “I don’t know why we couldn’t have just stayed back in California.”

The kids swung for quite a while until the guard motioned for them to come in. “Sean! Cara!” he called out. The kids rolled their eyes and left the swings. Just before getting in ear shot of the guard, Sean said something in a loud whisper.

“I’ll figure out something. Some how.”

Once the got into the house, there was a younger female with several things laid out on the kitchen table. She had brought in a rolling suit case and shelving unit. As the kids walked around the table they noticed their names were on papers stacked at separate ends of the table.

“Ah, there you guys are,” said the girl. She looked them over and smiled. “I’m Anna. With what I’ve learned from your own school, you guys are in a special gifted and talented group of students. You’re more advanced in your education than kids your own age. This should be very interesting to see you guy grow and learn.”

She motioned with her hand at the seats where there the paper stacks were. “If you will, have a seat. I want you to go through the first group of papers. This helps me to determine just how you learn. Unfortunately, that is not something that schools can share or know how to evaluate very accurately. Thankfully, you’re in an area where advanced teaching skills are taught to teachers.”

Sean and Cara went about answering true or false and multiple answer questions. It didn’t take them long to finish and push the stapled papers towards the teacher. This went on for most of the day until it was lunch time. Nina had fixed a quick cool snack for the kids while Anna prepared for the rest of the evaluation.

“Anna,” Cara turned around and said while eating. “Will you let us have recess?”

Anna looked to Nina and then one of the inside guards, with a shrug. “I don’t see that being a problem. We’ll be doing quite a bit of physical activities, besides just your academics. School shouldn’t be all sit down and study.”

Cara looked at Sean and grinned. “We lost recess this next year. That’s a plus, at least.”

Sean nodded with a face full of sandwich.

Anna seemed content with the kids excitement about recess. She could tell that they were very active children.

The remainder of the day was individual time with Anna talking about their likes and dislikes. What they enjoyed about school and didn’t enjoy or excelled at and struggled with. The other child would work on a questionnaire about what books they liked, music they listened to, and other activities not school related. When it was said and done, the kids retired to their rooms. They sat in their doorway with their backs to the wall.

“Recess might be a plus, but I still don’t like it here.” Cara finally said after a bit of silence. “It’s just not home.”

Sean nodded in agreement. “Me too.”

Sean could hear from his position some of the comings and goings in the lower part of the house. He turned to look down the stairwell. It seemed that Nina had some things delivered. The sounds of bags rattling and shuffling, while muffled, could still be heard upstairs.

Sean rolled over and laid on his stomach watching. There was a young male that came in the house. He wasn’t dressed like the guards. He didn’t have a curly q cord in his ear, that Sean could see. He overheard the guy talking to Nina and then thanking her for her business. That was something that he hadn’t seen yet, someone not a guard or caretaker in the house. Food delivery, he thought.

Cara looked at him wanting to know more. “What were you doing?” she asked quickly.

Sean gave a shrug. “I don’t know yet.” He looked over too her, with a partially truthful look. He had an idea, but would keep it to himself.