There was light breeze as a small tree tapped a quiet rhythm on my window. I could hear the sound of speeding cars go by my home. The sun was shining on the small pond in my backyard. It was another calm day in the small town of Huntsville. Children were playing on the streets on a plain Saturday morning.
I live with my father, but in actuality I just live in his house, alone. Since he is always on business trips in America, mornings can get to be rather quiet, especially in this little town. Many often say Huntsville has nothing to offer, that it’s dull and boring. However, there is something about it that I have come to love; it may be the pristine lakes, the tree-lined landscape, or fresh air; whatever it is, it brings an air of tranquility. So many things happen on TV that aren’t likely to happen here. I get to eat, watch TV, study, and sleep without a care in the world. That’s why peace is such a beautiful thing. And so I live by my motto, “Peace first”.
When I’m not studying for high school, I work part time as busboy/waiter in a coffee shop. It pays well and I can chat with all the townspeople. I know just about every person in town and I enjoy seeing their smiling faces every morning. Today, I headed down the road to reach Main Street. But as I rounded the corner I soon found myself on the ground with an assortment of items ranging from mobile devices to lip gloss scattered around me. I stood back up to find a woman who also fell. In a calm manner, I tried to help her up.
“Get away from me you retard. Don’t you Canadians ever watch where you’re going? Or are all of you blind.”

“I’m sorry. Here let me help you up,” I responded.

“Get your hands off me, and quit looking at me like that you pervert.”
To be honest, she was wearing... revealing clothing and in my defense it was hard to find a place to look that seemed appropriate.

“Um, do you need help gathering your things?”
“I can get by on my own, if you had just watched where you were going I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

She stormed off in the direction that I had just come in her colorful clothing. As I turned onto Main Street, I thought to myself. I don’t recalled seeing somebody like her in this town before. People usually don’t walk around small little Huntsville dressed like that. To think of it, she looked like a city girl. Only a Toronto girl would walk around dressed with so much skin exposed. I shrugged away her image and entered the coffee shop appropriately named “Cuppicino”.
“Hey welcome back Andy. Hm, what’s this? Where’s your uniform and apron?” said Boss Randy.

“Oh sorry, I must have forgotten them at home. I’ll be right back.”
The walk from the shop and home isn’t particularly long, but I ran back regardless.

“In a hurry I see? Is something wrong, you usually take things so casually Andy.”

It was the old man Jenkins from down the block.
“I forgot my uniform for work Mr. Jenkins. Don’t worry I’ll be back quickly to serve you your daily cream cheese bagel and hot tea.”

“Oh there’s no need to rush, these legs aren’t as fast as they used to be.”

I waved at him as he moved into the distance, but while doing so I bumped into a flashy red car. My forehead impaled the hood of the car and then the pavement as I fell back. I got back up slowly and I could tell that Mr. Jenkins saw me take the spill as he was coming back around. I waved at him telling him that I was okay, while actually it hurt like hell. I looked at the red car parked in front of my home, not recalling that it was there when I first left this morning. With that embarrassment aside, I walked up to my front door to find it unlocked.

All was quiet in the house. Even then, I moved cautiously through the house and into the kitchen where my apron was. But when I entered the dimly lit room, I found a petite brunette with nothing but a towel covering her nude body. She screamed. Her voice pierced my ears as I tried to make sense of the situation, but before that could happen, I lay unconscious on the floor, stricken from behind.

When I woke up, I was still on the kitchen floor, but now receiving looks from two girls, the previous brunette, now fully clothed, and the same woman that I ran into earlier in the morning.

“Who the hell are you and what are you doing here,” said the blacked hair woman.

“I live here!”
“Don’t bullsh*t me... Wait you’re that idiot who ran into me this morning. How did you get in?”
“You left the door unlocked. But that doesn’t matter! This is really my home! I should be the one asking you why you are here. How did you get into this house? I was sure that I locked it.”
“My dad gave me a key to our, not your, house. Now I’m giving you five minutes to get out before I call th-”

Before she could finish her demands, there was a knock at the door.
“Hey son, long time no see. I have a surprise for you! You have a new step-mother! I met down in San Fran. Oh and she has daughters and they will be here... Oh it seems you’ve already met.... Well that saves me introductions; anyway, we’re going on our honeymoon now. So take good care of your new sisters. Bye!”
“Wait Dad! You can’t possibly leave me like thi-” slam went the front door. My perfectly peaceful world was shatter intro crumbs. Those crumbs were then tossed into a fire, which were scattered over my grave.
“I can’t believe that man, first he marries our mom, then makes us come up to this dingy old town in Canada, and finally leaves us alone with... you.” said Black Hair
“Hey, I’m sorry, but I didn’t ask for this either. All I want is to go to my job, and maybe some peace and quiet, but that seems out of the picture now.”
We sat there quietly for a few minutes not knowing quite what to do.
“Well, since were now family, we may as well get to know each other. My name is Andy.”
“I’m Melanie and this is Carly. Now that were such good siblings, I’d like to ask that you leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone.” said Melanie

“Um, I actually don’t mind that-” interjected Carly,
“Carly Please! Remember that this guy knocked me over and then saw you naked earlier. He’s just some creep. I honestly don’t like the fact that he’s our step-brother.
“I’m sorry that I clearly got off on the wrong foot, but I can see that there is nothing that I can do to make it up to you two. So I’ll just be heading back to my job,” I pleaded.

My mind was spinning not only from the blunt hit to the head but also from everything that just happened. Not only did my dad go off on a honeymoon with someone that he just met, but he left two city girls in my home and I’m supposed to take care of them. Normally I can handle the nonsensical things that he does, like that one time he came home drunk with two escorts, but this is just... I don’t know, impossible. With all that behind me, I entered Cuppicino, about two hours after my shift began; hopefully Randy isn’t mad.
“Oy Andy, what took you so long? Mr. Jenkins already came and left. He said something about hitting your head. You okay?”
“Well, I just found out that I have two step-sisters. Oh and they are staying with me too. My dad likes to forget to tell me things ahead of time.”
“It seems you’ve got a lot to deal with. Come here, I know what’ll make you feel better. Here’s some tea... and a biscuit to go with it. Don’t worry, a few days come and you’ll get used to it. Heck you might even get to like them.”
“A few days come and I’ll be dead. I’m sure I could take care of anybody in this town for a few days, but these are city girls, whom will be living with for me for who knows how long. I just don’t know how long I can last.”
“Surely you could do something about it... Bah, too much talk, come, we have customers to serve.”

After I cooled down and the day began to wind down, I went back home in hope that things weren’t as tense as they had been. But as expected, things weren’t as I had hoped, in fact they were worse. I couldn’t as much take a step without getting the stink eye from Melanie. She had already established her territory over the living room and kitchen. Carly avoided me as much as possible, I can’t really blame her, but it still leaves a strained atmosphere around the house. If I so much as look in the general direction of Melanie, what I get is “What are you looking at retard?” or “Quit staring at me you pervert or I’ll really call the cops.” I can’t even change the channel on the television without getting assaulted.
The only place I can actually relax now is my room, which I now realize smells terrible because I’ve never spent any time in my room until now. They’ve practically taken my entire house from me. How am I supposed to eat and watch TV now? Perhaps a warm shower will calm my nerves. As I tried to enter the bathroom, Melanie was already up and going at me.

“What do you think you’re doing? I’m going to use that shower,” said Melanie
“Wha? Its 8:30, you’ve been home all day and you haven’t taken the chance to shower yet? Okay, I’m exhausted. Just let me go first. I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“No way! You can’t tell me what to do.

“I just-”

“Just because you're my supposed older brother doesn’t make you the boss of me.”

“It’s been a-

“Shut up! I’m going in first and that’s final.”
“Okay! NO, I’m sorry but that’s it. You and Carly can get out! I’m tired of having to deal with you! I never asked for this. I never wanted to be your brother. This is my home, I’m in charge, and I say OUT! Get OUT!”

With that she ran to her room and back out with her things and Carly. They ran out of the house, slamming the door behind them. I got into the shower content after getting my home back, but over time I realized that I had just made the greatest mistake. I had promised to my dad and to them that I would be their brother, and my family sticks together no matter what. I quickly dried myself and got dressed and ran out to find them.
Their car was still there and seemed that they left their luggage as well, so they must have not really left. I ran around town asking if anybody had seen them. As I passed by Cuppicino, I saw that my boss hadn’t yet closed shop. I asked him if he had seen them.
“Well I saw two ladies pass by not too long ago. I couldn’t tell you anything about them though, I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Thanks anyway.”
I ran down the street in desperation. I have clearly failed at my role as a brother. But then just up ahead, I heard some muffled screaming. A strange and tall man stood over the two girls.
“LEAVE US ALONE! HELP! ANYBODY?!” cried Carly

“Shut the hell up. Keep quiet and I won’t hurt you. Now then, behave like the dogs you are and come with m-”

“Get the F*** AWAY FROM THEM!”

I threw a sucker punch at the shady man landing a hit on his cheek. He took a step back, clearly in pain, but came back quickly.

“Oh you gonna regret doing that.”

While my wrist and knuckles were already on fire, I threw another hook, this time at his ribs. He bent over having the air knocked out of his lungs. I saw that Carly was on the ground, tears in her eyes covering Melanie who was unconscious. I took the little time that I had to help Carly up then carried Melanie. We ran away from the man before he could recover and hid in Cuppicino for a while. Randy came back to the counter and found us in the store.

“Oh god, what happened?”
“Some creep attacked them down the street. I hit him hard, but he’s still around. I beg of you let us stay here for a bit, just until its safe,” I said.

“I can’t let you do that.” Randy was serious, I could tell.

“But please!”
“No you can’t stay here; I’m going to personally drive you back to your house. I’ll make sure you return home safely, it’s my duty as your boss.”
It came to me as a surprise, but I gratefully up his offer. “I’m sorry, I can’t thank you enough”

“Hey, don’t mention it. You’re a good kid Andy, let it be known.”
After he dropped us off, he help us into the house he drove off. I threw myself onto my bed, looking at my hands. My right hand was seriously bruised and my left hand was definitely broken; it certainly hurt a lot. I was looking at the ceiling of my room when somebody quietly knocked at my door. It was Carly. She immediately embraced me and I wrapped my arms around her.

“Andy, I, I... I just want to thank you-”
“No, it’s okay, I’m your brother. I made a promise to protect you. I should be asking for your forgiveness. If it were for me kicking you out, this would have never happened.”
“Stop it Andy. You are always saying that you are sorry. Your boss was right; you are a good person. You are a good brother. Melanie can seem angry all the time, but really she isn’t that way.”

I looked up from Carly to see that Melanie had quietly slid into my room. She seemed extremely timid, opposite of her usual self. When we made eye contact she burst into tears and also ran into my arms.
“OH I’M SO SORRY. I should have never acted the way I had. You’re hurt and it’s my entire fault!” she cried.

“It’s okay; I won’t let anything ever happen to you two again.”
While living in this small town, nothing exciting really happens, except on TV. There are beautiful forests, pure lakes, and fresh air everywhere. It was a carefree paradise. But then these two girls came from the big city. They may be loud and demanding, but perhaps there is something that I can find to love in them. I still want my normal everyday peaceful life back... carefree, peaceful. Well, I guess I don’t mind crazy moments, well because it has become... my kind of... peacefulness to see these beautiful girls smile the way that they are now.