fallintofallfestival prompt fill / 2021 yearly prompt fill

[lovemeanyway]

Sophia is reading by the window when a crash pulls her from the engaging world of Neverland. With a sigh, she places the book on the table beside her chair and follows the sounds of Adriana trying to soothe Eddie’s crying. Once she’s rounded the corner she sees their mother’s favorite vase is broken on the ground near her sibling’s bare feet. Adriana’s small hand is wrapped around their brother’s wrist, gently trying to tug him away though he’s rooted to the spot.

As the oldest, Sophia has plenty of experience with crying little brothers and sisters. Especially when they’ve accidentally broken something of their parents.

“You’re lucky you're cute,” she says, swooping in to take Adriana’s place. “Otherwise, you’d be in a lot more trouble.”

“We didn’t mean to,” Adriana rushes to explain. “It’s my fault.”

Whether or not that’s true, Sophia isn’t going to argue about it. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter who’s at fault. Their parents will yell at all of them equally: Eddie for being too quick to play rough, Adriana for not acting like a young lady and not playing rough, and Sophia for not watching them carefully.

“Why don’t we go outside?” She kneels, taking Eddie’s hands in hers. “You want to go make a daisy chain?”

His nod is immediate, a small hiccup and his red, tear stained cheeks the only evidence he’s been crying. Sophia has used this exact method many times in the past, to the point that she knows it’ll make most of her brother’s foul moods go away. Even if he’s not very good at making the flower crowns for her and Adriana, he enjoys the tasks, falling into it with a single minded determination that makes all other thoughts impossible.

“I’ll make you one this time, Eddie,” Adriana says, taking his other hand as Sophia stands and begins leading him outside. “Just don’t tell dad.”