Thirteen Summers

C A M E R O N

I was recently witness to my siblings, Nicholas and Josephine making a protein shake in the kitchen, before school, while I had my morning coffee.

Nick was mainly preparing everything while Josie helped him by chopping the fruit and some veg.

They'd both come back from a run, still clad in their activewear.

"Okay, time to blend." Nick commented, about to start.

"Wait, I think I'm gonna go take a shower now." Josie suddenly stopped him, turning to make an exit.

Nick looked at her, with a mockingly disapproving look. "Hold it. It's better to take protein within thirty minutes to an hour after, it's already been 25 minutes, just drink this before you go."

Josie hesitantly nodded and fiddled with her hoodie sleeves, nervously.

Despite knowing what was coming, I watched as she jumped in fright as the noise of the blender filled the kitchen.

Her hands were now clamped over her ears, eyes closed as she backed herself into the wall.

Nick didn't notice as he was too busy focusing on the blender but I did, I always did.

I watched every little quirk, noticed every little peculiarity.

I had to, I owed it to her— to all my siblings, really but to her especially for she had no one who cared enough, before she lived with us, to even pay attention let alone do anything about it.

I couldn't help but wonder how things would be if Josie had grown up with us.

How different things would've been.

"Drink." Nick spoke, before starting to drink his own glass.

Josie approached it tentatively, peering inside the cup and tilting it, the thick liquid inside moving around before she finally took a sip.

Her face was frozen as if she was thinking.

"It's good, right?"

"Yeah..."

"But what? You don't like it."

"No, just...the texture is kinda weird." She commented, still not taking another sip of it.

"Oh, well it won't bother you the more you have a it, you'll see. Drink up."

Except I knew she wouldn't, Josie was picky about certain textures in food and drink, certain materials and patterns.

It took a little while to figure out what she preferred and what would bother her, even then I was still discovering new things about her events mix

I was proven right as she nursed the glass for the next five minutes whereas Nick had already finished his.

It was a Friday and the staff were always off for the weekend starting today so Nick had started making himself a real breakfast, he hadn't noticed that Josie's glass was still full.

"It's fine, I'll drink it." I reached my hand out waiting for her to pass but she looked back at Nick, who was paying us no mind, worriedly. "It's okay, go take your shower."

After she left, I managed to finish her protein shake quite quickly.

Nick had just finished up and was about to sit down with his food when he realised the glass was in front of me.

"She didn't like it?" He looked down at then back up at me, confused. "She could've said, I wouldn't be upset."

"No, she liked it. I liked it." I shrugged, then suggested. "Add more water next time, though."