Snow fell lightly on the ground as a young girl skipped over a frozen pond. Her older sister sat on the other side, face grim. Their older brother had a sly smile on his face, waiting for their little sister to cross. “I don’t think this is a good idea, you never know when the ice will break.” The older brother laughed, “Stop worrying Rejia! It’s fine!” Rejia got up as the girl slipped, “Raven! Please be careful!” Raven got up and smiled, “Don’t worry sis!” Raven laughed and jumped across. The older bot smiled, and raised his hand for a high-five. Raven slapped his hand, “I did it Oz!” Oz laughed and beckoned Rejia over, “Come on! Or are you to scared to cross.” He taunted. Rejia tensed, “Am not!” She put on foot on the ice and started to cross slowly. Raven smiled, “Come on sis! You can do it!” Rejia pelted across. She slid in the snow and fell to her knees. Oz slapped her back, “Now that’s the spirit!” Raven helped her up and dusted the snow off her clothing. Rejia smiled at Raven, and then turned to Oz. “Don’t ever let me do that again,” she growled. Oz smiled and got up, his breath hissed out of his frozen lips. “Let’s get home, mother will be worried.” They started to walk home, arms holding themselves from the cold. Raven ran ahead, singing some nonsense song about winter in Russia. Rejia smiled softly at her sister’s joy. Raven then ran circles around them till they got home. Oz put a finger to his lips, “Shh.” They walked in and pulled off their winter boots. They pulled off their jackets and socks. Oz kept a finger to his lips and they crept to the fire to warm. An older women that wore an apron and grey clothing stood in the kitchen door way. Her arms crossed over her chest, “It is past time for you to come in.” Oz flinched and looked down, “Sorry mother, it’s my fault we’re late, I dared them to walk across the frozen lake out back. I’m sorry.” She stared at them then broke a smile, “Well, come in here for dinner. Raven, you set the table.” She turned and went back into the Kitchen. Raven followed, as did Oz and Rejia. Raven set the table quickly and their mother put the food down. They sat around the table as their mother dished out the chicken soup. She sat down and they ate. After eating Rejia put the food away and sighed. “Go play,” their mother laughed. They ran outside, Raven ahead of them. Raven pointed, “Hey look! Father’s home!” Men in stiff Russian uniforms walked across the snow covered rode. “Father! Father!” Raven skipped around. Oz stood stiff as they passed. At the head, stiffer than the rest was their father, the commander of the squad. He waved his hand and the men softened and scattered to their own homes. He turned to them, a smile on his face. “Hey guys! Where’s your mother, I want to see her.” They led him into the house where he greeted their mother with smiles. Tears filled her eyes as she looked him over, “I’m so happy your home.” He smiled and turned to Oz, putting a hand on his shoulder, “I came home to get him, he can go to war, and we need every boy we can get.” Oz tensed, “Right.” They walked out of the house, with Raven, Rejia and their mother, watching. They listened to the truck leave before they sat down at the dinner table. Raven looked scared, “I never thought brother would join the army, I always thought it would be over before he had to…” Rejia smiled and ruffled her hair, “Ya, and me to.” Rejia sighed and went to her room for the night, Raven followed, curling up next to her on the large bed. Rejia watched Raven’s slow breathing for a little while before falling asleep. When they woke, the smell of bacon wafted through their rooms. Raven smiled and ran to the kitchen in her night cloths. Rejia took a slower time, sleep still keeping her down. She dressed slowly and walked to the kitchen. Raven smiled with a piece of bacon in her mouth. .Rejia sat and ate slowly, also drinking the coffee her mother sat in front of her. She sipped the detectible dink slowly, as Raven begged their mother to give her some. “No, you’re still a bit too young.” Raven pouted, and when she returned to her seat I let her have a sip of mine. “Thanks,” she whispered. Rejia smiled and finished eating.
When they woke, the smell of bacon wafted through their rooms. Raven smiled and ran to the kitchen in her night cloths. Rejia took a slower time, sleep still keeping her down. She dressed slowly and walked to the kitchen. Raven smiled with a piece of bacon in her mouth. .Rejia sat and ate slowly, also drinking the coffee her mother sat in front of her. She sipped the detectible dink slowly, as Raven begged their mother to give her some. “No, you’re still a bit too young.” Raven pouted, and when she returned to her seat I let her have a sip of mine. “Thanks,” she whispered. Rejia smiled and finished eating.