The Forbidden Room
By Angela Vides

Today is the last day of school,one of the best days of the year,but yet I'm not happy. Today is the day I heard the dreadful,unexpected news that was going to demolish my day completely. This is what it was,"The family's coming next week,"my mother squealed with such excitement that still makes me wonder to this day,"What is wrong with that women?"

Just then my twelve-year old world crumbled into a million unrecognizable pieces that are still mending to this day. I felt like Humpty Dumpty.

You might be thinking why is she exaggerating so much?One answer,I'm not. Every year I dread the family reunion for one lonely and specific reason,my cousins. I may be the oldest but that doesn't make me the strongest.(I'm twelve-years old)They're an army of vicious little kids,ages nine all the way down to five. I don't just have four or five,I have thirteen. If you think one evil little kid is bad imagine thirteen. Horrible,I know.

Last year Little Benny chased me around with his pet python,Snuggles. It wrapped around my neck and almost strangled me.

Another time Diego and his little brother,Andy,suspended me from the lemon tree and "accidentally mistook"me for a pinata and began hitting me with a wooden bat.

By Angela Vides

I've managed to survive through all these attacks,somehow. You may ask where was my mother when all this was happening . She was in her very own home,socializing with her guests,thats where she was. Too busy to even notice her only daughter was in trouble.

As soon as I recovered from the surprise and shock I asked,"When are they coming?"in as gentle a voice I could summon up. I really felt like screaming out of the top of my lungs with all the power I could conjure up in the very depths of my soul. Okay,maybe I,m being just a tad dramatic,but it's true.

"They're coming next Wednesday. Exactly seven days from now,"my uncaring mother said.

"But why so early?Why three months early?"I asked with as much dignity that I had left.

By then my mother had already drifted off in her preparations for the so called "family event"of the year. For me it was the "family disaster"of the year.

"Oh,by the way,Haily, don't forget to pick out a dress," my mom yelled from the kithen rudely interrupting my thoughts as always.

When I recovered full control of my emotions and thoughts I marched up the stairs,to my room at the end of the hall. I opened the door. As soon as I did I felt a feeling of relief fall over me like a soft blanket,but still angry. First,I dropped my backpack that had been a burden to me all year and shoved it in a corner. Then I sat on the edge of the big window that takes up half of the left wall. It overlooks the garden,a couple of trees and a few roses.

My mother isn't much of a gardening person,but she calls it hers. Suddenly, this short time of peacefulness faded away,as a dark,thundering cloud descended on this seemingly perfect scene as I remembered the terrible news. I could feel the dampness in my short brown hair and the static on my skin. My bright blue eyes darkened to a dark sea blue.

The family reunion,chaos and mayhem. Every year this army of horrible little monsters thinks of new ways to torment me. Most of them are boys,except for the Terrible Two,a couple of identical twins. No one knows the true nature of these wild beasts because in front of adults they act like perfect little angels. When you first see them you could swear they're a gift sent from heaven. Don't let looks deceive you. Anyone could seem harmless at first,but when you turn your back they attack like a pack of ravenous lions.

Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.

After remembering all this I felt a spark of readiness. Readiness for what?I didn't know. I just knew I had to go talk to my parents. What I was going to say,I didn't know that either.

I walked over with such anger and determination I didn't realize what I was doing. I was walking myself right into trouble. I was marching myself to the Forbidden Room. The room that had always been off limits to me since forever,but I was being stupid and not thinking at the moment. I let the anger blind me,which always seemed to happen to me.

I turned the gold door knob and barged into the Forbidden Room. I saw for the first time the soft leather sofas,the big screen television,the crystal cabinets,the carefully placed ornaments,the velvet carpets,and finally the face of my enraged father. The room was everything I had imagined except for the hot tub which unfortunately wasn't here. The only thing that was wrong with this moment was that I was caught.

"Out!Get out,Haily!Go to your room!Never do this again!" my dad screamed angrier than ever,angrier than when his favorite team lost the super bowl.

"Yes,Sir,"I mumbled nervously because of the unexpected blow of words. I shut the door and quickly walked to my room. On my way I saw my mother nodding her head in disapproval. She couldn't have said it more clearly,"I told you so."

"He's really a nice person. Not feisty or mad. Very patient,you know,"I told my mom quickening my pace so I could get to my room faster. I finally,got to my room, my sanctuary. I can't believe I just did that. Stupid! Why didn't you think? If I don't get grounded it's going to be a miracle,truly. Imagine if I would've actually broken something. His head would've exploded. My ears would probably pop like popcorn in a microwave from all the steam coming out of his head.

I'm sure glad my mom wasn't in the room with my dad because together I would've never heard the end of it. It would be an endless supply and all I'd hear is, "Blah, blah, blah," which is good or all the words flying back and forth would probably drive me insane.

I glanced over to my closet and saw my inspiration calendar. I should mark the day I crash and burn,the family reunion

The days flew by tremendously fast, too fast. Thursday,Friday,Saturday, Sunday,Monday and Tuesday. The day approached. It snuck up on me. It hid until now and attacked on a brilliant Wednesday morning.

The sun was out. The birds were singing. Everything seemed perfect. It seems that terror always sneaks up on me on seemingly perfect days like this.

My mother and I prepared the house for the "family event".Thank god,the only one of the year.

My mother took out the cake,the last touch and placed it on the center table proudly. She admired it from afar. She'd worked on it for hours,seven layers stacked one on top of another with pink frosting and little red roses .If it tastes as good as it looks I love it.

"Ding. Dong,"I heard the doorbell ring.

"Oh,no!They're here,"I gulped. I got up from the sofa and hid under the dining room table, but then with relief I got up again. It was only Aunt Rosa and Uncle Chris. One by one,the party guests arrived,each time the doorbell rang I could feel my heart jump out of my chest.

Then finally,I saw my first cousin walk through the front door. I immediately got up and ran to my room. I hid under my bed. I always feel safer under things.It's like planes are dropping bombs on my head.It's a warzone wher anything can happen,but I'm ready for them.

I must've been under her for a long time because my back started to ache. Then I heard it, a ton of footsteps coming up the stairs along with a few chuckles and remarks I couldn't understand. I felt like a pig being hunted down by some hungry natives ready to roast me, and stick an apple in my mouth.

My heart beat faster and faster as they got closer and closer. Their footsteps stopped.

Then, "Boo!"

"Aaahh," I tried to yell but all that came out was a faint whisper.

"Come out and play, Cuz.We won't hurt you.We promise," they all said at once.They dragged me out by my feet. I got up and dusted myself off. My mom would scream if she saw me like this. I glanced at the crowd around me. They were all dressed in suits except for the Terrible Two. They were both wearing identical pink party dresses with little frills on the sleeves and collar.

"Uh, hi," I said nervously.

"Gurr.Attack!" they yelled as they closed in on me, like a pack of hyenas closing in on their prey.

"Nooo.This is my best dress.It's very expensive.You do know what expensive is,right?" I screamed as I was being buried under thirteen little people. Nothing I cold say would stop these kids.They were ruining my dress. Luckily, they only wrinkled it. I was able to push my way out of the fighting mob of children.  I straightened out my hair and dress and quickly ran out of my room, but before I could get downstairs to the party they sucked me into their wrath of doom again.

"We're going to play a little game called Pin the Tail on the Donkey,"said the Terrible Two with evil grins wiped across their faces.All I could do was fight like a brave soldier and hope for the best.

After we played Pin the Tail on the Donkey (I was the donkey) they decided we would play A Hunting We Will Go,and this is how you play.

"Go get Fluffy," they all cheered cheerfully.I could see the fire in their eyes,fire breathing monsters.A few seconds later out came Fluffy, a ferocious black pittbull that obeyed their every command.You probably already guessed who his master was, Little Benny.

"Sic her boy," he commanded wickedly. Instantly,the giant dog leaped forth and began running towards me. He was like an agile panther pursuing his prey, jumping over every obsticle to get it.

I instinctively began to run for my dear, sweet life. I scrambled up the lemon tree and sat there watching it try and get me."Bark!Bark!Gurr!"it yelped.

I could hear my heart beat. The scratches of Fluffy's big black paws on the bark,"Scratch.Scratch."The swaying of the tree and leaves,"Swoosh.Swoosh." My deep, heavy breaths.The chuckles of those coniving little brats,"Hi Hi Hi Hi.Hi"

Finally after twenty long minutes of sitting in the tree the brat decided to call Fluffy back.They came towards me and crowded around the lemon tree.

"Did you like Fluffy?"asked J.J., the smallest one in the group.  He was short and stalky with brown hair and eyes.(Plus his face was sort of squished together.)What he lacked in height he gained in wickedness.  Despite the fact he was the youngest, he was the leader, the mophia prince.  He stepped out of the mob and folded his arms across his chest.

"I really loved him, ya know. We're buds. That's why I was running and screaming,exactly why," I remarked sarcastically.

"Ya you could really tell," he said with a smirk on his face.

I think he's been watching too much of the Monk reruns. I hate to think what his generation will be like. A whole bunch of wannabe "mophia kings instead of wannabe "gangsters". It's just weird thinking about it.(I hope not.)

"For such a smart girl we have a special use. You see that fence? We accidentally threw our ball over that fence over there. We need you to go get it. Got it?" the mophia prince announced in a loud clear voice with his special accent for such occasions.

"No not Mrs.Jeinkeins house! She's crazy. Plus her cats make me sneeze a lot.  No way. Uh. Uh. Never!" I yelled desperately. Last time I went to give her a piece of pie while she was sitting on her porch, big mistake.  She thought I was a robber and chased me away with her broom.  Moral of the story: Never approach an old lady with pie.

I was brought back to reality by, "Hurry up!"  It was J.J,the mophia prince.   "I don't have time for this. Throw her over the fence guys!" They pulled me down from the tree by my legs and tossed me over the fence.

Luckily'I landed on a pile of leaves.  I felt a tickle in my nose.  "Achoo. Oh no, the cats are...achoo."  That's when I saw them, three cats with three more kittens approaching me. "Achoo." I got up, took the leaves out of my hair and scanned the backyard for signs of the missing ball.

"Aha." There it was, hiding behind a bush,the dark gray ball.  I stumbled towards it.  Then,"Crack!"  I stepped on a rake.

Out of the little yellow house came old Mrs. Jeinkeins in her frilly pink nightgown.  She was waving her wooden cane in the air. "Get out hooligan! Out I say! Don't step on my petunias!" she yammered(to yell)  She ran faster than any old lady I'd ever seen.  I threw the ball over the fence from afar that I had grabbed quickly before rushing to the fence.  I clawed my way up the fence and into my yard.

I now sat on the grass in my yard trying to catch breath from the sudden leap for life I just made.

"You're going to be punnished for your tardiness in the retrieval," the Terrible Two said.  "Attack!" they yelled. Once again I was caught in the fury. Kick! Scratch! Bite! We were a swirling ball of enraged children.Our fight was rudely interrupted by my mother, as always thankfully this time.

"Cake everyone," she announced to all the party guests.We immediately stopped and listened. The army of thirteen midgets ran into the house like a herd of rampaging elephants.

"Food!" the brats chanted in excitement. I was last to the house. By the time I arrived everything was gone except for one red rose.

"Nooo! This can't be! Not to me!" I screamed in agony.  After all this I deserve at least one piece of cake.  Everyone around me was eating cake,but not me, never me.  Were they getting beat up by a mob of evil little kids? No,so they don't deserve any cake!

Then I noticed it. The brats were gone! Oh,no, where could they be? Wait .  Why am I worried? They're gone. Whoopee! A moment of peace! My perfect moment was soon ruined from a loud crash upstairs. Then it hit me. The Forbidden Room!

I dashed up the stairs and into the Forbidden Room.  I couldn't believe what I saw.  They were jumping on the couches which legs had broken off.  The vases had been shattered.  The carpet was wrinkled,and the television wouldn't stop flipping channels.  As soon as the animals saw me they fled the scene laughing and giggling.

I ran to my room, grabbed the super glue, ran back to the severely damaged room and began gluing things back together. The things that couldn't be fixed I shubbed under the sofas like the shattered vases.  For my last touch I straightened the carpet out and closed the door behind me.Then I rememberded about the television, went back in and turned it off.  Then I fled the scene as well as my cousins.

I ran downstairs and noticed my parent were greeting the last of the family members out the door.

"The party was great.You probably had a lot of time to spend with your cousins," my dad sighed.  "I think I'll go upstairs and watch some television."

I felt like running up to him and stopping him but I froze.  I watched him as he walked up the stairs and disappeared into the hall.

Then I heard,"Haily Elizabeth Martin!"  I felt like Humpty Dumpty again.  I could see him falling off the wall and then,splat!

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