The next morning Ashton was gently woken by the sound of birdsong, as the sparrows sang to one another, flitting outside the window. They often perched on the windowsill outside, pecking at the corners to steal the insects that had been caught in the spider’s webs.

Ashton opened his eyes, seeing his sister sleeping beside him, still facing him as she had the night before when she had first laid down. Her hand still in his.

He smiled at that; having forgotten for a moment that she was by his side.

Ashton let out a deep and calming sigh, closing his eyes again, listening to the birdcalls outside his window.

He was just drifting off to sleep once more, when the door to his bedroom was thrown open, bouncing back off the wall loudly.

Alicia jolted awake, eyes wide and staring at the door now.

‘SURPRIIIIIIIIIIISE!’

It was their mother. Maya was dressed in very bright and beautiful colours, blue, yellow and orange. She wore an Indian style dress, the yellow shawl she wore slung over a shoulder and resting on the crook of her arm. Her hair was beautifully done, and a delicate chain of bright jewels ran across her forehead.

She glided into the room, holding a wicker basket in her hand that was filled with confetti piled high, coloured orange white and green. She began to toss it in the air as she went, moving swiftly over to the bed Ashton and Alicia rested upon, filling the air with confetti that rained gently down upon them.

Isaac followed after his wife, singing merrily in his booming voice. He was dressed in a very well-fitting (custom-made) Indian dress, and wore a bright red turban upon his head, and was waving around silken strips of red cloth. Dancing and twirling after his wife.

‘What a wonderful day for a celebration!’ Isaac was booming.

Alicia ignored both of them, grabbing the pillow from the bed and holding it over her ears and groaning.

Ashton sat up from the bed, groaning and rubbing his eyes. He took his hand away from Alicia’s, running his hands down his face tiredly.

‘What are you doing?’ he grumbled to his parents wearily.

‘It’s a celebration!’ Maya called out loudly. ‘We should rejoice!’

‘What are we celebrating?’ Ashton asked his mother in a groan.

‘Its Tuesday!’ Maya and Isaac said in unison, grasping each others hands and leaning into one another.

‘Isn’t that great?’ Isaac hollered.

As Maya continued to hold the wicker basket, laughing and giggling joyfully, Isaac grabbed whole handfuls of the confetti she carried, throwing it up in the air over the bed.

Ashton watched them passively now, chin resting on his palm, eyes half-closed, still feeling tired.

Beside him Alicia tried her best to ignore both of them, still with the pillow over her head.

‘Why are you dressed in Indian clothes?’ Ashton asked them.

‘We are celebrating their culture’ Maya giggled back.

‘And the fact its Tuesday’ Isaac chipped in.

‘Oh yes!’ Maya exclaimed then. ‘Its Tuesday! Isn’t that wonderful?!’

Ashton nudged Alicia beside him, asking her if she wanted breakfast.

‘Oh yes please’ she spoke enthusiastically now, taking the pillow away from her face. ‘And fast.’

They left the room together, leaving Isaac and Maya behind in the bedroom, they began singing and dancing about the room, jumping on the bed and being incredibly loud.

‘Oh’ Ashton sighed then as they reached the kitchen. ‘The maids will have fun cleaning up all that confetti.’

Alicia sighed in agreement, though said nothing.

‘Honestly’ Ashton shook his head slowly, glancing behind him as they walked down the corridor. ‘What are they like? I just don’t know where they get their energy from.’