I woke up to the sun streaming down on me, and my window and curtains open. ‘That’s weird,’ I thought. ‘I know I closed them last night.’ I ran through possibilities in my head, deciding that my mother came in and opened them to wake me up. I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. All of a sudden I smelled a lovely aroma. Pancakes. I ran down our old farmhouse stairs, the wood worn down with years of use, following the scent. My mother greeted me with a pierced stare. 

“I was wondering when you’d get up,” she barked. “Now come give me a hug.” I laughed and skipped over to her, grabbing a plate on the way. My mother is our town’s mayor, so while some people saw her as tough and unforgiving, I knew she was a softie on the inside.

“Where’s Emily?” I inquired.

“Outside as usual. Probably getting her new dress dirty too.” I nodded and grabbed a pancake with my hands. Momma grabbed it back and growled, 

“Use the silverware! Sometimes I think I raised pigs instead of little girls!” I only rolled my eyes and stabbed another pancake with a fork, lifting it to my plate. I blushed a little and said, 

“So uh, where’s Michael?” Momma smirked and waggled her eyebrows.

“You mean our only neighbor? Oh right! Well, he’s been waiting for you since dawn! Such a sweet boy you snagged Hannah.” I’m sure I turned a firetruck red just then. I dashed out the door, pancake in hand. I still heard mother’s cackle as I ran like I had a fire on my heels. I slowed to a walk once I got far enough away from the huge house. While cutting the pancake I caught a glimpse of Emily playing near the woods. I shoveled the pancake into my mouth, listening to the morning bird song, as I walked toward her. Momma would not be happy. Em had gotten the whole front side of her dress coated with her freshly made mud pies. From behind someone grabbed my shoulders. I stiffened, getting ready to run when a familiar voice cut through my thoughts. I immediately swooped around and kissed Michael.