Ice frozen dreams turned golden

Chapter 19

It was the warmest day since the beginning of spring and Lizzie couldn't wait for the bell to ring to get home. She was sure Nora would come up with a great idea of what they could play today.

Lizzie loved the time she spent with Nora - out of all the Alwyn kids she was the one most similar to herself. Nora did her schoolwork almost as neatly as she did and they were often found doing their homework together, while Nora was asking Lizzie a thousand questions.

Or they would play something together - mostly something Nora wanted to play but Lizzie was always happy to join her. And today she couldn't wait for it!

"I have the best idea ever for today!" Nora told her in the car after Joe had picked them all up from school. "But it's going to be a surprise, so I won't tell you! Get ready to lose though... No one can beat me!"

Nora laughed and Lizzie chuckled as well. To be honest Lizzie rarely beat Nora in anything but that was fine with her. Unlike her mom who had taught her, that she always had to win, Lizzie didn't have a problem with losing - especially if it made her sibling happy, and Nora was the most competitive person Lizzie knew.

When they came home Nora and Lizzie made their way into the kitchen, hugging Taylor and grabbing a few cookies that Taylor always prepared for her kids as a snack after school. Lizzie loved them even though she still had problems eating as much as the other kids did as her stomach wasn't used to this much food.

"I have the most brilliant idea, Mom! Is the shed open? I need to get something from there." Nora asked her mom and Taylor nodded her head.

"It shouldn't be locked. Your brilliant idea isn't dangerous though, is it?!" Taylor laughed, and Nora vehemently shook her head.

"Mom! You know that Lizzie and I are the responsible ones in this family. We would never do anything dangerous..." The young girl pretended to be shocked, and Lizzie had to suppress a laugh as she could recall Nora climbing up a tree just last week making Taylor and Joe worry sick as she suddenly had had problems climbing back down.

"Of course, I know that, little squirrel..." Taylor replied, referencing exactly the event Lizzie just had thought of. "Have fun, you two!"

"Thanks, Mom! And I've told you a million times: I'm not a little squirrel!" Nora protested and grabbed a few more cookies. "Let's go change into something that can get wet. Meet me in five minutes in the garden, okay?!" Nora asked Lizzie who was still nibbling on her first cookie.

"Kay" she mumbled and flashed a smile at Taylor before she followed Nora upstairs to change out of her school uniform.

****
"Are you ready for the best idea ever?!" Nora asked a few minutes later and was just about to open the shed and reveal her "big idea".
Lizzie nodded in excitement - Nora usually had the most creative and fun ideas, and Lizzie always loved them.

Nora opened the shed and looked around for a few seconds before she pointed to a shelf at the right.

"Tadaaaa! We're going to have the biggest water battle with these squirt guns!" The younger girl exclaimed, and Lizzie could only force a smile.

She was desperately trying to block out some unpleasant memories, swallowing a few times before she could even reply.
"It's really a great idea, Nora! I bet you are going to win, though. I have never used a water gun before..."