Haven Harbor • a.i. •

Chapter Three

"Car wake up!" I heard a voice call out to me and then felt the force of a tiny body bouncing on me.

"Ugh Ender!" I groaned as he jumped on me.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" He yelled again.

"I'm up!" I said, sitting up in my bed. "Someone's energetic this morning."

"Yea and i'm hungry to!" He said, jumping again.

"Alright, alright." I said.

I moved to look like I was sliding out of bed but instead I flipped the blanket over Enders head, flipping him over and tickling him.

"No!" He squealed.

I giggled as he thrashed beneath me trying to get free of the blankets and picked him up in my arms. He moved around still squealing and I plopped him down on the bed. He rolled off onto the floor, landing on my blue fuzzy rug.

"Car!" He giggled and I laughed as his rosy cheeks appeared from the mass of blankets.

"Gotcha!" I winked at him. "Race you downstairs!" I yelled before bolting out of my room.

"Hey, no fair!" He called after me but wasted no time in chasing after me.

I beat him to the kitchen both of us laughing and out of breath.

"Cheater!" He stuck his tongue out at me.

"You're just jealous that I won." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Whatever." He scoffed but gave me a cheeky grin.

As I walked to the fridge to pull out ingredients for pancakes I noticed the blue and gold invitation hanging on the refrigerator.

"Oh I completely forgot this was tonight!" I gasped as I pulled the paper from under the magnet.

"What is it?" Ender asked, grabbing a glass from the cupboard.

"The annual first week of season party for the businesses on the marina." I explained.

"Oh yea. Oops." He shrugged.

"Well we have to go and we need to bring a dish. I'll call Mrs. Riley down the dock and ask her what to bring."I sighed, placing down the invitation. "End, want to start breakfast for me?"

"Sure!" He chirped, heading to the fridge while I grabbed the telephone from the counter.

I dialed the number I had memorized a while ago.

The phone rang twice before a cheerful voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Riley? Hi, this is Carter from down the pier."

"Oh hello dear, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Riley. I was wondering what I could bring to the party tonight?" I asked sweetly, my voice going up a few octaves.

"Oh just bring a casserole dear, it doesn't matter. I can't wait to see your lovely face tonight." She said, her grandmotherly tone soothing me.

"Of course, Mrs. Riley, see you then." I hung up the phone.

-

It was 5:00 in the evening.

I placed the cutting board on the cabinet as I listened to the television in the other room.
Ender was sunk into the couch watching a show on the television.

I turned around and reached into the refrigerator for some carrots. I washed them in the sink and then placed them on the cutting board. I was midway through the second carrot when I heard a knock at the door.