𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 | ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟚 𝕠𝕗 ' 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕖 ' HIATUS

xvi

July 4th, 1994

Eurielle stared out, watching as the golden sun disappeared behind the tall pine trees behind her great grandparents's house. A cool summer breeze made her dark curls twirl and dance in the air and she breathed in, the smell of a bonfire and grilled foods attacking her nose.

" What're you doin' out here, Ellie?" asked her Uncle from behind her.

She shrugged, " Just taking a break,"

He nodded and leant against the wooden beam that held up the porch, " You don't like coming here, huh?" he asked with a small smile.

She glanced over at him and shook her head, " No, it's not that," she said adjusting her faded overalls, " It's just the thing that ties me to this place ... it's as if it's absent and I'm here- but not. " she sighed running a hand over her tan face.

He smiled, " C'mon, sweet pea," he said linking his arm with hers, guiding her to the front of the house where Leo, Jason, Caleb, and Patrick were being chased around by their father Edwin, " If you throw another water balloon boys, I swear-!"

SPLASH!

All four boys threw a different colored balloon at their father who stood there, looking defeated. His wife, Jane, laughed before taking her wand out and flicking it toward her husband, drying him instantly. He thanked her before turning to the porch, pretending to vomit at the sight of Eurielle.

" WHO BROUGHT THE RED COAT?!" he bellowed, pointing at her.

Her lip curled and she walked down the steps, " EWWWWW!" said Oscar, the eldest out of all of them, " I SAY WE THROW HER IN THE HARBOR!"

Sixteen children and young adults shouted their agreement and Eurielle laughed, picking up a water balloon from the bucket, " My own family," she said solemnly, approaching Oscar who was sitting beside Aurelia and Caspian.

" Be Careful!," shouted twelve year old Rafael, Evan's son, " She's armed!"

Eurielle feigned being insulted, " You really think I'd do such a thing?"

Little Marcy, Josie's daughter grabbed a water balloon and came up to Eurielle, " Can I be a red coat?" she asked with big brown eyes.

" NO!" screamed Caspian, " SHE'S GOT MARCY!"

Edwin's sons, all for the sake of holding water balloons, declared themselves redcoats and charged over to Eurielle as Edwin fell to his knees, " I have no children!" he screamed at the sky.

" In order to be a redcoat you must revoke all American spelling and Quadpot!" she announced and her cousins screamed as if she had cursed their mother's, " You monster!" yelled seventeen year old Kayla.

The children that ranged from five to seven happily did, causing Edwin to fake cry into Jane's arms, " CHARGE!" bellowed Eurielle and the small children launched balloons in every direction.

Eurielle hurled hers toward Caspian who took it straight to the face, he rolled over a car's hood, earning a shout from their Aunt Judy, " TO THE SHEDS!" he screamed, being followed by Louisa, Rafael, Penny, Anna, and Desmond.

" Run for it!" Eurielle hollered as the kids busted out of the shed with water guns, " TO THE HARBOR!" said Oscar, barrelling toward Eurielle who was nowhere near as fast as he was. He scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

" Oscar! You bleeding idiot let me down!" she yelled.

" I'm sorry I only speak freedom!" he said back, " Lacey, come over here and give me a hand!"