winteralley

"Mom! That hurts!" squealed Adeline.

"Sticks and stones may break your bones but goose feathers definitely will not!" She said as she slammed a pillow onto her daughter's behind.

"Foolish children." Anthony muttered as he listened to the squeals and giggles of his mother and sister.

"Peapea!" Bridget cried. She loved her doll and if she could talk, she would beg her parents to make it real.

Brandon also received a special toy from a distant uncle.

Unlike Anthony and Adeline, Lucie and David somehow found the time to teach their younger set of twins the skills they could never teach A & A.

"That's probably just my boss. Not important. Remember, Brandon, you must put one leg forward before you put the other one." David directed.

"And Daddy took Mommy on a date the night we made you and Brandon. We had sooo much fun, but you wouldn't understand it at your age!"

"You're almost there, son. Just remember you don't walk with two legs at a time. That's just strange."

"You're doing it! C'mon, princess, you're almost there!"

"You did it, Bridget!"

And soon enough, it was time for the twins' birthday again, although this time, they were having a proper family birthday.

Brandon grew up to have the inappropriate trait, which is quite appropriate for this picture.

"Alright, princess, it's your turn."

As David went to put Bridget down on the floor to transition into a child, a mysterious red flame broke out.

"WHOOOOO!" Lucie yelled. She stopped, stared, and froze.

"What the hell..." whispered Adeline.

But Brandon continued to eat his birthday cake.

"BRANDON WINTERGREEN, get out of that chair right now!" Lucie screamed.

The older twins began screaming, flailing their arms wildly in the air.

"David, hurry! Take Bridget outside!" said Lucie frantically.

"Baby, I love you." David said as he ran past her.

"Mom, what's going on? Why did the birthday cake set on fire?" Adeline cried.

"Nooo, I'm too young to die!" cried Anthony, "The heavens have not yet befitted me with the golden crown that will someday rule Sunset Valley!"

"Children, do not panic. I will call the fire department. Actually, all of us will call the fire department. Now!" Lucie ordered.

Brandon merely finished his cake and decided to take the plate to the bathroom sink.

Hmm...what is up with my brother? Adeline thought to herself.

"Alright, let's get out of here!" Lucie shouted.

But minutes later, David ran inside to save his youngest son. "Brandon, quickly go outside to help watch your sister while your brother and I deal with this."

But he stayed put.

But nobody could help it and everyone ran back inside to watch the exploding fire spread like a wildfire in a forest. David and Lucie tried to put up a brave front but secretly, each individual thought that all was lost. They had worked hard for nothing. They raised four beautiful children for nothing. There was going to be nothing left. All those hours and promotions didn't matter. At least they were safe.

Bridget was left alone outside with her doll, forgotten by the screaming cries coming from inside her house.

Finally, the fire was put out by early morning with the help of three firefighters.

"Guys, you should really be careful about the risk you've put your children into. I mean, what birthday cake causes such a huge fire anyway? What was there, wood in that cake? Seriously. Watch yourselves." the firefighter warned Lucie and David.

Lucie and David were upset at the unorganized chaos that had fallen upon their household, and Adeline couldn't help but notice...

"Ant, where is Brandon? And is it me or did he have no reaction to the fire at all?"

"Dear sister, we are alive! The heavens have spared me! My life has been changed dramatically and I am now turning over a new leaf for Sunset Valley has not seen my..." Anthony's voice faded.