By Caroline Andrews
Up and down, up and down. Lissa swung, her feet dragging on the grass. Grasping the handles of the swing, she hung her head back and stared up at the blue sky, trailing her blonde hair behind her.
"The sky's so beautiful today," she said to herself. "I wonder who lives up there?" She watched some clouds float by. "Whoa, that one looks like a princess! Naw, there's no cloud in the world that could look like a princess!" She giggled, and then glanced at another one. "And that one....hmm. That one looks like..a puppy dog! A little one...maybe a Bichon." She smiled at the thought of a Bichon cloud! For a few more minutes she gazed at the puffy white cloud, and then a voice startled her and drew her out of her reverie.
"Lissa! Melissa! Come inside now! Have you finished your chores? And cleaned your room? And fed your hamster for today? And I need to make dinner now so you need to watch the baby now. Come on, hurry up and come in!" Lissa's mother directed from the porch door. Lissa sighed, sat up on the swing, and dragged her feet until the swing halted. She stood up slowly and ambled inside, thinking.
"Chores chores chores. It's always 'Lissa do this' and 'Lissa do that'. I never have any time to myself! There's time for Emma to do things and go places. Just because she can drive she can do whatever she wants, and I'm the one stuck at home babysitting and cleaning up and always helping Mom. It's just not fair!" Lissa pouted as she walked into the house. About three steps into the doorway, the work began. Lissa had kicked off her shoes and headed up for her room, but before she could get anywhere Mom pelted her.
"Here Lissa take David. I can't make dinner with him crawling up my leg! And why don't you take him up to your room and clean up."
"But Mom...I can't get anything done while I'm watching him!"
"Oh sure you can. Just put him on the floor and let him crawl around while YOU clean up. Just don't let him into the bobby pins or the nail polish! And watch your phone too...it doesn't take much for him to break it! Oh and careful of your school scissors...he could cut himself! And the corners...watch him closely if he gets up and tries to walk! You know he falls down easily..." Lissa stormed off as Mom finished giving instructions. She stomped up the stairs dragging David behind her.
"Ugh. Mom just doesn't get it! I have my own stuff to do too you know! I can't spend my whole life just watching David, cleaning up, and basically being the Molly Maid!" Reaching her room, she yanked open the door and glared.
"AAH! It's a mess!! My life is horrible. Everything is wrong and it's all a disaster. I can't stand it! Mom's driving me crazy and my room's a mess and I have too much to do!" Lissa flopped down on her bed and started to cry. Little David remained on the floor, watching Lissa with a puzzled look on his face. Suddenly he brightened up and said,
"Wissa! T'OK! Jesus hewp!"
Lissa looked up, smiling through her tears. She answered, "David, you're right. I'll pray about this." So together they knelt down, big sister and little brother, and Lissa prayed while David looked cute with his hands folded and trying to keep his eyes closed. When they were finished, David crawled over to a book on the floor. He got behind the book and pushed it to Lissa.
"Wissa! Here! Cwean up dis book! Dis on de floor! Dat's not good." Lissa giggled and grabbed the book from David.
"Thanks David. Should we clean up my room together?" David nodded, a big grin on his face. He had cheered up Lissa! The little boy was proud of himself, and in hopes of another smile from Lissa, he hurried to get another book.
"Here Wissa. Cwean up dis one too!" Lissa took it from him and put it on the shelf.
In about twenty minutes Lissa's room was looking spik-and-span again. She brushed off her hands and reached for David's little fingers.
"C'mon David, let's go downstairs," she smiled. David grabbed her hands and they went down the stairs again, into the kitchen.
"Mom?" Lissa asked.
"What?" her mom replied, busy at the stove.
"I'm sorry," Lissa shrugged pentiently. "I was complaining and I should've just taken the jobs you gave me and served joyfully. I'll try to do that in the future."
Mom smiled and put her arm around Lissa. "I forgive you. And I'm sorry too, for giving you too much to do and expecting more out of you then you could handle. I'll try to respect that from now on."
Lissa smiled, "I forgive you too Mom."
Then Mom's eyes twinkled, and she said playfully, "How about a break for my hard working daughter? This Saturday, why don't you invite some friends over and do something fun? Maybe you could go swimming or something?"
Lissa gasped, "Really Mom?!"
Mom smiled at her bright-eyed daughter. "Really. You go have fun, and I'll get Emma to babysit if I need it. Enjoy yourself honey."
Lissa jumped joyously and hugged her mom. "Thanks Mom! I'll ask them right away. I can't wait!! And from now on- I'm not going to be a complainer anymore, because all my hard work and joyful service is rewarded."
