The four Vogie kids sat in the living room trying to be quiet. Mom and Dad were in the front room with some possible tenats for the apartment that they owned. The kids had been told not to make a lot of noise but they had already been shushed by Mom once. They weren’t loud kids but it was a rainy day and the little kids were starting to get rowdy. It didn’t help that the family dog, Lancelot, was being held on his leash by Nick.
Lance was under a year old and not very well behaved. When he was just with his family of Vogies he was fine. Well, except for a chewed-up sandal once in a while. When other people were around, the little black dog turned into a maniac! He would start barking and jumping and running around and nothing could make him stop.
As you can probably guess, having strangers in the house did not sit well with him. Occasionally he would growl low in his throat and his little body was tense. However, he had managed to take one of Alex’s socks from his feet and was currently chewing on it. “I wish we could go upstairs.” Whined Alex as he pulled his sock from the dog’s mouth.
“Why can’t we just pass by the table?” asked Sarah, who was lying on the couch with her legs against the back and her head hanging off the edge.
“Because, Sarah, that would be distracting and rude.” Libby said. “And why are you lying like that? It’s not very ladylike.”
“I don’t care. It’s entertaining me. And it’s more fun that talking to you.” To finish off this sentence she stuck her tongue out at her older sister. Libby rolled her eyes and turned to her other siblings. Sarah giggled and said in an impish tone, “I’m just kidding! But it is fun to annoy you.” Libby ignored this comment, which is good because anything she could have said would have started an argument.
“We could go through the cellar to the other side of the house, but it’s locked.” Nick said while he tugged on the leash. “Lance, be quiet for once in your life.”
Suddenly, Libby was struck with an idea. “The basement has a door leading outside AND it has a door that goes into the cellar that has the door into the house! We could unhook the latch between the basement and the cellar with a screwdriver and then go through the cellar to the kitchen and then up the stairs to the playroom! We won’t have to pass Mom and Dad because they’re in the dining room and we would be in the kitchen! Aren’t I brilliant?”
“Uhhhh, no?” Sarah said.
“You’re just being difficult. Come on, it’s a great plan!”
“I don’t have my shoes down here. “ Alex reminded them. Considering the fact that it was pouring and chilly outside this definitely put a damper on the plan.
“You could wear Dad’s boots!” Sarah suggested. “I do sometimes.” Libby looked at her with confusion.
“May I ask why? And may I ask why you are still lying that way?”
“The answer to both of your questions is… ’Cause it’s fun.” Sarah cheekily replied with her grin.
“I’ll never understand you and your need to do strange things.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t get you either.”
“Alright you two stop bickering. You sound like the typical sister set, fighting about dumb stuff. Might I remind you that we Vogie kids are anything but typical? Alex you wear Dad’s boots. We’re only going down the deck stairs. Let’s move out!” Nick took the lead and retrieved a screwdriver from Dad’s toolbox. With that in hand, he took the dog to the basement.
Libby, Sarah and Alex took a few minutes longer to get their shoes on. Since Alex was wearing his father’s boots, they went above his knees. Libby looked at him and said, “You better let me go ahead of you so I can catch you when you fall.” They then proceeded down the slippery deck stairs. Sarah went first, then Libby and finally Alex.
When they got to the basement the three of them found Nick failing to get the latch unhooked. “I don’t think this is going to work. I can’t even find the hook.”
“I think it’s up a little higher. The screwdriver is too low.” Libby was always fond of telling people what to do. Sarah on the other hand liked to just do it herself.
“Let me try. I think I got it! Wait, no. I thought I had flipped the hook off but the door still won’t open.” Nick took a step forward and tried to pull on the door but it wouldn’t budge. Alex waddled over in the big black boots and said in his squeaky little voice, “Umm, Nick? I think it opens the other way.”
“Oh, duh.” Sarah marched up to the door and pushed it open. A chorus of victory came from the small band of siblings. Lancelot just growled grumpily. He did not like being taken out in the rain and then being pulled, pushed, and stepped on.
“Alright, everyone, take your boots off here. We’ll come get them later. Nick, close the door and relock it.” Libby instructed. This being presently accomplished they agreed to go upstairs one at a time. Nick and the dog first, Sarah next, Alex, and finally Libby.
Nick came out of the cellar door and went into the kitchen with the dog under his arm and his hand gently over Lancelot’s mouth. He still had to pass the open door between the kitchen and the dining room before he reached the stairs. Swiftly he walked past the door and up the stairs. The rest of the Vogie kids followed him quietly.
“We did it!” High fives were exchanged and a movie was decided on. Soon even Lancelot was quiet. A little later Mom and Dad walked the future tenets to their car after signing a lease.
“What a nice tree house! Do you have children?” asked the woman.
“Yes, we have four. Nick, Libby, Sarah, and Alex.” The couple looked surprised.
“I remember seeing a little boy in your living room and later I heard someone come in, but I would have never guessed there were four. They’re very quiet children.”
“Thank you.” Mom replied She was glad to they had been so good but wondered what had kept them so quiet. Later that night at dinner Mom asked what they did while the tenats were there. Alex looked Sarah, Sarah looked at Libby, Libby looked at Nick, and Nick explained their escape in full detail. Dad laughed, Mom rolled her eyes, and dinner resumed.
This is so fun I really like this story! I'm excited for more!
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