A Soccer Story, Part 3, WBM Original, By Makaila Odoom

Chapter 3: Sisterly Duties

After we finally finished setting everything up, and guests started arriving, Mari had to go home. Apparently, her family is holding their reunion for this year, and they have to set up the guest rooms. Mari's family is gigantic, so they have a lot of work ahead of them. Of course, I offered to help her tomorrow.

Chloe and Olive tug on my arms. "Can we go outside with the pets, Phoebe?" Olive asks.

Here's a fun fact about the Rivers family. We have nine pets.

Yes, nine.

Chloe and Olive each have a pet mouse. Chloe's mouse's name is Penny, and Olive's mouse’s name is Holly. They're both girls and they're very well trained and super smart. They can do almost any trick dogs can and know not to wander far from their owners.

Colin has a pet english lop rabbit named Toffee and a west highland white terrier named Shepherd. Shep is a boy and Toffee is a girl and they're also very well trained. Ironically, they're also best friends.

My mom and dad have a parakeet named Sebastian. He's also really smart, and he knows not to fly away, always staying within our property. 

And then there's me. I have four pets. Two cats, Daisy and Phil a chinchilla named Sunflower. And a dog, Paisley.

How do I manage so many pets you ask? Well, I have a good amount of technology to help me when I'm busy, like automatic feeding and water bowls. I try not to rely on devices too much, and I use them only when absolutely necessary. Except for my self-cleaning litter boxes. Those are always necessary.

Our yard is one big playground for the animals. Lots of places to climb, safe things to chew on, small trees to perch on. Our backyard looks like an animal sanctuary. When we have guests over, we put our pets in their respective rooms.

"Sure, guys. Go get Sebastian, the mice and Toffee, okay?”

They nod and race upstairs. I smile and climb up after them.

Getting four eager animals down the Stairs is fairly easy when you give them treats. Getting them around animal crazed thirteen-year-olds is another story. 

When we finally get outside, they take off to each of their areas, while I snap pictures of them being super adorable on my phone.

Chloe and Olive are running around playing with all the animals except for Daisy, who's curled up in my lap, licking my leg. She's always been clingy but it’s super cute.

Suddenly, Chloe comes running over.

"Phoebe!" she yells, “Sebastian said he wants to see Ollie pay soccer.”

I laugh. "I dunno if Colin would like Oliver here right now..." I hesitate. "Maybe tomorrow though.”

Now, Olive comes over next to Chloe.

"Why do they hate each other so much?" Olive asks.

I shrug, "Beats me. Oliver could practically be Colin's twin instead of me."

"That's weird? Chloe says. I nod.

"Who knows? Maybe one day they'll work it out.”