Decisions
an excerpt

Nestled in her warm comfortable blankets, Sage rolled over away from the harsh screech of her alarm. Away from the fact that she had to get up, that today was another day she had to go to school, to face the neverending torment of stupid teachers who gloried in giving idiotic homework. Her classes had nothing to do with the real world. School was a prison for kids who were made to suffer for no good reason other than the fact that their parents had to do it, so to did she.
The alarm continued to blare. Sage continued to ignore.
“Shut the alarm off.” her younger sister screamed into the cool morning air. “I don’t have to get up yet. You got early showers this week.”
“You shut it off.”
“It’s right by your head.”
“So?”
Sage snuggled deeper into the covers. She gave into the smile, the simple pleasure of warmth and aggravating her younger sister, the source of her change of mood. Sage heard Sari throw her covers off. Listened as she stomped across the room and slammed her hand down on the alarm.
“I hate you.”
“Hey, we don’t say that in this house.” The booming deep male voice of their father filled the room.
Sage stifled a giggle, loving when Sari’s antics are caught by her parents.
“And you, my oldest, have to get up and get in the shower or no one will want to be around you today.” He turned to leave the room as suddenly as he appeared. “You need to shut off the alarm, Sage. Don’t think for a second that I’m going to get after Sari next week when her alarm wakes you.”
“Whatever.” She shot out in irritation with her dark mood flooding over her like a wave. “Like you ever do.”
“Get up, dear heart.” He chuckled ignoring her biting comment. “Shower time.”
Not wanting to push her father, she slipped out of the covers. “I’m up. I’m up.”
“Good. Sari, go back to sleep you have a whole 20 minutes left.”
“Great, thanks Dad.”
“You are most welcome.”
He slipped out of the room and down the hall to the boys room.
Freshly showered, Sage walked back into the room she shared with her sister. Being oldest had it’s privelages. She shared a room with Sari. The younger sisters were packed into a room with two bunkbeds and a crib fort he youngest Keagen, Laura, barely a year. Her brothers also slept in a room piled high with bunk beds too. Her large family would be a source of embarrassment for many of the kids at school, many kids teased her, but all her friends, her real friends, have large families, very large and getting larger.
Her friends and their families share a secret, share a knowledge that there is more to the world, more than what the average person knows. Werewolves are real. She knew the truth, her father, as well as her friends fathers were shapeshifters, werewolves. They could shift into wolf form at will. They didn’t have to wait until the full moon. They didn’t lose their human brains. They didn’t have an undying blood lust. They were as normal as anyone else, except they can become wolves and run in the woods, track, and any of the other wolf things they can do.

Although the teasing this year was worse than the past. Now that everyone knew where babies came from, well, lets say that her friends now in middle school, kids asked if her parents ever get out of bed and stuff like that. “It’s all dumb.” she muttered to herself.

“I am not.” Sari said
“Didn’t.”
“I heard you.”
“Heard me what?”
“I heard you call me stupid.”
“I didn’t.”
“You said ‘it’s all dumb.’”
“I did?”
“No I’m lying to you.”
“I was thinking about the kids at school. Do they ask you if...” She stopped wondering if her sisters fifth grade mind should know about things like sex.
“What?” Sari asked pulling her clothes out of the drawers before jumping in the shower.
“Nothing. Never mind.” Sage decided not to share. No need to upset Mom anymore than you have to. Being pregnant was hard on her. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What? You started it. It’s not fair to stop in the middle of something like that.”
“You’re too young and I don’t need to get into trouble again. I’m still gorunded because of last week.”
“Do your homework and you don’t get grounded.” Sari grabbesd up her clothes and stomped from the room. “And I’m not a baby.”
“It soooo shows.” Sage yelled to her back. “Knew you were too young.”
The only answer was the slamming of the bathroom door.

“Hey, girl.” Calla greeted as she piled into the van.
“Hey.”
“How are you?”
“Tired.”
“Ya me too. The baby’s teething. It’s not fun.”
“Nope never is.”
“Morning, Sage.” Bellen, Calla’s mother, called from the drivers seat.
“Morning. You get stuck with the middle school run?”
‘Yes, but it’s all good. We have to go pick up the others. Kinda figured you two would talk the extra time away.”
“Ya.” Sage said looking intot the rearview mirror to see Bellen’s beautiful eyes hidden behind glasses. “You should wear contacts.”
“Nope. I like my glasses. Can’t stand the thought of putting things right on my eye. Gives me the creeps.”
“I would die before wearing glasses.”
“Well, hopefully you have enough of your father in you that won’t ever be an issue. There are a few benefits for you because of his shifting abilities.”
“Whatever.” Calla rolled her eyes. “You have no idea, Mom, so quit it. You didn’t have to put up with kids at school. They are just dumb.”
“Ya.” Sage agreed. “You got that right.”