Christmas Vacation

When the lake froze over, everyone in the cabin was really happy. Well, almost everyone. One person that didn't like it was, Alexa. Alexa was never a fan of the lake in general. She absolutely loathed it in the Winter. As most of her family seemed to hang out there more during Christmas Vacation. And staying away from it wasn't an option. Since, her parents said it was 'family time' and she couldn't back out of 'family time'.

So Alexa would suck it up and just go along. If just to make her parents and two younger twin brothers, Robert and Joseph.

Robert and Joseph knew she wasn't a fan of the lake. So they never tried to force her to play their games. Instead they would just ask if she wanted to play with them. Sometimes Alexa would play along. Do whatever games they liked to keep them happy. Other times she wouldn't be in the mood and politely refuse. Opting to just sit on the bench near the lake. Reading on her phone.

Today, the boys seemed fed up with her not wanting to play with them. So, Robert decided to take her phone from her. Playing 'keep away' as she chased them onto the ice. Her parents tried to step in to help get her phone back. Telling the twins that it wasn't okay. But, it was already too late. The phone fell onto the ice and skidded across. Falling into a hole that none of the family noticed earlier. Soon as the phone disappeared into the hole, Alexa let out a frustrated scream and threw her hands up. Glaring at her little brothers, she shouted,"THANKS A LOT YOU LITTLE ASSHATS!"

"We're sorry! We didn't know it was there!",Robert said. Joseph hiding behind him as he started bawling. All that did was piss Alexa off even more. She shoved the twin that wasn't crying hard. Sneering as she hissed,"You shouldn't have taken my fucking phone in the first place! I told you that I didn't want to go on the ice!"

"I hate both of you! I wish you both had never been born!",Alexa snapped. Something that made both of her parents, Luis and Theodora, stare at her wide eyed. Her Mother set her hands on her hips. While her Father crossed his arms tight against his chest. In a stern voice, Theodora stated,"Alexa Rose MacCready! How can you say such a thing?"

Instead of responding to her Mother, she just stormed off the ice. Ignoring the sound of her younger brothers crying as she walked away. And barely noticing that Luis had been following her off the ice. Doing her best to ignore him as she walked toward their cabin. Half-way there, Luis finally broke the silence. In a stern voice, he said,"I understand that you're upset that they broke your phone. But telling your brothers you wish they hadn't been born was too far."

"You shouldn't have said that at all.",he added. Keeping pace with his daughter without much effort. Alexa's rage slowly ebbed out of her as they walked. And the guilt started to wash over her. In a low voice, Alexa muttered,"It...I know...but I was just so freaking angry..."

"I know you were. But that's not an excuse to scream that at them.",Luis stated. Gently patting his daughter's shoulder. Knowing that his daughter had a hard time controlling her temper. And that she'd been trying very hard to reel it in. This was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Pushing this down, he insisted,"You need to go back to talk to your brothers. Tell them that you're sorry for what you said and that you didn't mean it."

"You're grounded by the way.",he continued. Ignoring the little annoyed groan from his eldest. Luis added,"Two weeks. No new phone and no access to your laptop outside of school work. I won't be having you treat your brothers that way."

"...okay, Dad.",Alexa mumbled. Crossing her arms as she frowned deeply. Obviously feeling even more guilty for what she had said. Turning them around, they headed back to the lake. Right towards her younger brothers and Mom who looked a bit calmer. But was obviously was still upset with her eldest. Instead of their Mother speaking, Robert said,"I'm sorry I snagged your phone from you, Alexa."

"And I'm sorry for suggesting we play 'keep away' with it.",Joseph added. Both looked their sister in the face. Alexa glanced from one twin to the other. And in a gentle voice, she said,"I accept your apology."

"I'm sorry for yelling that I wish you hadn't been born.",Alexa continued. Then telling them that she hadn't meant it. And that she was just upset that her phone was now destroyed. Her little brothers accepted her apology. The three of them hugged it out as Joseph suggested they make a snowman. Something that Alexa agreed to do as they got off the frozen lake. While they made the snowman, Joseph asked,"Hey, what should we name him?"

"I vote we name him, Eddie.",Robert answered. Eddie sounded like a pretty decent name. So the trio agreed to 'Eddie' being their creations name. While their kids made the snowman, Theodora asked,"So how long is she grounded for?"

"Two weeks. No new phone and laptop gets taken after she's done with homework.",Luis answered. Theodora thought it was a bit of a slap on the wrist. Especially since it wasn't the only other time she's spoken like this to her brothers. And when she pointed it out, Luis stated,"I feel it's enough. Any more and she'll start to act out worse. She's a sixteen year old girl, Theo."

"Besides, she didn't mean it. She was just angry at them.",he added. There were times when he was her age and said things he hadn't meant. Being a teenage girl with siblings who didn't listen wasn't easy. And he knew that. Putting these thoughts to the side, Luis said,"She did apologize and recognize what she said wasn't okay."

Theodora didn't really know what else she could add to that. And slightly realized that punishing her more wouldn't do much. Especially if what her husband said was true. With a sigh, she stated,"I just wish she had a better lid on her anger."

"But, I guess I'd probably blow up like that too if the boys destroyed my phone too.",Theodora added. Luis only nodded his head in agreement as they watched their children play. Going from putting their snowman together to throwing snowballs. Twins against their eldest sister. All three screaming happily as they ran around the bank of the frozen lake.