Stories: Excerpt 3

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“Did you have a good night sleep,” Kristi asked. I nodded and took a seat at the table. The floors started to shake as Ned ran into the room with his chubby looking legs.
“Ned,” Kristi shouted, crossing her arm across her chest. “What did I teach you?”
“Yes, sissy, never to run in the house,” he replied and took a seat right next to me. He gave me the biggest smile ever that made me smile back. Ned swung his tiny, small legs onto the chair, but he couldn’t the chair was too tall for him. Kristi came over and lifted him to the chair. He groaned.
“Why are these chairs so tall,” he asked looking at Kristi.
Kristi groaned like she was in pain. “God Ned you’re only four, how much shorter do you want these chairs to be.”
I smiled as Ned frowned and Kristi groaned again.
“So Mallory what are you going to do today,” Kristi asked putting the sunny side egg onto the plate.
“I, uh, haven’t thought about it,” I said. “Yet.”
Ned shook his head. “Mally, you’re supposed to stutter when you answer someone.”
He made me a cute little nickname. Mally.
Kristi gave him a glared. “Krisi, you’re the one that taught me that,” Ned answered to her glare.
Kristi rolled her eyes. “Would you stop calling me Krisi, it sounds like some kind of... cereal.” She frowned realizing what she said.
Ned shrugged.
“Oh yeah, Mallory, Carson is going to come over later to baby-sit Ned-dy,” Kristi informed and said Ned’s name to Neddy.
I smiled and nodded.
“Kisi, I think you’re late,” Ned said pointing at the clock with his chubby fingers. Kristi slapped her forehead with her hand. “Oh god, I forgot.”
She stumbled upstairs to get change, but then she stopped at the middle of the stairs. “Did you just call me Kisi?”
Ned nodded.
“Eww, it sounds like I’m making out with someone, Kiss-si,” she said again frowning at the way she’s pronouncing it.
Ned closed his eyes. “You’re very late.”
“Holy crow,” she shouted and she fled up the stairs again.
Ned looked at me. “Do you talk?”
I smiled. “Do I look like I talk?”
“You can’t look like you talk,” he said, but then he shrugged. “Maybe you can because I see your mouth moving.”
“Well then I am,” I whispered to him proudly and he giggled.
Kristi appeared at the kitchen again. She motioned her finger toward me. I climbed out of the chair and went to her. “That’s the IQ of four years old boy.” I smiled.
“Hey, no gossiping young ladies,” Ned said shaking his pointer. “It’s a no no.”
My smile turned bigger.
“Okay behave with Mallory and Carson will come later,” she instructed. “Yeah behave with him too.”
“Dang,” he whispered.
“What did you just say,” Kristi asked starring at him with horror.