Talking it out

"Fine, whatever stupid war game, I don't care enough to tell the difference... anyway, that's not the point! I- I just mean, Noah's over here a lot, and you guys talk all the time, and..." She trailed off, uncertain how to finish.

"What?" David asked, "You think I want him to know my little sister has a crush on him? As if."

"If I did - and I'm not saying I do - just don't act all weird about it, that's all. You don't have to be all overprotective and stuff. I mean, he's still just Noah, like you said."

"Just Noah is enough, even without him going Cujo once a month." David said seriously, "I've been his friend since grade school. He's a good guy, but I've seen how he is around girls sometimes. Besides, he's older than you. I'm just trying to look out for you, Maddie."

"Yeah, well... you're older than Addie and apparently that's okay," Madison said stubbornly. "I just mean, I'm almost 16, I don't always need you looking out for me... in some situations, at least. I can look out for myself, I'm not going to do anything stupid." Her expression softened slightly. "It's kind of sweet that you care, though."

"That's... different..." He said, although even he knew it was a stretch, "Besides, I'm your older brother. Maybe when you're retired I'll stop being protective of you. Until then, you're kinda out of luck, kiddo."

He sighed and dropped the motor onto the ground.

"This is hopeless. I don't even know what most of these wires and things do. I think maybe the beast is finally dead."

"Good, then maybe Dad will finally accept it's time to buy one that wasn't built in the Dark Ages." She kicked the broken piece of machinery, which sputtered once and then lay still. "And, it means I get out of doing the trimming today! Have fun with the lawn mower," she grinned, turning to head back inside.

"Wait, what?" David asked as his sister practically skipped to the back door of the house. As it closed behind her he looked around himself at the scattered pieces of weed wacker and the still uncut grass.

"What just happened?"