I stumbled down the stairs, hands gripping tightly onto my green suitcase. “Bella! Hurry up please! Your cousins are expecting you in an hour!” Renee shouted from the front gate. I was going to stay with my cousins for awhile, Renee was going to travel around with Phil, and they couldn’t drag me along with them.

Flashback

“No mom, it’s fine!” I protested stubbornly.

“Bella—”

“No mom. I’ll go stay with Aunt Louise next week. It will probably be fun” I forced myself to smile.

“Okay fine” she gave up, “I’ll call Phil” she couldn’t resist as a huge grin spread across her face.

“Hello? Phil? Hey honey… No I will be able to go with you… Bella’s staying with my sister Louise… yes…okay love you, bye!” She put the phone down slowly and looked at me happily. “We’re going to Wisconsin!” she exclaimed. I faked my excitement and gave her a hug.

“Have fun, mom.”

End of Flashback

Trudging out the front gate, I waved back at Renee who was standing at the doorway.

“Bye mom!” I shouted, my voice weak.

“Remember to call!” she yelled back, as the car drove away.

Aunt Louise lived in New York city. Her husband, my Uncle Ted, worked at a rich company, and they own a huge house in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the midst of all the buildings. I stared out the window as minutes passed by slowly. They sent a car over with their driver to pick me up, I took a mental note of thanking them, for it was pouring (as usual) and I would have gotten soaked getting off and on buses. My eyelids drooped, and as I leaned against the backseat of the car, fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next thing I knew, the car was pulling into a narrow driveway, and behind the driveway was one of the biggest houses I’ve ever seen. The walls were painted white, and the door provided a grand entrance to who ever entered the house. I took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car. I knocked on the door twice, and heard light footsteps rush towards the door immediately. A lady dressed in an apron smiled at me, her friendly face was framed with small wrinkles. “Hello, may I help you?”