I haven’t been sleeping long but before I know it someone is shaking me awake. It’s a small hand, too small to be my mother’s. I look up. Cecelia, my thirteen year old sister is grinning from ear to ear.

“Carmen, someone named Shane’s here. She’s really tall.” Cecelia giggles, flipping her extremely curly black hair over her shoulders while her hazel eyes smile at me. She’s adorable.

“Thanks Cece, you’re a sweetie, will you tell Shane to come up?” I muffle into my pillow before reaching up to blindly touch her face.

“Watch it, Carmey! You just poked my eye.”

“Sorry!” I soothe and sit up, but she’s laughing and already out of the door.

Minutes later I hear a soft knocking at the door. “Come in.” I say sleepily, already back into my bed, covers firmly over my face. I hear a chuckle and then I feel a subtle weight on my mattress, near my feet. The blankets leave my feet and chilly hands begin playing with my toes making me laugh.

“Mm, Shane, come on I’m sleepy.”

“I know, but just think if you remembered you needed to buy presents, you could be sleeping in just fine.” Her mouth sounds full suddenly, “and I wouldn’t get to eat one of your mom’s cookies. She’s a good cook. Do you cook?”

I withdraw my toes after exhausting my giggles and slowly get out of bed. I walk over to where Shane’s sitting and lean down to kiss the top of her head.

“Then I wouldn’t have been able to spend the morning with you.” I grin and reach into Shane’s hand, stealing the half of sugar cookie in her palm. “Or steal your cookies. Yes, I cook, but nowhere near as well as my mother.” I grin and take a bite off the red and green sprinkled cookie.

“Hey!” She objects and wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me into her.

“Stop it, stop it,” I hiss, knowing most likely at least one or two of my siblings is standing outside my door.

“Okay, okay. Get dressed though. I won’t look.”