The frozen lake cracked beneath his feet. I had told him not to go in the middle of the lake and stay at the edge but why would he listen to me?

It was an early morning in the middle of December, the ground and all the trees around us were covered in snow from yesterday night, I could feel the cold wind through my red scarf. My two brothers and I had gone to the frozen lake near our house, for ice skating, as we do every year on Jonathan's birthday; it was like a tradition for us. He was turning 22.

This year we took with us our younger brother Theodore, we used to go without him because he was a bit boisterous not that he doesn't remain one but he is more mature now.

He had gone in the middle of the frozen lake even though both, John and I had told him to stay away from it. I was looking at Theodore moving around the ice when i saw the crack underneath his ice skates.

<<Stop moving!>> I screamed at him and he immediately stopped moving to give us a confuse look and look under his feet and released what was about to happen.

<<Do not panic, just come slowly to our direction>> said John with his voice calm us usual how does he always stay so calm?

Theodore did as he was told to and started coming closer to us. The cracks in the ice were getting larger and larger at every step he did.

My heart begun to pound what if the lake broke? I knew that he was able to swim but the water would freeze him as soon as he falls into it.

<<Go get a big stick >> I said to John and right away he went to find one as he understood what I was thinking.

He came back some seconds later holding an about 2 meters long stick.

The cracks now under Theodore were much bigger than they were before, it looked like any time the ice would brake.

Jonathan extended the stick to Theodore who caught it. We pulled it genteelly ans slow. Finally, some seconds later, he was out of the lake safe and sound.

<<What were you doing?>> asked him John with his voice low and delicate. <<Was that what we told you to do?>>

<<I just wanted to have fun>> he answered causally shrugging. <<Come on guys, relax nothing happened>>

<<Yeah, very funny. Let's do it again and this time swim in the lake.>> I said ironically. How does he always know how to get on my nerves? I hate the way that he is always joking around. Does that kid have any sense of danger?

<<Betty stop being a humourless idiot>> I was about to answer but John spoke up.

<<You two stop now. Theodore, that wasn't funny at all, You have to stop acting like a child>> he said and then he turned to face me, <<And you Betty you need to calm down he is fine>> he said. <<We should get back to the house it's noun and we have to finish with the preparation of the party>>


Our house was ready for Christmas, the roof, the balconies even the trees in the garden were full of Christmas lights and from the living room's window you could see a big Christmas tree. In the frond door there was a mistletoe and a garland. I opened the door and went inside with Theodore and John following me, the house smelled ginger bread and cinnamon cookies and again everything was decorated with ornaments.

We hadn't decorated the house since our parents died in a car accident four years ago. We always loved Christmas in our house, I sill remember my father sitting in the fire place reading his newspaper, myself laying on the a carpet next to him drinking hot chocolate and my mother on the sofa with a book in her hands. I was seventeen when we lost them and even after four years I still wonder what if things were different, if they were still here. After the accident we were just the tree of us; Theodore, John and I. John was eighteen he had to inherit the fortune that our parent left behind them and the company they owned and run it on his own. It was hard, I did everything I could to help him and at the end all worked out and the company has been raising higher every day. We were always really close with each other and helping him with all this caused a stronger bound between us that was created at this time.

<<Good afternoon>> William our battler greeted us when he sew us going inside the house.<<How was your walk? Was it good?>>

<<Hello William, it was... hem... reckless>> I responded to him giving a look at Theodore.

<<The dinner is ready, do you want us to serve it on the table?>>

<<Yes please, I am starving!>> said Theodore theatrically.

Theodore had always that kind of energy that you were wondering how much sugar does that kid have in his organism, despite that he had reached the age of thirteenth and had almost reach my height he was acting as ridiculously as a seven year old. He had that kind of humour that was good and funny but you get sick of it after a while and it becomes annoying. He was almost nothing like me or John either in character, neither on appearance. He was the only one of us who had father's grey eyes, he had mother's blonde curly hair that was always in his eyes. On the other hand John and I had our mother's bright brown eyes and father's dark brown hair we both were very close people but John had that levelheadedness and that talent to always remain calm that I didn't have I always flew out of handle extremely easily.


We were sitting on the table eating pasta with chicken for lunch, no one of said a thing so I spoke up to break that awful silent.

<<So who is coming at your birthday party John?>>

<<Well, I invited mother's cousins, aunt Josephine, Mr Wilson you know who I mean right?>> he said

<<Of course I do>> I responded him. Mr Wilson is the owner of a very rich company that has been rivaling with ours for years they never were in good terms with each other. However, Jonathan and I had this idea to propose him to collaborate so we make more money since both our businesses are successful. <<It's about the proposal, isn't it? You think he is going to accept?>>

<<Well there is only one way to find out>> he said with a light smile on his face.<<Is Henry coming with his family?>>

<<Yes, he will bring his father and brother with him, he says it's finally the time for me to meet them>> Henry is my fiance we were dating for about four years before he proposed to me three weeks ago. I hadn't met his family yet and in the idea that they would come made me nervous.

<<Also I invited Amelie>> he said with his face straight not looking up from his plate.

Theodore got bogged down by his water he he heard that. <<What? You invited Amelie? Are we talking about the same Amelie?>> John nodded. Amelie is our oldest sister who was disowned from our parents because she wanted to marry someone they didn't approve so she left with him some months before the accident and we haven't seen her since then.

<<I believe it's time to meet again don't you think?>>

<<It would be nice, I guess. Are in contact with her?>> I asked John he never mentioned that he was talking with her why didn't he? The idea that I would see my sister after a long time I didn't know how should I feel should I feel happy about it? Or angry? She left us to be with ''the love of her life'' and she didn't even showed up on our parents funeral why would she come at the party? She didn't call to talk to us. Did she ever remembered that she have a family accept from her lover?

<<Come on guys, she wants to apologise and says she wants to see us. Guys, please be nice to her alright?>>

<<Why? She is the one who left us>> said Theodore who couldn't stay silent any longer. <<She doesn't give shit about us>>

<<Theodore stop now. Can you do me a favour and act in a civil manner>> John pleased him

<<Only if she does>> Theodore answered disinterestedly.

<<That goes for you too Betty>> John said while turning his head to look at me.

<<What makes you think that I won't?>> I answered confused.

<<I am just saying>> he said shrugging.