The Penderwicks

Rosalind placed the last of her clothes in her suitcase. She stepped back and looked around her room. It was a little more sparse than it had been, most of her important things being in her dorm in Rhode Island.

Strange how much of her life was there now. But Cameron would always be home. Her family was here. The house she grew up in. Tommy.

Oh, how she was kicking herself for thinking there was anyone else out there for her but him.

Rosalind sighed and knelt down to zip up her suitcase. She was trying to leave in a few hours and if she got everything figured out now she’d have a little more time to sit and talk to her family.

Just as she had gotten the zipper around, she heard a little knock at the door.

“Come in.”

The door slowly opened and Batty shyly peered out from behind.

Rosalind smiled. While it was a little taboo to say, Batty had always been her favorite sister. She was just so sweet and innocent. They had a bond forged from years of care and Batty seeing Rosalind as the sister who always wanted her around.

“Hey Batty. What’s up?”

Batty stared at the ground and rung her hands together. “I was wanting to talk to you about something.”

“Sure.” Rosalind stood up and sat on her bed. She patted the spot next to her and Batty sat down.

Batty took a deep breath. “Why did you have to go so far away?”

Rosalind blinked. “What?”

“Why did have to go to Rhode Island? You could’ve stayed here in Cameron. Why are you leaving?”

“Oh Batty.” How could she explain to her sister she needed to leave, to get away from the responsibility that had a chokehold on her here. How could she explain that to the sister she basically raised and had gone through hell the past few weeks? “Cameron will always be my home. But I need to find who I am outside of Cameron.”

“Is that why you broke up with Tommy?”

“Partly. If anything, that stupid decision taught me that I never truly will leave.”

Batty nodded. “I missed you a lot. And you seemed like a different person.”

Rosalind reached out and pulled her sister into a hug. “I missed you too Battikins. And I’m sorry if I was someone you didn’t recognize. I’m still the same me. But you know that people change. You don’t notice it when you’re with them everyday but I don’t see you everyday anymore, do I?” Rosalind gave a dry laugh. “I’m sorry I left you, but I’ll always be there for you. You know I’m always a phone call away right?”

“Yeah. But a phone call doesn’t hug me or bake brownies.”

“I know. And phone call doesn’t let me see your concerts or sit in on your practices. But I’ll be back for the summer okay?”

“Ok.” Batty looked up and Rosalind and blinked tears out of her eyes.

“I love you Batty. That will never change.”

“I love you too.”

“Do you want to help me finish packing? I might have time to make some brownies for everyone before I leave.”

Batty nodded and hopped off the bed. They worked in tandem putting the rest of Rosalind’s stuff into her backpack and loading up the car.