Page 1 of Released from the Sin Bin

Chapter 1

Carter

My heart stops and my eyes pop open as a hand slaps over my mouth, cutting off the air getting to my lungs.

“Get up.” My sister, Janisa, shakes me from my sleep, covering my mouth to stop any noise from coming out.

She holds a finger over her pursed lips, warning me to be quiet and slowly pulling away her hand to let me breathe again.

Following her lead, I quietly wrap the fleece robe around my new Power Ranger pajamas and rub my eyes.

Janisa places my snow boots out for me to step into, then ties them, knowing I have trouble with the bunny loops. She and Mom have been trying to teach me since the kids at school made fun of the Velcro sneakers I kept wearing.

They say I’m a late bloomer. My brain is delayed or something like that. Dad says I’m just stupid.

Janisa tip toes toward the door as quietly as she can in her heavy boots and the same fleece robe we all got for Christmas. It’s open and flowing behind her back to reveal her short flannel shorts and thin tank top. Her robe is a pale pink, mine is blue, and they gave our little brother, Braydon, green. It’s the same matching Christmas presents we get every year.

She motions for me to keep quiet while opening the door to the hall of our family’s cabin in the mountains. Walking high on our toes to keep our boots from clunking against the wooden floors as we silently pass the closed doors. Stopping when we reach the one left open.

She peeks through the door and jumps back when our dad snores loudly enough to shake the old paneled walls. With her hand pressed to her heart, Janisa closes her eyes and takes slow steps past the threshold, holding my hand behind her back for me to follow.

My skinny knees shake against each other as I try to take the same big steps as her.

She grew almost a foot taller since the summer. My big sister is only a few years older than me, but is now twice my size. She turns thirteen soon, but Dad says she’s already a woman. And Mom calls her “young lady” whenever she’s getting scolded for something.

“Only step where I do.” Janisa directs me and takes the first step on our creaky stairs, staying as close to the right as possible. The second is just as close to the wall, but the third she moves all the way to the left against the open banister.

Holding my breath, I step down on the first step, expecting the loud creak I always hear, but the sound doesn’t come.

Each step I get more confident, following where she goes. One by one, until we reach the bottom. Excited to have made it down, I jump the last step onto the rug, but Janisa quickly turns with her eyes wide. Holding me down and pressing her palm roughly to my mouth again until we hear the telltale sign of Dad still sleeping above us.

She takes a deep breath and lets go.

We continue to carefully tiptoe through the foyer. Then the kitchen. Quickening our pace until we make it through the side door.

Janisa breaks out into a run once the brisk, cold air smacks our faces. Laughing as our feet sink and crunch into the soft mounds of fresh snow.

“Come on,” she shouts over her shoulder, running with her open robe flapping behind her like a cape as I try to keep up.

“Janisa, wait!” My legs are too short and the snow is getting thicker the further away from the house we go. Bare trees surround us in the pale light from the moon reflecting off the ground, and when I look up, she’s gone. “Janisa?” No response. “Janisa!”

“Boo!” She pops out from around a tree.

I fall back, hitting the thick snow like a brick while she laughs at me.

“Ow,” I whine and rub the sore spot on my butt cheek, giving her the stink eye when she keeps laughing.

“Don’t be such a baby.” She rolls her eyes and helps me up. “Come on, we’re really close.”

“Dad is going to kill us,” I whine, but keep following her through the woods.

“Snitches get stitches.” She turns and pinches my shoulder. “Don’t you dare tell Dad. Or Mom.”

“I won’t.” I rub the fresh pain out of my arm. “I don’t wanna get in trouble.”

“We won’t as long as you don’t tell on us.”

“I’m not a snitch.” I glare at her back while she continues to lead the way with her boots crunching down on each step, and pulling me through the snow by my hand.

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