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SIMON

"You can't win an argument. You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it." -Dale Carnegie

MAY

Simon was still adjusting to being home with May. Her presence was unusual, and Derrius wasn't much help. He still called her 'Si,' Despite her efforts to get him to stop. She'd told her mother about it, but she just said he did that for everyone, calling her 'Ari.'
Simon was walking with a bucket of pig sludge (food) as May and Derrius walked the opposite direction, coming from the cows. May reached out, and her hand caught on the bucket. It tipped toward Simon, getting the stinky, disgusting mixture all over her clothes.
"What the heck, May!" She called, as May continued to walk off, laughing with Derrius.
Her father was working in the barn when she got there, and asked what happened.
"May tipped the bucket as we walked past each other." Simon explained. She was wet, she was stinky, and she was sticky. So far, she hadn't enjoyed being home. She started crying.
"Derrius keeps calling me a nickname only my friend call me and May just sits there letting him and-and he k-keeps telling Xander he's to young to work on the farm- and Mom doesn't listen-"
"Woah there nugget" her dad reasurred her. "It's ok. I'll talk to your mom and Derrius. Why don't you handle May?"
Simon nodded. "I think I need to get cleaned up first."
She got cleaned up, and walked to May's door. She knocked twice.
"Who is it?" May called out.
"Simon. I need to talk to you." Simon said into the door. It opened, revealing a pajama'd May, hair messed up.
"What do you want?" May asked. Simon Thought she saw a hint of concern cross over her sister's face.
"When Derrius calls me 'Si', why don't you stop him? You hear me tell him not to every time!"
"I- I don't know." May started to close her door, but Simon put her foot out to stop it. "I think you do. Are you scared to? Is it just 'a nickname' to you? Why, May? I know you know." Simon continued pressing her sister. "Fine. I don't care enough, Simon." May gave in. "Because I 'ruined' your life. I get it." Simon said, bluntly. She walked away.
"Simon, don't be dramatic."
That was it. Simon whipped around and screamed, "If I wasn't 'being dramatic' I would not have spoken to you!"
Simon almost an to her room. She slammed the door, jolting awake a sleeping Kinder. She sat next to him on her bed, and started sobbing.

Kinder's... Gone?

Simon trotted down to the cattle field, Kinder at her feet. It was two days after May and Derrius had left. Even her mother seemed relieved. After their fight, May had told Derrius about it, who announced at dinner the next night that they were leaving because of "Slight conflicts with the setting." Simon knew this meant her.
When she arrived at the field, several cows came up, expecting a snack and a ear scratch. She opened the gate, the bucket of treats rattling in her hand. Kinder hopped onto the fence to watch. Frothy, the calf Xander had named, almost tripped running up to Simon. She pulled out a treat and handed it to the little guy, who took it gratefully.
Simon continued feeding the cows until all the treats were gone. She sat down in the grass, letting the sun hit her face. Kinder jumped down from his spot to headbutt her arm.
After a few minutes, Simon's mother called her back inside. Simon groaned, but went inside anyway.
Xander was setting the table when she came in. "Mo!" He put down the forks and ran over to give her a hug.
"Xan-man!" Simon picked him up. "I'll make you a deal, but you have to keep it secret, OK?" She said. Xander's eyes widened. He nodded like the world would end. Simon whispered in his ear, "If you finish settng the table in 15 seconds, I'll play superheroes with you."
She set him down and started counting. He scrambled to the table and placed the forks and napkins at lightning speed. He was done by the time Simon hit 12.
"Good job buddy!" She praised him. "What superhero do you want to be?"
He paused, thinking. "I want to be Lightning-Luke!" He said, imitaing blasting lightning from his hand. "Can you be his sidekick, Rainy-Roy? Pleease?"
Simon couldn't resist. But before she could say anything, her mother stopped them. "No, it's time to be Dinner eating-Dollies." She said, sarcasm quilting her soft voice.
After dinner, Simon went to her room to read. Kinder was curled up on the bed. He didn't look up when she patted him. She thought he was just asleep. But he was too still. Simon became worried. She shook him, called his name, even picked him up. He didn't move.
Simon's thoughts were racing with one thing: He can't be dead. She put her head on his body, but heard nothing. No purr, no breath, no heartbeat. Kinder was gone.
Simon immediately began sobbing. Xander walked in, asking if she wanted to play now.
He looked at her crying, looked at Kinder, and knew what to do. He went to get Mum, and ran straight back to comfort her. Both her parents walked into the room. Her mother started to sob as well. Her father picked Kinder up, and placed him in her arms.
"There. Now he's comfy." He said.

Xander

The families 10-year-old pickup pulled into the driveway. Simon looked up from her book. Her dad stepped out, followed by Xander.
Simon stood up to greet him. "Xander!"
"Mo!" He squealed. He waved some sort of toy in the air. "Look what we made at camp!"
He an up and held out his hand. It was a small doll, made of wood and yarn. Xander's had long strands of yellow yarn coming from the head, with to black sharpied-on eyes that had eyelashes.
"Cool!" Simon said, not wanting to spoil the surprise that the doll was clearly made to be her.
"It's you!" Xander said.
"Thank you! I'm honored." Simon put her hand to her chest. "Now, do you want to play in my room, or your room?" She asked.
"Your room! Your room has horses!"
He didn't mean literal horses were in Simon's room. She still had horse models from when she was nine.
That reminded her. Xander's birthday. It was in three days! She had no gift! Her dad always went to work in the field or barn when he and Xander got back, and Mom was out shopping for the week. she never went back unless she forgot something. And gift for Xander wasn't on the list. She couldn't get him a gift in time, unless she made one. But she didn't know how to make anything. She couldn't use magic outside of Hogwarts, so she couldn't magically make him something. What was she going to do?
Her mom got home about 15 minutes after her Simon's panic session. Simon helped her bring the groceries in, as well as put them up.
"Ok, what do you need?" Her mom asked. She had noticed.
"Xander's birthday is in a few days, and I haven't gotten him a present." Simon began. "I was hoping you could take me to get him something?"
Her mother thought for a moment. "The store closes soon, but if you can think about what you want to get him, and tell me tomorrow, then you can get it."
Dang. Simon had no ideas. She thought about what she could get him. Nothing.
She went to ask him, but saw that he was busy reading. She decided to write down her ideas.
She expected to see Kinder on the bed, but when he wasn't there, she remembered. "Oh. Right."
She pulled out her notebook, and wrote Wood kit She thought about it, then scribbled it out. She wrote Bookmark would it work? Simon scribbled that out too, and ripped out the page. She called for Xander.
"Xander, do you want to play horses?"
She heard his feet pad through the hall. "Yes, please."
Simon pulled the horses down from their shelf. Handing a chestnut and a pony to Xander, and keeping the cream colored one for herself.
It hit her. The horses! Simon never played with them unless it was with Xander. They would be perfect!
When her parents put them to bed that night, her mom stayed behind in Simon's room.
"Got any ideas?" She asked.
"Yep. I just need a box and some string. I have markers."
"I knew you'd think of something."
Fast forward to the day, Xander was antsy. Their cousin was coming (he had the same birthday as Xander) they were going to celebrate both of the kids at the same party.
"Simon?" Xander called her name. "I never told you what I wanted." He seemed very worried.
"It's ok, buddy." She told him. "I figured something great out."
They ate cake and played with water guns for hours. When Mr. Poe announced that it was time for presents, Simon piggybacked Xander over, shouting, "Make way for the one and only: Birthday Boy Xander!"
Simon's gift was hidden amongst the others. Xander opened the one from May first, a wood kit that made a dog. Good thing Simon hadn't gotten that for him.
Simon's gift was last. Xander untied the knot in the string, and took of the lid. His face lit up.
"The horses!" He yelled. He pulled out the cream-colored one. "Thank you Mo!"
He ran over, tackling her in a hug. "We're going to play with these later." He said into her shirt.