Lily watched her parents gather their things near the front door, her heart fluttering with a mix of pride and nerves. For the first time, she was entrusted with caring for her little brother, Tom, all by herself. "Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I’ll take great care of Tom. We’ll have lots of fun and I’ll keep him safe," she promised, her voice steady but her fingers twisting together behind her back.
Tom grinned, shuffling his cards as Lily explained the next move. "Lily, you always forget the secret rule! If you land on the red square, you have to do a silly dance," he giggled, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh no! Not the silly dance again!" she replied, leaping up and spinning around, which sent both of them into fits of laughter, the sound filling the house with warmth.
Lily handed Tom a pair of safety scissors, watching carefully as he cut out a wobbly star. "Look, Lily! I made a rocket ship," he announced, holding up his creation with pride. "That’s amazing, Tom! Maybe we can draw some planets for your rocket to visit," she encouraged him, feeling a surge of happiness seeing his imagination soar.
Lily stood on tiptoe, carefully layering cheese slices onto bread while Tom watched eagerly from a nearby stool. "You’re the best sandwich-maker ever!" he declared between bites, his cheeks puffed with delight. "Thank you, Tom! I tried to make them just the way you like," she replied, feeling her earlier nerves dissolve into confidence.
Tom frowned at a tricky math problem, pencil tapping against his cheek. "Let’s try it together, Tom. Remember, if you count the apples, you’ll find the answer," Lily encouraged, her tone gentle and patient. Minutes later, homework complete, Lily handed him the remote. "Can we watch the space cartoon?" he asked excitedly, settling in as bright colors danced across the screen.
Lily tucked Tom into bed, smoothing the blanket beneath his chin. "Would you like a story before you sleep?" she whispered, choosing his favorite about a brave astronaut. As she read, Tom’s eyes fluttered shut, his hand curled trustingly around hers until he drifted off.
Lily moved quietly through each room, picking up stray crayons and smoothing out cushions. She glanced at the clock just as the front door creaked open and her parents stepped inside, faces brightening at the sight of a calm and orderly home. "Everything went really well. Tom had fun, finished his homework, and he’s fast asleep," she said, pride swelling in her chest as her parents hugged her close, grateful and impressed by her care.
