“Salnida Roenaris!” The chef called, raising the greasy wet bag in the air as he approached the counter.

“Finally!” Salnida rose up in excitement.

She ran to the bag and snatched it from the counter giving her gratitude as he returned with a grin.

Although Salnida loved Hamz N Pamz, the line is usually light years long. It was exhausting to watch customers walk by with their fresh aroma of hamburgers sizzling out of the bag, causing Salnida’s stomach to growl like a dog. Or even worst: a lion.

But simultaneously, it would all be worth it by the time she gets home and starts munching on those hamburgers with her sister, like they never ate before, since the cavemen ages.

Salnida speeds into the driveway of her home, hastily grabbing the bag and rushing inside. Uncannily, Salnida didn’t see her sister sitting on the couch watching TV, like she usually does. Had she been there, she would’ve chased the food like a nine year-old. She oddly wasn’t in her room either, but Salnida found moving shadows underneath the bathroom door.

“Thearah?” Salnida knocked a few times. “Thearah, open up! I got Hamz N Pamz.”

“Okay, just a second!” Thearah said, as the sounds of plastic were being put down.

The door slowly swung open. Thearah attempted to pull off a gracious smile that didn’t feel authentic to Salnida. She only looked down at her sister with an impassive mask.

Salnida held the bag away from Thearah’s reach when trying to grab it.

“Come on, just give me the bag, Salnida.” Thearah groaned.

After staring at Thearah like a disappointed mother for a few more moments Salnida said, “If you’re gonna apply makeup to your face, you should’ve done a better job.”

Thearah’s eyebrows frowned, slightly bereft of speech for a second. “What? What are you talking about? I’m not even wearing makeup.” She tried to grab the bag again.

Salnida pulled away, then touched Thearah’s face, which caused her to flinch back and hold her eye.

“What’s going on, Thearah?!” Salnida dropped the bag, grasping her sister’s face, rubbing her thumb across her left eye.

Salnida’s jaw dropped down just like her bag, appalled by Thearah’s black eye. “What the hell happened, Thearah? The truth!” She yelled with compulsion.

Thearah shamefully averted her eyes, then glanced at Salnida, whom now looks like an angry mother, hands on her hips to top the icing on the cake.

No choice, but to explain, Thearah reluctantly admitted, “I lost the bracelet.”

Salnida gasped, “Great Grandma’s bracelet! How!”

“I got jumped by these group of girls after getting off the bus from school.” Thearah said, barely looking Salnida in the eyes.

“Well, do you know these girls?” Salnida frantically asked. “Do you know who took it?”

“Yes.” Thearah said.

“Well, who!” Salnida shouted, impatiently waiting for an answer.

“Hidahnie Chalixon.” She responded.

“Where does she live? Do you know?” Salnida rushed after her sister’s response.

Thearah said nothing, raising Salnida’s anger.

“Thearah, I’m not playing!” She bellowed. “Where does she live!”

“Down Norviph Street! Okay!” Thearah shrieked agitatedly.

Without a word, Salnida snatched Thearah’s arm, escorting her out the door. Thearah pulled back and asked, “Where are we going?”

“To Hidahnie’s house.” Salnida said with attitude.

“But I don’t want to go.” Thearah’s jittery eyes looked at the door.

“Why? We have to get that bracelet one way or another. I got your back.” Salnida said, showing determination in her eyes.

From admiration, Thearah nodded her head. “Let’s do it.” She said softly rubbing her eye.