“Sit down, both of you,” Mum said, pointing at the couch.
Candice sat, with a plop, in the middle of the couch. Abigail sat on the cushion next to her sister.
“Ew!” Candice squealed. “Don’t sit so close to me!” Candice bounced over to the far end of the couch.
Mum had her arms folded across her chest watching her daughters with dismay. They went quiet under her intense gaze. “Ok girls,” Mum said, “tell me what happened.”
Abigail said, “Well I,”
Candice cut her off, “You love Abby more that me!”
“Candy,” Mum said, “That’s crazy! I love you both equally.”
“Yeah right!” Candice argued, “That’s not what it looks like from here!”
Mum turned to Abigail, “Abby, why have you and your sister been fighting all morning?”
“I dunno,” Abigail answered. “She just hates me. I’m just trying to be good and she keeps bothering me: hitting me, chasing me and whatever else she can think of.”
“You asked for it,” Candice said.
“Did not,” Abigail blocked.
“Did so,” Candice flung back.
“Ok. Ok.” Mum took over. “What’s this all about? Candy, why are you tormenting your sister.”
“Because you always like everything she does better than what I do!” Candice said, almost crying.
“Candy,” Mum comforted, “You know that’s not true!”
“Then,” Candice sniffled, “why did you put her veges in the lasagna last night and mine went into the fridge?”
Mum was surprised by Candice’s answer. “Well, honey, I sent the two of you out to the garden. I clearly said I was making a vegetable lasagna and needed some veges.”
“Yeah,” Candice said, “And I got heaps. And Abby got just a few. And you used hers!”
“Candy,” Mum said, “You brought three heads of lettuce, two cauliflowers and a huge bunch of radishes. None of those go in a lasagna. I will use them, but in something else. That’s why I put them in the fridge—to save them for later!”
“You should just listen,” Abigail added. “Or learn how to make a lasagna!”
Candice jumped across the couch and swung her arm to slap Abigail. Mum reached out and caught her hand.
“You two,” Mum said, “be nice to each other.” Mum helped Candice back to her cushion with a little tug. “Now,” Mum continued, “How are we going to change? There’s no reason to react so strongly to a misunderstanding.”
Mum stared at the girls. They had no idea what she was waiting for.
“Well,” Mum repeated, “What can we do next time to avoid getting angry?”
“I guess I could listen more carefully,” Candice answered. Mum nodded and looked at Abigail.
“I guess I could try not to tease,” Abigail said.
Mum smiled. “And I will give clearer instructions,” Mum added. “Now, who wants to help me make lunch? I was thinking we could have a fresh salad and some cauliflower soup.”
The two girls looked at each other and laughed.
“Sounds yummy,” Abigail said. “I love Cauliflower soup!”
“Me too,” Candice agreed. She looked over at her sister and silently mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
Abigail hugged her sister and whispered in her ear, “I’m sorry, too.”
“Let’s cook girls,” Mum shouted from the kitchen. “Lunch isn’t going to make itself!”
(There’s a story in the Bible about two brothers who had a similar problem but it didn’t finish so nicely. You can find it in Genesis 4.)
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