Hallie blinked in the light as her mum opened the curtains.
"It's time to wake up so we can go and get Emmy from the station."
her mum was saying. Emmy had been on holiday with a friend and they had to go
and pick her up from the train station. Hallie didn't mind that not all of
Emmy's friends were mutual because they were so different. Hallie liked the
outdoors and being with people all the time. Emmy liked staying indoors and
didn't mind being on her own. This meant it was sometimes difficult to find an
activity they both wanted to do but the twins didn’t mind this as it was what
made them individual. Hallie realised she hadn't been listening to anything her
mum had been saying.

"Sorry mum could you
say that again?" 

"Oh Hallie you need to stop zoning out when people are
talking to you! I said don't forget Emmy's sweets and Gran's birthday card
because we will stop there on the way back."

"OK mum don't worry."

Hallie climbed out of bed as her mum left the room and
fumbled for her glasses on her bedside table. A wall of smells hit Hallie as
she left her room and it was amazing! Her dad was cooking bacon, sausages, eggs,
tomatoes and beans for when they came back from the station. Hallie sat down at
the table and poured herself some juice. Just then a large brown owl swooped in
and dropped two letters on the table. Hallie immediately recognised the seal on
the back of the envelope and a surge of excitement rushed through her. She went
to open the letter addressed to her but her mum stopped her.

“Why don’t you wait and take it with you so you and Emmy can
open them together?”

“Oh but mum I’ve been waiting for ages!” Hallie grovelled.

“Exactly so it won’t hurt you to wait another hour!”

Hallie huffed and when she finished her juice she went
upstairs and started to get dressed. She sometimes felt like she never did
anything on her own she always had to do everything with Emmy. She was looking
forward to making new friends at school and being able to do things on her own.
Obviously she would still spend time with Emmy but she was looking forward to
finally having independence.

Hallie pulled on her socks and ran downstairs just as her
mum was coming out the kitchen.

“Ready to go?” her mum asked.

“Can’t wait!”