Chapter One

"Rose, have you finished packing the car?" Mr North asked.

"Just fitting the last sleeping bag in," Rose replied.

"Ok everyone, into the car!" Mr North called.

There was a huge scramble as everyone rushed over to the car. They bounded over each other to get to their seats.

"Pat take your bag off my seat," Jess moaned.

"Sara that's my seat belt, not yours," Lucy complained.

"Watch it Lily, don't fall into Amy," Rose called.

Finally everyone was strapped into their seats in the car and Mr North took off down Winding Street and away.

The Norths were going to stay with their grandparents for a few weeks and they were all very excited, but tired from having to get up early.

Rose, the eldest, got everyone singing to CDs. She was nineteen and studying to be a nurse. She was very kind.

Lucy up headphones on and listened to her ipod. She grabbed her bag and took out her book on cars. She was eighteen and just out of school. She wanted to be mechanic.

Sixteen year old Jess had a beautiful voice and wanted to be a music teacher or to perform. She sometimes gave Sara music lessons.

Sara was nine. She liked writing and was a book worm. Most of what she had packed was books. Her mother had had to remind her to pack some clothes!

Pat was four years younger than Sara. He sat next to Amy and playing with his Yoda toy.

Lily was three and was wearing a fairy dress. She had a barbie doll in one hand and a bottle of orange juice in the other.

The last North was Amy. She was two and very cute. She was dozing in her baby seat.

It was a long trip to their grandparents. About five hours long. They had set off at about nine. They had a break for lunch at twelve.

They found a park and unloaded the rolls they had packed.

"What would everyone like?" Mr North asked.

"Chicken and pasta salad please!" Pat called.

"Ham and cheese," Mrs North answered.

"Ham and cheese what?" Mr North teased.

"Ham and cheese please Dad," Mrs North smiled. Mr North laughed and passed her the sandwich.

Sara sat down next to Rose. "What is Gran and Pop like?" she asked. She had never met them before.

"Well Gran is a nice tiny lady with a big voice and a huge smile," Rose answered.  "Pop is tall and smokes. He is deaf and so you have to speak really clearly to him so he understands."

Sara smiled as she bit into her roll. "They sound funny!"

"Maybe a bit scary is a better description of them," Lucy said flopping down.

"Lu they are really nice. Don't you remember that doll Gran gave you?" Rose asked.

"Oh sure I do. It had a pink dress and a big smile," Lucy replied. "I hated it."

Lucy was a tom boy. She hated pink and dolls and things. She had been a big trial for their mum.

"Lu!" Rose cried.

***

It was almost three when they turned in at the big gate and up the long driveway. They saw a little old bent over lady weeding the garden. She straightened up and rushed over.

"I didn't expect you so early. If I had I wouldn't have been in my old clothes gardening," she said.

"Hello Mum," Mrs North said walking over and giving her a hug.

"Hello dear, it has been a long time since you last visited," the old lady replied.

"Hi Gran," Rose said.

"Who are all these children?" Gran asked.

"This is Rose the eldest, Lucy, Jess, Sara, Pat, Lily and Amy," Mrs North told her.

"My haven't they grown. I remember Lucy as a tiny girl," Gran marvelled. "I haven't even met Sara, Pat, Lily and what did you say her name was?"

"Amy!" Everyone cried.

"Are yes, Amy," Gran said. "Come inside."

The house is big and old looking. It had diamond paned windows and a big front door. Inside was cool and dark.

Gran led them over to Pop's office.

"Darling, they're here," she said. A tall man with a cigarette in his mouth came out and looked them up and down.

"Well they aren't what I expected," was all he could say.

Mrs North didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Hello Dad," she said.

"How come you are all red heads?" Pop asked.

Mrs North sighed. Pop would never change.