Tara lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was only ten and by now she somewhat regretted going to bed already. She turned on her side to gaze at the wall instead, which was when a thought suddenly struck her.

Her mother would read A’rat’s adventures, despite being told not to, so if she found the last in Tara’s peerfectly organized system to be a copy she already read, she would definitely look for the actual last.. .

Tara threw her blankets off, didn’t bother to get dressed and dropped down at her desk. For a moment she just considered hiding it somewhere else, but she had never managed to hide something well enough to keep it from her mother.

She drummed her fingers nervously on the dress, then suddenyl had an idea. She took an empty notebook from her drawer, making ssure it was the same type as the former, then took the one she had dubbed.

She opened the first and started the copying process…

Even though it had started as simply copying, Tara had taken to changing entire sentences, hunting for spelling errors and even deleting entire passages to make sure it would flow with the later story.

It had taken hours until she finally reached the offending pages.

She read it again, feeling herself turn red, and ran a hand under the neckline of her shirt, wiping some sweat away.

There was a knock on the door and she almost screamed, biting it back when the door opened. The ceiling light flicked on a moment later.

“Honey what are you still doing up?”

As casually as she dared, Tara knocked the notebook she’d been copying from into the paper basket next to her desk.

“Do you know what time it is?”

Tara looked at the alarm. It was one t night

“I do now…” she tried.

“...Inspiration?” her mother wanted to know.

“I,” Tara started, trying to think of a quick lie, “I spilled soda on my notebook, so I had to copy it all before I wouldn’t be able to read it…”

“Mhm,” her mother responded, she knew her daughter’s tells, “What kind of soda?”

“Orange…?”

“Mhm. Well, are you done? You should really sleep.”

“Yes, mom…”

“You have had a long day.”

“Yes, mom…”

Tara turned off her desk lamp, stood up from her chair and took the few steps necessary to collapse on her bed.

“Where’s your pajamas?”

“ Too warm,” Tara replied, somewhere between a mumble and a groan.

“ I tell you to open the window, don’t I?” Mrs Brooks sighed. She entered the room and threw open the window to let the cool summer night breeze roll in. Tara immediately got under the covers to keep herself warm.

“ Told you,” Mrs Brooks smiled. She made sure the window would stay open, then headed to Tara’s bed to tuck her in properly.

“Mom,” Tara protested when she started start, “I’m…”

“…Still my daughter,” her mother said soothingly, then kissed the girl’s foreheadm “ Now sleep. I’m sure whatever adventure A’rat is having can wait till the morning.”

Tara pulled her blankets over her head and turned away from her mother, hoping she wouldn’t see her turn red.

She never heard her mumble that she should probably take out Tara’s trash tomorrow.

With a soft click, the door closed.