Hi, my name is Daniel Bell, and this is my family.

My dad, Isaac and my mom, Hannah, and Mom’s sister, Aunt Sharon. They’re really into music and dancing, as you can see. Entertainment and exercise is in our blood, as Dad says. They’re always practicing.

They even make me practice, too, even though I’m not as good at it as they are.

When they aren’t practicing their ballet moves, there’s regular exercising

and dancing…

Sometimes I wonder how my family finds time for other things?

But, somehow, they did…

… because mom got pregnant with my baby sister, Ruth Anne.

Cute, isn’t she? The only reason they know she’s there is because they put her in the dance studio while they work out. If it wasn’t for that… well, I know what that’s like. They don’t notice me half the time. Except when they want to teach me some new ballet move.

Somehow or other, both Ruth Anne and I make it through to our birthdays.

Ruth Anne

Me

She really is a cutie, my little sister.

Now that I’m a teenager, I am going to look out for her. Some one has to. I’m going to be a good big brother. Gonna learn how to cook, because no one around here does that. They’re all too busy dancing.

Not that anyone cares what I want to do. Aunt Sharon and I have already had words over what she calls my “lack of devotion to my practice.”

I’ll admit it, I plugged my ears and tuned her out. But you would have, too, if you’d seen what I had seen that day, and in a public place no less.

I don’t know what to do about it, either. Do I confront Dad or tell Mom? Or just mind my own business?