I did not think much of the voice. The disturbing voice. It was only my sister. I knew it. She can alter her sweet and innocent voice to creepy. I hate to admit it, but she is a pro. When she started doing it, I feared that a thief broke in the house. I am usually courageous. But when it comes to someone bent on hurting you - a monster - I would rather play it safe. I did not want to put myself in harm's way.

I was hiding next to my bed and calling the hospital on my cellphone when I heard footsteps. I swallowed hard and peered over my bed. I regretted not bringing Elsie. She is a pain sometimes, but even she does not deserve a slow and painful death. I failed her. Failed as a sister. I was flooded with guilt. But it disappeared when I saw who was standing in my doorway.

I jumped up and gripped my phone tightly. "Elsie!"

Elsie was laughing and holding her stomach. Tears ran down her face.

I frowned and hissed, "Elsie. Stop it. Stop laughing and sit next to me. And keep your voice down. The intruder definitely heard you."

Her laughter died down. She wiped away her tears and rubbed her eyes. "What intruder?"

"The intruder in our home. I heard an unfamiliar voice not even a minute ago. A male voice. It was not Dad's."

"Of course, it was not Dad's. It was me. All me."

I scrunched up my face. "What? You had better not say that one of your dolls talked."

Her grin was so wide that the ends almost touched her eyes. "Did I say that it was one of my lovely dolls? No, I did not. I clearly said that it was me. Now I understand why grammar is not your strongest subject."

I clenched my teeth. She makes me want to rip out her voice box. Sometimes, I wish that I never had a sister. I wish to be an only child. "What are you talking about?" I hurried around my bed. "What do you mean, Elsie?"

My obnoxious sister stood on her tiptoes. Her face was not close to mine because of our heights. She just loves calling me Beanstalk, which ticks me off. I am a human like her. I am not a stupid plant. She will grow up to be a psycho and kidnap folks to be her new dolls. I swear.

That would make an interesting story. Ash...

"How can I make it more obvious to you?" Elsie asked. "It. Was. Me. I did it. I disguised my voice to scare you. And trust me. It was worth it."

I stepped back and held my phone in both hands. "You disguised your own voice to make it sound like a guy's? No. A deranged lunatic's?"

She flattened her feet. "I practiced for only one month. Guess that it is one of my unique talents. I am the Doll Whisperer who can cleverly disguise my voice. Too bad that my sister is not as special."

"Let me get this straight. You spoke like a lunatic...only to scare me? You threatened to harm our family to give me a heart attack?!"

"Relax, sis. I do not want you to die. Not until everyone knows me. Elsie. Doll Whisperer and Voice Disguiser."

"I am gonna strangle you!"

I never got the chance to do so. One, Elsie is faster. She has many - too many - desserts. She is never exhausted for some reason. And two, hurting her would be wrong and disgusting. I would never get that image out of my head. And no way was I getting grounded. I have never been grounded, and it would stay that way. Elsie would rub it in and explain for the hundredth time why she is the better sister.

Oh, she is the better sister. The better brat!

I decided to go for a jog to blow off some steam. I enjoy exercising because it makes me feel great. And it keeps me in shape. Tired and sweaty, but great. I returned to my bedroom and called my best and only friend Larisa. I asked if she would like to accompany me in a jog. She happily accepted and said that she would be over soon. I hung up and changed clothes. I told Mom that Larisa and I were jogging and put my long hair in a ponytail. I asked what she was doing.

Mom was at the kitchen table and snipping magazines. She finished cutting something out and rested it on the table. She started snipping out something else. "Why, I am doing something that I have always wanted to do."

"You have cut out coupons before, Mom. I do not know why we even have coupons. There is no form of money. So your coupons are useless."

A smile spread across her face. "I am making a collage. I have been so busy lately that I have not set aside time for myself."

I opened the fridge and got two water bottles. "You are a stay-at-home mother. How have you not had time for yourself?"

She stopped snipping and glanced at me with furrowed eyebrows. She brushed hair strands behind her ear. "A stay-at-home mom is not as easy as it sounds. I cook. I wash the dishes. I do all the laundry. I clean the house. I make lunches every weekday for you, your sister, and your father. Just because I stay at home does not mean that I am lazy."

"I did not call you lazy. I am only surprised that you do not make time for yourself. Dad does."

Mom returned to cutting. "Maybe I would if I had help. I do so much around here that it stresses me out."

A wave of guilt washed over me. I felt bad for her. "Oh, Mom. I am here."

Elsie suddenly screamed. "Eliza!"