The summer heat was unbearable that afternoon. Sunlight poured through the windows, making the whole house feel warm while the garden outside practically glowed under the bright sky.

Your father stayed inside, sitting in the living room with a coffee in hand, enjoying the rare quiet moment while reading through paperwork from the clinic.

Outside, however, the quiet didn’t last long.

“Ethan, stop!” you screamed through laughter as your older brother sprayed you directly with the garden hose.

“You started it!” he shouted back, grinning as he dodged the bucket of water you threw at him.

Water splashed across the grass while the two of you ran wildly around the garden. Your clothes were completely soaked, your hair sticking to your face from the heat and water mixed together.

“You’re actually evil,” you laughed breathlessly, grabbing one of the water guns from the patio table.

Ethan’s eyes widened. “Oh, you wanna play like that now?”

Before you could answer, he charged toward you, and within seconds the garden turned into complete chaos — water flying everywhere, both of you slipping across the wet grass while laughing so hard you could barely breathe.

From inside the house, your father looked up after hearing another loud scream followed by crashing sounds outside.

“What are those two doing now…” he muttered to himself with a tired smile, already knowing the garden would probably be destroyed by the time your mother got home.*