Eric was on the floor of his stepbrothers' room cleaning the floor with a toothbrush. It was his punishment for sneaking out last night.

This was his room before his father went to war, but Charlotte insisted that her sons should have the best room in the house. Eric had to sleep in the old sewing room that was once his mother's, before she died. There wasn't much space there but at least he had a roof over his head.

He was almost finished with the floors when Harry walked into the room with a smirk on his face as he looked down at Eric. "What is it now?" Eric asked him.

Harry took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Eric "Nothing, just a list of more chores mother wants you to do."

Eric finished scrubbing the last part of the floor and stood up "What am I being punished for now?" he asked his stepbrother.

"No punishment. Just chores." Harry said before he walked out of the room. Eric read the list of the things he had to do. Clean the fireplace,get more firewood, dust everything, sweep the floors, take the clothes of the line, fold the clothes, put the clothes in the dressers, and do the dishes.

Eric sighed as he walked to the fireplace and began to rake out the ashes and dirt. He hated doing all of the work around the house. Charlotte didn't do anything and neither did Harry or Thomas. When he was finished he gathered up firewood and stacked it up near the house.

It was late in the afternoon when he finished all of his chores and he was exhausted. He had to make dinner soon and he wasn't looking forward to it. Charlotte was very picky about what she ate.

He heard Thomas calling him from the kitchen. Eric walked down the hall and into the Kitchen. "Yes?" he said. Charlotte looked at him "We are starving, so hurry up and make some soup!"

Eric nodded and quickly got to work. He poured in all the ingredients and let it boil. When it was done he served it to them and ate what was left in the pot after they went to bed.

When he was finished cleaning up the mess he made while cooking he went to his room and lied down on the bed.

He took a handkerchief out from under his pillow and looked at it. It was a gift his father gave to him the day he left for war. It had his initials sewn into the bottom right corner. E.J.S. Eric James Smith. He tucked it carefully back under his pillow and went to sleep