twins, siblings, and cousins

September 2042 - Alex and Piper Smith are 31, Joey and Lizzie are 7, Alice and Charlie are 5 (Jacob Smith is 9, Elijah Smith is 5).

Alice and Charlie are starting kindergarten this year, and the house is empty for the first time in seven years.

With all of the kids in school, Piper has started working on her third novel. She hasn't had much time to write since she finished college, and now that she has a quiet house for a few hours she's happy to be writing again.

Alex has a project of his own. He got an old junker, and he's fixing it up so Piper will have her own car. He still drives the green car he restored when he was in high school, and he's confident he can build a good one for Piper.

Since John and Abby both work, Jacob and Elijah come over after school. Charlie, Alice, and Elijah are in kindergarten together, and Jacob is two years older than Joey and Lizzie.

Charlie loves when Jacob and Elijah come over because he finally has another boy to play with. He and Elijah are becoming good friends.

Jacob isn't as happy about having to play with his cousins after school. He'd rather visit his friends Christopher and Hadley Cooper, but his parents say that would be imposing on the Cooper family.

"When you're a little older, you and your brother can stay home alone after school," his mother promises.

It's okay, though, hanging out with his cousins. Joey is a tomboy who loves building things, and they have fun playing with blocks together.

Alice prefers to draw by herself while her cousins are playing downstairs. Usually she likes playing with her twin brother, but she's too prissy and girly to join him when he's playing ball with their cousin.

When Alex gets home, Joey always runs to greet him and talk to him about the car.

"Can we work on it tonight, Daddy?"

"Of course, pumpkin. We want it to be ready for your mom as soon as possible."

Joey loves helping her father with the car, but she also feels left out by her brother and sisters who are all playing together, so after a while she runs upstairs to join them.

"We saved you a spot," Lizzie says.

"I'm building a tower. Do you want to help?" Charlie asks.

Other kids might find it frustrating to have so many siblings, but the Smith kids always get along well. With four kids in two years, there's always someone to play with.