When mom pulled up in the driveway, my only thought was; here we go. As they came into view, I saw Megan's eye scanning over us like we were an attraction at the zoo. She seemed to analyze each set of detail, taking in every one of us individually, like fine art. Her gaze seemed to linger the longest on Evan, no surprise there. My ever popular brother was notorious for being a ladies' man, despite having a girlfriend. I'm surprised Hailey hasn't gone insane yet; Evan flirts with almost every girl he meets, making them feel special. There was no doubt in my mind that something like that was going to happen with Megan, poor unsuspecting Megan.

Before she hoped out of the car, I saw her try to catch her breath. This must be entirely overwhelming. Megan must feel intoxicated with testosterone right now. I would kill to know exactly what is going on in her mind right now.

As she finally came into full body view I found myself evaluating her. She had pretty, curly red hair and freckles that seemed to give her a Southern look. Her skin was tan and toned, she must play some form of sport from her flat patch of stomach showing when her blue t-shirt that rode up as she started walking towards us. She noticed a few of us looking and self consciously pulled down the t-shirts hem, willing it to be longer. I got the impression she was a tomboy, but was to pretty to take the boyish look fully.

'Megan! It's so good to see you!' I heard dad say from behind me.

'Yeah...you too,' she replied awkwardly. Megan had a nice voice, soft and welcoming.

'Well, you certainly have changed," Dad continued. "The last time we saw you, you had that teddy bear permanently attached to your side, didn't you? What was his name again? Mr. Boo? Mr. Boony?'

Oh no, she looks embarrassed. More accurately, her cheeks were tomato red. Way to go dad, make her feel uncomfortable before she has even taken two steps onto the lawn. I couldn't help but snicker along with my brothers though, I mean Mr. Boony?

'John.' Mom said in her warning tone, she knew what direction this conversation was heading in.

'I don't really...remember' she tried to make out.

'Oh yes, you do! You wouldn't put that thing down for the world!" John's voice boomed. "Mr. Binky? Mr.—'

'Mr. Boogie,' she said, weakly.

The laughter surrounding me deafening, I couldn't help but join in. I felt bad about laughing at our guest, but before I could do anything to stop dad, he started continuing in his naive, gleeful voice.

'Yes! Mr. Boogie! I remember because you kept making him kiss me,' dad said cheerfully. 'You still have that thing?'

'Um . . . no,' Megan said, sounding unsure of her own voice.

'Okay, I think that's enough of the trip down memory lane,' Mom cut in, stepping up next to dad and giving him a nudge.

'What? I'm just making her feel welcome,' he said, smiling brightly at the beleaguered Megan.

'Or exactly the opposite,' mom whispered to him under her breath.

Megan stared at the bunch of us uncomfortably; she looked like she was contemplating moving to Korea as opposed to spending her year with our lot.

'I think I will just go and get my stuff,' she said turning her back on us and going around to the boot of the car. Evan ran after her, going for the good guy approach. I shook my head at the idea on what the conversation going on over by the car must be. Evan was undoubtedly trying to work his magic on her. I really hope she is as tough as she looked.

As soon as she left to get her things, Doug ushered us all into a huddle.

'Are you guys ready to make her life hell?' he asked us in a whisper, mom and dad had just left to go and open the front door.

'Yeah!' Caleb and Ian said with enthusiasm. Doug gave both of them a high five. just then Evan and Megan came back into view, Evan was carrying the largest of Megan's suitcases.

'Yo! what's 'kicker' mean?' Doug asked from beside me, he looked angry in general. I don't think he will ever get over having to give his room to her.

'Oh, That's my nickname.' she said, glancing down at her bike helmet as if it were a traitor' 'lame nickname.' Doug said rudely. Before mom could come to her defence, Evan was already there.

'She plays soccer, idiot.' He placed a bag full of her soccer balls on the ground next him to emphasize his point.

'Evan! Language!' Mom scolded him, a stern look across her face. She must feel embarrassed in front of Megan. Well if she is going to live here, she better get used to this sort of thing.

'Okay, but tell him to quit being such a jerk.' Evan retorted firmly. Doug looked pissed, it was palpable from his facial expression that he found Evan a traitor.

'I can parent my own, thank you.' Mom shot back. The anger was gone from her face, it was replaced with a softer look. Perhaps Megan being here was going to benefit us also. Mom, just for show, went over to Doug and gave him a playful whack across the back of his head with the back of her hand. Playing along, Doug winced in pain and began to massage his head. I laughed, Doug...acting...was not the most convincing.

'So are you boys going to introduce yourselves, or are you all just going to stand there like a bunch of Orangutans?' Dad asked, casually leaning against the first post on our porch. We broke up our circle, turning to face Megan and Evan, Doug and the littlies were grumbling slightly. I could make out some of the words Doug was muttering under his breath, good think mom wasn't in earshot. This was my area of expertise, so I stepped forward to introduce our circus of a family.

'Hey, I'm Finn,' I said with a casual wave. 'I think you're going to be in my class, Junior right?'

'Yeah.' She replied with an unsure smile.

'Cool,' I continued with a smile. 'Um, you met Evan.' I said ineptly, I turned to the rest of my brothers, Sean was the best beat.

'This is Sean,' I said as I pointed to my oldest brother. You would think that after two years of staying at home after high school, he would have left by now. I can't wait to disappear and have my own space. Sean didn't wave of say hi to Megan, he just stood there, as impassive as ever. I turned to Doug,

'That's Doug,' I pointed him out to her, 'This is Miller.' As twins, Doug and Miller couldn't be more different. But I don't think Miller having autism helped in the slightest. Next; The littlies.

'That's Ian.' I pointed at my chubby younger brother. He was snickering from where he stood as Doug's right hand man.

'Hi Ian.' Megan said softly. She smiled at my little brother warmly, almost nervously. It looked like she wanted to make a good impression.

'Hi Kicker!' Ian retorted guffawing loudly at his own, lame, joke. Ian even held his own stomach just for show.

Out from behind me, Caleb came running over like a charging bull. He smacked head first into Evan's knees and snorted a laugh.

'And this runt in Caleb.' Evan said for me as he lifted Caleb up by the feet. Caleb sat on the top of Evan's arm, leaning into his bare chest.

Caleb touched one finger to his mouth shyly,

'Hi Megan.' He said in a small voice. He was at least politer than others, namely Doug and Ian.

'Hi Caleb.' She said taking a deep breath. If she was overwhelmed now, just wait for tomorrow. Megan Meade, welcome to the family.