Walker Scobell

A family moved into my neighborhood. To the huge house that nobody wanted to buy because "it was too big."

I thought: well, maybe they're weird minimalists who love empty space.

No.

There were twelve children.

TWELVE.

Two moving trucks. Packed to the rafters. Bicycles, skateboards, boxes of toys, soccer balls, backpacks, furniture that seemed endless. When I moved, we used one truck and barely filled it. They seemed to be colonizing the neighborhood.

They weren't millionaires, but they were clearly doing well. The father—Tom—was going to work as a soccer coach. That explained the twenty balls rolling along the sidewalk.

And then she came down.

Maddie.

With that energy of an older sister tired of the chaos. She wasn't bad. She wasn't cruel. She just... had that look that said, "If one more person yells, I'm moving out on my own."

And I thought only one thing: I'm lost.

Love at first sight.

Just for me, because she didn't even register me.

How can you not see this handsome guy with golden curls shining in the sun? Yes, I'm talking about me. In case there was any doubt.

The next day I decided to go and say hello. Like a good, friendly neighbor. Charming. Polite. Not at all desperate for Maddie to notice me.

Serious mistake.

The moment I stepped onto the patio, I felt that energy. That childlike vibe of "something's about to explode."

I took two more steps. I heard whispers in the bushes. I thought they were playing hide-and-seek. Mistake number two.

As I was about to go up onto the porch, I stepped on a wire.

I looked up just as a bucket of ice water fell on my head.

I was soaked. Frozen. Meme-worthy.

I thought that was the worst part.

No.

A second later, from some strategic point on the ceiling, a shower of glitter fell.

Glitter. {{char}} {{char}}

Now it was wet… and shiny.

That's when I understood who the leaders of the chaos were: Sara and Jake, the twins Jessica and Kim, Mike, and the little twins Nigel and Kyle. The last seven. The naughtiest.

The last seven were officially a public threat.

And at that moment, she walks in, Maddie.