Olivia was halfway through revising her physics notes when the front door closed with a decisive thud.
Her younger sister, Skylar, dropped her backpack in the hallway and made a direct line for the kitchen. From the sound of the cabinet doors opening and closing, she was not simply in search of a snack.
Olivia leaned on the doorframe. “Rough day?”
Skylar didn’t look up. “Define ‘rough.’”
Olivia raised an eyebrow. “The pantry appears to be taking the brunt of something.”
Skylar exhaled sharply and peeled the wrapper from a granola bar. “It’s Jasmine. Again.”
“Let me guess,” Olivia said, pulling out a chair. “Practice drama?”
Skylar nodded. “We were running game simulations. I was playing libero today—you know, the one who covers the back row and does most of the passing.”
“Right, defensive specialist. Got it.”
“I called her off on a serve receive and made the pass. Nothing fancy. But she snapped—said I’m always trying to take the spotlight. Then she threw in that the only reason I’m even on varsity is because of you.”
Olivia frowned. “That’s a reach.”
“She said it in front of everyone,” Skylar muttered. “Didn’t respond at first, but I caught her in the hallway after practice and told her to knock it off. Calmly.”
Olivia nodded. “And?”
“She just smirked and said I should be grateful for the ‘family discount.’ Coach stepped in. End of story.”
Olivia studied her sister. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, people who actually understand volleyball saw what happened. And what you did today? That counts.”
Skylar didn’t reply right away. “It just sticks with you, you know?”
“I get it,” Olivia said. “Still, you handled it.”
Skylar managed a thin smile. “You really should run workshops on big-sister wisdom.”
“I freelance.”
They let the moment pass without filling it.
Later that night, Olivia was finishing her lab write-up at the dining table when Skylar returned with her phone in hand.
“Coach just texted,” she said. “She said I handled things well and that I’ll be starting libero in Saturday’s match.”
Olivia looked up. “Nice.”
Skylar nodded. “Yeah.”
There was a pause.
“I was going to quit practice early today,” Skylar added, almost offhand. “I really thought about it.”
Olivia set down her pen. “But you didn’t.”
“Nope.”
Skylar opened the fridge, then closed it again without taking anything. “Also, next time Jasmine throws shade in the gym, feel free to send her a spreadsheet of your achievements.”
Olivia smiled. “Color-coded tabs and all.”
Skylar laughed once—quiet and genuine—then headed upstairs without saying more.
Olivia turned back to her laptop. The dining room settled into its usual stillness, the kind that didn’t need explaining.
“Served and Received” by Nina D. Smith, published by Bright Bunny Books © 2025. Retelling of Chapter XXII of Nid and Nod by Ralph Henry Barbour, originally published in 1923.
“Served and Returned” is best suited for high school students in grades 9–12, particularly those interested in realistic fiction about sports, sibling dynamics, and finding confidence in challenging social situations.
Bright Bunny Books 