CAN’T WAIT TO HANG OUT THIS WEEKEND :)
Sandra made sure she saved the text message on her phone from Patrick. She wanted to reassure herself this wasn’t a dream. A small pinch on her arm gave her a second opinion leaving a centimeter red bruise to prove her theory correct. Once again she stared at the text on her screen wishing the day would finally arrive. She almost did not notice her Uncle Lee’s disapproval.
“No phones at the dinner table kiddo,” said Uncle Lee sternly. “You aunt is making her famous bife com un ova.”
A favorite of Uncle Lee’s, an Aunt Brit’s home cooked specialty, the Portuguese cuisine involved cooking a sliced steak in a wine sauce and serving it with sautéed potatoes and rice. However, the piece de resistance of the dish is that it is topped with a fried egg for a gut busting comfort food feast.
“Sorry Uncle Lee,” she blushed concealing the phone in her lap underneath the tablecloth.
“Turn it off please.”
“Yes Uncle Lee.” Sandra always followed directions especially from her parents. She pressed the off button on her cell.
“So kiddo, how was your first day of school?”
“Really good. Calliope Meyers helped me by showing me around. Oh and I met the principal Mr. Meyers. He is Calliope’s stepdad.”
“Calliope Meyers, isn’t she the girl that works with you at the theme park?”
“The one and the same,” interjected Aunt Brit who was carrying a steaming platter from the kitchen. She set the main course on the table, prepared to serve her family, as she joined in the conversation. “Really sweet girl. She and Sandra became best friends over the summer.”
“That’s wonderful,” smiled Uncle Lee. “I’m happy you’re adjusting well here in Lemuria. I know it’s been rough with having to leave your friends behind in Portland during the move.”
“It was tough but everyone here has been so nice so I’m finally accepting the fact that we’re staying here.” She paused for a bit before breaking the news. “This brings me to another situation which I hope I could get permission for.”
“I hope this isn’t one of those uh-oh moments?” prodded Uncle Lee. A worried gulp came from his throat. “Glad I’m sitting down for this.” Nervously, he took a bite of his steak.
“A nice boy from school asked me out to go see a band play at a local coffee house,” confessed Sandra. “It’s going to be next weekend after work. Can I go?”
Her request had been quite a surprise for him. Uncle Lee began to choke on his morsel of food before coughing up the meat into his napkin.
“Absolutely not!” he told her. “You’re too young to start dating!”
“I’m sixteen!” she blurted out.
“Yeah and you don’t even have a driver’s license yet!” barked Uncle Lee. “I bet this boy has a car.”
She raised her eyes slowly to reply to his question. Already, he knew the answer.
“I don’t believe it!” his voice cracking. “No way am I letting you get into a car with a strange boy!”
“Honey, you’re overreacting,” Aunt Brit jumped in. Finally, someone to be the voice of reason. “You knew this was going to happen. Sandra is not a little girl anymore. She is a teenager and part of her development is dating boys. You can’t keep shutting her in a box forever; she’s eventually going to have to get out someday.”
“Brit, I understand your concern but I don’t want to see her get into trouble,” said Uncle Lee. “When Linda died, I promised myself that I would always protect her and I’m going to keep that vow.”
“What kind of trouble are you talking about?” asked Aunt Brit. “Teen sex? Pregnancy? STD’s? Sandra is a good kid because of the way we raised her. She’s responsible, excels in school, and treats people with respect. She shows maturity well beyond her years and I’m comfortable that she can make the right decisions. We need to make her independent. Move her forward not hold her back.”
“Look I get what you saying Brit,” he continued. “I just don’t know if she’s ready to start dating. I mean who is this boy that is asking her out?”
“His name is Patrick Evans,” said Sandra. “Aunt Brit knows him from work.”
“There you go,” added Aunt Brit. “Patrick Evans. He’s this seventeen year old kid who works part time as one of our maintenance guys. His mother works as a trainer for the orca show at Neptune’s Cove. He’s a really, sweet kid.”
“All right!” Uncle Lee surrendered. “You can go out on a date with this Patrick Evans boy but on two conditions.”
“Name them.”
“The first being that your aunt will chaperone the date.”
A groan escaped Sandra’s lips. Aunt Brit rolled her eyes in disgust.
“Chaperone or no date.”
“An escort it is.”
“I hate when you use that word. Second condition. If this boy asks you out on a second date, we get to meet him. Do we have a deal then?”
“Deal. However, I’ll be lucky if Patrick asks me out ever again.”
“Oh he will,” purred Aunt Brit. “He’d be a fool not to take you out again.”
Uncle Lee pressed his hands to forehead. “Accck! Don’t say that! I’m still trying to get use to the idea of Sandra dating!”
Loud squeals vibrated around the dining room as Sandra rushed to her uncle to give him a great big hug and a thousand kisses to his cheek.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Yes, thank you darling,” smiled Aunt Brit rewarding her husband with a kiss to the forehead. “Now let’s eat.”
Aunt Brit assisted Sandra back to her chair but not before whispering something in her ear.
“Don’t worry hon. If I have to chaperone your date with Patrick, I’ll make sure to stay hidden way in the back so you two can have some alone time.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Uncle Lee eyed them both suspiciously.
“Nothing.” They both replied.
“Oh, since we’re on the subject of news,” began Uncle Lee. “I have a wonderful surprise for everyone. As you know, my brokerage firm handles one of the wealthiest clients on the Florida coast. Well guess who helped secure a contract for the land expansion of Neptune’s Cove? Me!”
“That’s great honey!” exclaimed Aunt Brit.
“Way to go Uncle Lee!” Sandra congratulated him on his success.
“Thanks. The client was so impressed by my drive and initiative that he’s invited me to a dinner tomorrow evening to discuss future projects with my firm! Plus, he is very family oriented and wants to meet all of you as well!”
“Wow so soon?” Aunt Brit asked. “I mean that is a bit of surprise. Who is this mysterious client?”
“You all know them. His family founded the town. It is Nestor Gregory!”
The Gregorys? How? Why?
Sandra dropped her fork as it made a clanging sound on her plate. She suddenly lost her appetite.
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