Awkward tension filled the car with a certain uncomfortable silence with Sandra sitting in the backseat while her Aunt Brit and Uncle Lee settled in the front on the drive to the Gregorys’ dinner. Even dressed in their best church attire, nothing could cut the awkwardness of the atmosphere circulating inside the vehicle.
Uncle Lee gripped the steering wheel hard attempting to form the correct words after receiving a call from Principal Meyer’s office concerning his niece’s altercation with another student. As usual, Aunt Brit took the initiative to clear the air.
“Okay this is ridiculous,” Aunt Brit began. “I’m sure Sandra had a perfectly good reason for getting into a fight with this boy.”
“I don’t care if she had a motive to fight a million of her classmates!” Uncle Lee bellowed. “The fact is she was involved in a fight! She’s just lucky that Principal Meyers just gave her a day of detention! Their zero tolerance policy for fighting could have led to her suspension!”
“But Uncle Lee, you should have heard the things he said!” protested Sandra. “It was horrible!”
“Enough Sandra!” he snapped. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you! You’ve always been a good kid, responsible, never getting into trouble. I never had to worry about you. Maybe you’re going through some teen rebellion phase, I don’t know. I just want it to end now! You know this dinner is important to me tonight and you picked a fine time to go through this stage in your life!”
“Lee, hon. Just hear her out.” Aunt Brit suggested. “She’s entitled to that.”
“Brita, there is nothing to say,” he explained. “The fact is she was in the wrong and she needs to learn from this. I’m sorry Sandra but you’re going to have to cancel your date this weekend. I don’t think I’m ready to trust you after what happened today.”
“What? No!”
“Lee! You’re overreacting!” yelped Aunt Brit.
“No Brita, I’m not! I’m being a parent and she needs to learn that there consequences to her actions!”
“You’re right!” Sandra bawled. Tears began to flow as soon as the disappointment hit her. “I’m not capable of looking out or standing up for myself. Chip Laughlin was right! I’m just another stupid, chink loser who is stuck in this lame, hick town!”
The sound of screeching tires reverberated on the road, slammed hard by Uncle Lee’s foot on the brake as he pulled the car to the side of the road and shut off the engine.
“What did you say?” A sharp inflection of rage came from his voice. “Cassandra Shan, did you just make a racist comment particularly with me and your Aunt Brit in the car?”
“You heard me! I’m just repeating what that idiot Chip Laughlin said to me and it wasn’t the first time! He’s harassed me at work and started something with me today at school! I finally had it and fought back!”
“Sandra, why didn’t you come to us sooner?” asked Aunt Brit.
“It happened only one time during my lunch break at work,” she told them wiping the tears from her eyes. “Chip and his friend were causing trouble at the park. I threatened to call security. Chip made some racial remarks before he hit me. Patrick happened to be there, jumped in, and defended me. A fight started and Chip and his buddy got thrown out.”
Sandra carefully retold the events leaving out the strange details of the Gregory sisters. Some things were better left unknown.
“Wait a second. This boy Chip hit you?” Uncle Lee turned his head. “Why didn’t you tell us this?”
“I didn’t think it was that important,” she sniffed. “Look Uncle Lee, I’m a tough girl. You both raised me to be strong. After everything that has happened in my life, you have to trust me that I can handle things on my own especially with racist blockheads like Chip Laughlin.”
“I do trust you,” he explained. “I just worry about you. It’s what a parent does. Look your Aunt Brit and I aren’t perfect but understand we love you and care about what happens to you. Losing your mother was hard enough and I don’t want to lose you too.”
“More importantly,” added Aunt Brit. “If this boy is bullying you, you need to let us know. I’m sure we can talk to the principal about the situation.”
“No. No.” Sandra reassured them. “I need to handle this by myself. I can roll with the punches. If he can dish it, I can take it. Plus, I give back just as hard this racist jerk throws at me.”
“That’s my girl,” smiled Aunt Brit. “Lee hon, I think you have the real story on what happened at school. It wasn’t her fault.”
Uncle Lee remained quiet for few a minute before reaching over on the glove compartment of the passenger’s side to grab a box of tissues. Leaning the Kleenex over his shoulder, he handed it to Sandra in the backseat.
“Dry your eyes,” he said. “I’m sorry Sandra. I understand why you did it but please the next time this boy is bothering you, you let us know. Okay?”
“I will,” she replied dabbing the corners of her eyes to absorb her remaining tears.
“One more thing. You have my permission to still go out on your date with this Patrick boy this weekend. I figure if he is willing to protect my niece from being assaulted then he must be okay in my book. One more thing. You can go… Unchaperoned.”
Sandra’s eyes lit up. “You mean it?”
“Yes I give you my word,” he sighed.
“Oh Lee!” exclaimed Aunt Brit.
Sandra squealed in delight, unbuckled her seat belt to hug her uncle from behind, accompanied by the applause of Aunt Brit’s happiness.
“I love you Uncle Lee!” she informed him. Then turning her affection toward her aunt she gave her a loving peck on the cheek. “Thank you Aunt Brit for backing me up! I love you too!”
“We love you more!” answered Aunt Brit patting Sandra on the shoulder.
“Okay already!” groaned Uncle Lee. “We all love each other. Let’s try to make this dinner on time since my career is on the line. Everyone buckle up!” Sandra returned to her seat to fasten her seatbelt. Uncle Lee turned on the ignition. “Oh and Sandra, midnight curfew on this date.”
“Awwww Uncle Lee…” she began to moan.
“No awwww’s,” he replied as he pulled out back on to the road.
The Gregory mansion-a New England styled manor housing twelve rooms, four bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, large dining room, and glorious roof made of Spanish tile-stood upon the edge of the coastal cliffs of Lemuria. Upon driving up the narrow winding road to the house, the Shans took in the freshly sculpted greenery of the estate’s garden both majestic and concealed from view of the world. They parked their car near one of the stone columns at the front of the house making their way up the steps to the Gregorys’ door.
In typical fashion, a butler answered the door leading the Shans into the foyer.
“Jeeves?” remarked Sandra toward the man servant.
“No, it’s Reginald.” The butler answered without even cracking a smile. “Come this way. Master Nestor is expected you.”
Uncle Lee shot one of his don’t embarrass me looks at Sandra as she remained quiet throughout the tour. She absorbed the ambience of the Gregory manor. Cool primary colors of red, blue, and yellow mixed with the strong metallics of gold and silver adorned the walls in a radiant hue that became aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Yet, it contrasted with the numerous wall hangings of animal heads that eliminated the potential brilliance of the décor. Add to it the bizarre combination of nautical and historical themes that permeated the home leaving an eccentric mess of knick knacks, brick-a-brack, and poor design taste.
They’re creepy and they’re kooky. They’re all together spooky. They’re all together ooky.
“The Addams Family!” Sandra blurted out. She covered her mouth the moment she realized her mistake.
“Sandra! SHHHHH!” muttered her Uncle Lee. Aunt Brit snickered under her breath.
“Well that is a new one,” guffawed a masculine voice. “My family has never been referred to The Addams Family before!”
Coming down the stairs, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, black socks, and Birkenstock sandals, a gentleman in his late forties descended. Sandra observed his sandy brown beard and hair as his green eyes greeted them.
“Welcome to my home. I’m Nestor Gregory.” He introduced himself. “You must be the Shans. My brother Jason said you were coming to dinner. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
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