Little Bambina

Twenty-seven

Allison

"Tenemos nuevos vecinos." (We have new neighbors.)
I turn around abruptly to face Matilda.
"¿Nuevos vecinos me dijiste?" (New neighbors you say?)

"Yes. We invited them for dinner. Tonight. To welcome them. Así que no puedes salir, si tienes algunos planes, cancel. No puedes faltar a esta cena." (So you can't leave, if you have plans, cancel. You can't miss this dinner.)

I groan loudly annoyed. We have never, in my entire life as far as I can remember, invited anyone over for dinner. Much less strangers. The only time we ever had dinner with other people was last year with he who shall not be named, Kells and James.

"Well, I wasn't planning on going anywhere but I did want to binge watch The Queen's Gambit. I've been holding it off for a while now. Además, I don't wanna have to play dress up." I whine giving Matilda puppy eyes.

"Ya tú sabes cómo es tu padre." (You already know how your father is.)

"Ugh...can't you like talk to him? Convince him to let me sit this out?"

She looks at me sternly.

"Fine, whatever. If I show up I'm not dressing up to par. I'll be in my PJs." I playfully say knowing very well that my dad will not allow me to dress however I please.

"Whatever happened to baking cookies and giving them to new neighbors as a welcome to the hood gift?" I ask sarcastically rolling my eyes and heading to my room to get ready to go out. I'm going to buy an outfit specially for the occasion.

I was back after two hours of shopping. I get everything I need ready. I grab a pair of gold heels to go with my outfit which is a white short romper with a plunging neckline, gold studs and a few gold rings.

"Do you need help with anything?"

"Finish up the pumpkin purée for me and also the salmon that's marinating in the fridge."

"Okay lo quieres pan seared, grilled or baked?"

"Pan sear them then finish them in the oven. Como lo hacemos siempre." (Like we always do it.)

"¿Algo más?" (Anything else?) I ask as I take the pumpkin out of the oven.

"Sauté the veggies that I've cut on the island."

I silently nod my head getting busy with my tasks. I love cooking with Matilda cause it's so fun and she trusts my cooking abilities that she doesn't have to hover over me when I cook.

"Tengo hambre..." (I'm hungry...) I groan as I inhale the aromas of the food.
"I'm gonna set up the table. How many people are coming and what time will they be here?"

"Viene cuatro personas. A las 7:30." (Four people are coming. At 7:30)

I look at the time on my phone and dash out to the dining to finish up. I only have an hour to finish this and go get ready.

"Allison!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

I finish up laying my edges and take a quick look at myself in my full length mirror. I look good.

"¿Y papá?" (And dad?)

"He'll join us in a few minutes."

The door bell rings at 7:30 on the dot. Damn, talk about punctuality.
I go with Matilda to the door to welcome our guests.

"Welcome, thank you for coming." Matilda says to the couple.
"Thank you for inviting us." The man says and the woman smiles warmly.

A young man follows right behind them. Oh he's cute. He's seems to be around my age. Maybe a year or two alder than me. And he has beautiful eyes I think the color is called azure.