The year is 2020, it is late October and it is time for tea (tea time is around 4) in Edinburgh, Scotland. It had stopped raining about 20 minutes ago. They had just arrived and by they I mean Tyler, Susan, their daughter Lily, and Tyler's younger sister Robin. As of where they had arrived it is at Tyler and Robin's parents' (their parents' names are Mark and Ellen) house. "At least it stopped raining early enough for Mom and Dad's patio to dry some before we got here," Tyler stated. "Hey Daddy, usually you and Mommy let me play with my friends before we go see Grandmother and Grandpoppy and then we stay the week? Why did you guys keep me from seeing them for two weeks before coming? We have been bubbling with my friends and their families, right," Lily asked. Susan responded "Well Sweetie we want to make sure nobody gets sick don't we? Also we won't be staying the week this time," "Yeah Lily we don't want to get Grandmother and Grandpoppy sick," asked Robin "YEAH," exclaimed Lily.
At that very moment Mark and Ellen exited their house. "Grandmother! Grandpoppy," Lily shouted. "Lily," they exclaimed. "It's good to see you Mom and Dad," Tyler said. "We started the tea so that it would be ready when you guys got here and of course hot chocolate for you Lily," Ellen stated. Lily then asked, "What about your chocolate chip cookies? We always have your chocolate chip cookies Grandmother. Your chocolate chip cookies are the best Grandmother!" Ellen responded with " Chocolate chip cookies or the dough because I made both and I know you like both." "BOTH," Lily hollered. "Let's head to the patio out in the backyard then," Susan said "Mom, Lily would you like to get the drinks and food," Tyler asked. "Of course Tyler. Come on Lily," Ellen answered. As Ellen led Lily into the house to get the food and drinks and most likely stop at the restroom Robin stated "Now we can talk about what we are going to do for Christmas. I know it is a long way off but we still should plan it out sooner rather than later and while Lily is not around to over hear something."
Meanwhile inside Lily had just finished washing her hands so that she could eat. "Grandmother, can I play on the playground that you guys put up for me today? I haven't played on it in so long! Please, pretty please," Lily asked. "Sorry Lily but it was raining for a while earlier so the playground is going to be wet," stated Lily's Grandmother. Lily sighed, "Aww, okay I guess." Let's go outside and bring everyone their treats, Lily," Ellen stated. "Okay," Lily responded. Meanwhile outside, "So we are all going to quarantine for two weeks before Christmas, then all stay at Tyler and Susan's for Christmas and New Year, we will all get there on Christmas Eve too," Robin asked. "Yep," everyone else responded. "Well it looks like we finished that talk right on time here come Ellen and Lily," Mark pointed out. As everybody grabbed what they wanted off the tray and Tyler pulled out the newspaper he brought with him, a white ball of fuzz came barreling out of the house.
"Poof! I missed you Poof. Who's a good girl? You are! Yes you are," Lily exclaimed. "By the looks of it Lily, Poof missed you as well," Lily's mother told her. Lily and Poof started to play together as everybody watched. Soon though people started to lose interest and start conversations. "Okay, Poof I'm tired. I'm going to go talk to Grandmother and Grandpoppy. You can come with me and sit in my lap while we talk if you want," Lily told Poof. "Arf," Poof replied. "Haha, Poof now come on let's go," Lily said. As Lily and Poof walked (or trotted) across the yard to talk with Mark and Ellen (and finally have some of those cookies and more hot chocolate) they stopped their conversation about what they were going to get everyone in the family for Christmas (this family seriously loves holidays) and Ellen said "We can finish talking about this later." Tyler had been watching Lily and Poof play but went back to his newspaper when they stopped. As Lily sat down in the third chair at the outdoor table and put Poof in her lap she said, "Grandmother! Grandpoppy! You know the paints that you got me for my birthday last year?" "Yes," Ellen responded. "Well I decided that this year I would use them to make a Christmas gift for Aunt Robin! I'm going to tell you all about it," Lily excitedly told her Grandparents.
Meanwhile Susan and Robin were talking about how much they hoped that the pandemic would be over before Lily's next birthday. "Robin, what am I going to do? I can't stand to put Lily through another birthday without both her friends and family! I can't make her choose again. I mean seriously who wants to make either child choose over having their friends at their birthday or their family? What am I going to do," Susan desperately asked. "Well maybe this year instead of making her choose you could have her friends over and they bring their gifts and she celebrates with them and then later on she can do a Zoom call with the family and she opens the gifts we mailed her," Robin offered. "I don't think that would work either," Susan said. "OH," Robin exclaimed, "I have the perfect idea!" "What is it!?!? I must know! Tell me now," Susan hissed demonicly. "Okay, okay," Robin replied cautiously, "What if you have her birthday party with her friends 2 and ½ weeks before her birthday and then with her family on her birthday and then with your family 2 and ½ weeks after her birthday. That way she gets to see everybody!" "Umm, I don't know," Susan hesitantly answered but then her face lit up, " Actually that's perfect!"
At that moment Tyler looked up at the sky. Hmm, it's getting cloudy, as if it might rain again, Tyler thought as he checked his watch. "Hey sorry to be a party pooper but it looks like it is going to start raining again soon and it's getting late. I think we are going to go," Tyler said and then added as an afterthought, "Which means you have to come with us Robin." Awww," Lily exclaimed, "I'm going to miss you Poof." "Also Lily we need to head home because we are going to see our other grandparents soon," Susan explained. "Okay," Lily defetedly responded, "Bye Poof. Bye Grandmother. Bye Grandpoppy. It was nice seeing you." "Bye Lily," her grandparents said. "ARF," Poof barked. "Bye everyone," Tyler, Robin, and Susan said. "Bye kids. Bye Susan," Mark and Ellen responded.
YOU ARE READING
Quarantine One-shots
Non-FictionThis is my first story. I did write it in Google docs to ensure no spelling or grammer mistakes. I'm not sure if I will update it ever. For now I am marking it complete.