Sister Dearest

Chapter 8 - A Fever of Stingrays

Elody woke up early before her alarm could even go off. It was a big day- the documentary production dates had been moved forward, and they were interviewing Elody today. The best part was she didn't even have to go anywhere- they were coming to her house!

They wouldn't be coming over for several hours, and after she was done rushing through breakfast, Elody walked back and forth, pacing around her room.

After daydreaming for a while about being TV famous and an award winning author, Elody checked the clock. They documentary people would be there soon.

What should I wear? How should I do my hair? Elody thought. This is overwhelming. I usually never care if I dress fancy or not.

She decides on a layered green tank top with a mid length brown skirt and tights. Pop would definitely joke that she looked like a tree, but she didn't care.

Once she brushed her hair, put it in a ponytail, and stole a little bit of one of Gigi's lipsticks, Elody skipped downstairs feeling ready to go.

"You sure are on top of things," Gigi said, walking into the kitchen to see a done up Elody sat at the counter. "Hey- is that my Red Spice lipstick?"

Elody pursed her lips. "No," she said. "Maybe. Is it too much?"

Gigi studied her. "Dab the bottom, it's a bit splotchy. Otherwise it's great," Gigi said, smiling.

Elody did just that, checking her reflection in the microwave door before turning back to Gigi, who gave her two thumbs up. She was already prepared for any questions, and now she looked the part of someone on TV. She felt confident inside and out.

She sat at the counter for a few more minutes, resisting the anxious urge to pick at her nails, when a loud knock at the door startled her. Gigi went to open the door while Elody smoothed down her skirt.

She walked towards the living room to greet people, but stopped in her tracks when she saw a pair of men in fully black outfits with heavy boots and big duffel bags. They stomped around and their voices were loud, which made Elody shrink back to the opposite side of the room and absentmindedly run her fingers over the popcorn painted wall, a calming motion with a familiar texture.

A woman dressed the same way as the two men, with the same loud manners, walked in. Who wears boots inside? Elody thought. These people are strange.

One of the men and the woman get to setting up recording equipment. The other man walks up to Pop and shakes his hand.

"Good afternoon," the man in black said. "Is that the one we're interviewing today?" He jabs a finger in Elody's direction.

Pop nodded. "Yes. That's Elody."

The man squints his eyes, looking at Elody. "Does she always do that?" He asked.

Pop looked over at her, noticing the way she leaned against the wall and touched the paint. Elody had done that since she was a small child.

"She's probably just overwhelmed and taking it in," Pop said knowingly. "Are you okay, Elody?"

Elody nodded and flashed him a thumbs up, squeaking out an unintelligible "Yes."

The man seemed to take that as a fine answer. He went over to his coworkers and helped them finish assembling the equipment.

Elody walked a few feet over to the fireplace and ran her finger over the gaps between the bricks. She remembered when she was younger how Gigi and Pop had had the fireplace refinished. She wasn't allowed near it for two weeks, with the adults citing the danger of chemicals.