Preston Greens

8. Rainbow Pancakes

I woke up, exhausted. Kim was snoring in the bed next to me, Leslie's body was draped over a chair, Belinda was drooling on the floor, and Lisa was asleep near the window. I was on the landing on the stairs. I don't know how I got there last night, but I did. I am known for sleep walking though. I have never slept walked down the stairs before, so maybe this was a first. The cast on my arm smelled like the man's cologne, so I knew last night wasn't a dream.

Mom was humming something in the kitchen when I walked downstairs. "Good Morning Carly!" Mom said. She smelled the cologne on my cast. "What's that?" She asked.

I really should have sprayed some perfume on it. I decided to tell the truth before any of my friends did.

"Mom, I wasn't thinking and I went outside because a man was holding Josie's letter and it had information that he couldn't know. Mom, it was for our own safety. I stormed out of the house because he was there for hours and Lisa was just staring at him!" My words weren't making sense and I spilled everything out. Mom looked at me and hugged me.

"That was very brave- she pulled me away and said sourly- AND BAD for you to do that."

I laughed and told her it was the bravest thing I had done out of anger. She said that happens to everyone and that I was having a hard time. I was surprised she believed me, and she believed me more when Belinda started talking about it. Kim was staring at her rainbow pancakes- a Sosobella tradition on special occasions. Lisa likes to pray before she eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My family did too, but only at dinner.

Aunt Sara walked out of my room with a bed head. "Good morning Bethany." Aunt Sara told mom. "Good morning Sara." Mom said. Uncle Tom and dad came out of dad's office laughing. "Good morning ladies." They said at the same time. We all giggled at the table.

Leslie kicked me under the table, moving her eyes toward the front door. There was someone at the front door, but the doorbell didn't ring and the person wasn't knocking. I was alarmed, so I whispered to Belinda. Lisa got out of her chair and went to mom. She said something to mom in her ear. Mom had a worried look on her face and whispered something to dad. We all stayed there frozen. It wasn't one of the parents, it wasn't the mailman, it wasn't an object, it wasn't a plant, and it wasn't anything else I could think about at the moment.

Dad grabbed a kitchen knife and stuck it in his pocket. He went and opened the door. We all hid behind the kitchen wall. I peeked and saw the same man. I nudged my mom but she only shhhhhsed me. I mouthed "That's the guy" to her and she looked worried. I heard a whimpering as dad was talking to the man. It was Peppermint! She probably wanted to go to the restroom. I almost stood up until aunt Sara pulled my pant leg down. I obeyed. Dad was still talking to the man, with frustration in his voice.

I quietly leaned over and took a picture of the man with my IPhone. I zoomed into the picture. Lisa got her phone out and brought up the picture she took last night. The resemblance was uncanny. It was the same guy. I showed mom and aunt Sara. They gasped. Dad apparently heard us because he started talking a bit louder. They had a conversation that lasted a solid twenty minutes until dad slammed the door in his face. We got up from behind the wall and asked a million questions. Dad said the man was looking for me and that I had an important letter. Dad told the man that I didn't live here and that he never got a letter.

Great, now this man is harassing my whole family! Why did we have to hide? I heard the whimpering again and ran upstairs. I found Peppermint in her kennel with her legs crossed. She totally had to go to the restroom, no doubt. Before I went downstairs, I looked out the window again. The man was gone now, but I knew he was going to return. I went downstairs and let Peppermint roam in the backyard. Kim and Aunt Sara were laughing about something while mom and dad were in the kitchen talking. I leaned against a wall to hear their conversation. 

"Bethany, I know you're worried, but we can't move now. We promised that Carly was going to grow up in the same house and I don't have enough savings in the bank. I'm going to call the police." Dad told mom. I pressed my ear against the wall. "Mike, we need to do what's best for our well-being and our child..."

I couldn't hear anymore of this. I hated when dad became stubborn and mom whiney. She puts up with a lot of whiney people like the mayor, but she can be a whiner herself. Usually she was happy and upbeat but when things don't go her way, well, that's a different story. Mom and dad get along very well most of the time and they are a great team.

I then realized my rainbow pancakes were getting cold on the table, so I went into the dining room. My plate was empty and I always know the culprit- Kim. There she was, my cousin, the sweet, fashionable, rainbow-pancake loving Kim.