America & Me..

Chapter 14

"Maxon, oh there you are honey!" Mother called, smiling brightly. I smiled back. "My family is coming over! I am just so excited." She continued. Of course she was. She didn't get to see her family very often.

I smiled. "That's great!" I said, sincerely.

"And so are the Swendish Royal Family!" She added.

"I'm sorry, what?" I burst out. I didn't like them at all! I would love to spend time with Mother's siblings and their kids, but the Swendish family? Oh no, no, no, no!

"Maxon, I know you might not like this, at all. But, please? Your Father said they have to come, it's regarding something urgent."

Of course he said that. He doesn't like mother's family much. He changed everyone's mannerisms, because they were a Four! I suppressed a sigh, and forced on a smile.

"Alright, just for a day."

"Umm, the Swendish family are staying for one week, honey."

I gulped. "Wait, so does that mean that the Swendish family will be here on both the days when aunt Adele's family is here? And a few more days? What?!"

She nodded and I couldn't help it. I let out a weary sigh.

"Maxon—"

"I know... Put on a smile, don't let them know." I said, mimicking quotation marks with my hands. She laughed.

"Alright, a week isn't that long either." It is if you are being tortured!

"That's the spirit, I am going to go get everything ready. They are coming today, in the evening. Be there." She said, smiling. I smiled, watching her walk away. Once she was gone, I didn't know what to do. So I walked to the gardens, just strolling.

I remember the time I embarrassed myself so badly, by pronouncing the name of the Swendish queen wrong. Frieda, that was her name, and I didn't get it right. It wasn't my fault, that's such an unusual name. And their daughter, she wasn't the complete problem, I guess I was. She doesn't speak English, French, or Spanish. I don't speak Swendish, and so we never spoke. At all. It's annoying. That was something that was embarrassing too. Not able to talk to her the way I was expected to. And the Swendish King always used to make fun of me. My mistakes seemed extremely amusing to him. He remembers each and every one of them and never fails in pointing out at least one of them, for the sake of embarrassing me. I sigh, sitting on a bench.

Why did everyone expect me to be perfect? That's when I realized that I was sitting on the bench. The one where I met America for the first time. I smiled. The thought of her cheered me up enough to walk up to my room and get some work done before everyone arrived.

—

I walked around the palace, just a matter of time before the arrival of my mother's family and the Swendish royal family. It was decorated beautifully! Mother was the best at this - decorating the castle and welcoming the guests. According to the plan, first, my mother's family would arrive and later, the royal family. I was eager to meet the royal family, now that I've calmed down. But I also knew my aunt, Adele, would not enjoy this. She was a very reserved person, like I am. She would surely not appreciate a royal family intervening in her visit to meet her beloved sister.

I admire the relationship my mother and my aunt share. They are the best sisters in the world. Sometimes I wonder how it would be if I had a brother, whom I could talk to, ask advice and have fun with. But I never dared talk to my mother or father about this. This was a very sensitive topic to them, especially my mother. She has always wanted many children, but couldn't have them. The many miscarriages she had— I shook my head, removing those painful thoughts out of my mind and willing myself to focus on the positives. I continued walking, searching for my mother and found her near the entrance. She seemed extremely eager, and father was next to her, with the same neutral face. The Selected were there too, they were supposed to welcome the royal family. Each one tried her best to look presentable. I smiled and went to stand next to my parents.