Mounting up

Chapter 3

I finished putting up the final decorations at the hall. I stepped back, to join Mom, Uncle Ron and Aunt Hadley, and surveyed our work. Black and Gold streamers hung from the ceiling, twisted to perfection. Party hats and Silver New Years crowns sat on a Snow White folding table.

Juice, Pop, Water and Champagne sat on a identical table beside the crowns and party hats, along with plastic champagne flutes, and plastic cups. It was New Year's Eve and we were setting up for a party with My Grandma
Jowarneski (Mom's Maiden Name), Grandpa Hastings, Aunt Davina, Uncle Sean and finally, My Aunts who are married: Liza (Elizabeth) and Catherine.

I couldn't wait! I set up my phone to the speakers and turned on Steal My girl. I looked at the time. The guests were set to arrive in 15 minutes. I also couldn't wait cause' My aunts Liza and Catherine were bringing Cards Against Humanity, a very inappropriate game; I loved to play. Mom sat down on a chair. "Where's the play pen?" She sighed, exhausted. "Over there!" Uncle Ron replied casually, pointing in a corner by a large window. My aunt Davina and Uncle Sean were bringing there 1 week old triplets: Mia, Michael and Madison.

Grandma Jowarneski entered the room. "Good evening family!" She bellowed. "Hi Grammie!" I say as I give her a bone-crushing hug. She kisses me a thousand times, getting red lipstick all over my face. I shy away and wipe my face with Kleenex. Uncle Sean walks in, carrying Mia and Madison in seperate car-seats. "Hi uncle Sean!" I greet happily. "Hey Hey my favourite niece!" He replied easily as I grabbed Mia's car seat and carried her over to the playpen. "Your one and only niece." I reminded him gently. "Right." He laughed and unbuckled Madison.

Aunt Davina places Michael beside Madison and Mia. She sighs. "Children are exhausting." "-but a joy." I said quickly. "You're right, El, I shouldn't complain, many people would kill for children." She said, regretfully. She waddled over to the rest of the group, being very heavy. Aunt Davina was already obese before the baby wait so now she was super heavy. I cooed to the tiny human beings and pulled on some funny faces. I joined the rest of the group, and we began to play card s against humanity as when I was playing with the baby's, Aunties Liza and Catherine had arrived along with Grandpa Hastings.

A few hours later, the game was finished awhile ago, so we began to talk and get dinner. Dinner consisted of ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, buns and strawberry lemonade. Grandpa sighed and stretched. "So, how about a good old game of beer pong?" He asked mischievously. "Grandpa!" I said, in a fake-horrified voice. "There are children here!" Aunt Liza laughed. Aunt Davina shakes her head "They don't know how to smile, I'm sure they won't mind us playing beer pong." "Jordan...Eleanor is only 14..." My mom warned. "Aw C'mon Gail, Lighten up a bit! If it bugs you that much, we'll play pop pong." Grandma said lightly.

My grandpa pleaded "C'mon Gail pleaseeeee?" "Alright fine. Jordan, set up a table and get the beer." My mom relented, smiling slightly. Grandpa
started setting up the table with my aunt Catherine's help. I grabbed the cups and the pop; Mom had decided to go with pop pong. I set up the cups on the table in a triangle shape and poured half a can of Pepsi into each one; it took around one whole pack of 12 Pepsi cans. I grabbed the ping pong balls and set them on the table. "We're ready!" Aunt Liza called, as she saw we were finished setting up.

We all lined up and started cheering Uncle Sean on as he aimed and tossed the ping pong ball into a cup to the left of him. He chugged the Pepsi and smiled afterwards. "Davina, Hun, it's your turn!" He said smilingly. Aunt Davina shook her head, smiled playfully and grabbed a ball. She tossed it into a cup and chugged the contents. My turn. I grabbed a ball and stuck my tongue out of the corner of my mouth, my concentration face. With total concentration on the glass, I tossed the ball and watched as it bounced over three cups and landed in the fourth one. I cheered happily and drank the contents. Mom went after me, then Grandma Jowarneski. Finally Grandpa Hastings, Aunt Catherine and Aunt Liza complete their turns.

We did another two rounds and afterwards saw it was 11:55. "It's time!" I yelled to everybody. They grabbed crowns and party hats. I picked up baby Mia and held her as Uncle Sean picked up baby Michael while Aunt Davina picked up baby Madison. We went to the centre where we watched the countdown in Times Square.

"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1" We all yelled in excitement.

"Happy NewYear!" We screamed joyfully as the ball dropped.