"Leah!" Ellie engulfed in a huge hug. God I missed her.
"Hey Ellie. Gosh what did she do to you." I said as I undid Ellie's hair. It was in two pigtails to the back. She had bangs now as well, and two bows on each little blonde ponytail. She reminded me of Cynthia's old barbie dolls. Disgusting.
"Its not that bad, she says it will help my hair grow." I rolled my eyes.
"So where is she?" I asked Ellie. Looking around for my sister. Cynthia said she was gonna pick me up from the airport with Ellie.
"She's at work." I rolled my eyes again. Cynthia was a part time nurse. She claimed that she needed to reserve time for her 'family', aka her little sister and husband, Mike. Mike was a cool guy. I just felt bad that he had to be married to Cynthia.
"Ok lets go get my bags. Hey where's Mike?" I'm assuming he brought her because, well he's suppose to be her 'makeshift dad'.
"Grandma brought me." Shit.
"Is that my granddaughter? Oh it can't be because my granddaughter doesn't make visits to little ole Louisiana. She lives in the big city." Good Lord, I knew it. I turned around spotting my grandmother, in her famous khaki shorts, and polkadotted button down. I didn't miss that shirt.
"Hey gran." I gave her a hug, and she gave me a large, pink, lip shaped temporary tattoo, in other words her famous cheek kisses.
"Its so good to see you Leah. I'm so happy you're here. Now lets get home. We have a lot to do." What could we possibly have to do? Once we grabbed my bags and packed them into my gran's pickup we all huddled into the car.
"Gosh you've gotten so skinny Leah. We are definitely gonna change that." My grandmother insisted. Ellie laughed.
"Your hair's so pretty Leah. Cynth is gonna hate it." Ellie said.
"Yea those fancy brown tips are enough to give your sister a heart attack." My grandmother confirmed also laughing.
"Hey in my defense Cynthia specifically said don't come with my hair all the way down to my butt. She said nothing about brown tips." Hair was a big thing for my sister. Blonde highlights and unusually long hair just wasn't acceptable. But my hair blonde hair was only went mid-back, So Cynthia would just have to deal.
"Clever Leah." Ellie said high fiving me.
"So what are all these plans you are talking about gran?'
"Well you and Ellie have to help me prepare all of the food for tonight."
"Tonight! What is tonight!" I complained.
"Gran is throwing a barbecue! Everybody in town is invited, my friends are coming and all your friends are coming! But it's not a barbecue for you, its just a plain ole barbecue. Right gran?"
"Right. Just a barbecue. This morning I was in a barbecue type of mood. Don't you think it's a barbecue type of day, Ellie?"
"Mmhhmm I sure do. And Leah you're gonna make your strawberry shortcake right!" Ellie asked me enthusiastically.
"Sure I will Ellie." It felt strangely good to be home.
