“This will be your room, Ellie.”Grandmother Allie motioned to Grandfather Hank's old bedroom.
“If Grandfather Hank visits, won't he want this?” I asked, hesitant to set my bags down on the plush, soft green carpet.
“Oh, dear, don't worry about that. Hank barely visits. And if he does, he'll have to deal with the guest room. He won't mind.” Grandmother Allie must have noticed my hesitation, because she took my bags from me and plopped them on the bed.
“I'll give you some time to unpack and get settled. Maybe we should go out for dinner?” She said to herself, then left.
I didn't really want to unpack, knowing that everything in my bag was basically the same. I did though, and when I walked into the hallway, Grandmother Allie was looking at herself in the hall mirror.
“Oh, there you are! Get your purse, we're going out. Out for dinner.” She rushed me out to the car, and we were on our way.
“Grandmother Allie?” I asked.
“Yes, dear?” She looked over and smiled at me.
“Can we go shopping? I mean, I have clothes and stuff. But they're all the same. When we get back, I'll show you what I'm talking about.”
“Oh, dear, say no more! I understand. How can a girl live without stylish clothes? Of course we'll go shopping. I've had some money stashed away that I've never found anything to do with. I'd love to be able to spend it on you.”
I smiled at her, internally thanking her, but also saddened. What right do I have to ask this woman, that I've never even met, to spend her money on me? I wanted to take it back, reassure Grandmother Allie that I would just wear the clothes I came with, but I couldn't get the words out of my mouth.
When we got back to the house after dinner, Grandmother Allie tried to convince me to stay up and watch TV with her, but I told her I was tired from the plane ride and went to my room. I unpacked my bags, filling the closet with the clothes I dreaded but forced myself to promise to wear them. I hooked up my laptop to the internet cable and logged onto my email.
Michaela Waters; michaelawatersyourgarden@email.com
ELLIE! OMG; you just left and I miss you so much already! Literally, you just pulled out of my driveway. I hope you get this soon because I can't stand not talking to you. BTW, you left your duffel in my tree house. I don't know how that really makes a difference now because you can't really come back to get it. Gosh, saying that makes me so sad. I seriously want you back. Wow, that sounds like we were dating. Though I wouldn't mind, we'd be a pretty hot couple (; LOL. Now I can't make jokes like that with you! OMG; My life is over now! You don't even know how internally sad I am. I couldn't even eat, I'm that sad. Mom even bought the pizza that comes with cookie dough! You know that's my favorite! But I couldn't eat. I've just been sitting up in my bedroom, rewriting this email over and over again because I couldn't get the words to come out right. I miss you so much <3
~ Michaela
I smiled at Michaela's email, and opened up a blank one to send back to her.
Ellie Jamaica; ellisonophelia@email.com
Michaela, I hear you, girl! I want you back also <3 (; Grandmother Allie is so SWEET! My Grandfather Hank is.. I forgot where, but she gave me his bedroom! And you know the clothes that my mom made me buy? The ugly plain ones :/ Allie said that she'd take me shopping for some “stylish” clothes. She said that she'd “love to spend my money on you!” Now I feel so bad! Like I'm using her or something! I don't know if Mom and Dad realize how nice Allie is. If this is the way she'll act all the time, this isn't punishment! Except being away from you </3 That's the worst of all. Gosh, by the way we're talking, we might as well be dating! LOL. And I left the duffel on purpose. Open it and read the letter. It's for you; PRESENT TIME
