A Baker Family Vacation

3

"Rise and shine!" I overheard Tom yell banging a small triangle. We all headed outside exhausted. I watched as Giana rubbed her eyes. "It is breakfast at the Bakers day one!"

"Is there a particular reason we're eating breakfast outside?" Jessica asked eyes barely open.

"No. Does there have to be?" her mother asked handing out plates.

"Because it's a beautiful day at Lake Winnetka," her husband finished.

"Is that an excuse to wake us up at 7:30 in the morning?" Giana asked. Part of me actually agreed with her but another part feels like poking her in the shoulder.

"It's not an excuse," he said. "We have a fun day planned together."

"Take it, easy honey. They do have a point."

Before he can respond, we spotted a familiar car pulling into the driveway and we all smiled seeing Charlie and Lorraine pull up.

Everyone greeted them excitedly as Lorraine gets out of the car, her brother behind her.

"It still smells the same here like dry leaves. Don't tell me there are mosquitos here," she said.

"Don't worry sis. I packed an extra tube of bug spray," Charlie says.

"And it's called fresh air sweetheart," Tom says kissing her cheek and hugging her brother.

"Uh.....we might need a crane to lift Lorraine's obnoxiously large suitcase out of here," Sarah jokes.

I chuckled finding her joke kinda funny.

Anyone that knew Lorraine Baker knew that she was obsessed with make-up and spent way too much time in the bathroom.

"I've been here not even a minute and you're already making fun of me," she says trying to lift her suitcase but it ends up landing on her foot.

"So like you to put that on my foot," Sarah said jumping around trying not to show her pain.

"At least Giana has style," Lorraine said.

The younger teen rolls her eyes.

"Is that suitcase seriously just for make-up?"

"Whatever butch," she insulted trying to deny it.

"You guys couldn't have come at a better time," Mr. Baker started. "I was just telling your siblings about the family activities we have today."

"Family activities?" asked Henry raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah. You know, apple schmear, fishing for big daddy, tire swing, and the diving board."

"Oh, Elliot invited Sarah and I to go boarding," Jake said.

"Elijah and I are playing video games with Kenneth," Mark said.

"Jessica and I are using the Murtaugh's internet hook-up to study for the academic decathlon," Kim said.

"Precisely. We need the extra hours."

"Well we have all vacation to go over there," Mr. Baker said obviously upset.

"Great. That means we have all vacation to do your stuff," Henry says.

"Giana. You wanna hang out with me today?"

"Sorry. Kim and Jessica persuaded me to come to join them," she says leaving him devastated.

"It's okay. We'll do lake stuff.......another day."

Kate handed out our scones calling our names one by one.