Mixed Up

1

"Buzzzz!", went Tiana's cell phone as it startled her awake. It was a group text message from her friend Lauren that read, "End of Summer Party at my house tonight! Food, drinks, games, and a pool! So bring bathing suits! 1356 Wallabee St.! Spread the word and hope to see you all there!" Tiana smiled at the text with excitement saying in her head, "Ahhh, parties! Literally my favorite things to go to!"

She hopped out of her red and white polkadotted bed, slipped on her pink bunny slippers, and walked across the hall to the bathroom to wash up. After showering and brushing her teeth, Tiana put her wet curly, black hair into a high messy bun. Then, she put on some blue denim shorts with a black, sparkling belt, a white frilly, thick strapped tank top, and her black and white sparkling converse shoes. Not to mention also putting on her large, black hoop earrings and her white hair bow to complete her hot and sunny Saturday outfit.

Tiana ran down the stairs and seen a little boy with black, curly hair standing in front of her looking up at her. He had a huge grin on his face and hugged Tiana's waist as tight as he could. Tiana laughed at the boy and said, "Hey little bro! What's up?"

"Nothing. I just missed you!" he said.

"Gosh, Jamie," Tiana said to the boy with a smile,"it hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet since you last saw me."

"I know . . . I just really missed you, Ana!", Jamie responded. He called her "Ana" for short.

"You always do," Tiana chuckled.

"That's because you're his favorite big sister," said a man's voice from the kitchen.

"Morning, Daddy!" Tiana chuckled as she responded to the owner of the voice.

"Morning, Daddy!", Jamie quickly shouted after Tiana.

"Morning, honey. Morning, bud," their dad, Mr. Terrance "Terry" Jones, said while kissing Tiana on the cheek and Jamie on the top of his head.

"And last time I checked, I am Jamie's only sister," laughed Tiana to her dad.

"And a great one too," Mr. Jones said giving her a tight shoulder hug.

"Something smells great, Dad. What'd you make?" asked Tiana.

"Some good ol' bacon, ham, and cheese omelets."

"Like the ones Momma used to make?" Tiana asked with a smile.

"Yeah . . . thought I'd try something new," Mr. Jones said as he glanced at a family photo of him, his beautiful wife named Ronda, Tiana, and Jamie. "I don't think I'll ever make them as good as her though."

"Yeah . . . me either," Tiana said looking down with a half-smile.

"I'm hungry, Daddy!", said Jamie tugging at Mr. Jones' shirt. He laughed in response, "Okay, bud. Let's head to the kitchen".

They all headed towards the delicious smell in the kitchen and sat down at their vintage, wooden kitchen table. Each of their omlets stood on a plate in front of them. Jamie was about to dig in, but was told "no" by his dad.

"You know better to wait to say grace before eating, Jamie", said Mr. Jones.

"Sorry, Daddy," Jamie said with his bottom lip poked out.

"It's okay, bud. You're still learning."

Then, Mr. Jones told Jamie and Tiana to bow their heads as he said grace. After he was done, they all finished with an, "Amen", and started to stuff each of their faces.

"Hey, Dad . . . ," said Tiana taking a huge bite of her omlet.

"Yeah, hun?" Mr. Jones responded.

"So . . . remember when you said that I was a good sister to Jamie?"

"Yeah . . ."

"And you know how the Summer is about to end . . . ?"

"Uh huh . . . ," Mr. Jones said suspiciously as he took a bite of his omelet.

"And you know how I'm about to start my senior year of high sch--"

"Where you going with this, Ti?"

"Okay," Tiana sighed with a hopeful smile and asked him, "Could I pleeeease go to this 'End of Summer' party tonight that Lauren's throwing? Pleeeease?"

Mr. Jones smirked at Tiana while he finished chewing a bite of his omelet.

"A party, eh?" he asked her with one eyebrow up.

"Yes. . . ."

"Mmmm I don't really know about that, Tiana. You know how your mother was about you going to parties."

"I know, Dad, but I'm seventeen now."

"And?"

"And therefore I think I should be old enough to handle myself at a party."

Mr. Jones thought hard in silence about his decision.

"Pleaaaassee, Daddy.", Tiana begged again.

"Okay," he sighed, "I'll let you go only under these conditions. . . ."

"Yes, daddy?" Tiana grinned.

"No drinking, no drugs, and absolutely no sex! You got that?"

"I got it, dad! No drinking, no drugs, and absolutely no sex!" Tiana repeated with excitement. She shouted, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" as she got up to give her dad a big hug.

"You're welcome, sweetie." He laughed.

"Oh, and by the way, Brady is going to the party too. So you don't have to worry," Tiana smirked.

"Oh, good! He can make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"Whatever, Daddy," Tiana laughed rolling her eyes playfully. "I'm going across the street to Brady's house to tell him the good news, okay?" Tiana said, urgently getting up from the table.

"Aren't you going to finish your omelet first?"

"I'm just going to take it with me," Tiana said as she grabbed her warm, half-eaten omelet, and kissed both her dad and Jamie goodbye.
Mr. Jones laughed at her eagerness and watched as she ran out of the kitchen. He yelled to her, "Tell him and his family I said, 'hey'."
Tiana yelled back to him from the front door, "I will, Dad! Thanks again!" and slammed the door shut with excitement. She was hoping that tonight was going to be worth it. Maybe she won't make any mistakes tonight. Or maybe she will. She'll only know when the time comes. But until then, Tiana hoped that Brady, who she didn't even ask to go yet, would have the heart to come along with her to this anticipated party tonight.