The sun beat down upon the lawn with its oppressive rays, making the shady front porch heaven on earth. Franko sat in one of the lawn chairs that he had moved into the shade in an attempt to escape the burning heat. Despite this he was still sweating like crazy, his head resembling a running stream. Taking a bottle of ice water from his bag that was placed beside the chair, he uncapped it and took a swing, the cool substance relieving his parched throat. He re capped the water and placed it back into his bag. Waiting was troublesome, especially in this heat. He had no idea when the bus would arrive to pick them up. And speaking of "them." He looked over to the almost identical house next door to his. He sighed "How long can it possibly take to get ready?" He thought in irritation. Getting up from the chair, he started across his lawn and onto the neighboring house's. Be stepped up onto the wooden porch and knocked on the front door. He could hear sounds resembling shouting comming from the house. Pressing his ear to the door, he could make out a little of what was happening inside. Buiseness seemed to be running as it always was. "Come on! Your gonna miss the bus and your all ready paid for! Go! Go! Go! Get the door while your at it!" This familiar voice belonged to a woman whom he knew well. His aunt Janessa to be specific. The voice that followed was one of the softest he had ever heard, though he was used to it at this point. "I know! I know, I'm going!" Franko waited patiently with an amused smile, pushing up his sunglasses with his finger. Things had always been noisy like this here, for as long as he could remember. The door opened suddenly. A young girl of about sixteen stood across the threshold from him. She had shoulder length blond hair and sea blue eyes that seemed to stare up at Franko innocently. What immediately got his attention though was her state of dress. She wore a long sleeve shirt and jeans. Basically, not the smartest attire for this type of weather.
"You look like your about to go walking in the snow." He said, exaduration one hundred percent necessary. The girl made a pouty face and stuck her tongue out at him. Despite her age she still acted like a child. A woman with long black hair appeared behind the girl. "Oh, Franko. Thank god, please talk some sense into this girl. She still isn't ready to go." The womans voice was full of stress. Franko chuckled and scrached his head. "Yes auntie, I will help her load up a bit." He said, looking down at the girl. "Momo, I'll get your bags, just go get changed into something a little more suitable for this heat." He patted her head. "Please?" He asked, pushing down his sunglasses a bit to give her puppy dog eyes. Momo looked away. "Fine! Wait for me!" She pouted, running up the stairs quickly. Aunt Janessa let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Franko. I don't know what I'm gonna do with that girl. She has the attention span of a rock." She said, rubbing her eyes stressfully. Franko smiled and lifted up Momo's bags. "It's no problem, I'm used to it by now." He chuckled. Franko carried the bags back across the lawn, setting them beside his own. He sat back down in the chair, waiting for Momo to come outside. This was her first time going to camp Ikuwa with him, but he had been going for years. Every summer he and his friends would take a bus out there and spend a week on the camp grounds. But this year he decided to take his little cousin Momo along with him. She was a quiet girl and didn't talk to anyone other than her mom, his mom, and him, so naturally she didn't have any acquaintances to attend with, let alone friends. Barely anyone knew the real Momo. If they did they would realize that quiet was the last word that should be used to describe her. When she got going she would not stop talking, no matter what the topic was. Franko glanced over at the neighboring house just as Momo stepped outside. She wore a black tanktop and shorts that ended just above her knees. Her painted toenails poked out from the pair of flip flops that she had padded her feet with. She gave her mother a goodbye hug before turning and jogging over to Franko's yard. Aunt Janessa waved and went back inside, closing the door behind her. Momo came up beside Franko and plopped down on the grassy lawn. He looked down at her, noticing her slightly depressed features. He didn't blame her. It had not exactly been her first choice to go with him. Aunt Janessa had thought it would be a good opportunity to make some friends. Only problem was that if she knew Momo the way that he did then she would have figured out that the girl had no intention of making any friends. Despite this, Aunt Janessa had left it up to him to make sure that Momo had a good time. So far things weren't looking promising. He leaned in and poked her cheek, just as he always did when she was grumpy. "Hey, you look like someone crapped in your cornflakes." He teased. "Come on it'll be fun, just you wait!" Momo turned to bite his finger but he was able to pull it back just in time. "Whoa, my little Momo is a shark now. When did this happen?" He said playfully. "We better tell everyone at the camp to avoid swimming in the lake. Don't want any campers getting mistaken for seals and eaten now do we?" Momo attempted to keep her serious face but he could see a slight smile curving on her lips. He immitated a drowning camper who was about to be eaten my Momo, the most deadly shark in the lake. A smile spread across her face and she began to giggle at Franko who was making a fool of himself on the front lawn. "I'm not a shark!" Shee laughed, smiling up at him brightly. "Oh?" He said with a grin, sitting upright once more. "Your smiling now?" She realized it and turned away in a prissy fashon. "I'm simpily amused by your ridiculousness is all. I am still highly dissatisfied with having to go on this trip." She said. He shrugged. "Meh, that works for me. Just so long as you smile." He said. Momo huffed at him and sat in silence. After about ten minutes of waiting, the bus came driving down the street towards the house. Franko stood up and grabbed they're bags,heading over to the bus that was now waiting in the street for the Cousins to board. Momo followed close behind as he stepped onto the bus with the bags. Luckily for them no one was sitting in the back of the bus. He headed over, setting the bags down and taking a seat in the far right corner. Momo sat down beside him silently. As the bus started to move again, Franko stared out the window. There were still other campers that had to be picked up so this ride would take awhile. He was about to rest his head against the glass when he felt Momo's head touch his shoulder. He turned to look at her. She was fast asleep, probably lulled by the soft him of the engin and the cool air conditioned interior of the bus. She looked so peaceful, her breaths were long and soft. He smiled and wrapped his arm around her, holding her gently against his body. She slept silently for the remainder of the four hour ride to camp.
YOU ARE READING
Just cousins
РазноеFranko has always been close with his little cousin Momo. They grew up next door to each other and he had always done everything in his power to ensure her happiness. But he soon finds that he himself may threaten that happiness. As Momo grows older...
