My Terrifying Relative

Chapter 1

 It was the usual sunny afternoon when I walked into the house back from school.

 I shut the back door gently and found Mom and my old man sitting at the kitchen counter, looking at pamphlets and brochures of something of some kind. Mom wore this triumphant grin on her face and kept whispering to dad and giggling.

 I shuddered…ew.

 “Hey, guys.” I kissed mom on the cheek and hugged dad in a sideways manner. “What are you doing?”

 They exchanged looks with each other and my mom grinned, “uh, honey?” I searched their faces for any clue of what might cause all that sneaky smiling…oh, no.

 I leaned in closer… “Are you pregnant?”

 My dad squeezed the bridge of his nose trying hard to hold in the laughter, and mom laughed and scratched the back of her neck, “Sweety, no.” She let out another chuckle, and then sighed, “uhm… your dad and I decided to go on a cruise in the Atlantic. Your father has been planning it for weeks as an Anniversary present.”

 I blinked.

 “WHAT?!”

 “Aww, sweety, I’m sorry this came on such short notice, but daddy couldn’t say no to that offer. It was really good, and we wanted it so bad.” She caressed my cheek, “I’m sure you’ll be fine without the both of us that week.”

 “A WEEK?!” my eyes grew wide, “How can you leave me here for a week, a whole week?”

 Dad chuckled, “Honey, of course we’re not going to leave you here all by yourself.”

 I narrowed my eyes and just stared at them…, “You’re taking me with you?”

 Dad couldn’t suppress his laughter any longer and Mom laughed and shook her head, “No, silly. I called Sam to come pick you up the day we’re leaving.”

 My shoulders sunk, “You’re kidding, right?”

 I sat there gazing at the air. How do they have it in them to leave me with a woman I have only seen four times in my life…of which two I vaguely remember?

 But still…it’s their anniversary, their own time of the year..or whatever it may be called. They never say no to anything I ask for and this time, they have the right to have what they want…

 After a deep breath and a long sigh, “Fine. If it’s gonna make you guys happy.”

 Dad squeezed my shoulder, and mom grinned. I smiled knowing how mom gets when endorphins rush into her brain. She did a whole ‘blond girl’’ dance, you know, the one with the girl jumping up and down? My mom does that. "But please, that one thing I want you do when you're out there, use protection." 

 Normally surprised at my improper demand, they opened their mouths to protest. i held my hands in the air and said, "I am not ready to have any siblings, thank you very much. That's my only condition if you are going to leave me with whom I consider a total stranger."

 Suddenly, my smile fell and my eyes widened, “Oh, my God! I think I might actually miss you guys.” I faked a cringe. Dad hugged me and kissed my head. Mom stood at the other end of the counter watching how dad holds me with a smile.

 “Hm…so when are you going?”

 “Tomorrow.”