The NEWBIE

Chapter 43

***43***

JACK

My movie marathon was interrupted because I was busy cleaning the room I was going to stay in. Couldn't imagine how many times I've sneezed my ass off. I cleared off the shelves and the unnecessary stuff inside. After recovering from a minor headache, my Grandpa assisted me in carrying the boxes up the attic.

"So Gramps, when's Mom going to arrive with Jamie exactly?" I asked, while we went down from the attic to take another batch of boxes.

"They should be here now. It wouldn't take long." He answered. I handed him another box and I take mine.

"Oh... Did they call or text you?" I asked him again.

"She called while I was in the kitchen and you were up here." He said. "Why? Do you miss them?" He teased.

"Just asking." I simply replied but to be honest, I do miss Jamie and Mom. All I saw in the past few days were my grandparents and everything in this place was very nostalgic but I did enjoy being treated like the only grandson in the world, for once.

When we were almost finished with the boxes, I thought I heard distant voices and I knew they came from downstairs. And then the next moment, I see Jamie running at me while I was still hands full with the stacked boxes in my head.

"Jack! I missed you." She said as she tugged my pants.

"Grandpa!" She quickly yelled as if I was completely invisible and pounced at the old guy.

"I hope you have waffles! And ponies!" She sang and kissed Grandpa on the cheek.

"You little sprout." He called her. That's what Grandpa and Grandma call her. They made all these silly nicknames for everyone and obviously, mine's Jackie-boy.

Mom came in next, wearing a blue turtle neck. She quickly gave me a tight hug so I had to drop the boxes.

"My boy, did Grandpa take care of you? Aw, I miss you. How are you? Do you still feel feverish after leaving the hospital?"

"I thought I'm still grounded." I groaned and tried to unlock her mushy hug.

"Yes but that doesn't change the fact that I'm worried about you." She carried on.

"Could've been worse if he ate the whole cake slice." Grandpa added.

"Okay, enough with the hugs. I still have a job to do." I reminded Mom. She finally let go of me but I was caught off-guard when she kissed the tip of my nose.

"Ah! Gross!" I said as I angrily rubbed my nose. Mom is so affectionate whenever she's worried or hasn't seen me for days and it's awfully disturbing.

"You're so grown up." She said and then took Jamie to her old room.

"Did you teach her to be like that?" I said, looking at Grandpa.

He scratched his ear, "I'm pretty sure the kissy part came from your Grandma's side of the family. Don't blame me."

***

ELSA

The ball was heavy and the floor was freakishly slippery but I'm pretty good myself. I swung my arms and then let go of the ball without getting out of balance.

The ball just rolled fast, almost hitting the side. I had my fingers crossed while watching the ball hitting all the pins except one.

"Good one, Elsa!" My Dad had shouted while clapping. Mom was behind him, writing on a clipboard for my score.

"My turn." Dad said. I went back to the table and he gave me a pat in the back when he stood up.

I sat next to Anna who was looking like she wanted to sleep.