The Last Five Years

Drew

Caroline slid into the booth we always sat in when we came to Slater's Diner. She immediately picked up the menu, scanning for anything new. I gazed at my sister, thinking of how much she had changed in five years. Her hair was almost to her waist, her face had thinned up, and she was the carbon copy four mother. I smiled, feeling a sense of pride that I was lucky to be her brother.

I pulled out a menu, glancing over it although I knew I would order what I did every time. "So, Caro, what are we trying today?" I smiled at her over the menu.

She grinned, pointing to a picture of red velvet pancakes. "These are new, and they look pretty good. What about you? Wait! Let me guess. A stack of blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup and a side of hash browns?"

I nodded, laughing. "The same old, same old." We both put our menus away. "So have you started looking into undergraduate schools yet? Got any career paths in mind?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I haven't looked into anything yet, I'm trying to enjoy being a teenager! Unlike some of people." She winked at me. "So when do you have to go back to Maryland? I don't want you to leave." Her eyes got sad.

I gave an apologetic smile. "I'm going to the airport right after breakfast. I've got a big procedure to do on Monday, and I need to study up." I tipped her chin up. "But I promise it won't be another five years, Caro. Hey, maybe I can even convince mom to let you fly out and stay a weekend with me sometime. Sound good?"

She grinned. "That'd be awesome! But do you promise not to study the whole time and be a nerdy hermit? I'm going to want to go out and have fun!"

I sat back in my seat chuckling. "Yes, of course. We'll see all the sights, do all that there is to do."

Just then, a waitress came over to the table. She smiled, and then squinted her eyes at me. "Andrew?" I nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my goodness, I can't believe you're back in Raymond! You guys get breakfast on the house. Now what can I get you?"

Caroline didn't waste any time. "I'll have a chocolate milk, a stack of red velvet pancakes. Easy on the cream topping, please. And also a side of eggs over medium, please." She gave her most dazzling smile.

The waitress shifted her gaze to me, still grinning. "I'll just have black coffee, a stack of blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup-"

"And a side of hash browns," she finished. She shook her head. "In all your years coming here, have you ever ordered something else?"

I shrugged. "I'm a creature of habit, what can I say?" I smiled, and glanced around the diner. My eyes landed on Peter, who had his head down concentrating fully on something in front of him. He scribbled furiously. It was then I noticed a crayon in his hand, and I chuckled to myself. "Caro, I'll be back in a moment. I'm going to go say goodbye to Peter."