An Exchange

Chapter Twenty-Four - Penny Calls Home

Penny

Giles was already at the house when Ryan arrived. Ryan's eyes flashed angrily at the sight of him, but he held back. They both wanted to speak with my parents when I made my call that day. Being Christmas Eve meant Christmas day in Australia, so I arranged to call them and wish them Merry Christmas. When I mentioned it to Ryan and Giles, they both insisted on coming over and speaking to them as well.

As Ryan sat, I picked up the phone and dialed the number. Mum answered and we talked for a few minutes before Tam took the phone and teased me about picking up a slight American accent. Then Dad took the phone and we talked doctrines like we always did.

Giles signaled that he wanted to talk to them. I told Dad what was going on and he agreed, so I handed Giles the phone. Giles was on his game as he oozed confidence and relaxed easily into a conversation with Dad, then Tam, then Mum.

Ryan stared at his hands, his brows creased. I sat beside him and squeezed his hand. "What's up?"

"They're going to hate me, aren't they?"

"Um, no..."

"Look at Giles. He's talking about church stuff with them and they seem to be just eating it up. What am I going to say?"

"Whatever you want. They're like me, they won't be mean to you."

"But your dad... from the start when he was talking to you, it was all church stuff."

"How about you talk to my sister first, then work your way through to my dad?"

"Your sister?"

"Yes. She's a goofy kid. She's a tenth grader and thinks you're a hottie."

"She knows what I look like?"

"Of course. I send photos home all the time."

He looked up at Giles as he laughed at something Mum said.

I turned to Giles. "Giles, don't hog all their time."

Waving me off, he allowed Mum to finish speaking before he wrapped it up. "Okay, Penny's telling me to get off... it sure was. Okay, bye." He handed me the phone.

"Hey Mum, put Steve on." Mum handed the phone to Tam.

"Her name is Steve?" Ryan's eyes widened.

I covered the mouth piece. "It's a nickname."

"Does everyone go by nicknames down there?"

"No. just some... Hey, Stevie. What's up?"

Tam sighed. "Haven't we already done this?"

"Yes. Here, talk to Ryan."

"The hot guy?"

"Yes, him."

"No! He's too hot. That's way awkward."

"Just do it."

"Fine."

I handed Ryan the phone and he took it apprehensively. My sister, being the crazy and fun girl she was, quickly calmed him with her awkward bumbling and giggling. He soon joked with her and they talked about things I had done to try to embarrass me.

The doorbell rang. Giles and I both looked up as Jonas tore through the house. Giles leaped to his feet and ran after him to try to beat him to the door. I stayed with Ryan who held tightly to my hand, as Tam handed the phone to Mum. Soon both the boys were back in the room and Giles dumped a package on me. "Merry Christmas, Penny."

He gave Jonas a smug smirk which landed him with a firm slug across the shoulder.

Ryan glanced at the package, but slumped when he saw Miss H Lawrence. He, along with Jonas and Giles, watched me open the package with far too much interest. Jonas and Giles must have been bored out of their minds, and Ryan struggled to understand my mum's accent, and so all sought a distraction.