Did You Know?

Cinnamon

"Why are you smiling?" Alex nudged her sister in the ribs.

"Me and Lena are going skating."

"That's nice. Did you forget you have sister?"

"No I did not! But you're always with Maggie and...and your other friends. You always have plans and I didn't want to sit at home, alone, doing nothing. So I texted Lena and..."

"Kara, stop. I'm just teasing you. It's nice that you are friends with Lena. I think she's glad to have you too."

"I'll always be there for her and she knows that even though we know each other just for 5 months or so."

"It's been 5 months already? I remember the day they got here...."

It was hot summer day when the moving truck parked right in front of the empty house. "Alex someone is moving here! Someone must have bought it!" Kara shouted and practically slammed her face against the window. "Ouch!" She rubbed her nose to release some pain. "Alex they must be rich."

"Calm down, kiddo. Let me see... Hmm, those look like some expensive paintings. Did you see that enormous couch? Like how many members does this family have? Twelve?"

"I know, right? Oh, Alex!" Kara pointed her finger, "Do you see that too? That. Fridge.Is.Huge! There must be plenty of people moving in!"

There were actually not. In the afternoon pulled an expensive SUV in the driveway it was followed by some smaller car. Kara expected at least 8 people to climb out of cars, but there were three actually. Man and two women. It wasn't dark per se, but Kara hadn't got her glasses on and she couldn't see their faces.
She found out later that one of the women was a girl her age. They become friends quite easily in spite of Lena's coyness.

"Alex, have you seen my skates?"

"Yeah, they're at the shelf in the garage, you dummy."

"Oh thanks! I thought they were in the basement. I'm heading out, bye!"

"Have fun with Lena!" She made sure to emphasise her name. "Also, tell her I said hi."

Kara rang the doorbell and waited for Lena to come.

"Hi, hey." Lena opened the door and chaotically rummaged through wardrobe. She found matching mittens, scarf and beanie.

"Shall we?"

They got to the rink quite fast, it wasn't that far. They put their skates on and Kara offered Lena to tie them for her since she was a gentlewoman.

It was nice. There were just a few people skating with them meaning they had much more space to do something silly. Lena was excellent at skating.

"Is there anything you can't do?"

"Of course."

"But really Lena..."

"You know I can do such things like playing piano, skating, horse riding, playing chess and other things but I am not always optimistic and sunny as you are. You can be described as human version of golden retriever puppy, you show the same happiness when doing something you like and being with people you love."

"Aww Lena."

Kara took her hand, "I think now's the time to get some hot drink. I think I know something you'd like. Come on."

They put on their shoes back and headed towards the city centre they stopped right outside of one small coffeeshop.

"Wait here. I'll be right back." Kara smiled and disappeared.
When she stepped outside with two steaming cups she handed one to Lena.

"Mulled wine?"

"Yeah, I thought you might like it."

"I do like wine for sure but I have never had a mulled wine. How did you get this? We're not adults?"

"I have my ways." Kara winked, "Taste it, Lena."

Kara was on her tippy toes waiting for Lena to sip on her drink.

"That's actually nice. Oh there's a piece of cinnamon."

"Did you know, Lena, that cinnamon is actually a tree bark? They shave off the inner layer of bark of evergreen trees and dry it. That's why it is curled up into quills."

"Oh I didn't know that." Lena lied.

"You're lucky to have me to tell you then."

"I am, indeed, lucky." I truly am. She repeated in her head and smiled fondly back at Kara.