Is This Me?

Chapter Two - "Are we going there because of the languages?"

Anne sighed as she got out of bed. She brushed her teeth and jumped in the shower. Wondering how the weekend went by so quickly, she struggled and groaned as she tried to pop a huge zit that had appeared on her face that morning. After probably infecting the pimple, she gave up and just used a paper towel to dab on it lightly. Soon, she heard her dad call everyone downstairs. She rushed out of the toilet and swung her backpack on her shoulder, striding down their long staircase.

After everyone got seated on the rug in the living room, clearing his throat, Papa began,

"We will be going to Switzerland". He went straight to the point without explanation before or after his point, which was unlike Papa. He always gave a little explanation before he went to the point.

This time, it was just a statement which led everyone into confusion. Papa didn't speak to anyone about his sudden decision. Not even Mama.

No one spoke. They were still taking it in. Trying to.

The faces Papa saw were pale and they weren't so happy faces as well.

"We will be going to Switzerland this summer" he repeated, making sure he was heard clearly.

No one spoke for a while until,

"Papa, why Switzerland?" David finally asked

Papa hesitated before speaking. "Well, in Switzerland, they speak German, French, Romansh, and Italian" Papa said with a smile.

"Are we going there because of the languages?" Anne asked, still confused.

"I thought it would help in your language classes next semester" Papa told her.

"We don't speak Romansh in Language class, dad" Josh told him with a groan.

"Well, that's besides the point. Anyway, the language they speak isn't the only thing though. They eat foods like Swiss chocolate, Rösti, Cheese Fondue, Saffron Risotto, and Älplermagronen. Currencies are of different colours too! We have to try that all" Papa exclaimed.

When Papa saw that none of the children looked happy about it, he added.

"Look guys, Switzerland is not a place a family would pick randomly. It's a very different place and I think I made a nice decision". He said, grinning to himself.

Mama finally spoke up,

"Children, Papa is just trying to give us what he thinks is best for us. Smile now, would you?" She said, looking at the kids.

"But Papa, I still don't get why we are going to Switzerland. Let's go somewhere else please" Anne begged.

"Yes papa. Let's go to Africa!" Emily said.

"We went there last year hun. We visited Nigeria, remember?" Mama reminded Emily, who must've forgotten that Africa was where they spent Summer last year.

"Oh, but we can go to a different place this time..." she paused, then thought about it for some time. She then added in quickly "...like...ummm...like Egypt!"

"Oooh!" Josh exclaimed. It seemed he was happier to go to Egypt than Switzerland. It seemed everyone was happier to go to Egypt!

"Yes Papa yes!, let's go to Egypt. We can stay with Mammy and Pappy. And we can visit our cousins and Aunty Inaya!" Anne added. She liked the plan of visiting Egypt.

Papa hesitated.

"But I've already booked our flight tickets" Papa said, with a little whine.

"You've done that all already!" Mama asked, suprised that Papa had gone as far as booking flight tickets. "You should've discussed this with me" she whispered to him. He nodded in agreement and looked back up at the children.