Is This Me?

Chapter Four - Egypt!

Mammy heard their voices as they chattered through the hallway. She left the kitchen excitedly and went to welcome them. The family received a very warm welcome from Mammy. She was still wearing her apron and she had the aroma of nutmeg and chocolate cake about her. You would tell she had been baking.

"Oh, my dears!" She exclaimed, bustling hurriedly to hug them.

"Grandma!" The children chorused as they dropped their luggage and ran to hug her back.

"We've missed you so much Grandma!" Josh said.

"Oh, I've missed you children way more, my dears!" she beamed, scooping them all together in a bear hug.

Mammy is a 63 year old woman with a plump figure and a wide smile. She is of medium height and had eyes that twinkled when she smiled and laughed.

She greeted the adults happily, directing them to the sunny tea room for cool lemonade already set for them before hurrying back into the kitchen to check on her stuffed chicken that was cooking in the oven.

Mammy loved cooking.

She was always eager to go into the kitchen whenever Pappy told her that they were expecting visitors. What made it even better was that she made the best food and baked the best pastries.

Everyone absolutely loved her food and she would always blush when they complimented it. She used fresh food supplies from her garden at the back of the house. She tended it herself too.

It was time for lunch and Mammy went all out to impress. Everyone's mouth watered when they sat at the table to mashed potatoes, freshly tossed Moroccan salad, grilled fish fillets, fries, stuffed chicken and pie. They could hardly wait to say grace before digging in. What a feast! She must have been preparing the food all day!

"Is this the surprise, Pappy?!" Emily asked happily, chewing on some crunchy salad.

"It sure is, little one!" Pappy responded, making a funny face of a stuffed panda. She giggled.

For dessert, Mammy served a chocolate cake with lots of coulorful sprinkles along with strawberry smoothie and scones. Chocolate was Anne's absolute favourite. She was so stuffed though, she wondered if anyone of them would be able to get any sleep from being overfed!

"These are the best scones I have ever tasted, Mammy. You really are the best cook, apologies to Mama!" Josh said with a giggle, slipping a sheepish look at his mom as he reached out to grab another scone from the tray in the middle of the table.

"Yes, Mammy", Emily added. Thank you soooo much! These are delicious" she chipped in.

The others smiled in agreement. Mammy beamed and turned crimson with all the accolades.

"Oh, come off it", she laughed merrily. "It was the least I could do to welcome home my beautiful family. It's so good to have you here. Most days are quiet around here, with your Pappy and I all by ourselves. All I do is grow food in the garden with no one to eat them!"

Everyone laughed.

After lunch, Mama and Anne washed up and cleared the table, after insisting to do it because Mammy would not let them easily. She suggested they got some rest while she finished in the kitchen but Mama was able to win that one

"Mum, you always outdo yourself. You should be the one taking a rest. Anne and I don't mind clearing up. After all, you made the food and we all enjoyed it" Mama told her mother warmly, feeling very lucky to have her.

Mammy finally agreed and went upstairs to take a shower and a much needed rest. She was hardworking and willing to do anything to satisfy the needs of her guests.