Thirteen Short Summers: Chapter II

The bus let us off right in front of grandma's house, which was on the corner of Sloat Avenue and Sixth Street. Grandma's house was big and red, with green shudders, and a big yellow door.
Grandma sat on the porch rocking chair, crocheting. She stood up when she saw the bus and walked down the porch. I'd never met my grandmother. She was tall...for a grandmother, not frail at all like the grandmothers in storybooks. She looked rather young for a grandmother actually.


"Hello Jennipher, Virgina." She said, wiping her hands on her apron. She shook my hand, then Jennipher's. "You two can take your bags up stairs in the two bedrooms. Put your things away, then come eat lunch."

I was surprised that grandma didn't hug me, or kiss me on the cheek, she just shook my hand.

Grandma's house was pretty. Lots of glass, which isn't good because I'm very clumsy. It got hotter as Aunt Jennipher and I climbed the stairs. The bed in the first room was big, so Aunt Jennipher took that bedroom. I headed farther down the hall to the last door. The bedroom was smaller, and there was a small metal bed pushed up against a wall.
The walls were a faded light blue and the floors were wood. I could hear everything down stairs, outside, and down the hall in Aunt Jennipher's bedroom where she was singing a Chinese tune.
There was a old picture of a young girl, I figured it was my mother. She had blond hair and beuatiful blue eyes. She was on the beach, building a sand castle with a big grin on her face. I put it on the table by the window, where I could see it when i wake up.
I put away my dresses in the wardrobe, and folded my other clothes and put them in the dresser.

I hurried down the stairs for lunch. "No running." Grandma said, as i eneter this kitchen.

"Oh yeah." I replied. I plopped down at the table.

Grandma put a plate of with a sandwich and a glass of milk in front of me.

"Grandma, how far is the beach?" I asked, bitting into my sandwich.

"About half a mile. You may call me Liz." She replied.

"Alright, Liz. Can we go to the beach today?"

"No, but maybe tomorrow."

I tried not to show how upset I was, but i didn't do a very good job.

"We have to run errands today though, and some garden work." Liz said.

I made a face. I had to do alot of garden wrok every single day when I lived in the orphange.