PART 1: VALLEYBURG, P.A.

    Your Grandma Ruth is on the phone," My father, Cal called from our kitchen.  Each time I think of a kitchen I think of granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, maple cabinets, and hardwood flooring.  That's a dream kitchen, because mine is the exact opposite.  We have stained laminate counter tops, avocado appliances from who knows when and both our cabinets and flooring are fake.  We live in a dingy apartment in the middle of nowhere and we are lucky if we get cell service. 

    “What does she want?" I asked walking into the old kitchen.

    "Just take the phone," Cal ordered in his firm military voice.  Like usual I obeyed and snatched the yellowed plastic phone from his grip.

    “Hello Grandma Ruth," I said cheerfully into the receiver pretending to act happy.

    "Hi sweetie, it's the month of May which means you will be spending the weekend with me!" She sung into my ear.  I rolled my eyes.  May.  The worse month ever.  The month my mother died, the month we moved to Valleyburg, and the yearly Grandmother/Granddaughter tea party at her "Old Ladies" Club (as I dubbed it).   

    "Yippee!" I replied and looked at Cal who was trying not to smirk.

    "Have your father drop you off tomorrow morning.  Then you can sleepover at my house for the weekend," She said.

    "Sounds like a blast," I said through gritted teeth.

    “Bye Shea," She said.

    “Bye Grandma Ruth," I replied and hung up.

    "What did she want?" Cal asked me.

    "She wants to bring me to her stupid "Old Ladies" Club for the annual tea party," I sang in a mocking tone.

    "Shea I know you don't like her but she is family," Cal lectured.

    “You don't like her either," I pointed out.  He shrugged his shoulders and picked up the newspaper.

    "Are you going out today?" Cal asked referring to dirt biking.

    "Yeah, I'm on my way," I walked into my tiny bedroom.  I personally believe it is a closet since it can barely fit my bed and dresser in it. 

    I dragged my black backpack from out under my bed.  Inside were my dirt biking helmet, and my gear.  I quickly changed into my gear and put my long blond hair in two braids. 

    "I'm going to Toby's," I said to Cal as I opened the apartment door.

    "Be home by six," Cal said playing the concerned parent while thumbing through the newspaper from three days ago.  I couldn’t help but smile when I noticed he was starting in the back of the newspaper instead of the front.

   "Sure,” I joked and left before he could change his mind.