"Darling, we've found a place for you to stay!" I looked up from my book at mom, who seemed thrilled. "My cousin, Bruce, has agreed to let you stay with him while we're away. Isn't that great?"
"Yeah mom. Fantastic!" I said, putting as much sarcasm as possible into my words. Mom and Dad were going on a trip to Switzerland for two months. Two months! And of course, I, their delinquent daughter wasn't going with them. Mother had been frantic trying to find some distant relative who would take me in, as my Granny had had to cancel on us. Something about not having enough room. Except that she lived in a huge old farmhouse. I knew the truth. No one wanted to take in a girl with blue hair, who wore big boots, and trained in martial arts. They were all scared of me. I can control myself! It's not like I punch holes in walls or anything! Well, okay, but that was one time!
"He's got a very nice house, Bruce does." Wait just a moment….Bruce….Cousin Bruce….Oh! Duh. Of course he had a nice house. My mom's cousin was Bruce Wayne, the millionaire. Well at least I'd be living in style. "Darling, have you packed?"
"Yeah mom. I've got everything. Everything that you're letting me take."
"Can you blame me for not letting you take your chemistry kit? Last time you blew a crater in the backyard with that thing! And you won't need your pellet gun. Do you have books? Movies?" She expected me to turn into a couch potato?
"Yeah mom. Let's go." I trudged upstairs, and picked up my two stuffed suitcases. I could've easily curled up in one. Dad had already loaded my duffel bag. Looking around, I quietly slid a small backpack into a zipper compartment on one of the suitcases, and then dragged them downstairs before mom could begin to suspect anything. Dad was waiting to load these into the Suburban. I climbed in the back, and stretched out my legs, preparing for a long drive out to Cousin Bruce's house.
Wow. Oh wow. This house….mansion, I should say, was amazing! I get to live here, for two months? Without my parents? YES! Score! I climbed out of the car, and stretched my legs a bit.
"I'll go knock, and you two start getting the luggage out." Mom hobbled to the door, swaying in her four inch heels. I walked to the trunk and opened it, slinging my duffel around my shoulder, and pulling out one of the suitcases. I clicked the handle out, and waited for Dad to get the other one. When I turned around, Mom was hurrying down the driveway with a tall, elderly man.
"This is my husband, Bob, and my daughter, Valery. This is Alfred, Bruce's butler."
"A pleasure." The man shook my father's hand, and then mine, which impressed me. Most people forget that I'm 14, and able to shake hands. I nodded to him. He seemed very dignified. "I'll take that bag, sir." Alfred relieved my dad of the suitcase, and began to walk to the house.
"Well. Bye. Have fun in Switzerland." My mom grabbed me in a hug, but I broke away as fast as I could. Dad tucked something into my jacket pocket.
"Good luck, kiddo." I nodded to him, then turned and walked into the lovely house, burdened by my many bags. I turned, waved, and nudged the door with my heel, shutting it, and beginning one of the best times of my life.
