New Jersey Weekend and Back To School Jitters

Family Chapter 9

Notes: This was originally supposed to be two chapters but I decided to combine it into one. Again, I own NO characters from Annie. Her aunts, uncles and cousins are my own creation.

The 3rd weekend in July was highly anticipated for Molly and Annie. They would be staying over night at their Aunt Toni's and Uncle Jim's from Friday-Monday. Annie had been looking forward to this for weeks. Molly on the other hand was a bit anxious about spending the weekend away from her parents.

"Annie, I'm scared for this weekend."

Annie looked at her sister slightly confused. "Why? We're going to have so much fun in New Jersey."

"I'm going to miss Mommy and Daddy though."

"We'll only be gone for a few days, they'll be picking us up on Monday afternoon."

Molly still did not feel comforted.

Friday afternoon Oliver drove the girls to Hoboken in the Dusenberg. He smiled at his daughters in the rearview mirror.

"Are you girls ready for this weekend?"

"I am but Molly's a bit scared." Annie said

"What's on your mind sweetheart?" Oliver asked his youngest daughter.

"I don't like being away from you and Mommy." she whispered

Oliver's heart broke. "It will only be for a few days darling. We'll be back to pick you up on Monday night."

Antoinette greeted them at the door. " Annie Molly we're so excited for you to stay with us this weekend. We have so much fun stuff planned."

Margaret, who was standing next to her mother smiled at her cousins. " Hi Annie, come on I'll show you where you'll be staying."

Margaret grabbed their suitcases and Annie followed her up the stairs.

Molly was squeezing Oliver's hand so tightly that he thought it might loose circulation.

"Molly's a bit nervous about spending the weekend away from Grace and I." he explained

Antoinette took the little girl's other hand. " We're going to do a lot of fun things this weekend sweetheart, you won't even be the least bit homesick."

Molly nodded and released her grip from Oliver's hand. Oliver laid a kiss on her forehead.

"You girls be good for Aunt Toni and Uncle Jim and we'll see you on Monday night."

"Okay Daddy." she whispered.

The weekend flew by in a blur filled with activites such as going to the beach, going to the zoo and going to Six Flags. Oliver and Grace arrived at 6:15pm on Monday evening.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Molly said joyfully.

"Hi Sweetheart, we missed you girls this weekend. Did you have a good time?" Grace asked scooping Molly up into her arms.

Molly buried her face into Grace's neck so Annie answered on both of their behalves."

"We had a great time Mom! We went to the beach and the zoo. Aunt Toni and Uncle Jim also took us to Six Flags. We can't wait to come back."

Antoinette hugged Annie tightly. "You girls are welcome anytime sweetheart. We're glad you had fun."

"I love you guys!" Annie said

Jim was next to embrace her. "We love you too darling."

"Thanks for having them over. We'll have to have you all over for a pool party before school starts." Oliver said.

Jim smiled. "Just let us know when."

The family left. Annie was bubbling over with excitement about the next time she would be seeing her cousins. Molly had fallen asleep in Grace's arms.

Annie could barley believe that summer had flown by so quickly and school would be starting in less than a month. Now matter how much she tried to avoid it she was still very anxious about starting high school. One morning she beat her father downstairs for breakfast. She needed to talk to her mother privately about her anxious feelings knowing she'd be the best at alleviating them.

Her mother sat at the kitchen table sipping tea. Mrs. Pugh was at the stove making pancakes.

"Good morning Annie." Mrs. Pugh said.

"Good morning Mrs. Pugh." Annie replied

Annie walked over and kissed her mother. "Good morning Mom."

Grace pulled her daughter into a hug. "Good morning sweetheart."

Mrs. Pugh served Annie a cup of orange juice and a dish with 2 pancakes and 2 pieces of toast.

Grace noticed her daughter's look of anxiety and instantly guessed what was on her mind.

"Still nervous about starting high school darling?"

Annie nodded.

"What's your biggest fear?"

Annie didn't answer right away as she processed her thoughts.

"Several, actually." She finally replied.

Grace waited patiently for her daughter to continue.

"First off, the high school is such a bigger building than the middle school. What if I get lost?"

Mrs. Pugh smiled. She knows she shouldn't be eavesdropping but she wanted to help Annie as much as Grace did. She poured herself some coffee and sat down at the table.

"Annie, love do you remember when you first to came to stay here for Christmas three years ago and how big you thought the house was?"

Annie nodded, not quite sure what kind of comparison the older woman was trying to make.

"Think of the high school in that way.. a place that's big and scary when you first arrive but will seem smaller once you get used to it."

Grace smiled at Helen Pugh. She couldn't have said that better.

Annie nodded. "Okay, secondly I just got my schedule in the mail and I have no classes together with any of my friends. I'm kind of nervous to meet new people."

Grace smiled at her daughter. "I have no doubt in my mind that you will have no problem making friends darling. You are the most outgoing person that I know."

"What if I don't fit in anywhere?"

Grace's heart broke remembering when she was younger and how she floated from group to group.

"You'll find that special group of friends who will see you for the caring and intelligent person that you are." Mrs. Pugh said and Grace nodded in agreement.

"And what about boys?"

Grace smiled at her daughter playfully. "What about boys?"

"How will I know which one is the right one for me?"

Mrs. Pugh took Annie's hands and both of hers.

"Annie, you are still very young. You'll have a long time to find that special someone. Don't rush things. Patience is important."

Grace smiled remembering that was the same advice that Helen had given to her when she was having her problems admitting her feelings for Oliver.

"Do you feel better now sweetheart?" Grace asked.

"Yes. Definitely!" Annie smiled at both her mother and Mrs. Pugh and then went back to eating her breakfast.

Once she was done and had cleared her plate she got up and whispered something into Mrs. Pugh's ear. Grace smiled, having a feeling she knew exactly what it was.
A smile broke across Mrs. Pugh's face and she hugged Annie happily. Annie then skipped out of the kitchen and up to her bed room to get ready for the day.

"Did she tell you that sees you as grandmother figure to her?" Grace asked.

Helen Pugh got up and put her arm around Grace. "She most certainly did. How long have you known that?"

"Since she was working on her family tree project in March. I think things have just been so hectic since then she hasn't gotten the chance to tell you until right now."

Mrs. Pugh rubbed Grace's back. "I know how special Annie is to you darling. I am so happy she thinks of me a grandmother figure. We should do something together sometime... just the three of us."

Grace grinned widely. "I think Annie would absolutely love that!"

Grace leaned over and kissed Mrs. Pugh's cheek. "I love you Helen."

Mrs. Pugh gave Grace a squeeze. "I love you too sweetheart."