"Jennifah!" Grams
gasped and looked up from her knitting, peering disapprovingly at
Jen. "Please do not use such language in the presence of our
Lord!" She pointed to a framed picture of Christ playing with a
lamb and shook her head.
"Grams!" Jen said,
surprised. "I didn't know you were home." She pulled her
curly, blonde hair into a ponytail, picked up a bulletin from last
Sunday's church service, and began fanning herself with it. "I'm
just so bored. So far, this summer vacation has been the antithesis
of fun."
"There's always the
Vacation Bible School," Grams volunteered. "It's very
rewarding, and they could really use some extra counselors." She
smiled and handed Jen a brochure. The picture on the front was of a
soccer-mom type wearing a VBS Counselor t-shirt and straw hat,
listening to a praise band with a bunch of toddlers, and screaming
in pleasure with her hands lifted towards the sky. CHRIST- THE
ULTIMATE ROCK STAR, the caption announced. Jen laughed out loud.
"No offense, Grams, but
I don't think this is really my thing," Jen said. She handed the
brochure back and sank into a large wicker rocking chair.
"Well, it was worth a
try," Grams said. "What are you doing for the rest of the
afternoon?" Jen rolled her eyes.
"I don't know.
Probably sitting on my bed in misery thinking about how Dawson and
Joey are having the time of their lives in California and I'm
stuck here in Capeside with absolutely nothing to do." Grams
smiled.
"You miss them, don't
you?" she said, standing up and heading towards the kitchen.
"I guess so. It's
weird, I've never really had real friends to miss before." Jen
followed Grams into the kitchen, sighing with relief as she felt the
cool air conditioner rush past her face. Grams reached into her
purse and pulled out an envelope.
"I wasn't going to
tell you until later this week," she said. "But I have something
for you." She handed the envelope to Jen.
"You really didn't
have to get me anything," Jen said, accepting the envelope and
looking at the loopy script on the front, which read 'My Dearest
Jennifer.'
"Oh, nonsense. It's a
graduation gift." Grams wiped her hands on her apron and smiled.
"Go ahead, open it." Jen carefully tore the seal on the
envelope, taking out a plane ticket.
"Oh, my God!" she
breathed. "It's a ticket to California!"
"I thought you'd want
to visit your friends," Grams told her. "Your flight leaves next
Friday. You'll stay for a week." Jen threw her arms around
Grams, grinning wildly.
"Thank you so much!"
she exclaimed graciously. "I really appreciate this." Grams
smiled and stroked Jen's hair lovingly.
"I'm so proud of you,
Jennifer. You've become such a fine young woman. Graduating in the
top half of your class, making a good group of friends, applying to
college. Enjoy yourself in California. You deserve it."