There is one thing a teenager never wants to hear, their parents say and that's
"we are going to a family reunion"!
Somehow I had gotten the jackpot and got to go to my family reunion. Dad dropped the bomb on me Friday, I knew it was something was up the minute he walked into my room, he had the fake grin on, that one all parents wear, when they want to butter you up, before the bad news.
" Hey Sharkboy" He said walking into my room, as I was doing homework, he sat on the bed next to me, and said " How fun would it be to see your extended family"?
As he said this I was thinking, I HAVE EXTENED FAMILY! When did this happen? I was looking through my memories, from my childhood most of them of my shark uncles, and me and dad at the old lab. But extended family?
I vaguely remember a couple of elderly people with sweet smiles, there was also another couple, not old, but around dads age. I remember that they would usually talk to my dad and ignore me, but the most potent thing I remember is two kids just about my age, both of them absolute brats! I remember how they would break my toys, and yell, and screamed non-stop!
I despised their visits, if these people were my extended family I do not want to be any-where near them. The look on my face must told my dad what I was thinking because he toke and deep breath and said.
" Look Taylor, you have not been your grandparents, in years, you are their first grandchild…..they miss you, not to mention May, and Tomas, you're their only connection to Mary."
Mary, my mom. Oh he just had to play the mom card. He knew how I felt about her, I would never admit it, but I miss my mom like nothing else. Even though I really didn't know her….she died of cancer when I was about four years old. It sucks cause as the years go by the less I remember her. But she is still with me, she is always with me, and I know she would want to me to see her parents, and dad knew that too.
" Fine I'll see my grandparents…." I said reluctantly
" Great Joey, Lana, and the kids will be so happy to see you"! Dad said with enthusiasm
" Wait a minute, I said I would see the grandparents I said nothing about the rest of them".
" But Taylor they are your aunt, uncle, and cousins, you remember them…"
" Sadly…" I replied thinking of the snotty adults who acted like they were too good to pay attention to their kids , let alone discipline them.
" Ok I know you didn't get along as kids, but your gown up know, you might find you have something in common with them". I looked at him like he had gone crazy, which I am pretty sure he had.
" So why the sudden interest in me. I mean " I have been back for a while know, shouldn't I have already seen them by now…"
" Well ya but….. I wanted you to get readjusted, without the pressure of so many other people".
" So….. why know…."?
" Every year we have an annual family reunion"!
Max had told me about his' family reunions', you go to a place miles away from civilization, and spend almost a week, with the part of your family you never see, and never want to see.
Playing stupid games, and ' catching up on old times' while trying to keep your cool, even though all the brats in your family, starting annoy the crap out of you! Honestly, who ever invented a 'family reunion' obviously did not have a family. Sadly I do.
" So….. What do they know, I mean, where do they thing I have been"?
" They think that you were living in an orphanage just off the coast, when you were walking down the beach, while I and having an interview, and we just bumped into each other".
Ok it was partly true. " Look Taylor if they ask you questions you don't have to answer them".
" As my family shouldn't they know better than to ask questions"
" Well…. You remember how my brother can be, and his kids aren't that must better, but just, rise above them".
" I thought I was supposed to give them a chance get to know them, maybe they changed since I was a kid" I said with a cheeky grin.
" Do both" Said dad with an identical grin.
" So when is this 'family reunion'?
" Tomorrow"
" WHAT"!