The day passed by really quickly after my talk with Spencer.  We got over our awkwardness and kinda fell into our old ways.  I stuck to her life glue and she did the same for most of the day.  I was in a daze from noon onwards.  Everything was so overwhelming I can only remember little parts of what happened.

After we got back from the rocks everyone was to busy greeting the arriving guest.  So there were no awkward questions asked by any of the grown ups.  I did do my best to avoid Arthur and Paula Carlin though.  I just pretended they weren’t around.  It was really easy to do with Spencer to keep my attention.  

But the craziest part of the day was greeting all our old family friends.  It took just one aunty to come over and introduce herself.  Then when she figured out who we were so did everyone else.

“Oh my god Ashley?  Kyla?  Is that you, oh you guys look so grown up.  Come here!  I need a hug!!!”  One Aunty shouted.  I was dragged into a rib crushing squeeze before I had a chance to open my mouth or move my feet.  One she finished crushing me she decided to shake my brains out.  The women held me at arms length as she shook me back and forth.  Once she let me go there was no time to recover.  I was soon being pulled into a sloppy kiss on my cheek while another person shouted her greeting in my ear.

“Oh your so grown up now the last time I saw you you were 8!”

“Your so pretty now too”

“Your so big too!”

They all shouted at once.  It was the same thing with each new slightly familiar face.  I just smiled at everyone and listened as they talked to me.  I stopped answering their questions once I realized I didn’t have time to answer.  Before I could open my mouth someone was asking something new.  By the time it was over I felt slightly claustrophobic but really loved.

Meeting the younger ones wasn’t bad.  According to aunty Lisa some people weren’t here like Spencer’s school friends, and the Duarte family.  I didn’t really mind.  The entire experience was a bit of an overload.  I think Kyla was a bit sad that she wasn’t gonna see Madison but there was always another time.  I made sure to include Kyla in everything I did.  Most of the time she was on her own by choice.  She’s my little sister and I do look out for her but she’s good at making friends.