Natalie

“Natalie! Get yourself out of that bed!” ugh. Mom. I sat up, the covers still over my head. I groaned and wiped the sleep away from my eyes, blinking to see the floral print on the inside of my covers. “Are you awake yet? Don’t make me come up there!” mom’s voice was nearing anger now. Typical her, always punctual.

“Crap!” I said, sitting up and remembering what I had to be punctual for. I scrambled off of my four poster bed and stumbled into my bathroom. Someone pounded on the door, interrupting my body’s needs.

“Natalie! Hurry up! You still need to finish packing!”

“I know! Don’t worry mom. Now may I pee in peace?” I replied through the closed door. I could hear her stomp away, muttering something under her breath. I washed my hands, singing the abc’s inside my head. Force of habit, and anyways, you’ve got to be careful when it comes to these germs. Or whatever. I splashed cold water onto my face, widening my eyes with the freeze. I rubbed soap on next, the cleansing bubbles stinging my face. Next I grabbed my toothbrush and squeezed my toothpaste on, brushing my teeth raggedly. then I put on just a bathrobe, tossing my pajama’s into the hamper.

Back in my room I switched on the lights and my computer, putting on some music to listen to while I finished up my packing. Just then dad walked in, trailed by my little sister, Daniele.

“Finally, your awake. You need to hurry up now Natalie. Bella will be here any second. And we have to look good; even if were family. Impressions matter,” he says in his usual college professor voice. I hated it when he treated us like his college scholars.

“Yes, dad. You’ve told me that before,” I say with a smile.

“Well, here’s your plane ticket. Now don’t go losing that. You know how to handle all security right? Your chauffer will be waiting with your limo once your in New York. You remember him from our last visit? His name is Ron.” He passed me the ticket, also bundled with a map of New York, a tourist guide, emergency numbers, yada yada yada. “He will be your driver the whole 1 month you and Bella are there. You will be staying in our apartment around the upper east side of New York. Our neighbors there are the Robinsons. Don’t go embarrassing yourselves while your out there. You know how your mother gets when our reputation… you know.”