Chapter 8

Wait! What!! You guys cooked, wow.. I can't believe it, this is truly very surprising. How did you guys make this? Honestly, I did not expect this." I didn't actually expect her face to light up so easily, you could hardly see the grief and pain of earlier on face now.

" How did you guys make this ??"she asks with a steady breath and eyes on the food.

"Trust me it wasn't easy" I say smiling. Meg has done a nice work setting the table, where was she though? My thought were answered as she descended the stairs with Chris. She went to fetch Chris.

"What's this big surprise of yours anyway" I hear Chris say

"Trust me you're in for a biiigggg surprise"

"Chris come see, Zoe and Meg made us food"

"What Zoe cooked food" he says as he hasten down the step.

"It was actually supposed to be dinner but Meg couldn't wait to show to guys." I say as I smiled at his eagerness

" Wow this is quite a surprise am really proud of you guys." Chris say cheerily

"It was all Meg's idea we all did this for mom". I say impressed with myself

"Meg you're a genius" Chris says

Meghan, who hasn't seen my Mom's blue eye was a bit taken aback "Did he do this to you....am really sorry aunt" she says slowly

"Please don't be, besides it doesn't hurt that much anyway" she says as we all settled on the dinning table.

"But for real did you guys really cook this or Meg brought it from home" Chris asks still unsure.

"It was all Meg idea that we do this for Mom" I said agaim

"Thanks Meg I truly appreciate it" Mom retorts.

"Oh no it was no problem, I just thought it would it would really  surprise you guys if  Zoe did something she doesn't usually do. Although earlier, Zoe thought of throwing it away and just ordering pizza because of it's appearance" Meg looks at my face.

"No, am glad you didn't. A food does not have to look good before it is delicious, it's all about mixing the ingredients in their right proportion. Which is what you would have known if you just pay more attention to cooking"

"Yes whatever, lets enjoy some meatloaf now shall we?" I say as I open the dish.

"Finally, I was thinking you would never ask" Chris snapped glaring at no one in particular.

Mom tried out the meatloaf but I couldn't read out her expression as I was curious " Mom what do you think? " I questions

"Its good, it's really good"

" Is it a good good or a bad good"

She laughs and shakes her head" it's a good good but it could have used a little not milk though"

"Thanks for your honest review aunt" Meg cuts in with Turkey meatloaf filled mouth.

"Chris what do you think" I ask

"Mom has said it all" Chris replies, fully engrossed in the food.

"Okay then" I decided to also have some of our meatloaf and to my utmost  surprise it wasn't bad to my taste.

Meg phone beeps with a message breaking the long silence.

" Who was that" I ask as she goes through the text.

"Ohh it's my mom she just texted she said I  could go on and volunteer at the book store for our volunteer program"

"Oh you mean Smith Clover, was that even on the school's list" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, she knows a librarian there and they have been childhood friends so it would be very easy for us to blend in and know stuffs"

"Us?" I ask

" Yes, us what's wrong, you got a problem with that" she asked as she  swallowed the last bit of meatloaf left in her plate.

"I was actually thinking of St. Patrick" I say anxiously waiting for her outburst.

"The Orphanage" She yells

"Why would you even want to volunteer for that!" Meg exclaimed

"That's like the most boring volunteering work ever,what's wrong with you Zoe?" Enquired Chris.

"Come on guys, if Zoe wants to volunteer for the orphanage let her be" Mom cuts in.

"Thanks mom and beside St. Patrick really looks good on college application, isn't that right mom?" I ask delighted knowing someone was om my side this time.

"Yes that's actually true" she says as she clears the plates

"I know Zoe, St. Patrick's Orphanage is good on college applications as your volunteer program, but you are the only person that's going to be there from our school and from the whole of Newark as a student" she whines.

"Whatever, I don't care if am the only on in the whole of New Jersey that's going to volunteer there, I'm going to volunteer there and that is final" I pointed out.

"Yah! Yah!! Whatever, you've made up your mind, I guess I can't change it but I hope you consider it, because it will be so much fun if we both volunteer at the same place, plus I can't bear working there without you." She protested

"Am with you on this one Meg. Zoe's sick in the head, of all places the orphanage" Chris adds after finishing his juice he proceeded to the kitchen to drop the glass, mom had taken all the plates to the dishwasher by the time he was done with his juice.

"I will think about it, but I can't promise you though" I grumbled.

"Alright fi...." Her phone message tune interrupts.

"Your mom again?'' I enquire

" Yes I totally forgot about her book club meeting today, I was so keen on coming here today. They are holding it at our place today and she needs me at home to help her organize things" she whines as she stands.

I stand up also" Alright then see you in school tomorrow "

"Are you going to make it to school tomorrow"

"Yes, Mom's fine, there's no problem" I said.

"Okay see you then" said Meg cautiously.

"Mom! Chris! I will just walk Meg to the door" I yell.

"Just a minute" she yells back

Of course she would want to say bye to Meg.

"Bye Meg, it was nice having you here" I hear Chris yells from the  Kitchen.

"It was my pleasure" she yells back grinning.

"Meg, you tell your mom I said hi, okay and I hope she has a great meeting today??" Mom said in a farewell tone.

Meg was truly the life and joy of our house and a known fact about is that she always took that life wherever she went. That's why my family has grown to love her so much and treat her like family that she already is.

As we approached the door an uncertainty struck me so I decided to clear things up. "Ummm Meg, I will like to clear something up"

"And what may that be?" she questions.

"Umm Meg I wouldn't want anyone else to find about what happened" I say unsure of what her reaction will be like.

"Ohhh Zoe, you know me better than this, come on, your secret is safe with me okay?"

"Okay"

Her phone then starts to rings

"Your mom must really need you" I go on.

"She's such a drama queen" she says rolling her eyes.

"See tomorrow at school then" she continues.

"Yes sure"  I say, then shut the door behind her.

The boredom and grief continues.

Hey guys, glad I could finish another chapter for you. I decided to make this one a lot longer and I believe you deserve more.

Please don't forget to vote and comment as it would really encourage me.

Tese xoxo 💖💖💝