Unedited***

Gemma couldn't stop laughing as her aunt kept making fun of all her mother's guests. She said one of them looked like an ostrich in her dress. She laughed so hard until her eyes watered.

"Gemma, have you seen your brother, Mateo?" Her mother asked as she approached their table, her elaborate gold dress swept behind her.

"No, I haven't seen him in a while," Gemma looked around the room as she spoke. "Is there a problem?"

"I need him to do something for me, if you see him tell him to come to my table," her mother said.

"Okay, I will."

"I saw him go outside a while ago,'' Auntie Dorcas said after Gemma's mother had left.

"I should go and look for him, and tell him Mama needs his attention."

Auntie Dorcas gave her a curt nod as she downed the rest of her cocktail and signalled a waiter to bring her another one.