Rosie's Story: Episode Seven. Free Serialized Story.

 

Photo: Matt Seymour. Unsplash

Rosie's Story. Episode Seven

That Monday, Rosie gave a sigh of relief as she arrived home after school. She closed the small metal gate with a happy clang. As she skipped up the path, she imagined that the petunias and snapdragons were smiling with her. "It's so good to be home." She sang out as she walked through the door.

"Come on through to the kitchen, Rosie. Tea's ready."

Rosie dumped her satchel in the hallway and followed the aroma of freshly baked scones. Later, she would fondly remember the familiar scene: her mother and sister seated at the round kitchen table, the fat teapot and plump scones before them, and Minnie purring  contentedly in front of the still warm oven, the crumbs on the floor evidence that she'd already eaten her share.

"So, how was school?" Rosie didn't mind answering her mom's usual question, although she didn't tell all. Just as she hadn't told all about the sleep over, especially the part about the way Rob had smiled at her, and how it had made her feel special and grown up. Rob was fifteen, and the fact that he'd noticed her made her heart flutter. The best part of the sleep over was that Rob and Carl had stayed in the lounge to watch one of the movies with them. Rosie  had barely been able to concentrate on the film, especially after Rob sent another smile her way.

"More tea?" Rosie's mom lifted the cheerful teapot. Both girls nodded and thanked her. Rosie spread jam on a scone. "Our mom's the best baker in the world, don't you agree, Cherry?"

"The best." Cherry smiled. Minnie miaowed loudly and they all laughed. Then Cherry whispered something in Rosie's ear. The two girls planted kisses on their mother's cheeks before making short work of cleaning up the kitchen. Rosie didn't mind the extra work. She loved to spoil her sweet mom, and despite all the excitement of the sleep over, she knew that ther really was no place like home.

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Copyright: Alison Lawrence

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To be continued...

Episode Eight