A moment later, she yelled that breakfast was ready. As Colin entered the
kitchen, Meghan gently pulled the ear buds out of his ears and ordered him to set
the outside table.
“Why are there four plates on the counter?” he asked, instantly suspect.
Meghan smiled, blocking her thoughts, but it took him only a second to guess.
“Kanda’s coming. Yes!”
Meghan knew how much Colin loved Kanda Macawi, especially the stories she
told around the campfire. Meghan knew this would also brighten Colin’s mood.
Uncle Arnon grabbed the coffee and juice, while Meghan brought two slow
cookers full of food out to the table. An enclosed screened room protected them
from the thousands of newly born mosquitoes whose only purpose was to find
their next blood-filled meal.
Footsteps approached the Jacoby campsite. Meghan, Colin and Arnon watched
eagerly as an attractive Native American woman strode closer. She wore a thin,
full-length sweater to stave off the chilly morning air. When she arrived, Uncle
Arnon held open the screen door, allowing her entrance to the mosquito-free
zone; he zipped it up hastily after she stepped inside.
“My dearest friends,” she said. “Back at my campground again.” After hugs all
around, she demanded, “What have you done with the real Meghan Jacoby? Look
at you! On the corner of thirteen and growing like a vine.” She gazed closely at
Meghan’s face, zoning in on an ocean blue gem in her nose.
“Awesome, isn’t it? Uncle Arnon got it for me as an early birthday present.”
“I thought,” started Kanda, in an I-told-you-so tone, “you were going to make
her wait another year?”
“You know Meghan,” replied Arnon. “She can be very… persuasive.”
Meghan curtsied knowingly.
“You will visit me later, Meghan,” ordered Kanda, as Meghan rounded the
table, serving breakfast. “I’ve got something that will help the infection.”
Meghan unconsciously touched the blue gem. It did hurt a little. How did Kanda
always know?
“I have to agree on the awesome part,” Kanda continued. “It matches perfectly
with your eyes.” She winked mischievously and then swept her attention to Colin.
The boy whom would also be turning thirteen soon, but, who had not grown a
single inch during the last year.
“My, what a good looking young man you are turning into. Is it possible that you
look even smarter than you did last summer?” She worded her compliment
carefully.
Colin’s face lit up. Kanda always knew how to make him feel better. She then
took hold of Arnon’s hand.
“I’m sorry I was not here when you arrived last night. I had some business that
just could not wait. I am just so happy that you’re back, Arnon.”
His cheeks blushed slightly as he showed Kanda to her seat.
Meghan’s breakfast, was as usual, scrumptious. She had one slow cooker filled
with pumpkin oatmeal, and the other with cinnamon bread pudding.
