The little girl shouted and waved to a lanky teenage
boy as he sauntered up the lane to the seaside cottage. The sounds of ocean waves washed against an
unseen beach while seagulls squawked overhead.
"Come play with me. Tea is almost ready."
While Ully made his way over to the tea table under a
shady oak tree in the middle of the yard, she straightened her white apron that
covered the front of her blue and green polka dot dress. She proceeded to arrange her teapot, cups,
saucers, and plate of cookies, preparing for her guest.
"Come here and sit," she motioned to the
chair across the table. He greeted her
as he sat down.
"What kind of cookies are you serving today, Sissy?" Her real name was Mary Elizabeth, but he had
given her the nickname when she was born.
She allowed no one else to call her that except him. Ully loved his sister and Sissy loved him.
"I've got oatmeal raisin and your favorite
chocolate chip." Sissy served him
one cookie on a white china plate with purple flowers around the rim, then
poured hot tea into a matching teacup on a saucer. "I also have your favorite tea. Peach."
Ully blew on the tea to cool it before sipping. "Ummm... Sissy, you've out done yourself
with this tea. It's the perfect
temperature." He knew that she had
help from their mother.
Sissy smiled. "Thank
you, Ully. I've been practicing,
learning to make it just as you like it."
"Are you ready for your big birthday party? Are you excited about turning ten? Soon, you'll be a big girl."
Sissy shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose. Do you think I'll get the new tea set I asked
for? You know, the one I saw in the
store window the other day."
"Maybe," said Ully, smiling at her. He had already purchased the bigger tea set,
wrapped it in green paper with a bright blue bow. Sissy's favorite colors. The wrapped present was hidden under his bed,
waiting for its recipient to open it on her birthday.
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you are going to make wait until Sunday? What an interesting thread!
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