The Barbecue

After some minor technical issues,I arrived at my cousin’s house. I clumsily fumbled with my luggage and keys trying to get through the extra-narrow corridor. Luckily, I don't think anyone heard me because the crazy cat lady next door to my cousin fell asleep with QVC blaring on her TV again. I could hear Vince Offer screaming about the ShamWow®  until I was well inside the apartment. I threw my melty cookies on the table, checked a few e-mails obsessive-compulsively, and passed out around 5:30 a.m.

It felt like I only closed my eyes for a moment when the phone rang. "Hello?" I said, trying to remember where I was.

“Oh, lazy, Stephanie," my aunt said over the phone. "If I didn't call to vake you, you vould have slept until noon."

“What? But I was up all night with-”

“So, are you comink to dah barbecue, Princess? Or should ve send a chariot for you?"

I didn't have it in me to argue. "Yeah, I'm coming."

I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into a piece of charcoal-grilled hot dog. I could already smell the scent of shish kabobs mingled with green grass and sparklers....
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