Miriam's call persisted, and Freya felt a sense of urgency knowing that she must answer it this time or face suspension with Tracy.
"Miriam, what's up?" Freya said hastily as she put the phone to her ear.
Miriam replied, her voice sharp and accusatory, "You haven't been answering my calls lately. What are you doing at his house? Are you trying to hook up with this guy?"
Freya was taken aback by Miriam's choice of words, and she felt a pang of hurt as she promptly responded, "I'm not hooking up with anyone."
Tracy was standing next to Freya as she cooked, and she thought to herself with a mix of amusement and annoyance, "Hmm...I guess she was planning to visit Egon for that...grosch." She made a comical expression.
"Although, I think she must be Egon's girlfriend. Why didn't he tell me? If he wasn't going to come home, he could have at least sent his girlfriend. Wow, I really admire Egon. On his first day of school, he already has a girlfriend."
Freya was still on the phone with Miriam, feeling frustrated and tired. "Just let Dad know if he comes by that I won't be home tonight," Freya informed her, her voice tinged with fatigue.
"Seriously, you're not coming home tonight? Then that means what I said is true. Have fun," Miriam retorted before quickly hanging up the phone.
Freya wanted to explain, feeling a sense of injustice, but realized it wasn't necessary, as she knew that Miriam would always have a negative opinion of her no matter what she said.
As Freya realized the food she was cooking was ready, she quickly removed it from the heat and placed it on the table. "Tracy, sorry for keeping you waiting. I assure you that the food is delicious," she said with a hint of apology.
Tracy had been waiting for the meal for some time and immediately took a seat at the dining table. She began devouring the food like a hungry lion, feeling a sense of satisfaction and pleasure with each bite.
Tracy continued to devour the food, savoring each bite as she went along. Freya had cooked up a storm, with a variety of dishes that were sure to please any palate. As Tracy took another bite, she couldn't help but notice the intense heat and complex flavors of the Vindaloo dish. The spices hit her taste buds like a fiery explosion, leaving her feeling both satisfied and invigorated. "Wow, Freya, this Vindaloo is amazing! What's in it?" Tracy asked, her mouth still full.
Freya smiled, pleased with Tracy's reaction. "It's a traditional Indian dish made with a blend of spices, including cumin, coriander, and turmeric, along with vinegar, garlic, and ginger. It's known for its intense heat and complex flavors," she replied.
Tracy nodded in agreement, taking another bite of the Vindaloo. "Well, you've definitely a good cook. This is one of the spiciest and most flavorful dishes I've ever had. You should open up your own restaurant!"
Freya watched as Tracy devoured the food and said, "Take it easy Tracy, I know you're quite hungry, but I don't want you to choke." She gently patted Tracy's hair.
Tracy was quite happy that she was no longer alone. She started to feel the care that Freya had for her. She returned to her normal, troublesome nature and said, "Wow, I didn't know that my brother's girlfriend is an amazing cook."
Freya wanted to interrupt the statement, but saw that Tracy no longer saw her as an enemy, so she didn't say anything.
Tracy continued, "I didn't know that Egon could ever get a girlfriend. Honestly, you're the first female friend that has been to our house." She scooped a handful of spicy, delicious food.
"Not only are you beautiful, but you're also kind-hearted. I hate ugly ladies," Tracy said with a mouthful of food.
Freya was surprised that Tracy could talk so much. "Seriously, you don't like ugly ladies?" Freya asked.
"Of course! My brother is so handsome, why would he have an ugly girlfriend? I see that you've met up to my criteria, so I'll give you the go-ahead. When he comes back, I'll make sure to scold him for not being here," Tracy said with food in her mouth.
Freya opened her mouth wide as she heard Tracy's statement. She couldn't believe that Tracy was so outspoken.
Tracy continued to talk after she finished her food, and then suddenly fell asleep. It was already 8 pm.
"Wow, this girl is quite adorable. She's quite noisy, but still too cute. I wish I had a little sister like her," Freya thought as she lifted Tracy from the couch and carried her upstairs.
As she carried Tracy up the stairs, Freya realized that she didn't know which room was Tracy's. She entered the first room she saw and said, "Ooh, no, this isn't it."
"She entered the second room, but it didn't feel quite right either. Finally, she entered the third room and saw all kinds of children's toys. She knew that this was Freya's room. Freya went straight to her bed and lay down.
Freya wanted to leave the room, but then heard Tracy's voice pleading, "Please don't go. I want you to sleep with me. My Dad always does that."
"Okay, I won't go anywhere," Freya reassured her as she settled onto the tiny bed.
"Hug me. I can't sleep without a hug," Tracy implored.
"No problem, I will. Sleep well, little one. I'm here with you," Freya said softly, and Tracy fell asleep.
***************
Egon's body was perched on top of a tall tree, but all of a sudden he plummeted, hurtling towards the ground. He was unconscious after the dense energy that had been drained from him during the last fight.
His body tumbled slowly, colliding with trees on the way down, but he didn't feel any pain because he was not conscious.
As he drew perilously close to the ground, his body suddenly radiated a golden energy and he was suspended mid-air. He hung there for a moment before his body finally landed on the ground.
He was partially naked, with no clothes to cover his upper body. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open...