The school week came and went and as Friday afternoon drew closer as did the newest neighbors at our door. Knocking until my Auntie was wanting nothing more than to hammer in a do not disturb sign on the front porch.
"Auntie!" I shout from the second floor, leaning against the railing as she shuffled out of the kitchen.
"What?!" She shouted back looking up her hands full in a half bent in box.
"Do you know where my camera is? I haven't found it yet and I'm starting to get worried."
Tapping her finger jokingly against her cheek she takes a minute to think before shrugging her shoulders.
"I haven't seen it; I've been working on finding that giant pot we make gumbo with. Have you seen it?"
"No but if I find it I'll let you know." I retort, and she nods throwing the discarded box into the living room before disappearing back into the kitchen. Turning back towards my room, I continue to ruffle through boxes till another knock, loud and boisterous bounced through the house.
"I swear if someone else comes to my door knocking like the police I'ma slap 'em with this frying pan!" She bellows the door creaking open. "Yes?"
Shaking my head, I continue digging through my stuff till a dark steel pot meets my eyes. 'How the hell?' Pulling it completely out, I get up and make my way to the front.
"Found your pot Auntie where--"
"Miles come here honey." Her voice was sickening sweet making every nerve flare as I stopped dead in my tracks for a second.
"Huh, okay..." Watching her I shuffle my feet across the wood floor and to the open door where a short slightly hunched man and a boy about my age stand.
"Miles this is."
"Ira, Ira Hitchman." The boy holds his hand out, and I take it shaking for a second before he motions towards the older man. "This is my granddad, Ira Hitchman."
"Huh?" Raising a brow, he chuckles at me.
"I'm the junior he's the senior." He motions between them.
"I got that, not that many people sharing names nowadays." I retort and Ira nods.
"True it's pretty funny though when I have to introduce us the looks on their faces are so worth it." Ira explains.
"Cool." I couldn't think of what else to say, adjusting the pot handle from one hand to the other as Auntie Flow pats my shoulder.
"Some of the first ones to actually have some common sense." She whispers.
"Well, we got to get going got to get this old man back to the house before ma throws a conniption fit." Laying his hand on his grandfathers back he ushers him down the steps. Waving back behind him as the walk down the driveway. "WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD!" He shouts over his shoulder.
"Interesting fellow." Auntie smirks closing the door and taking the pot from my hand. "Where was this thing?"
"With my stuff surprisingly." I finally say after a second of rebooting.
"Then your camera might be with the rest of the Kitchen stuff or in the living room." She suggests.
"I'll check the living room."
She nods as I duck into the kitchen, eyeing the small tower of boxes. Round Two, Fight!
~~~~
Hours went by in a flash as with each box hope to find my missing camera become nothing but a longing dream.
"Where in the--"
"FOUND IT!" Auntie shouts from the kitchen the tapping of her slippers bounce off the hard wood as she enters the living room with my prehistoric camera. Holding it in one hand she holds a triumphed smirk on her face.
"What box was it in?" I ask.
"You wouldn't believe it." She pauses for dramatic effect a smirk on her face. "But I have one of your boxes in the kitchen. Finish this up and come get it." She explains holding the camera out to me. Which I take happily, thanking her profusely she makes her way back toward the kitchen.
Laughing I quickly fold up the boxes and shove them in the corner with the rest of them. Striding into the kitchen the box on the counter in big bold black marker sits my name. Grabbing it, it seems heavier than the others confused I put it back down and open it up.
"Oh my Gods you didn't!!" I screeched a broad smile on my face. Reaching into the box, I pull out a Maine coon its legs going over my shoulder as I hold them up by the but. "So fluffy!!"
"Thought you would need a friend while we're here." She jabs walking up beside me with her phone pointed right at me.
Happy tears run down my face as I snuggle the giant fluff ball who doesn't seem to care, only letting out a low mewl noise and sniffing me.
"When did you?"
"When you were up in your room me and the neighbors across the way decided it would be a good idea."
"But, I thought you didn't like them?" I question her as I lift my hand to wioe my eyes.
"The dads an old friend of mine from Juvie and the mother knew me back in Pre-school." she explains smirking and putting her phone down. "I told them we were moving into town and they picked up Queenie here." Auntie runs her nails through the cat's fur.
"Queenie?"
"Yep, that's her name. Unless you want to change it?"
Pulling the cat away to get a good look at her if my smile could get any bigger it would hurt.
"What about Juno? Do you like Juno?" I spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice while holding Juno over my shoulder.
"Your gonna make me sick." Auntie jokes leaning back against the counter. Her phone dinged after a second, and then a loud bang at the door jolted her upright. "What the hell? Who would be here this early in the night?"
Reaching into the utensil drawer she removes a knife and makes her way toward the front of the house, holding it behind her she shouts.
"Who is it?"
When no response came she motioned toward me, I quickly move up the stairs. Stopping when a loud crash of glass hit the air.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Auntie shouts, and not a second later the familiar sound of Mr. Joseph's voice quickly followed.
"You alright Flow?!" the flashes of red and blue dance across our living room, the once open window now an open hole where Joseph stands looking in.
"Motherfucker they better catch those fucks!" She curses looking back at me. "Get upstairs and stay up there till I come back."
Nodding I rush up the stairs and into my room. Holding Juno tight who to my surprise is as calm as can be. Sitting criss-cross on the floor we sit there for a good few minutes before Auntie stepped into the room.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, police got the vehicle after Joseph told them the numbers, Man's got some decent memory. But I got to go down to the station I'll be back in the morning with some breakfast okay?"
"Okay..." I mumble getting a quick hug from her before she rushed back out the door. Pushing up off the floor Juno starts sniffing around my room. Falling into my mattress I pull the blanket over my head, leaving the light as I close my eyes. "What is wrong with people..."