• Thump, thump, thump. Three loud nocks on the door interrupted my fantasy.
    Mary—a name I always call my Grandma by—is an early riser…but I wasn’t.
    “Get up Rose you have chores to do—if you want breakfast—that is if you do them on time.” Mary said with some cheer in her voice.
    She was waiting for a response, “I’m up, let me get ready.” I had the morning voice in my tone, it tasted like it too, “I’ll be down in twenty minutes.”
    “Ok don’t be long your cousins are here.” she said with not a trace of morning voice. That’s why she sounded all happy, she was trying to pull off a good charade for the family, and I bet my bank that she was working her come again next time play.
    I stepped down each step carefully trying not to trip. As I crossed the corner into the living room; that’s when I saw them. I looked at all there faces with awed gawks.
    I know I wouldn’t want to be stared at like a freak, but they were so interesting to look at. They were unique in a way—special, hypnotic.
    They all looked at me with nerve racking smiles that didn’t quite hit their eyes. I’ve never met them before, when Mary said “your” “Cousins” are here I wasn’t quite thinking of family. But it was a fact of life, no matter what family you’ve never met you’ll find them eventually; or they’ll find you… in this case as least.
    I watched as one boy lifted off the couch and headed towards me. His smile looked brand new and sparkle looking. His muscles were quite impressive looking, very curvy. He was in need of a major hair cut, but all and all the many colors were the most hypnotic looking; what surprised me is that they were all natural looking.
    “Hey I’m Gin Tova.” he held out his hand. I was going to shake it but it seemed to be trembling, so I just looked at it till he put it down.
    “I’m Rosalinda; Rose for short.” I didn’t like the stressful look he gave me. It was one thing to not shake a hand, but get anxious over it? What ever. I though.
    Another cousin walked up to me with small preserved steps. This one is a girl. She is a pretty girl, with her pitch glossy black hair, it was so shiny and clean. She had that same big bones pear shaped body as I did. Strong, but of course beautiful. Her eye lashed bashed with her dark brown eyes. That was something I could never do; bash my eye lashes with big round eyes. My eyes were an exotic almond shape that made me look Korean, but I never had big lashes either.
    She didn’t have an ounce of make-up on. That would explain the clear skin—which I envied—knowing my skin was not as clear as I want it.
    “H-h-h-hi I-I-m-m.” she took a deep breath, closed her eyes to stop stuttering, and shaking, as did Gin. I wanted to smack the words out of her, “A-A-Amy.” she finally spit out with some effort.
    “Hi Amy.” I tried to reassure her that I won’t bite, with comfort in my tone of voice.
    I was so confused with this family. I would like a normal conversation just like any other normal person. Did I stink or look scary? beat the hell out of me though.