⋯ SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 ⋯
(KACE's point of view)
12:56am
SEATED on my bed with nothing to occupy my time, I found myself in a state of idle restlessness. My phone was charging, rendering it useless for gaming, so I resorted to my trusty PlayStation. However, before I could fully immerse myself in the game, the door swung open, revealing my fifteen-year-old sister, Riele.
"Kace, grandma is downstairs. She came over for the weekend. She's leaving on Monday morning," she informed me, her voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
"Grandma?" I raised an eyebrow, questioning the unexpected visit.
"Nope. The girlfriend you're never going to have," she retorted, a sarcastic smirk dancing across her face. I rolled my eyes, pausing the game.
"You're way too funny for your own good," I replied, playfully exasperated by her teasing. Riele scoffed and departed, presumably retreating to the confines of her own room. With a stretch and an adjustment of my sweatpants, I decided to make my way downstairs.
As I descended the staircase, I found Granny Nella, or as I lovingly referred to her, Granella or Granola, comfortably seated on the couch, her eyes taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. It was understandable since we had only moved into this new house a week ago, focusing our efforts on settling in the upper part of the house.
"Granola!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement upon seeing her. I rushed over and enveloped her in a warm embrace. She truly was the coolest grandma in the world.
"Hello Katie," she greeted me, ruffling my hair. The nickname 'Katie' had stuck with me due to my initials, K.T., which Granella had playfully interpreted as Katie. It had become her endearing term for me ever since. I fake glared at her, amusement evident in my eyes.
"I'm Kace."
"And I'm your Grandma. Your point is?" Granella retorted, her crooked smirk suggesting she was fully aware of the playful banter.
Sticking my tongue out at her, I couldn't help but draw comparisons between her and Riele. "You're just like Riele," I playfully teased.
"I've been told," she replied, acknowledging the shared resemblance. Her signature smirk remained intact as she continued,
"So...where's my daughter?"
"You mean my mum," I corrected, taking a seat beside her on the couch."My daughter."
"My mum."
"Katie! You do not talk back to your elders. Especially cool ones," Granella scolded me, albeit lightheartedly.
"I'm not Katie," I reiterated, a touch of exasperation creeping into my voice as I corrected her for what felt like the gazillionth time.
"And purple is a fruit, since we're all lying here," she retorted, delivering a swift smack to the back of my head.
"Not cool, grandma," I playfully complained, rubbing the spot where she had playfully struck me. I quickly regained my composure.
"Anyway, Mum went out with Dad this evening. They'll be back tomorrow," I informed her. Pausing for a moment, I added, "You should have informed us before coming."
"Informing you would have been lame, and I don't like lame. It's, well...lame," Granella replied, her tone laced with amusement.
Suddenly, her expression turned serious, and she spoke with a sense of urgency. "Something happened."
"Spill," I demanded, my curiosity piqued. I mentally cringed at how my excitement mirrored that of a fangirl, and Granella must have noticed, judging by the quizzical look she shot my way.
"Sorry. I mean...kindly tell me what happened," I corrected myself, chuckling at my own enthusiasm.
"Don't interrupt me until I'm done, okay?" Granella requested, her eyes fixed on me, awaiting my compliance. I nodded, giving her my undivided attention.
"Forget about how I got here. Okay, so I was out for a walk, minding my own business, when I encountered this peculiar individual wearing a Spiderman mask and a black nightgown. Believe it or not, this person actually stole my phone. I was at a loss for what to do, but then three wonderful, heaven-sent teenagers came to my aid and helped me retrieve my phone. Oh, those innocent souls. Bless them," Granella concluded, her words flowing with a mixture of astonishment and gratitude.
Just as I was about to respond, she interjected, "Before you say anything, I must admit, I might have lost my cool there."
"Granola, I have no words for you. I'm just glad it wasn't some kind of serial killer or kidnapper. And I'm glad you're here. And yes, bless those innocent teens," I replied, a chuckle escaping my lips as I acknowledged the absurdity of the situation.
"I need sleep," Granella yawned, a reminder of the late hour."Come on, Granola. You can sleep in Mum's room," I offered, seizing the opportunity to assist her. Taking hold of her bag, I guided her up the stairs, a genuine smile on my face, even if she found it somewhat repulsive.
"I would tell you that you're a darling, Katie, but I'd never hear the last of it," Granella teased, her voice filled with affection. I laughed and opened the door to my parents' room, gently placing her bag beside the bed. Leaning in, I planted a tender kiss on her cheek. "Goodnight, Granola."
"Ew!" she shrieked, her playful protest ringing through the air. I couldn't help but laugh, feeling a warmth in my heart as I made my way back to my own room. Switching off the PlayStation, I decided to check my phone before calling it a night.
To my surprise, I discovered seven text messages from an unknown sender. The content of the messages was peculiar, to say the least. Each one seemed to be crafted to evoke confusion, humor, or a combination of both. I began reading them one by one, my curiosity overtaking me.
So...you won't guess what happened today. I got my boyfriend pregnant!. I can't wait to be a mother! I'm so excited yet scared. Please tell me what to do :-(
The absurdity of the message struck me. How was I supposed to advise a stranger whose boyfriend was apparently going to give birth? It seemed humans had reached new levels of foolishness.
370HSS∇
Turn it upside down. That's what you get for not telling me what to do. Now I'm a mother. I'm not ready!!
Intrigued, I turned the message upside down, revealing a somewhat cryptic response. Creative, I had to admit, but far from helpful. How could I possibly offer guidance in such a scenario?
I have the hottest brother in the world. Too bad we're related. I could set you up with him. Then you guys will boink and then boom- there are mini you's running about. And our children can get married. Even better, right? All my ships sail ya know?
Who even said 'boink' anymore? And regardless of who this person was, the notion of our future children intermingling was beyond absurd.
So I may or may not have put dynamite in your bathroom. :)
The combination of a confession about dynamite and a cheery smiley face left me torn between concern and skepticism. I silently prayed that it was nothing more than a tasteless joke, but a small part of me felt compelled to confirm it for myself, prompting me to leave my room and head towards the bathroom.
Growing tired of analyzing each message individually, I decided to read through the remaining ones. By the time I finished, I found myself doing the worst thing possible in such a situation
I laughed.
Unrestrained laughter filled the room, a cathartic release of amusement and disbelief. How was I supposed to respond to such a bizarre series of texts?
In the end, I chose not to reply to them all, opting for a simple question:
Who are you??
I saved the sender's name as "Weirdo" and placed my phone on charge before settling into bed, my mind still amused by the strange encounter. Little did I know that this late-night exchange would mark the beginning of a peculiar and unpredictable journey.