When It Rains: The Umbrella Collection by Prudence Hayes Page B

“Fine.  But, only for your sake.  Not mine.”
    I jumped in the shower quickly and got changed into a pair of jeans and a white V-neck T-shirt and headed down the stairs to help Pops with the cooking.
    “What are we having?” I mumbled walked into the kitchen.  Pops was sitting on a stool at the island peeling apples.  I took a piece from the mountain that he had already peeled.
    “Roast Beef, corn on the cob, peas, salad, mashed potatoes, and apple pie, but that you already know since you so rudely shoved one in your mouth.”
    “Oooh, pulling out all the stops aren’t you?” I said sarcastically, “Need help?”
    “You can handle the salad, yes?”
    “Let’s hope. So, why is everyone coming again?”
      “Just shut it and get to work,” he said as he walked out of the room.
    Something has happened or someone has some news to fill us all in on because we don’t often do this. Well, we see each other all the time, but our get-togethers mostly consist of burger s on the grill and beer at everyone’s disposal while we sit around and play poker or some other card game. Sit down serious dinners are only designated for the important circumstances in our family.
    I wonder what’s going on , I thought to myself.
    I was finished the salad and was working putting the dirty dishes into the dishwasher when I heard a car pull into the drive way, multiple doors slam shut and knew that in a short moment a harmonious symphony of “Dude”,  “Shut the fuck up”,  “I’m gonna kick your ass” and “bite me” would fill the house. That is the sound in which I know my cousins have arrived. Burping and swearing becomes the norm and all sense of dignity is wiped clean. I am no saint when it comes to these things, my mouth gets me in trouble all the time, but, they put me to shame.
    “Nor!” they all say as they began to pile into the kitchen while the smell of roasted peanuts and beer that was spiraling off of them entered the zone of my sense of smell.
    “Hey guys. I’m guessing you guys went to the ball game because you guys reek,” I said as I covered my nose up to stop the fumes from entering, “Where is everyone else?”
    “Oh, they are on the way. We came straight from the game. Jays won, of course. Did you hear that Drew? Jays won!” Elijah yelled so Drew could hear him in the family room.
    “Fuck off!” Drew yelled back and as he came into the kitchen himself I noticed he was wearing the jersey of the opposing team, “If it wasn’t for Anderson striking out for a third fucking time we would have won.”
    “Bullshit! The score was 9-1. The whole team sucked,” Brady chimed in.
    “Bite me. Wait until the game tomorrow and you guys are gonna be kissing my a...,” Drew started, trying to catch himself before he finished the sentence knowing full well he just opened the door for the other guys to rant about his ass.
    “I’m not going near your ass”, “Yup, sure the hell not touching that thing”, “When was the last time you washed your ass?”, “That would be the most play you’ve gotten in a long time,” they each spat out in unison. See, I told you. Pure class, this family.
    Pops walked back in and slaps Elijah’s hand as it reached in the mashed potato pot to scoop some with his finger. “Get out of there , you animal. That’s disgusting. Go finish setting the table.”
    Amongst the asinine words that were being spewed out, I completely ignored the noise of another car pulling into the drive way and was startled as my uncles walked in.
    “Hey, is the food ready? I’m starving,” Alex asked
    “Yeah, let’s eat as soon as your smelly ass kids hurry up and finish with the table,” Pops responded to all of the men.
    “Did you all come in one car?” I asked Alex
    “Yeah, we were all at Mike’s house,” he answered without glancing in my direction and I thought that was odd. None of them said “Hello” to me directly like they normally did. No kiss on the forehead from