“No, I don’t want to go to the community center!” A yell shouted out from the back room of a two story house. “Why should I anyway?!”
Annie glossed lips pouted, arms crossed and her eyes shown anger. Fury for the unbelievable she is being forced into. Losing a month of her summer to help. To help old people! Sick people! And snot nose brats. The thought of her doing that made her skin crawl.
George her father sighed. Combing through his already turning grey hair, “Annie, you are that is final!” Brown eyes met browns. Scowls match. Sneers erupted from bother of their faces. “And stop looking at me like that. I am your father.”
“Step! Father. Got it?”
A glowering position made him question why he re-married. Oh yes, he love her mother. “It will be a good experience for you. It was for me.”
“That because you were a gang banger and got your little butt thrown in jail. Hmph.” A small smirked pulled the 16 year old lips.
Before anything else could be said from to spit ballers, a woman walked in. Her light brown eyes filled with the unmistakable sense of rage. Never in her life has she liked hearing arguing. Fixing her blue t-shirt and adjusting her jeans. Ginny glared, “George and Annie, stop this unnecessary arguing. I will settle this!” Looking at the two quiet people, a small pulled her pink lips. “We are all going. As a family outing.”
“Good.””NO WAY!” Both voices spoke. One happily accepting the fate and the other declining all means of bonding as a family.
Hushing the ticking time bomb, “No arguments, come on.”
Annie pouted glaring out the window. In all her time she never like helping people. Not once. Her mom loved it yet being a nurse does that to you. Annie never been the same since her father passed. Cold hearted towards the old and young. All, except her mother of course. Sighing she mumbled, “A month around old people and yelling kids… great.”
Ginny smiled turning down a road with a large sign, ‘Satin Cruise Community’. A pool was seen in the back. A playground and golf carts all the way around. George spoke of the décor around the lovely abodes. Ginny spoke of the exciting fireworks for the children. Annie huffed rolling her eyes.
The pass two weeks was a fight, mostly between Annie and the other volunteers at the community. Humbly mocking them, Annie was forced to help an elderly old man. Robin Luther MobileIII. Annoyance plainly on her face showed everything she hates about this place. “Alright old man let get today over with!”
The elderly man laughed heartily. Wrinkles clear on his face, glasses hanging on the tip of his nose. Alabaster skin shown silver like hair in the sun. “You remind me of my granddaughter.”
“Oh really?” Rolls of her eyes.
“Ho, ho, ho yes same attitude to. Always hated being here.” Smiling sadly. “But each time she came to see me her mood change.” Seeing her uninterested stance, the old man grinned. “You can go. I am fine.”
Jumping Annie tilt her head. “R-really?”
“Yep. Goodday little lady.” Robin watched the young lady run out joyfully.
Following weeks started the same. Annie walked with an annoyed look and Robin just smiled. “Hello young lady.” Though something about the day seem odd or mellow.
“Hey oldie.” Flopping on the red couch Annie stared at an old picture of a 16 year old girl. In it she saw Robin smiling happily. Tilting her head she got a closer look to it.
Stepping behind her, he grinned. “My little granddaughter…”
“Where is she?”
“Dead.”
A shiver of fear went up her spine. “What?”
“Died, November 5, 2006. Car accident… After giving me a last hug and a kiss.” A soft sadden smile pulled the thin lips. Annie looked at him and a frown pulled her own lips.
“Today is the fifth.”
“Yeah.” He laugh happily. Before he can lift up a box, Annie lifted it for him. “Oh… thank you little lady.” He grinned cheerfully.
Nodding Annie felt a twitch of a smile. “How are you so happy though?”
“Cause, I promise her to always be happy. If she did the same.” Staring at her he got out a puzzle and some rings. “Pick one and help me with this.”
“Oh uh thank you.” Sitting down she picked on with a silver band with a green gem inside. “And yes.”
Each week after that, Annie came in more cheery than the last. Her parents notice and were glad about the change. Robing has been mentioned a few times. The help Annie gave him was not as huge as others but it made him smile.
The summers following that were bringing out a new side to Annie. Till the summer, a 22 year old Annie walked up to a podium. Dried tears stained her flush cheeks. A silver band around her finger. “I-I… Robin was a good man in his retire years. I thought… he was just annoying.” A chuckle here. “Even smelled…” a giggle there. “But I was wrong. Robin was a smart, kind man. I was 16 when I met him. 16 and selfish. I thought, each summer I came to help him I didn’t do much. But when he pass… the assistant told me. You made his ending year’s grand. Contributed to a man wish. A second granddaughter. Making his life easier.” Tears dripped and smile pulled her lips. “I am honored to be his second granddaughter. And thanks to him I am contributing with life.” Wiping her tears she grinned. “I promise… I will always be happy how he was.” Wiping her soft falling tears Annie sat next to her mother.
The following November came. On the 5th day after Robin have been put rest Annie stood there with a flower. “Hey… grandpa. I will make your rest a little bit easier… I got a job here so…” She grinned. “Keep smiling for me.”