Paisley shook his hand, smiling back at him. She turned and started walking to the open front door, and around the corner to the left, opening the basement door and gently knocking on the wall.
“Kendra, honey, are you busy? I just met a boy your age, and he’d like to met you.” she said in almost a sing song like voice.
Kendra pushed her couch against the wall as she heard her step mother shout down the stairs. “i’ll be up in just a second” she said, dashing to the bathroom and running her hand through her slightly messy beach waves. She straightened the baby blue cropped hoodie she was wearing and adjusted her leggings and walked up the stairs to see Paisley and a boy standing close to the top of the stairs. “umm hi?”
Ray sucked a deep breath in, gawking over the girl. He found it hard to formulate words.
“H-hi,” he stuttered. It normally wasn’t this hard to talk for him, but he was taken away by her familiar yet somewhat elegant beauty. “I’m Ray.”
“Kendra” She said with a smile, holding her hand out for him to shake. “But i’m sure you already knew that.”
Paisley quietly snuck back out the door to go watch the children, and found them how she left them, plus one, running around in the back of the truck.
“Yes,” he said, returning the smile and shaking her hand. “It’s a nice name— I don’t mind hearing it often.”
He took his hand back and shoved it into his jean pocket, slightly noticing the stuffed puppy hanging from his belt. “You new in town? I can show you around.”
“I’m very new i’m town, and i would very much like that.” She said with a smile, peering down at the stuffed animal on his belt. “i wish i only ever had stuffed animals on me. the boys like to throw food, the girls like to hand me plastic food and tiny tea cups that i just have to hold for 10 straight minutes” She giggled at the thought of her little siblings. “So is it a brother or sister?”
Ray glanced down at his belt, clearly embarrassed. “Little sister. About 4 years. I see you have a lot of little ones around. I like your house, by the way.”
As they struck up conversation, Ray found himself more comfortable and words flowed naturally.
“So, yes, I also have to deal with tea cups.”
“Yea there’s a lot of them. The two boys are my full siblings, 5 year old twins. The girls are both half sisters, 2 and 3 years. They’re a hassle sometimes but i love them just the same. And it gets me cool older sibling perks like getting the whole basement to myself. Speaking of, thank you, you’ll probably like the house a lot more when it’s fully furnished and not just stacks of boxes.” she laughed, hoping she didn’t talk to much and scare him away.
Ray stopped, taking a moment to enjoy her smile and happy demeanor. He flashed a grin.
“Certainly is a feat, huh? But yeah, I get what you mean. Can’t help but love ‘em.”
As if on cue, he heard his little sister’s voice calling from above. He looked up the stairs, then glanced back at Kendra.
“Sorry, I should probably get that,” he said, taking the stuffed animal from his belt and beginning to walk up the stairs. “She probably wants to go home. You’re welcome to come with— I can show you my ol’ stomping grounds. Welcome to the town.”
“I’m not sure if Paisley or my dad needs me, but i’ll check and see, if not i might just take you up on that offer.” She grabbed her phone from atop a nearby box and pulled on her black and white checkered slide on vans and followed him up the stairs to see a small little girl standing at the top of them. She wiggled around Ray and his sister to go find her dad and step mom.
Ray’s smile widened as he saw his sister’s face light up at the sight of her puppy.
“Here you g—.” Before he could finish his sentence, Jaz had already taken it and embraced it in her arms.
“Can we go home? I’m hungry,” she said, holding tightly to the stuffed animal.
“Sure, I’ll take you home,” Ray replied. “Let’s just wait for this nice woman for a second, then we will be on our way.”
Jaz smiled up at her big brother, crawling up onto his shoulders. He took hold of her ankles as she sat atop his upper back against the back of his neck. He stood up, hearing her giggle with joy. She put her hands over his eyes, her laughter growing more frantic. Ray let out a chuckle, gently trying to shake her hands free.
Kendra walked outside to find her dad on the ground, wrestling with her brothers and her step mom watching Maria and Maya play with some dolls that they refused to put in a box.
"Would you guys mind if I went out for a bit? I want to go explore the new town before i start unpacking." She said, loud enough for both of them to hear it.
"Sure sweetheart, be back before dark." Her dad said.
"Would you mind taking Maya with you? You know I normally wouldnt ask but its going it be difficult keeping track of all four of the kids and unpack at the same time." Paisley said, Maya set down her doll and jumped down from the truck and ran to Kendra. "Me go, too! Me go, too."
"Alright, I don't see a problem with it. If you guys need me I have my phone." Kendra said, reaching down and grabbing Maya's hand and walking back to Ray and his sister. She smiled when she saw Jaz on Ray's shoulders.
"I think we're good to go, Maya is going to come with us if that's alright."
“Absolutely,” Ray replied, smiling down at Maya. Jaz took her hands from his eyes and started to play with his hair instead.
He motioned for Kendra to follow as he hopped down from their steps to the sidewalk. He walked with sort of a happy skip— just one of his habits.
The late afternoon sun shined down on the four as Ray spun back around, walking backward so he could face Kendra.
“Lovely day. How long have you been in town?”
Kendra walked, Maya's little hand in hers.
"Well, my Dad moved about a week ago for work with only his nessesities. My mom bought a house out in the country on the outskirts of town to keep the family together. We moved with her 2 days ago, and she offered to bring all of us with her, even tho Maya and Maria arent hers. My brother stayed back to help Paisley and she moved the rest of everything to my dads house this morning. So I've been here 2 days, tecnically. But I haven't gotten to do much except move boxes and furniture and start to unpack, so it feels like its been longer."
“Well…,” Ray said with a smile. “I can sure change that. Any requests on what you would like to see first?”
He slowed down and turned back around so they were walking side by side.
“The best food places in town? The greatest places to play darts and pool? The best arcade you’ve ever seen?”
He looked over at Maya.
“How about the best ice cream parlor you’ll ever know?” he said with a wink. Jaz smiled widely atop his shoulders, nodding.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” she exclaimed happily.
Ray glanced up at Kendra. “Well, whatdya say?”
Maya pulled on Kendras arm to get her attention. "I want icecream!" She said excitedly.
"Well you heard them, looks like we're going to get icecream" Kendra said grinning down at her little sister, now skipping along in excitement.
“Alright then,” he said, Jaz wriggling on his shoulders. He let her down, holding her hand instead.
“This ice cream place is amazing,” he said as they rounded a corner. He continued down the street, occasionally pointing out a place or two. Soon, he stopped in front of a small parlor.
Jaz pushed the door open, holding it for the rest of the party. Ray let Kendra walk in first, taking up behind as Jaz shut the door.
The parlor was small and fifties themed, old static speakers playing rhythm & blues. Ray took a seat on a small stool near the front counter, smiling at the man who walked up to greet them. Jaz sat in Ray’s lap, gazing up at the menu.
“Hey Jon,” Ray greeted the old man. “How are you?”
The man smiled widely as he watched Jaz teeter her head, mumbling at all the flavors on the menu.
“I’m doing just fine,” he said matter-of-factly. “Always a pleasure to see you. And this,” his gaze drifted over to Kendra. “Who might this be?”
Kendra scooped up Maya while Ray and Jon talked, and slid onto a bar stool, setting Maya on her lap. She looked up as Jon addressed her, "Im Kendra, and this is my little sister Maya. We're new in town." She said, smiling up at the man.
(So sorry, I was out for the day! I’m back now :) )
Jon smiled at the girl. “Well, it is nice to meet you, young lady.”
Ray had to hold onto Jaz as she waved back over the man. “Can I have what I normally get, pwease?” She said happily. Jon nodded, his kind eyes twinkling.
“You sure can,” he replied. “And you, Ray? Same as always?”
Ray nodded, brushing his hair from his face. “Como siempre, señor.”
Jon chuckled, shaking his head and looking back over at Kendra. “How about you two? What can I get started for you?”
“I want chocolate! and lots and lots of sprinkles” Maya spoke up, a big excited grin on her face. “just one scoop, in a bowl for her please. and i’ll have hmmmm. Any suggestions?” she asked both Ray and Jon.
Ray chuckled. “They’re all good. But I prefer cookie dough.”
Just as he said that, Jon slid him over a cup full of it. Jaz was already gnawing on hers— mint chocolate chip.
The man looked back over at the girls, starting to make Maya’s. “So, what will it be, eh?”
"Hmm, I'll try the cookie dough then." She said with a smile. Maya bounced up and down a little when she saw Jon digging into the chocolate, and gave a little squeal.
Jon served the both of them, walking back behind another counter and inputting money Ray had given him into the register.
“So, Kendra,” Ray asked, twirling his spoon in his ice cream. “Tell me about yourself.”
Maya immediatly dug into her ice cream, after saying thank you of course.
"Well" she said, turning the spoon over to pull the icecream off and popping it out. "What would you like to know?"
“Hobbies? Talents? What do you enjoy?” He asked. “Why did you choose this town to move into?”
Ray smiled, adverting his gaze and looking at the ceiling. “Tell me your story.”
