5 Words

Cocaine Princess here.

There is a commercial that airs here on the local television stations. A woman dressed in summer attire is smiling and walking down the street. Suddenly she stops, points and lets out a blood curdling scream. Why? Because there is a fallen leaf on the sidewalk, indicating autumn is here. The scene then jumps to a family seated around a dinner table eating. It's a commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken advertising their Fall Bucket Special.

It's that time of year again, Harvest Time. It officially began Monday and will run until October 12th. The front porch like everyone else in the neighborhood is decorated with pumpkins, gourds, squash, maize and of course a scarecrow. We had to buy a new one this year. The one we had last year was destroyed in a freak thunderstorm. All that remained were his jean overalls and plaid shirt.

Harvest Time this year seems a bit odd. More than often the weather during this month turns cool but it's still so hot and yet the leaves are falling and have already begun to undergo their transformation from a bright summer green color to a burnt orange, yellow and red color. In the city tour companies offer Fall Foliage Tours. Buses filled with eager and paying leaf peepers make trips to the suburbs to participate in oohing and ahhing at the fall colors. For them it's a type of miraculous phenomenon. I really don't see what the big deal is. I don't even like Fall. However when I was little I never missed a chance at jumping into a pile of leaves!

This past weekend was spent at home. I can't remember the last time I was home on a Saturday. Well actually I can but this time I wasn't covered in red, itchy spots. 'A' encouraged and insisted I go out. She said she didn't have a problem with it. I knew if I did I would feel guilty. My sister has her life and does her thing and I have my life and I do my thing and under normal circumstances I would have gone out but it didn't feel right for me to leave her this time.

So what did I do on Saturday? Hang tight bloggers, you may get blown away at the amount of fun I had. The students who came over last week to visit 'A' and left their sticky fingerprints everywhere, (including on the TV remote. Some of the buttons are now sticking) she wrote them each a thank you note. I had the exciting task of putting them into envelopes and I got to address them! Fun, huh?! She could have easily done this herself of course but I was so bored and was looking for something, anything to keep myself busy. I read what she had written.... 'You're thanking them for the desserts? They gobbled up everything in sight that was meant for you including the cake that said Get Well. Did you even get a chance to taste it? I asked. 'I had a slice.' 'You know what you should send along with the note?' 'What?' she asked. A Madonna CD. They need to be listening to her instead of Hannah Montana.' 'The kids like her show and her music. Some of them are crazy for The Jonas Brothers,' she added. As she was finishing up the last card I asked if she was in any pain. 'I'm okay,' she replied. 'That's not what I asked. Just tell me yes or no.' 'I can manage the pain, don't worry about me. In a couple of weeks I'll be back to normal.' 'I've never broken anything except for a nail,' I said sealing the last envelope. 'In your world I'm sure that's just as bad as a broken ankle, she jokingly said back.

Stuffing, addressing and sealing envelopes on a Saturday, it doesn't get any better than that.

Later during the day 'A' found a movie she wanted to watch, SAW IV. I had never seen the film so I had no idea who the characters were except for one, a maniac named Jig-Saw. She tried explaining the storyline and suggested I watch the first 3 parts in order to get a better understanding. I declined. After stuffing envelopes I could barely contain myself and thought watching a horror movie might cause excitement overload.

Not paying attention to the movie I was busy talking to Valentina. For my own personal reasons I can't stand this time of year. It's just an icky and bitter time for me so I go on a vaycay. Last year Valentina and I went to Cartagena and then hit Aruba. This year I was planning on flying down to be with her but won't be able to, at least not yet. That whole 'everything-that-happens-for-a-reason-thing' is taking place, again. My sister's injured and I knew I wouldn't have a moments peace if I had gone. So Valentina came up with an idea. 'A' can join us, there's plenty of room for her here. While we're living it up she can do her suduko,' she said. 'She's never going to say yes,' I replied. 'She doesn't have to. Crush a couple of codeine pills into her meal and while she's off in slumber-land semper-fi will swoop in to snatch her and put her on the next flight out with you,' she explained. 'You want me to drug her so she can be kidnapped?' I asked. 'A' looked at me. 'No worries we're not talking about you,' I whispered. She had an unusual look of doubt on her face but then focused her attention back to the movie. 'You say that like it's a bad thing,' Valentina replied back. 'It's not like she's going to wake up to find herself sold to the highest bidder. Instead she'll awaken to the sound of tranquil ocean waves.' I already have traffic violations on record why not add accessory to kidnapping to the list I thought. 'Just ask her,' she pleaded. 'There's no point. I know the way she is. She's going to say no.' Again 'A' looked at me. I nodded my head to let her know we weren't talking about her. 'Why can't you come? There's people looking after your sister, right?' 'Yeah but she took such good care of me when I was sick,' I replied. 'I would have taken good care of you too. Well I would have hired a nurse but you didn't want to come and stay with daddy and me.' 'That's not true Valentina. It's not that I didn't want to, you knew I couldn't. So, what's daddy up to?' I then questioned. 'He's in his office with Gilligan. That guy's been here everyday and he's so annoying.' 'Annoying how?' 'He's been taking all of daddy's time. I wish he would leave and go!' 'Wow, you're in a mood today,' I commented. 'With good reason. Our travel plans are totally killed.' 'They're not killed they're just on hold.' 'How are you suppose to cope through the next couple of weeks?' "I'll just grin and bear it,' I answered. 'You wouldn't have to if 'A' wasn't hurt. Not only is her injury highly inconvenient but I find it very suspicious your switched at birth sister breaks her foot-,' 'It's her ankle Valentina not her foot that's broken.' 'Whatever part of her body is banged up I find it suspicious it occurred so close to our annual trip.' 'It's not like she did it on purpose.' 'Are you sure it's actually broken?' 'Yes. I picked her up in the emergency room and just last week I took her to see a specialist in the city.' 'Alright,' said 'A'. She picked up the remote that was lying next to her and pressed the pause button. She had to press it hard a couple of times but eventually the movie paused. The pause and FF button along with a couple of numeric buttons are the ones that stick. 'Hang on Valentina,' I said. Looking at 'A' I asked, 'is there something you would like me to get for you? A codeine pill?' 'What is she (Valentina) saying about me?' 'What makes you think she's talking about you?' I asked. I tried saying it with a straight face but couldn't. I told her everything except for the drugging and kidnapping thing. 'You have anything to say in your defense?' I asked. 'Yes, I admit it. I've been scheming this evil plot since January 1st to break my ankle in September just to keep you from going on your trip.' I repeated what she said word for word to Valentina. And Valentina's response consisted of five words, 'I told you so, Princess.'

XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess