{the story with not yet a title} part two

{see part one-previous post}


"Oh. Do they have kids?" Stella replied. "Yes, they have three daughters all about ya'll's ages and a baby boy." Mrs. Wicks said, sweeping the kitchen floor. Suddenly the telephone rang. "Finish please." Mrs. Wicks said handing Stella the broom. "I never got to finish what I was saying." Mildra sighed, turning to leave the room. Stella  finished and returned the broom to the closet. Mr. Wicks came through the front door and into the kitchen. "Hey Stella.  You know were having company for dinner?" he asked her. "Yeah, Mom told me." she said. "They should be here in about-" he paused to look at his cellphone. "20 minutes." he said. Stella went to the living room where Kate was still watching her movie. "Oh good, it's over." Stella said coming up behind Kate. She picked her up, and hauled her upstairs in a playful way, Kate giggling the whole way. "We got to get ready." Stella said when she reached Mildra and Kate's bedroom. "You should wear this." Stella said, grabbing a tshirt that was colorfully designed with glitter. "What are you going to wear?" Kate asked her big sister. "I'm not sure yet. Put that on and some shorts, and I'm going to go get ready." she said. "Okay!" Kate answered. Stella crossed the hall to her own bedroom. She looked through the clothes hanging in the closet, and fiddled through the ones on the floor. She finally decided on a coral tank top and shorts. She sprayed on her favorite perfume and added a necklace. After she tamed her hair, and got it looking decent again, she did Kate's hair for her, and the two went down stairs to help with dinner. "Where's Mildra?" Stella asked her Mom when she reached the kitchen. Stella started to butter the bread. "Why, I haven't seen her." Mrs. Wicks said. "She needs to get ready, they'll be here soon." Stella said. "I'll go see if she's in the tree house." Kate said, leaving through the back door. Stella put the bread in the oven and finished setting the table. Then the doorbell rang. Mr. Wicks came running down the stairs to answer it. Stella went into the living room to make sure everything was in order only to see that Kate had left crumbs all over the couch. "Kate!" Stella thought silently as she hurriedly brushed them into her hand. She ran back to the kitchen just before Mr. Wicks let them in. "It's almost ready." Mrs. Wicks said. 'Will you please finish so I can go introduce myself?" she asked. "Yeah, sure." Stella answered. She pulled the bread out of the oven, poured the sauce over the noodles, and went out into the backyard to check on Kate. "Stella, I found her! She was in the tree house!" Kate hollered. "That's great, now run, hurry up!" Stella said. "Just be really quiet when going up the stairs. Don't go two at a time like you usually do." Stella said looking at Mildra. "And don't come down until your wearing clean clothes, your hair is brushed, and you smell like something other then chickens." she said. Kate giggled looking at Mildra. Stella and Kate went into the living room where the others were. "Stella, this is Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, and their daughters. Jill is sixteen, Frances is eleven, and Essie is five. And their little baby boy, Don." Mrs. Wicks said. "It's nice to meet you all." Stella said. Kate, who at times was not the slightest bit shy, went right over to Essie Duncan and introduced herself. Stella just had to smile. "It looks like our little sisters will get along just fine." Jill said. Stella turned and smiled. "Hi. I'm Stella." she said. "It's great to meet you guys." Jill said. Mildra came down the stairs and Stella walked towards her. She brought her over to Frances who was standing behind the recliner where Essie and Kate were now sitting. "Frances, this is my sister Mildra. Mildra, this is Frances." Stella said. She left them and returned to her spot next to Jill on the bench. They watched Frances and Mildra. "Maybe, just maybe, one of them will have the nerve to say something first." Jill said with a laugh. The room had become noisy with everyone talking. Mrs. Wicks suggested they all move to the dinner table and so they did. There were many conversations going at the same time amongst them and it remained that way throughout the meal. After dinner, the girls went out to the tree house while their parents talked over business.
To be continued.