“— And then there were aliens everywhere!
Attacking the space rangies!” Emily babbled on about the latest episodes of a show she loves to watch, to her best friend in their normal spot, the garage.
“And Piper was like—” Emily abruptly stood up, startling Jordan a bit and struck and fierce and confident pose while pointing her index finger at the invisible alien in front of her “— you don’t scare us, nasty aliens!
We’re going to kick your butt!” Jordan smiled and Emily smiled back in response “Then I was like—” Emily curled her fists into a ball and pumped it up in the air “Yeah!” She sat back down as they kept playing with Emily’s toys “I love Piper.
She’s my favorite rangie” “Ranger” Jordan mumbled inaudibly.
“Right.
Ranger!
She’s my favorite range-er” Emily instantly corrected herself with a big wide smile.
Emily looked down at her unicorn figurines, stuffed dragons and other cool toys.
“Hey” she called “We can have a sleepover today!
And you can watch the next episode with me” Jordan agreed but only under the condition that both their parents agree.
She beamed and said, “Then let’s ask them!” Emily and Jordan found Mrs.
Pillers in the kitchen whipping up something fantastic as always.
Mrs.
Pillers had gotten a short break from work to create a ‘special dish’ for the restaurant for a picky customer, so she was busy coming up with a new recipe to add to the menus.
“Mommyyyy!” Emily yelled even though she was right by the kitchen door.
Mrs.
Pillers’ attention was shifted from her work to the two children at the entrance of the kitchen.
She grabbed a ladle and swiftly put it in their mouths.
Emily’s mouth was shut as she tasted the delicious masterpiece in her mouth.
Jordan’s face flushed pink from the delight.
“How is it?” Mrs.
Pillers asked clasping her hands together in a pleading way.
“It’s good, mommy!
It’s very good!” Emily replied, still trying to savor what was left of what was in her mouth, she nudged Jordan on his arm and asked “Right Jordy?” Jordan nodded “Y-es” Mrs.
Pillers gave them both a huge smile and took down some notes in an old book which held all her favorite recipes.
“So, what do you want?” She asked after some time, reminding the children of their quest.
Emily eagerly bounced and asked in a high pitched voice “Can Jordy sleep over tonight?” Mrs.
Pillers shrugged “Of course he can.
Have you asked his dad first?” Emily hastily shook her head and grabbed Jordan by the wrist and dragged him back to the garage to get their ‘magical flying dragon’, which was obviously just a bicycle attached to a wheel barrow but dressed up in cardboard cut-outs of a dragon head and wings and colored with a pack of crayons which Emily was sure were still in the garage.
They were just bringing it out when Mrs.
Pillers called them back.
“Here” her mother placed some money in her hands and a few coins as well, “The bus fare” Emily nodded and handed it to Jordan to keep in the pockets of his big pants.
Jordan sat in the wheelbarrow as Emily sat on the bike and paddled as fast as she could, her hair flying even more out of place but Jordan sank into the wheelbarrow so much, clutching to its sides as the wind harshly slapped his face.
Emily pressed a button on the voice recorder taped to the steering of the bicycle and it played a recording of her roaring like a dragon and saying “Step aside!
I’m a fairy dragon and I breathe fire!” A faint voice could be heard correcting her “Fiery” and she instantly changed it “Fry-Ery!
I’m a Fry-Ery dragon and I breathe fire” It was clumsy and an ear sore to listen to but she played it as many times as she wished.
They parked their ‘magical flying dragon’ in the bike lot___, and made their way to the bus stop.
Jordan flattened his hair out once again but Emily still had strands of dirty blonde hair all over her face, and was breathing heavily the whole walk.
They took a bus to Jordan’s neighborhood and walked another long distance to his house.
They knocked the door and heard a sudden thud from inside the house and someone scrambling to their feet.
The door creaked open as Mr.
Blake’s head peaked out scanning around warily as though he was expecting someone else.
“Mr.
Blake!” Emily yelled and he finally looked down at the children.
Emily waved and flashed a wide grin showing her missing teeth.
He let out a relieved sigh and allowed them to come in.
He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck “Sorry i took so long.
I was practically dosing off when you came” “It’s okay, Mr.
Blake” Emily said sweetly, “We just wanted to ask if Jordy could sleepover at my place” Mr.
Blake scratched his unshaved beard and replied “Well, of course, but you could’ve just called me” “I know, but it wouldn’t be fun.
You see we went on a wild adventure!
We flew on a dragon, we battled sea monsters and rode a unicorn to follow a magical rainbow!
Then we—” A chuckle escaped Mr.
Blake’s throat “Alright.
I see now.
Well next time, no need to bother yourselves out.
You can just give me a call” “My daddy says kids should be allowed run around and play” Mr.
Blake smiled, wrinkles forming already around his eyes “Well, I can’t disagree with him.
Alright then, would you like to eat something.
We have leftover food from yesterday if you’re interested” Jordan looked down at the ground, flushed pink.
He didn’t want Emily to eat the almost-completely-burnt-and-ruined meal his dad had made.
He silently prayed she would say they had to leave in a hurry and just leave.
“My mommy says I should never turn down an offer from a host” Emily said with a lot of enthusiasm.
“Alright.
Just settle down and I’ll get you two something” Mr.
Blake turned to Jordan and ruffled his hair before making his way to the kitchen.
Emily ran towards their couch and practically jumped on it, but instantly regretted it when some of the springs poked her harshly.
Jordan quietly followed her and sat next to her.
Emily sat back down cautiously and drummed her fingers on the couch while humming a random tune to get rid of the silence atmosphere.
She swung her legs, already feeling restless, but Jordan just looked down at his hands fidgeting his fingers and sat still.
Mr.
Blake came back with two bowls of their dinner last night after a while had passed.
Emily ignored the look and smell of her food, she had seen weirder.
She instantly placed a morsel in her mouth and winced.
“Mmmm” she hummed and gave him a half full smile “Tastes so good, Mr.
Blake” Jordan turned red, embarrassed that she was faking her love for it.
Mr.
Blake noticed Emily’s high pitched tone and could obviously tell she didn’t like it.
“It’s okay.
I’ll just buy something from the—” Emily yanked her bowl away from him as he reached his hand out to take it back.
“No!
I’ll eat everything!” Jordan stared at his friend who forced another spoon of food into her mouth and slowly chewed before painfully swallowing.
“It fills my belly” she mumbled.
Jordan was grateful to his friend for trying to make his dad feel better.
Mr.
Blake watched her awkwardly as she repeatedly took another spoon into her mouth.
In a few minutes, she was done.
She let out a quite loud burp and slumped unto the couch, “I’m.
Done!” Mr.
Blake’s face broke into a small smile at the child’s marvelous feat.
He patted her head and collected the bowl from her.
He was about to collect Jordan’s bowl as well which he had finished a while ago, but Jordan refused to give him, shaking his head to refuse.
Emily stood up suddenly and collected her bowl from Mr.
Blake’s hands.
“I’ll wash it, Mr.
Blake!
Mommy said I should always clean up my own mess” Mr.
Blake was about to protest but Jordan hopped off the couch and ran to the kitchen, taking Emily along by grabbing her wrist.
Mr.
Blake easily caught up with them and sighed “Alright, fine.
I’ll just be in the back if you’re looking for me” he said and walked out of the house through the back door, he added while muttering to himself “Fixing the neighbor’s car” Emily and Jordan washed their plates feeling satisfied and went out the back to tell Mr.
Blake that they were leaving.
“Alright.
Pack some of your stuff and I’ll pick you up tomorrow kiddo!” He said loudly.
The two packed a few things into Jordan’s tiny backpack and left.