Chapter
20
Katelyn sat on
a stool in the kitchen while Brian rummaged through the cupboards.
"Is
popcorn okay?" he asked, holding out a bag of microwave popcorn.
"Sure,
that's fine," she said, flashing a smile at him.
"Okay.
That should hold us 'til dinner," he said, putting the bag in the
microwave and starting it.
Suddenly, they
heard the front door open.
"Anyone
home?" a woman's voice called.
"We're in
the kitchen, Mom," Brian called back. A second later, Jackie Littrell
walked into the kitchen.
"Well,
hello! You must be Katelyn," she said, smiling at Katelyn.
Katelyn nodded
and hopped off the stool. Jackie held out her hand and shook hands with
Katelyn.
"It's
lovely to meet you, dear," Jackie said, smiling warmly.
"You
too," Katelyn said, returning her smile.
"Here's
the popcorn," Brian said, setting a large bowl of popcorn down on the
counter in front of them. It smelled wonderful to Katelyn, who hadn't eaten
since breakfast.
"Do you
like hot dogs, Katelyn?" Jackie asked.
"Sure, I
love them," Katelyn replied.
"Oh,
good. That's what we're having for supper."
"Ok,
sounds great," Katelyn said.
***
A while later,
Brian's father, Harold came home from work.
"Hey,
Dad, come here!" Brian called from the living room when Harold walked into
the house.
Harold
suddenly appeared in the living room. Brian and Katelyn stood up from the
couch.
"Dad,
this is Katelyn," Brian said.
"Nice to
meet you, Katelyn," Harold said, smiling and shaking her hand.
"Nice to
meet you too," Katelyn said, smiling back at him.
"It's
almost time for dinner, you three!" Jackie shouted from the kitchen.
"Okay!
We're coming!" Brian called back. Harold went upstairs to change his
clothes, while Brian and Katelyn entered the kitchen. Jackie had set the table
and was just placing a large plate of freshly grilled hotdogs down on the
table.
"Go ahead
and sit down," Jackie urged, smiling at Brian and Katelyn. The table was
square and seated four. Brian sat down on one side. Katelyn sat down on one of
the sides closest to him. Jackie put a large bowl of macaroni and cheese and a
bowl of potato salad on the table next to the hotdogs, as well as ketchup,
mustard, relish, and buns.
"What do
you want to drink, Katelyn?" Brian asked, standing up.
"Uh, milk
is fine with me," Katelyn replied.
"Okay,"
Brian said. He got a jug of milk out of the fridge and poured four glasses.
Then, he put the milk away and put the glasses on the table.
A few minutes,
Harold came back downstairs, and everyone took their places at the table.
***
