hauntedflamingo - Tumblr blog

hauntedflamingo · 1 month

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Since writing in her journal about her plan for the summer, Kenzie's mind was spinning with possible outcomes and ideas that could help aid her in her mission. She knew that she had to be sneaky about everything as Jeff was pretty smart and she knew that he might catch on if she acted any differently than normal. It was going to be hard as she was excited for what was to come; so excited that as soon as her phone read 6:30 am, she pulled up Zarah's contact info and pressed the call button.

Kenzie sat and waited for what felt like ages before Zarah answered the phone. She wasn't at all happy to be woken this early.

"One good reason and I won't murder you," Zarah grumped as she put her phone to her ear.

"Would you settle for an I miss you?" Kenzie asked with a hint of teasing in her tone.

"No. What do you want?" Zarah replied and Kenzie gasped dramatically.

"I am wounded that you think I want something," Kenzie told her friend as a small chuckle escaped her lips.

Zarah rolled her eyes and pulled the phone away from her ear as she felt a yawn coming on.

"You just rolled your eyes at me didn't you?" Kenzie asked, knowing her friend all too well.

"Just tell me what you want so I can go back to bed," Zarah responded.

"Ok, ok. I need your help with something," Kenzie said and Zarah took a deep breath.

"You get rejected by someone?" Zarah questioned sarcastically.

"Hey, I will have you know that I am a great catch," Kenzie defended and Zarah burst out laughing.

"That's a good one, Ken," Zarah said through her laughter.

"Seriously Zar, I am, but no, I need your help with something else," Kenzie told her.

"Alright, jokes aside, what is so important that you need to call me this early?" Zarah asked as things settled down and she could sense her friend's eagerness.

"So the other day Uncle Jeff was teaching me how to surf and-" Kenzie started just before Zarah cut her off.

"I bet you fell over," Zarah said out loud without meaning to.

"Oi," Kenzie replied.

"Sorry, go on," Zarah said.

"I was knocked off my board by someone and I sprained my ankle. Anyway, we went home after that and when we got back to Jeff's, there was a moving truck in the driveway next door," Kenzie explained.

"So you did fall," Zarah answered, making Kenzie roll her eyes this time.

"Really? That's what you took from that?" Kenzie asked, somewhat dumbfounded but not entirely surprised.

"Kenz, it's me you're talking to. Yes, that's what I took from that," Zarah responded.

"You're right. I shouldn't be surprised at this point," Kenzie joked.

"Hilarious. Anyhow, what does a moving truck have to do with you needing my help?" Zarah asked.

"Zar, the person moving in was my uncle's old flame, Liz," Kenzie said, finally getting to the point.

"Are you serious!?" Zarah shouted a little too loudly. She quickly covered her mouth and both girls remained quiet for a minute just in case Zarah's parents came into Zarah's room and told the girls to get off the phone.

"I'm not kidding and get this, Mom told me that Jeff and Liz had talked about getting married at one point," Kenzie said as a burst of energy coursed through her veins.

"Holy crap, that's big," Zarah replied.

"I know. I'm still a little shocked cause he never struck me as the type to want to get married," Kenzie told Zarah.

"What did he do when he saw her?" Zarah asked, curious of Jeff's reaction.

"He just stood there staring at her while she got a box from the truck and when she went inside, he scurried toward his place. It was the fastest I've ever seen him move." Kenzie explained.

"I can see that. Has he spoken to her at all yet?" Zarah questioned.

"Well, she came by yesterday with some baking she had done in the hopes of getting to know her new neighbors while Jeff was out, and I invited her in. She seemed nice but when Jeff came home, he stood there like a goober and frowned at us. He made everything awkward, and she rushed out the door," Kenzie explained, feeling the annoyance with Jeff resurface.

"That's not cool," Zarah noted, and Kenzie nodded.

"I know right? I told him what I thought, and he didn't like that cause he stormed out of the house," Kenzie added and Zarah shook her head incredulously.

"What a weenie," Zarah replied, and both girls burst out laughing.

"He is, but once he came home, he filled me in on a couple of things. It was quite interesting," Kenzie replied after the laughter had died down.

"I bet," Zarah said as her neck cracked from the way she turned her head as she stretched.

"The most interesting thing was that when we were talking, he had the same look on his face that Liz had when we were in the kitchen talking about friends, school, and boys," Kenzie said and Zarah's eyes went wide.

"Do you think they miss each other?" Zarah asked and Kenzie shrugged. She didn't know for sure but if she had to take a wild guess, then yes, she had a strong feeling that they missed each other in more ways than one.

"I think so. This is where I need your help though." Kenzie answered.

"What do you need me to do?" Zarah wondered.

"I'm going to get Liz and Jeff together once and for all and I need you to be my sounding board. You up for the challenge, Turner?" Kenzie asked and Zarah nodded enthusiastically.

"Hell yes!" Zarah responded and Kenzie beamed.

The girls spent the next couple hours getting ideas compiled and by the time they were done talking, Zarah's parents were up and so was Jeff.

"Call me if you need any more ideas and if I think of any today at work, I'll text you," Zarah told Kenzie.

"You're the best Zar. I owe you one." Kenzie said and Zarah hummed in agreement.

Kenzie bid her friend goodbye and was about to hang up when Zarah stopped her.

"Hold on, I need the details of how you fell off the surfboard," Zarah said, and Kenzie rolled her eyes.

"Dude, I didn't fall off, I was pushed off," Kenzie replied sarcastically unamused.

"Yeah, ok kenz," Zarah said, and Kenzie raised her brow.

"It's true." Kenzie defended.

Zarah was about to reply when her father knocked on her bedroom door and told her that it was time to get off the phone and get ready for work or she'd be late.

Walking into the main kitchen after her call with Zarah, Kenzie found Jeff on the laptop assaulting the keyboard as he typed away. She smiled to herself at the look of concentration on his face. It was very much the same concentrated look her mother got when she was doing something that she didn't particularly want to do.

"Morning." Kenzie greeted as she took one of the Banana chocolate chip muffins Liz had made off the platter given to them and warmed it in the microwave for a couple of seconds.

Jeff barely looked up from the laptop as he gave his niece a mumbled reply.

"What are you doing?" Kenzie asked and Jeff glanced at her briefly.

"Why?" He asked as he continued attacking the keyboard with his vigorous typing.

"I asked you first," Kenzie replied as she popped a piece of the heated muffin in her mouth.

She was hoping to get more of a conversation out of him, but it was useless. He was too far into his task to respond with more than one-word answers.

"Kenz, please." He replied, needing to focus on the amount of inventory, orders, and bills he had to take care of for the bait shop.

"Fine, I'll leave you alone, but I do have a question," Kenzie said.

Jeff sighed and gave her his full attention, though the look on his face told her that he wanted to be left alone to work.

"What?" He asked.

"Do you have a soccer ball?" She questioned.

Her foot had begun to feel better, and she wanted to test its strength by kicking a ball around.

"I do but you need to rest that foot." He said sternly.

Kenzie wasn't the best for letting herself heal after an injury. She was usually up and walking around within a couple of hours if she was able to.

"It feels a bit better, but I just want to see if it's up to kicking standard." She told him.

"I'd rather you not and give your foot more time to heal," Jeff answered, even though he knew she wasn't going to listen to him.

"It's fine Uncle Jeff," Kenzie replied, feeling confident in her ability.

"It's your foot, kid. Ball's in the garage." Jeff replied before going back to the laptop.

"Thank you," Kenzie said as she took her food into her room so that she could get herself together before heading out to kick the ball around.

Kicking the ball around felt good. Her foot still hurt of course but it was nowhere near as painful as it was when it first happened. It made Kenzie happy to know that she was right, and her ankle was healing nicely.

"Kenz!" Jeff called from the backdoor. Kenzie looked over at him and walked over to him.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"I'm heading to the bait shop; do you want to come with me or stay here?" He questioned. He knew her answer already but he wanted to check just in case.

"I want to stay here." She told him. This was perfect. She could work on things while he was gone and out of earshot.

"Alright, call me if you need anything but please try to stay out of trouble," Jeff replied, and Kenzie smiled goofily.

"Me? Get into trouble?" She teased and Jeff rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you," He responded, and Kenzie chuckled.

"Don't worry about me. I'm just going to kick the ball around a little more and then maybe play some video games," Kenzie said.

"Ok. I will see you in a little while," Jeff answered.

Kenzie waved goodbye to him and went back to kicking the ball but just as she did that, Jeff reappeared.

"No more strangers in my house while I'm gone," Jeff said as pottery could be heard smashing from the backyard next door, followed by a slight high-pitched scream and an over dramatic gasp.

"My pot!" The person shrieked.

"Kenzie!" Jeff shouted in both shock and warning.

"My bad," She called to the person next door, but no reply came.

"Be more careful with that thing," Jeff cautioned, and Kenzie nodded.

"Safe to say my foot's ok," Kenzie said, attempting to change the subject.

"Inside missy," Jeff replied, moving to the side so that Kenzie could get past him.

"Why?" Kenzie asked.

"So you don't break anything else and because you've been on your feet for too long," Jeff told her, and she couldn't argue with him. She was feeling tired.

"Okie dokie," She responded, walking inside.

Kenzie plopped herself on the couch next to Annie whose tail was wagging enthusiastically.

"Right, I'm leaving now. Call me if you need anything and no strangers in the house while I'm gone and no more breaking things." He reiterated as he grabbed his keys, Annie's leash, and his hat.

"I will and as for not breaking anything else, I'm not promising anything." She replied and Jeff shook his head. What was he going to do with Kenzie?

Kenzie had to laugh at his response to that.

"Come on Annie," Jeff said, encouraging his four-legged friend to come to him so that they could leave.

"Bye," Kenzie told them as they hurried out the door. No reply came as Jeff was practically in his truck and pulling away already.

Kenzie waved to him through the window and when he was out of sight, she went next door. She was going to apologize for breaking whatever it was but as she put her hand on the doorknob, someone knocked on it, making Kenzie jump.

"Flaming Cheetos!" Kenzie shouted with panic as her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She assumed that the person at the door was her uncle, but it wasn't.

Kenzie opened it and came face to face with a kid around her age. He stood a few inches taller than her. He had reddish brown hair, and blue/green eyes and wore an exasperated look on his face.

"Think this is yours," He said as he handed her the soccer ball. Kenzie took it and tried not to laugh as his scream echoed through her head.

"Anyone ever told you that you scream like a girl?" Kenzie asked. She couldn't help herself.

"Do not," He defended.

"Yeah, you do," She told him and he huffed at her.

"No, I don't," He answered.

Kenzie was having too much fun pestering him.

"What were you doing back there anyway?" Kenzie asked, moving on from playfully insulting him.

"What's it to you?" He questioned in reply.

"I believe your exact words were and I quote: My Pot!" Kenzie said, raising her brow at him, silently asking him what he meant by that.

"Not that it's any of your business but I was planting something," He begrudgingly answered.

"You garden?" Kenzie questioned, letting a chuckle escape her lips.

The boy in front of her blushed and glared at her. He wasn't appreciating the fact that she was picking on him.

"I don't need this. Just keep your bloody ball out of my yard," He snapped and walked away.

Kenzie felt guilty for mocking him, so she called for him to stop.

"Wait!" She hollered and he did. He turned to face her, but she could tell that he wasn't impressed.

Kenzie carefully trudged over to him, trusting that he wasn't going to leave her alone.

He just stood there watching her as she inched closer to him.

"Going to keep bothering me?" He asked and Kenzie shook her head.

"I was going to ask if you needed help with gardening," She replied, hoping that he'd forgive her and let her help him.

"Thanks but you should put your foot up." He told her and Kenzie looked at him in surprise.

How did he know that she had injured herself? Unless.....

"You," She said, pointing at him.

"Call it even?" He suggested with a shrug and sheepish grin and Kenzie remained in her spot for a minute contemplating her answer.

She could hold this over him if she wanted to and keep making him miserable, but she could use a friend while in Boca, so she decided to give in to his suggestion......Kind of.

Kenzie pondered and pursed her lips at him while allowing her eyes to roam his body up and down, making him sweat a little bit.

"On one condition," Kenzie said. She had a feeling this kid could help her execute her plan of playing Cupid.

"I'm afraid to ask but go on," He replied.

"I'll let you know eventually. For now, however, I'm Kenzie," She introduced, holding out her hand for him to shake.

He looked at it for a second, unsure of what she was planning but he knew that if he wanted to stay in her good graces and not be the target of her insults any longer, his best option would be to place his hand in hers and reciprocate the handshake.

"Jesse," He responded simply.

"Great. Well, I should go back in," Kenzie told him, pointing in the direction of her uncle's house.

"Aren't you going to tell me your one condition before you go?" He queried.

"All in due time, Jesse, all in due time." She said in a tone that freaked him out a bit.

He gave Kenzie a worried glance and she smirked at him.

"Tell you what, meet me at Pete's burger shack on Wednesday afternoon and I'll tell you," Kenzie said but Jesse grunted, not feeling satisfied with her reply.

"I work on Wednesday," He told her and Kenzie squinted her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek as she struggled to come up with another idea.

"Where do you work?" She asked him.

"I'm not telling you that," He replied warily.

"Eh, fair enough," She responded. She had to give it to him, he seemed like a tough nut to crack, and she would get through to him one of these days; she just had to be patient at least for now.

"I could meet you at the beach on my lunch break," He offered, and Kenzie smiled at him.

"Sounds good," She said, staring at him once more.

Jesse didn't mind it at the beginning as it didn't feel judgmental like the first time she eyed him but then he started to feel like he was under a microscope again and he didn't like it.

"Stop staring at me," He told her and Kenzie looked away.

"Habit, sorry," She said genuinely.

"It's fine, it's just creepy," He replied, drawing a laugh from her which made him smile.

"I'll keep that in mind," Kenzie countered, and Jesse nodded.

"I'll see you on Wednesday, creep," He said as he walked back to his house.

Kenzie chuckled to herself in disbelief knowing that she had just made a friend.

When Kenzie felt confident that Jesse was inside his house, she pulled her phone out of her pants pocket and pressed Zarah's contact info.

<<Call me ASAP! We need to talk.>> Kenzie typed as she texted her friend.

She couldn't wait to tell Zarah about the kid she had just met and was about to recruit.

===

Tag List: @hauntedflamingo

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hauntedflamingo · 1 month

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My journal friend,

I know that it's been about a week since I've written anything, but I promise that I have a good reason. Before I tell you though, let me fill you in on what's happened this week.

As you know, mom agreed to let Uncle Jeff teach me how to surf, so long as I am uninjured and returned in one piece. Well, that didn't last too long. You see, Uncle Jeff was showing me how to get balanced on my board before we went on the water when all of a sudden someone knocked me over and onto the burning hot sand. The wind was knocked out of me for a minute or two, and Uncle Jeff got snippy with them (it was like he knew the person that had run into me), which made them quickly apologize and run off in the opposite direction. (Real cool Jeff, real cool). It was ok in the end, but I did sprain my ankle, so right now surfing is on hold, which sucks.

When Uncle Jeff and I got back to his place after the ankle fiasco, we saw a moving truck in the driveway of the house next door. It wasn't a surprise for either of us to see because everyone in the neighborhood knew the house had been sold. What did surprise me was Uncle Jeff's reaction to the woman that walked out the front door and to the truck to collect more boxes.

Jeff told me later that evening that the woman, Liz Gilmour, was an old friend of his. Of course, I knew there was more to it by the way he spoke about it. I made a note to ask Mom about him and this 'old friend' when we talked on the phone that night but before I could do that, I had to tell her about my ankle first. Needless to say, she was not happy. I quickly changed the subject to Jeff and Liz and what mom told me was interesting.

She told me that back in the day they were something of an item. She also told me that they had been together so long that they had even talked about getting married. That surprised me because Jeff didn't seem like the husband type. I asked mom why they didn't get married, but she said she didn't know.

Our call went well, but boy was my mind spinning with all this new information.

After mom and I ended our call, Jeff and I decided to order burgers for dinner, and we watched a movie while we ate. The movie we watched was one I hadn't seen before, and I quite enjoyed it.

It was about a brother and sister who make up a plan to set their dad up with a woman. It made me laugh but it also got me thinking how it would work in the real world and this is where my main reason for not writing comes in.

I have decided to play Cupid!

It may have taken me a couple days after watching that movie to get to this point but with the reaction Jeff gave me that day, let's just say this summer is about to get interesting.

Anyway, I woke up this morning to a note taped to the front of my door from Uncle Jeff saying that he was at the bait shop and would be back later to check on me and make sure that I was ok. He also said that he left the dog at home because he thought I could use the company and because Annie refused to move from her bed that morning.

After reading the note, I hobbled over to Annie to check on her before hobbling to the kitchen to make myself breakfast. Just as I put my hand on the egg carton, I heard a knock coming from the front of the house.

I was hesitant to answer at first but then I heard a female voice say that they had just moved in next door and that she wanted to introduce herself.

I hurried over to the front door as fast as my dumb ankle would allow and when I opened it, I saw Liz. She was smiling warmly at me and properly introduced herself before she handed me a plate of baked goods and crap, did they smell good.

I thanked her for her kindness and invited her in for a cup of tea and a chat. I would have made coffee but since I'm not supposed to have it, I'm not good at making the liquid gold as dad calls it.

While talking with Liz, I learned that she had a little trailer that she turned into a mini bookstore that she was about to open, and she invited me to stop by when I was able to get around easier. I was about to thank her when Uncle Jeff walked through the door.

When Jeff saw us talking, he froze and frowned slightly, making both Liz and I feel awkward. Liz thanked me for the tea and rushed out the door without another word.

I was annoyed at Jefferey for acting so lame when Liz just wanted to get to know her neighbors. We got into an argument and then Jeff stormed out of the house and didn't return until about an hour ago.

I did talk to him about it all when he got home, and he filled me in on so much more than what mom knew and had told me.

Uncle Jeff said that Liz was his person and because of what happened between them, he never got close to getting married after that because he was afraid of getting hurt again. He also told me that he never stopped loving Liz and seeing her now brought back so many memories...Memories that still pained him.

I couldn't blame him. I could see it in his eyes and in fact, the look that he gave me when explaining everything was so sad and I swear it was the same look that Liz gave me when we were talking about friends, boys and the misery of high school.

Personally, I think they miss each other.

All of that said, my mission this summer is to get them together once and for all.

As this mission is so big though, I think I'm going to need Zarah's help; but it's too late to chat now, so I'll have to call her in the morning and begin the planning stages for what I'm going to call Operation Cupid...At least I think that's what I'm going to call it, I'm not sure yet.

Hopefully Zarah can think of something better when I talk with her about everything later.

OK. Bye.

P.S: This mission may be a rocky one, but I think I can do it, especially if I've got Zarah by my side and maybe Mom and dad as well but we'll see about them.

===

Tag List: @hauntedflamingo

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hauntedflamingo · 1 month

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The next morning, Kenzie woke up with a start as the sound of a blender was heard echoing through the entire house. Soon after that, Jeff could be heard shouting all sorts of profanity as he realized he had burnt the chocolate chip pancakes as well as the eggs. Kenzie groaned loudly and snatched the pillow out from under her head and placed it over her face as the shouting and clanging continued. It was way too early for all of this.

Eventually, Kenzie climbed out of bed and begrudgingly trudged into the kitchen only to be greeted with a cheery Jeff.

"Good Morning." He greeted as Kenzie glared at him and sat herself at the breakfast island.

"Too early." Kenzie mumbled, looking at Jeff with slight annoyance.

"Yeah well, I thought I'd make breakfast before we head out for the day." Jeff explained as he plated up the food.

"Make it or burn it?" Kenzie asked as she poked at a piece of somewhat blackened egg. Jeff let out a breath of air and waved his hand at his niece.

"It's not that bad." He replied with a playful pout. Kenzie wasn't convinced though.

"Why aren't you eating it then?" Kenzie sassed with a smirk.

Jeff simply shrugged as he took a drink of the smoothie he had made as well, but he instantly regretted it as the sour and tart flavor attacked his mouth with a vengeance which made Kenzie laugh at his reaction.

"I am so sending this to mom." Kenzie said through her laughs as she took a video of her uncle jumping around as though he was on hot coals, trying to absorb the brutal sour attack.

Jeff grunted at Kenzie in protest but he'd probably do the same thing if he was in Kenzie's position. It was pretty damn funny.

It took a minute before Jeff was able to calm himself and when he was standing still again, Kenzie handed him a cup of water so that he could rinse his mouth out.

"Thanks." Jeff said, before downing the rest of his water. Kenzie nodded and leaned against the counter.

"I'll tell you what, why don't we pick up breakfast and then eat it on the beach. My treat." Kenzie offered and Jeff smiled gratefully.

"I like the sound of that but you save your money. I'll buy it." Jeff countered and Kenzie smiled.

She appreciated all that he went through that morning trying to make breakfast for the both of them but he didn't need to. She was happy to just be spending time with him after being apart for so long.

"I'll go change and I'll meet you outside." Kenzie told Jeff, taking note of the fact that Jeff was already dressed and prepped for the day.

"Ok kiddo but please don't take too long." Jeff said as Kenzie moved away from the counter. She began walking away but then she stopped and turned back around to face Jeff again.

"Oh and don't worry about making breakfast for the rest of the summer, I'll do that." Kenzie said and before Jeff could reply, Kenzie hurried off to get ready.

A little while later, Kenzie and Jeff had eaten their breakfast and enjoyed catching up even more as they watched the beach dwellers go about their activities. When they had had their fill of talking and people watching, they headed towards Jeff's bait shop.

The bait shop was a quaint little building and fit in nicely with the other businesses and it was interesting to Kenzie why her uncle wanted to open it rather than the cafe he had told her about when he first moved to Boca.

He told Kenzie that he saw how many food places there were and he saw just how popular they were and decided that he wanted something quieter, so he chose a bait shop since it was mainly all the older people that wanted to fish and do something that wasn't too crazy.

"I can see that." Kenzie said as she snacked on a pack of cool ranch doritos.

"It's a lot nicer and sure beats feeling panicked at how many people are demanding service and telling you that their food is too whatever and so on." Jeff explained. Kenzie nodded and sighed.

"How many people usually come here?" She asked.

"On a good day, probably about-" He started, trying to think of a reasonable number before Kenzie interrupted him.

"You have no idea do you?" She asked. Jeff chuckled and shook his head.

"Not in the slightest Kenz." He replied.

Kenzie was about to reply when the bell above the door opened and someone called out for her uncle.

"Be right out Simon." Jeff called as he set his snacks down on the table.

"I'll be back soon. Feel free to look around some more." Jeff told Kenzie as he stood up and walked out to greet Simon who was looking at the selection of fishing hooks.

"Thanks." She replied but she wasn't sure if Jeff heard her as he had disappeared around the corner.

While Jeff was out the front conversing with some customers, Kenzie wandered around the shop checking it out, hoping to find something to do but it was no use, there wasn't much to do. Well, she knew she could help Jeff and restock some shelves but since she didn't really know where things went yet, she decided to return to the room in the back of the shop.

She sat back at the table and pulled out her phone from her bag and it was there that she saw a missed call from Zarah.

Kenzie took a drink of her coke and then pressed Zarah's number to call her back.

"Meet any cute guys yet?" Zarah asked dramatically as she answered the device, making Kenzie burst out laughing.

"I've not been here long enough for that and besides, I'm in a place right now that only old people come to." Kenzie replied and Zarah chuckled.

"I heard that." Jeff called from the front as he grabbed some of the items that needed restocking.

Kenzie pulled the phone from her ear and leaned back in her chair so that she could make sure Jeff heard her more clearly.

"Sorry." She remarked goofily, making Jeff grumble in response.

"How is your uncle?" Zarah asked and Kenzie shrugged.

"He's good. Pretty much unchanged." She answered and Zarah hummed.

"How's spindles?" Kenzie asked, taking a sip of her soda.

"He's alright. I gave him a couple fresh flowers and now he's cleaning himself." Zarah replied.

"That's good. Thank you for looking after him for me." Kenzie said with a smile.

"You're welcome. It's been fun." Zarah replied before her mother called for her to come downstairs.

"Bummer, gotta go." Zarah announced and Kenzie grunted in annoyance playfully.

"Fine. I'll call you if I find anyone." Kenzie told her friend suggestively and Zarah laughed.

"You're damn right you will. I want every detail bro." She said.

"Bye." Kenzie replied as she and Zarah hung up.

Kenzie smiled to herself. She was glad that her bee was doing well and she was glad that Zarah seemed to be doing well too.

The girl went to put her phone back in her bag when something in a hidden corner of the room caught her eye...surfboards. Kenzie had no idea that her uncle knew how to surf and to her, knowing that Jeff could surf added a whole new level of cool to him.

She had always wanted to learn how to surf but living hours and hours away from the beach made it a little difficult....until now that was.

"Hey, uncle Jeff?" Kenzie called as she walked to the front of the shop in search of him.

"What's up Kenz?" He called back as he restocked the last set of shelves.

"Can you teach me how to surf?" Kenzie asked, full of hope.

Jeff looked at her unsure. He didn't know if Scott and Tracy would appreciate that. He knew that Tracy had always wanted to teach Kenzie to surf and he didn't want to take that from his sister.

"I don't know Kenz. Your mom wanted to teach you." Jeff told her.

"I know but that was two years ago and she's not here." Kenzie said, whining slightly.

"Tell you what, ask your mom tonight when you call her and if she says it's ok, we'll start first thing in the morning." Jeff suggested.

"Or, we could just surprise her and you teach me anyway." Kenzie tried but Jeff wasn't budging on this and Kenzie could see that so she gave Jeff her best and biggest puppy eyes, hoping that they would work in her favor.

"Don't use those things on me." He told her but Kenzie ignored him and kept doing it in the hopes that the puppy eyes would work their magic eventually.

"Kenz, stop. I said talk to your mom first." Jeff said as he walked over to the counter with Kenzie hot on his tail.

"Please? She's not going to find out." She tried one last time but the stern look from Jeff made her stop and huff.

"Fine." Kenzie mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance.

Later that night, Kenzie sat on the little couch in the compact living room in her granny flat picking at the skin around her nails as her mother spoke to her about what she and Scott had done on their first day.

"Alright missy, you've been more interested in your hands which is not normally like you so tell me what's on your mind." Tracy said, feeling irritated at Kenzie's lack of attention.

Kenzie dropped her hand in her lap and sighed.

"Uncle Jeff won't teach me to surf without talking to you first." Kenzie mumbled indignantly.

"Well I appreciate him wanting us to talk about it first but I really don't have any issue with you learning. I know it's something you've been wanting for a while." Tracy told her daughter.

"I told him that but he kept going on about how you wanted to teach me yourself and that he didn't want to hurt your feelings by going behind your back with it." Kenzie replied and Tracy nodded.

"Well I did want to teach you myself but you are at the beach so why not?" Tracy said, just as Jeff knocked on Kenzie's door.

"Just a sec mom." Kenzie said and Tracy smiled.

"Yes?" Kenzie called to Jeff.

The man opened the door and walked in with a plate of food for her. Kenzie looked at him the way she did that morning when she saw the blackened food.

"Don't worry, I didn't cook." Jeff said and Kenzie raised her brows at him and reluctantly took the plate he was holding out to her, not realizing what the plate had on it.

"Oh, it's leftover pizza." Kenzie said happily.

"I may not be able to cook but I can heat things up." He replied to the teen.

"Really Jeffery, pizza?" Tracy said, listening in on Kenzie and Jeff's exchange.

"What? She just got here. We were celebrating our reunion." He told his sister sassily.

"Just make sure she gets proper food as well." Tracy replied.

"Um, does a surf and turf breakfast wrap count as proper food?" Kenzie asked, thinking of the food they had consumed for breakfast.

"Surf and turf wraps for breakfast? Do I really want to know?" Tracy asked in reply.

"Oh that reminds me, I have a video to send you. It will explain the breakfast choice." Kenzie said as she placed her plate on the coffee table so that she could send the clip to her mom.

Almost instantly, Tracy got it and watched while Kenzie waited for her reaction and Jeff cringed at the thought of how stupid he looked jumping around like an idiot standing in a prickle patch with no shoes on.

"Good grief Jeffery." Tracy said through her laughter.

"Yeah yeah." He replied with an eyeroll.

Tracy's laughter continued for a few minutes before it died down and she could speak coherently again.

"So Jeff, Kenzie told me about the surfing thing." Tracy said.

Jeff looked at Kenzie who smiled goofily at him.

"You told me to talk to her about it and I did." Kenzie told him. He couldn't argue with that, he did tell her to talk to her mom and it was now clear that she had done just that..

"Good, I'm glad, but did she tell you she tried using those puppy eyes on me after I told her no?" Jeff asked.

"Kenzie, you know better than that." Tracy reprimanded and Kenzie's shoulders dropped while her eyes looked at her lap.

"I really wanted him to say yes though." Kenzie tried to defend but Tracy wasn't having it.

"I feel like I should say no now." The mother said and Kenzie's eyes shot back to the camera in pleading.

"Oh come on, that's not fair." Kenzie whined.

Jeff and Tracy looked at each other

"Come on sis, ease up. It's not that big of a deal." He told Tracy.

"Alright, fine. You can teach her but please send her back to me in one piece." Tracy teased. Kenzie beamed at this and Jeff let out a chuckle at his niece's reaction.

"Thanks mom, you're the best." Kenzie said before she and Jeff said their goodbyes to Tracy and Scott so that they could all get some well earned rest.

'My trusty journal friend,

I'm going to learn to surf......I'm beyond excited!

Ok, bye.

P.S: Even though I gave him a hard time today, uncle Jeff is still the cool uncle I remember.'

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