Emma Meringue

Joe arrives at the house of his mother Nicole and stepfather Brandon to try out the drinks they’re making for their new coffee shop.

“Good lord.” Joe began as he drove up the hill to Brandon’s house. “Leave it to my mother to marry a man who lives on the house on haunted hill. I mean, dang they both are tall, but how much closer to the Lord can you get?” He joked while parking in the front yard. As walks in the house he is greeted by his sister Alex and his stepsister Emma. “What up milkdud?” Alex greets him while smacking him on his nearly bald head. “My blood pressure if you don’t leave me alone.” Joe replies sarcastically.

“What’s up bro?” Emma greets Joe from behind the kitchen counter. “What’s up youngin’.” Joe replies. “What are y’all back here tearin’ up?” He continues while watching the duo mix a bunch of drinks. “We’re just mixing all of our coffee recipes for the grand opening next week.” Emma replied.

“By the way, what’s the name of this new coffee shop y’all are opening? Young Peoples R Us?” Joe joked. “No.” Alex replied while throwing a cup at Joe. “It’s called “Milk and Honey.” “Sounds like a typical coffee shop, but I’d be willing to become a regular if y’all had more honeys and less milk. Preferably a cougar.” Joe added. “Joe Joe I can’t wait for mama and Brandon to get home so I can tell them everything you’ve been saying.” Alex exclaimed.

“I ain’t worried about that.” Joe shrugged off. “The jolly country giant aka Peggy might have a problem, but Brandon got my back, he always does. So what’s gonna be happening at the new shop? Are they actually letting y’all little children run the front register?”

“Why yes they are and we’re not that young, Joe. You’re just old.” Emma asserted. “You know, that might be.” Joe began. “What year were you born Emma?” “Well…I was born in 2005.” “GOODNESS GRACIOUS…YOU IS YOUNG!!!” Joe exaggerated. “In 2005 I listening to Lil Jon and doing the lean wit it rock wit it.” Emma then walked up to Joe with a cup of coffee in her hand that she just finished mixing.

“You know Joe. Since you love reminding me of how young I am and how extremely old you are-” “Hold up cuz, I ain’t that old.” Joe interrupted. “Is that so?” Emma asked. “Then why don’t you take a sip of some of my newly made Frappuccino with a special ingredient I call Emma Meringue. Trust me, you’ll like it. It’ll take you on a stroll down memory lane.” “Eh, why not?” Joe agreed while taking the cup and having a sip while Emma watched with a slight smile.

For the next five minutes Joe drank the rest of the Frappuccino while Emma watched him like a hawk making sure he finished it all. “Are you happy now? Joe asked while setting the empty cup down on the kitchen table. “As a matter of fact…I am.” Emma concluded with a mischievous smile. “Well good. You know that Emma Meringue wasn't half ba-” before Joe could finish he suddenly became dizzy and fell back, only he didn’t land on the floor of the house. He found himself sitting on the concrete of one of his childhood sidewalks.

He looked to his left and saw a sign that said “Ridgefield.” “Why the heck am I back here?” He thought. When Joe rose to his feet he realized his hair was longer. He had dreads and was a whole foot shorter. “Oh my gosh, I’m in my 12 year body again…in the year 2005.” He realized. “Did Emma send me back in time?” Joe asked himself. “How did she send me back-” before Joe could finish his friend victor and his older brother Chuck were both grabbing Joe by the shoulder and urging him to run.

“Come on, Joe before the bats catch us.” Victor yelled while dragging Joe behind him. “Wait a minute, I remember this.” Joe thinks quickly as he runs screaming for his life when he realizes he’s being chased by several bats on Halloween night with his friends. Before the bats catch him he suddenly opens his eyes and finds himself on the floor of the kitchen with Emma looking down at him with a mischievous smile once again.

“You…what was that?” He asked while rising to his feet. “Just a special brew of mines that will send you back to the old days anytime you feel like picking on me for being young again. “These 05’ kids are some nasty work.” Joe concluded as he ran out of the kitchen while Emma laughed.

~~Happy birthday to my stepsister Emma Meringue.