Politely decline
Why did it have to be another wedding?
Re waited upstairs while her mother and sister got ready at their usual snail's pace. She never understood why they felt the need to primp and preen, especially when attending the wedding of a relative.
Nearly everyone there will have met us before and the rest won't have a reason to acknowledge our presence. It's not like we're a part of the wedding party.
With a shout from her other telling her to hurry up, she headed downstairs. Knowing the drill, she stood by the alarm keypad and waited for her family to get in the car so she could set the alarm.
One of these days one of them will learn how to type four freaking numbers into this thing.
Yeah shortly before the world ends.
After the alarm has been engaged, Re headed for the car and hopped in the backseat. She thought of how rarely they are all together now that her sister has graduated and relocated to Washington and she is off at college. Re considers why she can't manage to enjoy their company until their interactions are reduced to phone calls and emails.
"Don't forget you'll be shuttling people to the church grounds from the parking area," her mother told her in the rear view mirror.
Oh joy more mandatory human interaction.
"I know the drill. Greet, smile, drive, don't hit any trees or small children."
Her system turned to look, offering a look of embarrassment and astonishment, "What is wrong with you today?"
I don't want to spend my time making small talk and feigning interest in the lives of people who will no longer be interested in mine tomorrow.
"I don't like driving."
After they've arrived at the designated parking area Re parted from her mother and sister and heads to the shuttle bus she assumes she'll be driving. She passed groups of attendees headed to the already idling shuttle bus at the opposite end of the lot greeting the ones she recognized with a smile or wave.
I would who else got sucked into this job.
She racked her brain as she tried to think of someone else in the family who doesn't belong, someone she thinks like me. Coming up empty, she climbed into the cab and found the keys in the visor. She started up the engine and took off to make her first pick up. Once the doors opened a handful of people make take seats inside. She keeps her eyes on the dashboard, hands idling tracing over nobs and buttons attempting to avoid an unnecessarily interaction.
"What did you do to get stuck with this job?"
She looked up, excited to hear the voice of her favorite cousin Jack, "I admitted I didn't plan to wear heels and someone discovered I have the inability to say 'no' to simple requests."
"One of these days they will rue the day you were born", he says with a knowing smile.
"What makes you think you'll be safe?"
They laugh and she wondered if this today wouldn't be as tortuous as she thought. Jack made his way to a row of empty seats and it's only then that Re noticed he wasn't alone. A shock of silver hair caught her eye and she turned to see her cousin's friend. Not someone she'd met before, she took the opportunity to look at him. Silver hair coiffed up in the front, skater build, tall, with startling green eyes.
And now he's noticed me staring. Awesome. Great first impression.
She whirled around in the chair and without checking for any stragglers, closed the door and took off towards the church. Judging from the gasps and scuffling she heard, Re realized she probably should have warned to passengers before taking off.
Now I've stared at him and acted like a psychopath. How will he ever be able to resist me now?
They arrived at the church after a thankfully quiet ride. Jack disembarked waving.
"See you in there", he said with a smile.
Re waved, still to embarrassed to speak. I certainly hope not.
Re waited upstairs while her mother and sister got ready at their usual snail's pace. She never understood why they felt the need to primp and preen, especially when attending the wedding of a relative.
Nearly everyone there will have met us before and the rest won't have a reason to acknowledge our presence. It's not like we're a part of the wedding party.
With a shout from her other telling her to hurry up, she headed downstairs. Knowing the drill, she stood by the alarm keypad and waited for her family to get in the car so she could set the alarm.
One of these days one of them will learn how to type four freaking numbers into this thing.
Yeah shortly before the world ends.
After the alarm has been engaged, Re headed for the car and hopped in the backseat. She thought of how rarely they are all together now that her sister has graduated and relocated to Washington and she is off at college. Re considers why she can't manage to enjoy their company until their interactions are reduced to phone calls and emails.
"Don't forget you'll be shuttling people to the church grounds from the parking area," her mother told her in the rear view mirror.
Oh joy more mandatory human interaction.
"I know the drill. Greet, smile, drive, don't hit any trees or small children."
Her system turned to look, offering a look of embarrassment and astonishment, "What is wrong with you today?"
I don't want to spend my time making small talk and feigning interest in the lives of people who will no longer be interested in mine tomorrow.
"I don't like driving."
After they've arrived at the designated parking area Re parted from her mother and sister and heads to the shuttle bus she assumes she'll be driving. She passed groups of attendees headed to the already idling shuttle bus at the opposite end of the lot greeting the ones she recognized with a smile or wave.
I would who else got sucked into this job.
She racked her brain as she tried to think of someone else in the family who doesn't belong, someone she thinks like me. Coming up empty, she climbed into the cab and found the keys in the visor. She started up the engine and took off to make her first pick up. Once the doors opened a handful of people make take seats inside. She keeps her eyes on the dashboard, hands idling tracing over nobs and buttons attempting to avoid an unnecessarily interaction.
"What did you do to get stuck with this job?"
She looked up, excited to hear the voice of her favorite cousin Jack, "I admitted I didn't plan to wear heels and someone discovered I have the inability to say 'no' to simple requests."
"One of these days they will rue the day you were born", he says with a knowing smile.
"What makes you think you'll be safe?"
They laugh and she wondered if this today wouldn't be as tortuous as she thought. Jack made his way to a row of empty seats and it's only then that Re noticed he wasn't alone. A shock of silver hair caught her eye and she turned to see her cousin's friend. Not someone she'd met before, she took the opportunity to look at him. Silver hair coiffed up in the front, skater build, tall, with startling green eyes.
And now he's noticed me staring. Awesome. Great first impression.
She whirled around in the chair and without checking for any stragglers, closed the door and took off towards the church. Judging from the gasps and scuffling she heard, Re realized she probably should have warned to passengers before taking off.
Now I've stared at him and acted like a psychopath. How will he ever be able to resist me now?
They arrived at the church after a thankfully quiet ride. Jack disembarked waving.
"See you in there", he said with a smile.
Re waved, still to embarrassed to speak. I certainly hope not.