Welcome to Grake Hills

After hours of travel we finally arrived at my sister-in-law’s house. I was exhausted from spending so long sitting in the car. I’d have loved to have taken this trip by plane, in a few minutes we would have gotten here, but my wife has this thing with car trips and all the bonding that comes with it.
— We’re finally here! I’m gonna find Becky, dad! — Charlie shouted while she ran into the party.
Charlie was excited, it was her cousin’s twelfth birthday. They are almost the same age. My daughter will be twelve in a few days.
The wentall out on the decoration: colorful balloons everywhere and countless toys. The biggest attractions were a bounce house and unfortunately a clown. Oh how I hate clowns. All of it in just one backyard. What a huge house. There were more kids than I could count, most of them girls running around in shrill screaming. I had already lost Charlie in this ocean of kids energized by the amount of sugar available on a candy-full table. I spent some time interacting with a few mothers, nearly no one knew who I was.
— I thought you wouldn’t show up again. — Said Susan, my sister-in-law, while she greeted us with her beautiful smile.
— You know your sister and the importance of car rides. — Our laughter quickly stopped when Ellie appeared.
— Keep making fun of that. – she said with a fake smile and a punch in my stomach followed by a kiss. — I’m going to look for Charlie. Get our stuff out of the car and put them in our room. — she briefly greeted Susan and went out staring me down.
— Looks like someone’s getting scolded later! She’s getting more and more aggressive. - Susan smiled and gave me little taps on the shoulder.
— I don’t know how you two are sisters. Your parents did a terrible job distributing those genes. — I laughed.
Susan took her hand to her face after a really loud laugh. She pointed at a corner of the house:
— Go that way. It’s the quickest way and there are less people. Second floor, last door down the hall.