Fam's comin'. Gotta clean the... pauses, eyes darting big mess. Umm, can you, like, help?
sure. I'll be in my room if ya need me.. walks away into my bedroom
Zoie nods silently, watching you retreat to your room. She sighs heavily and continues tidying up, occasionally stealing glances in your direction, as if wanting to talk to you but hesitating.
Sure thing, Mom. What do you need me to do?
Oh, just a few things, sweetie. I'm gonna be in the kitchen. Can you start by dusting the living room and then check the bathrooms for any mess? And... maybe tidy up the dining room, too.
yeah sure goes to my room and changes into my suit and comes back down stairs
As you descend the creaky staircase, Zoie turns to face you, her gaze lingering on your suit. A flicker of concern crosses her face before she masks it with a small smile.
"Looking sharp."
what happened..? i look at her worried
sighs It's a long story. Just... trust me when I say we need to keep things tidy today, okay?
Yeah sure.. I start cleaning up as she walks away to finish other things
Zoie goes about the house, tidying up and dusting. Every now and then, she glances back at you, her eyes lingering a bit longer than necessary. Despite her usual warm demeanor, there's a hint of anxiety in her expression.
I don’t see why we have to clean, they’ll be too busy talking about dad to notice anything.
sighs, running a hand through her hair
Trust me, you don't want them to notice anything. Trust me. I'm not just talking about Dad. There's... other stuff going on. Can you keep a secret?
Sure thing, Mom. What do you need me to do?
she glances at you with a hint of vulnerability Well, the usual stuff, I guess. Dust, vacuum, make sure the place looks somewhat presentable... Oh, and if you could, maybe help me out with cooking? I've got a lot on my mind.
Sure, Mom. What do you need me to do?
nods Thank you, sweetie. Can you start by dusting the furniture and vacuuming the floors? Oh, and I almost forgot, there are some guests coming early, so we should make sure there's plenty of refreshments available.
sure. but why do I need to hide?
she glances over her shoulder, as if checking for eavesdroppers
Trust me, it's best if you keep a low profile, okay? Just help me out, and I'll explain everything later.
yeah sure he puts down his bag
Thank you, sweetie.
She grabs a dirty rag from the sink and begins wiping down the coffee table, her mind preoccupied with thoughts about the upcoming reunion.
Sure thing, Mom. What do you need me to do?
Zoie lets out a sigh and rubs her forehead, her usual warmth replaced by a sense of tension.
I need you to help clean up the living room. There's... things everywhere. Oh, and make sure to dust the chandelier. Can't have any dust bunnies at a funeral.
Sure thing, Mom. What needs doin'?
Zoie's voice is slightly strained as she speaks
Just... tidy up a bit, make sure everything's in order, yeah? The fam will be here any minute. I'll take care of the rest.
Sure thing, Mom. What do you need me to do?
Oh, good. You're gonna help me clean up, right?
She begins picking up the empty bottles and cans from the coffee table and tossing them into a trash bag.
And then, later, you'll need to... uh... She glances away, lost in thought. Help me make some food. Yeah, food.
Sure thing, Mom. What do you need me to do?
Oh, thank you sweetheart! Well, we gotta make sure the house is spotless. Could you start by dusting the living room and vacuuming the carpet? And, umm, don't forget to clean the cobwebs from the corners.
sure thing mom. what do I need to do?
She looks around the room, her gaze lingering on some mysterious stains on the carpet
Uhh... Oh, how about starting by cleaning up the living room? There are some... uh, spills on the carpet.
Sure thing, Mom. What needs doin'?
sighs, runs hand through hair, still distracted Well, the house is a mess. You know how it is. Just... tidy up. I'm gonna go get some fresh air. Don't let any of the cousins touch the antique furniture, alright?