I did something that I have never done before, I rented a car. OK let me back up and explain why I rented a car. Several weeks ago, I felt like it was time to go home. I had a long weekend coming up and I realized that I was feeling a little home sick. So I did some research and realized that I could get a rental car for the weekend relatively cheap. Renting a car is very interesting, and I lot easier then you would expect. Well minus the whole having to go to the air port part. I got a better rate if I went to the air port Hertz location. So that is were I went.
The important part of weekend was not the renting of the car, although it did make me feel really grown up. The best part was that only my mum knew I was coming home. The rest of my family had no idea. So I drive into the drive way on Friday night and walk up to the back door. The eldest of my two brothers saw me through the window.
"Hello" I say loudly so he will turn around
"Hey" He says automatically and turns back to the conversation he is having with his friend... Then he turns back and stars at me. Like I'm a ghost or something never before seen on the planet. "Wait what are you doing home?" he finally says, while I open the back door laughing. He gives me a hug while I explain.
It turns out that no one else is home, just my one brother and his friend. So we work out how we are going to surprise the next people home (my sister and my other brother). First I drive the car out of sight and bring in my bags. Second I grab a beer and sit down on the couch (out of sight of the back door). While we wait we watch Top Gear (the original British version, not the horrible American want to be) and talk. Finally the car comes into the drive way.
The first person in is my little brother. He bounds right into the living room and sees me. He's eyes get big. I put my finger over my mouth telling him to be quiet, while my other brother and his friend start laughing. Then my sister comes in. She does not walk right into the living room, but rather stands in the doorway. My little brother is jumping in his seat with excitement. and trying not to laugh.
"What in the world is your problem" My sister says seriously, not seeing me. For a while she stands there trying to figure out whats going on. Then I laugh. She looks my way and is floored.
Then my parents get home. My mum walks right into the living room and smiles at me. My dad comes into the house. Grabs talks to my sister for a little while, who is trying to not give away the surprise. Then he walks out and sits on the back porch. So much for having him walk into the living room and seeing me sitting there. So I walk out side and say hello. My father did the opposite of the rest of the family. My Brothers and Sister make a huge deal, start asking questions, laughing. My dad, looks at me, slightly shocked, and says... nothing. In fact he was very quiet that whole night. I guess the surprise worked.
The best part of the whole trip was probably the surprised look on everyone's face Friday night. That made it all worth while. It was also a great weekend to go home. And a really busy weekend. Saturday night was a church dinner (chicken gravy and biscuit), Sunday was church and a shopping trip to the outlets, and Monday a 5k run in a down pour. If only the traffic coming back into Philly had been better. I've never had a traffic jam before the tunnel that lasted all the way into the city before. made my whole trip at least an hour longer. Now I just have to figure out how to get home for thanksgiving.
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