Crystal Trino's Journal Sep 14 2006 Entry

September 14. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

My big sister has to know I hate to be sitting around doing nothing. So when the Skype bell clamored up from my laptop’s tinny speakers this morning I scrambled to plug in my headset even as my mind wondered if it was Carmen or Casey.

"What are you doing up?" Sisi asked.

"Grinding through some fresh designs for a couple of new clients. I needed some caffeination-inspiration. How about you, Carm?"

"Packing," she said routinely. "We’re coming home."

I slapped my cup of Haitian Bleu Voodoo to the floor as my hands burst up and away from the keyboard in a double-fisted victory salute. Fortunately, nobody was sitting near enough to hear as I let out a war hoop she could’ve heard in Tokyo without the internet phone.

"When?"

"About a month.

A sudden terror fastened itself around my neck. "Did Percy get let go?"

"No. Better. He’s turned his division around. Sales are up 50%. His Japan manager is squealing over Percy’s leaving, but the big boys back in corporate in New York are screaming louder, and their voices are a bit closer to the CEO."

"Don’t you have people living in your house?"

"The tenants have a year lease, but there’s a clause in it that states we can give them two months notice if we are reassigned back to the States. Benefits of marrying a lawyer, you know. We may be in temp quarters for a while, but I don’t care. I’d just about winter in a tent at this point," she said.

"Maybe you Siriso’s can swing through Egypt en route," I suggested.

She laughed. "As usual, Casey’s ahead of us both when it comes to travel. She’s arranged a two day stopover at Narita on her way up from Noumea. It’s one of her usual roundabout routings."

"First class, I’ll bet."

"That’s our girl," Sisi said.

"Yep, and I’m afraid Cora is going to imitate her. All she can talk about is Egypt and Auntie Casey and why can’t we go to live there, Mommy? And when is Auntie Casey coming back to Japan to bring me some more jewelry?"

I pulled my face and voice into a faux-pout. "What, Cor doesn’t want to work on designs at oh-dark-thirty like her Auntie Crystal? I’m shattered."

"Yeah, I can feel the cuts from the ground glass all the way over here. Look, I need to go. Still need to call the folks. Only reason I let the cat out of the bag with Casey before you was because she and I were IM’ing when Percy came home an hour ago and told me."

"OK, just make sure you let me know once you call Mom so I don’t accidentally steal your thunder."

"You got it," she said.

"Love you, Carm."

"I love you back. Can’t wait until I squeeze the breath out of you, Crystal. You better be there in New York to help us unpack. Bye."

I wouldn’t miss it, J. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Goodnight, Journey