When It Rains: The Umbrella Collection Read Online Free PDF

until the rest was ready.  
    The doorbell rang and I cupped my hands around my mouth to elevate my sound and yelled, “We’re outback!” Mike sitting beside me inched his body a little to his right to get farther away from my piercing voice and held his ear.   A few seconds later, Skylar and Scott walked up alongside the house.  Skylar with her long brown hair blowing in the wind and wearing a blue sundress and brown cowboy boots, was holding a tray of my favorite Red Velvet Cupcakes.  Scott, whose skin was sun-kissed from his trip to Hawaii, was carrying a case of beer with a red wrapped present sitting on top of it, was in stride with Skylar.
    They both got closer and wished me a happy birthday as they placed everything down on the table.   Scott was tanner up close than he was from afar.  When they got comfortable, Scott told us all about his amazing trip and how the kids really loved painting on the beach. Skylar sat mesmerized by his words as he recounted each activity he did with them.  
    John exited the house, after showering when he came home from work, with a beer in hand and started yelling at Alex about what he was doing wrong at the grill.   John is the designated griller of the family.  This is his duty when we have a get together and, for some reason, his food always tastes better than everyone else’s.  He pushed Alex aside and took over and we all clapped with enthusiasm at Alex’s demotion.  Alex sheepishly walked to the table and sat down with the rest of us as the doorbell rang once again and Pops got up to go answer it.  When he came out through the doors again there was a lady right behind him.  She was wearing an ivory wrap dress and a brown floppy hat with platform heels.  She was Pops age, but it was very obvious that she was trying to fight that fact due to the amount of makeup she slopped on her face and the amount of Botox that was injected into her forehead. I noticed it right away when her forehead didn’t move when she got close enough for an inspection.  Pops introduced us all to her as Sarah a receptionist at his Doctor’s office.  She was nice, but had the highest pitched voice I have ever heard, to the point that I dreaded even the thought of being stuck in that office she worked in.
    In no time at all, John had the food perfectly cooked and we were stuffing our faces with the juicy burgers and hotdogs along with french fries, macaroni and potato salad.   Most everyone got up to bring in the dirty dishes and leftover foods.  I did not; it was my birthday.  I wasn’t moving.  Hey, I do the same for them.  When they came back out, Mike was carrying a square present and Pops had one of his own in his hands. 
    “Here you go.   We all pitched in for this, so you better like it,” Mike said as he handed me the square pink and white striped present that I quickly unwrapped unveiling a brand spanking new laptop.
      “Oh my God!  Thank you so much!” and I got up to give everyone a bear hug during my happiness.  Any signs of positive emotions are usually not outwardly expressed by me, so when it happens you better like and cherish it. 
    Next, Skylar leaned over the table and placed the red present in front of me.   “Here.  It’s from me and Scott.”
    I opened it and gasped. It was ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ book and movie. “This is the best present EVER!  Well, tied for the best, or course.  This and the computer,” I said as I looked around with an over exaggerated smile trying to satisfy everyone.  Skylar leaned back with an accomplished grin and Scott put his arm around her. 
    Pops picked up the long package that he had carried out and handed it to me, “One last thing.”
    By the shape of it, I knew what it was. “Oooh, I’m guessing my collection will be getting bigger,” I guessed and then I began to untangle the mess that was surrounding it.  Even though, Pops has given me these as presents for ages, he still