Sunday Scribbling #290: My backyard

Boyfriend and I are in the car driving to Melbourne. He is going to meet my parents for the first time. I am not looking forward to the trip.
"Relax babe, everything will be okay," Boyfriend tells me reaching for my hand.
"Easy for you to say. Your parents are normal."
Boyfriend laughs. "How bad could they be?"

Eight hours later we arrive at my parents house. Boyfriend heads for the front door.
"No, not that way," I tell him. "Everyone will be in the backyard."
I open the back gate.
"Dad, what are doing?" I yell.
"Trimming the tree," Dad replies.
"It's not your tree. It's the neighbour's."
"It's in my backyard."
"One small branch only! You've practically cut their peach tree down," I yell.
"I'm pruning it," Dad says calmly watching me jump up and down.
"What's all that fuss," Mum yells from the kitchen window.
I huff and throw my hands up in the air in defeat. I turn to the kitchen window. Dad acknowledges Boyfriend's presence with a nod and resumes his pruning.
"Hi Mum."
"Goodness. We weren't expecting you so early. Are you hungry?" Mum shouts back from somewhere in the house. A few seconds later she is in the backyard. She gives me a brief hug. She sees Dad.
"What on earth are you doing?" she asks Dad.
Dad grunts in reply.
Mum grabs the hose and turns it on Dad.
"Hey!" he shouts.
"Go inside and get cleaned up. The kids will all be here soon."
Without missing a beat Mum turns to Boyfriend and gives him a hug.
"Welcome to the family," she says.

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