“Happy birthday Lucy,” Izzy said as her sister welcomed her into her home, giving her a hug. “I’m so pleased you’ve arrived. I’ve got the results of the early birthday gift you gave me from, Know Your Ancestry Origins. It’s fabulous.” Lucy pressed a sheet of paper into Izzy’s hands. “It’s fascinating, what a great gift to give someone. Thank you so much.” Lucy hugged her sister.
Smiling Lucy looked at the results.
“Would you like a drink Izzy?” Lucy asked.
“Em… yes, please, just a soft drink,” Izzy answered.
“Are you ok? you’re white as a sheet?” Izzy’s husband whispered to her.
Izzy looked around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard. “I did my own test, and when my result came through it shows I’m thirty- five percent Scandinavian with a mix of English, Scottish, Irish and others. That’s why I got Lucy a tin of pickled herrings, and a book on Hygge, as a joke,” she held up a gift bag.
“But according to Lucy’s results she’s forty percent Italian with a mix of English, Welsh and others,” Izzy answered once more searching the pages of the document Lucy handed her.
“Izzy,” Her mum welcomed her as she joined everyone in the lounge. “What a great gift to give your sister. I’ve never seen anything like it. However, did you think of the idea?”
“Someone at work got one, and I thought Lucy would enjoy it.” She studied her mother for some clue that would answer her confusion. None came.
“Well done, Izzy,” her dad said.
“Thanks Dad,” She hugged him, tight.
“Look at my new Italian handbag and shoes I’m embracing the Italian in me, and I’m going to draw up a family tree,” Lucy twirled to show off her new accessories.
“That’s nice,” Izzy answered wondering whether that would be a beautiful Italian lemon tree or whopping great Norwegian spruce.
“I must look out some old photos, and I can bring them round to yours tomorrow night when we celebrate your birthday Izzy. You were both such handfuls when you were babies with just a year and a day between you, just like twins everyone said. And always wanting the exact same thing and playing jokes on each other. Thank goodness you’ve outgrown that.”
“I can’t wait until tomorrow, so here is your gift from me. Happy birthday big sister.” Lucy cuddled her. She guided Izzy to an armchair and handed her a brightly coloured parcel.
Feeling sick and with a headache threatening, Izzy started ripping at the paper. A collection of numbered parcels tumbled out.
“You have to open them in order.” Lucy said
No longer in the mood for games, Izzy smiled weakly, not wishing to spoil the fun for everyone else. She opened the first parcel. Tickets to an Abba tribute night.
“Great, thank you.”
“Come on, get a move on.” Lucy threw another parcel at her.
Before long, all the parcels lay opened and scattered on the floor, and Izzy stared at an odd collection of items. The tickets, a woolly hat and gloves, a Stig Larson book, a box containing pastries and bacon, an Ikea voucher, and a statue of a mermaid from the children.
“Thank you,” Izzy answered. “Now can I help get the food organised?” She began to rise out of the chair.
“Oh Izzy, you really are distracted,” Lucy laughed.
Izzy looked at her, a puzzled expression on her face.
“Look at your gifts, really look at them.”
“I don’t understand why you’ve given Izzy a packet of Danish pastries and some bacon.” Mum offered her opinion.
Then the penny dropped. “They’re Scandinavian, aren’t they?” Izzy could barely breath.
“Yes, they are, and so are we.” Lucy reached into her new Italian handbag and lifted out a DNA chart. One that looked exactly like Izzy’s.
“But what about the one you had?” Izzy asked.
“I mocked one up. I suspected when you gave me the test kit as a present, you would do one for yourself and give me an appropriate or inappropriate gift.” She pointed to the bag with the herrings. “But the look on your face made me feel bad, and I couldn’t let you worry a moment longer. I’m sorry. It’s time for us to stop the tricks and grow up.”
“Oh Lucy, you have no idea. But you beat me fair and square, and don’t you dare grow up.” Izzy laughed. “Bacon for a birthday gift, that really is a first.” Izzy reached for a glass of prosecco. “To my wonderful and clever sister, who has been the bane of my life, but I wouldn’t change her for all the Danish pastries in the world.
Elizabeth McGinty, lives in Scotland, where she studied creative writing. She writes short stories, pocket novels and occasional poems for popular women’s magazines.
She has also had three Pocket Novels published by D.C Thomson, all of which have been subsequently published by Ulverscroft for their Linford Romance series and are available in public libraries.
She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and The Society of Authors and Scottish Association of Writers.
The Italian Connection : McGinty, Elizabeth: Amazon.co.uk: Books
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