The sun was just barely up when the taxi dropped me off. It had been a long time since I had come home. I had been volunteering in West Africa for a few years now and I haven't seen my family in a long time. I'm glad to be able to spend Christmas with them all again. As I approached the front door I saw someone looking through the window. I approach the front door and before I could knock it swings open.
There she was, ${sistername} , my sister. When I left she was still just a kid, it's hard to think she's a teenager now. She is taller but still about a head shorter than me. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she was still was still in a red and gray shirt and a pair of sweat pants that she presumably slept in. ${sistername} smiled brightly when she saw me in the doorway and I couldn't help, but smile back.
"I must have the wrong house," I say in a joking manner commenting on how much she's grown.
${sistername} laughs a little and points to herself exclaiming, "Sister," to identify herself to me.
I grin and put down my bag as she nearly jumps in my arms for a hug. "Oh, I really missed you so much," tells me.
We start to walk inside and it's clear that mom and dad aren't awake yet. My flight's arrival was late and I was supposed to be here last night. I take off my hat and we start to walk into the kitchen.
"They waited up all night for you, you know," ${sistername} tells me referring to our parents.
"It's a long way from West Africa," I reply to her.
That's when the smell hits me. From my family's simple black coffeepot was the sweet aroma of freshly brewed Folgers coffee. The red container next to the coffeepot confirmed it. I could tell the smell of Folgers medium roast coffee from anywhere. I have longed to have the sweet taste of Folgers for too long now. I leaned in to get a better whiff of Folgers signature roast that was kept fresh using the aroma-seal lid before it was brewed and I was in heaven.
"Ah, real coffee," I call out with a smile on my face.
I start to take off my jacket and ${sistername} grabs up two mugs. I pour us some coffee and I take a sip. Unbelievably the cup of Folgers brand coffee tastes even better than it smelled. I quickly drink half the cup and pour myself some more. ${sistername} sits on the countertop and stares at me. I look up at her as I pour.
"I brought you something from far away," I tell ${sistername} as I briefly put the cup down and go to grab her gift from my bag.
${sistername} face glows when I tell her that and she says, "Really?" with a little laugh.
I hand ${sistername} a little box with a red bow taped to the top of it. She looks at the box seemly appreciative of the gift. I take another sip of the heavenly Folgers coffee as a wave of ecstasy floods through me. ${sistername} looks back and forth from her gift and me before peeling off the bow and sticking it onto my shirt.
I laugh and ask her, "What are you doing?"
${sistername} looks me in the eyes and says, "Your my present this year."
I stare back at her for a bit as I feel the distance between us getting smaller. ${sistername} is leaning in and it looks like she wants to kiss me. However, my attention is drawn back to the cup of steamy coffee on the counter.