A rhythmic clacking echoed down the hallway as Karen descended the stairs.
"You're wearing heels?!" Jenny exclaimed from the dining room.
Karen paused on the last step, giving her best friend a wide-eyed look. "Oh, there you are. I thought I asked Miss Jenny to wake me up this morning."
Jenny put a hand on her hip. "And you don't think I tried calling you, Miss Karen?"
"Of course you did. That's why I can see so many missed calls on my phone, Miss Jenny." Karen smirked, pulling out her phone. "Oops, I forgot I placed my phone on airplane mode last night. That's why your calls never came through. If only you tried to…"
Jenny threw her hands up in exasperation. "Of course I did! I tried calling you so many times, and I remember telling you to turn your phone back from airplane mode yesterday before we went to bed."
"Yeah, girl, I totally forgot about it," Karen said, a sheepish look replacing her smirk. "I'm so sorry I blamed you for not calling me this morning."
"It's okay." Jenny shrugged, a grin spreading across her face. "I'm only glad that the evidence was found early and that it saved me a whole lot of explanations to do."
"Oh yeah, you're right." Karen laughed.
"Okay, back to my question…" Jenny's gaze dropped to Karen's feet. "The heels?"
Karen took a dramatic pose, striking a confident air. "It's because of the presentation, that's why."
"The presentation?"
"Yes, please," Karen replied.
"But you don't like wearing heels. What happened?" Jenny's brow furrowed in confusion.
"I'm practicing," Karen said, taking a wobbly step. "For my future modeling career, you know."
"Oh, that's a nice one there, Miss Karen." Jenny teased.
"Of course it is, Miss Jenny."
They both burst into laughter, the sound filling the room, but were suddenly interrupted by Jason, Karen's younger brother, who stood with a grin.
"Good morning, Miss Jenny," Jason said from behind, his voice bright.
"Good morning, my handsome knight in shining armor," Jenny replied, her voice turning sweet. "How are you doing today?"
"I am doing pretty well as you can see, my dearest Queen," Jason replied with a proud, exaggerated bow.
"Awn, that's so good to know, baby boy."
"Can you guys excuse my ears with this noise, please?" Karen interrupted, feigning annoyance.
Just then, her mother, Miss Aida, walked into the dining room, car keys in hand. "Okay, guys, we're set to go. Jenny, are you done with your breakfast?"
"Yes, Ma'am, I am."
"Okay, that's nice. Off we go then."
"Wait, what?" Karen asked, her eyes wide. "Jenny has had breakfast already?"
"Yes, princess," her mother said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "While you took almost the whole day getting dressed." She gestured toward the door. "Please, can we start heading out before we get into a traffic jam? We're already late."
"Sure, please," they all responded, heading out the door, the heels clacking a quick, frantic rhythm against the pavement as Karen rushed to catch up.