Her little jaw was set in determination. "I hate this family! I am going to move to my navers!"
A few moments previous, we had just forbidden her from eating Pocky for breakfast.
"Oh Emi, but we would be so sad if you moved to our neighbor's house!"
"I'll be sad too, but I need a new family."
"But did you ask Mr. Scott for permission yet? How do you know he'll take you in?"
"He will. And HE will be my NEW DAD, and I won't have a mom or a brother. Any. More. You guys yell at me. Hmph!"
"Awww! Well, I'll leave the decision to you." I gave her a hug of reluctant goodbye.
Emi, still clad in her pajamas, asked for a box so she could start packing. I handed her our Trader Joe's cooler bag. She immediately started filling it with her favorite pair of ruby mary janes, some stuffed animals, a rain jacket, crayons, two pairs of socks, and construction paper.
She spent the next couple hours drawing pictures of her new family, just Mr. Scott and herself, with his two Jack Russells. She drew a mom figure and put a big red X through her, as well as two X-ed out chickens.
"Emi, I guess it's time to have lunch one last time as a family."
"Okay, Mom."
We ate at a boba cafe, and throughout the meal, Emi seemed very contemplative. She seemed to be savoring her last moments with us in a wistful way, when I hugged her again and said, "I'm going to miss you so much, you know." Emi looked into my eyes and tried to stick to her guns.
"Well, I guess I can leave tomorrow."
"Oh, wow! Awesome!"
The rest of the day passed at an old friend's house, visiting her new baby. As we arrived back home, Emi snuggled on my lap before bedtime. She again mentioned leaving the next day, I think lamenting on all the packing she had left to do, and I just couldn't help myself.
"Oh Emi, I really wish you would stay. I promise I'll be a better mama."
Her eyes filled with tears. "I promise I'll be better, too! I'll stay!"
And we both dissolved into a pile of cuddles and tears.
The males of the family looked up from their iPad gaming in confusion. I demanded a family hug because Emi is has decided to stay.
Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster, we are SO in for it when she gets older.
