Adopted by Scarlett Johansson

21.

The week flew by and before Clara knew it, it was Saturday. Scarlett and Colin were both gone until late for work today and that meant Clara was home alone together with Rose for the first time. Scarlett had given her the responsibility of looking after Rose.

"Shall we play a game? Asked Rose. 'Yes of course! Just grab a game from the cupboard and I'll pour some drinks.' Said Clara. She walked to the kitchen and she poured two glasses of lemonade for her and Rose.

Clara put the glasses on the table and she sat down on the chair at the dining table. She picked up her glass. Rose came running up and clumsily she bumped into Clara with the game causing Clara to drop her glass and all the drink fell over her.

Startled, Rose jumped backwards. With her mouth open Clara looked down at her blouse "Are you all right Clarie? Asked Rose worriedly. 'Yes, I'm fine. I'm just going to get some other clothes.' Clara stood up and Rose followed her. 'Sorry Clarie.' Said Rose in a soft voice. 'It doesn't matter. Such things can happen.'

'But this was your favourite blouse, wasn't it?' Asked Rose. 'Yes it was but it doesn't matter Rosie.' Said Clara. 'I can put it in the wash for you. Mom only taught me how to do that.' Said Rose. 'If you like please.' They arrived in Clara's room and Clara grabbed a sweater from her closet. She took off her blouse and she gave it to Rose who then immediately ran to the washing machine.

Quickly Clara put on her sweater and she ran to Rose. "It's in the washing machine! Said Rose as Clara walked into the laundry room. 'Top. Shall we go and play a game then? ' Asked Clara. 'Yes! Enthusiastically Rose hopped downstairs and Clara ran after her.

For an hour Clara and Rose played board games together. They had an awful lot of fun together. Clara enjoyed spending so much time with Rose. Day by day their bond grew stronger.

'I'm going to take your sweater out of the wash. I think it's ready now.' Said Rose after a while. 'Oh no ya silly I'll just walk upstairs myself.' Replied Clara. 'No, I'm going to get myself done.' Before Clara could say anything else Rose walked out of the kitchen and Clara was left alone. Quickly she looked at her phone and she saw that she had a message from Scarlett. She opened the call. Scarlett asked if everything was going well. Clara replied that everything was fine and she put her phone away again.

"Clara?

Rose walked into the kitchen with her hands behind her back. Bored, she looked at Clara. 'What's the matter?' Asked Clara suspiciously. 'You're not going to like this.' Rose pulled a serious face. 'Rose, what have you done?' Clara jumped up from her chair. Rose pulled the blouse from behind her back. Clara's mouth fell open. Her blouse had shrunk.

'What! Clara stormed up to Rose and she pulled it out of her hands. 'It's shrunk.' Bitterly, she looked at the blouse. 'I'm so sorry Clarie.' Said Rose softly. Clara sighed. 'It's all right.' Somberly she stared ahead of her. 'When Mum gets home I'll ask her to buy you a new one.'

'I don't need a new one.' Said Clara. 'But you liked it so much, didn't you?' Inquiringly, Rose sat down on the chair next to Clara. 'Yes, but this was the first thing Scarlett ever bought me. I don't need a new blouse.' Clara got up and she walked out of the kitchen.

Rose was left alone. Siply she stared ahead of her until she suddenly had an idea. Rose grabbed the phone and she typed in Chris's number. Chris's number Scarlett had once written on a bill should they ever need him.

'It's Chris.' It sounded on the other end of the line. 'Hi Chris. You've reached Rose. Will you take me and Clara to the mall. Mom and Colin are away and we need an elevator.' Said Rose. 'Of course princess. I'll be there in twenty minutes.' Promised Chris. 'Yes. See you soon! Rose hung up and she ran to her room.

From under her bed she retrieved her piggy bank. Rose tipped her piggy bank empty. This had to be enough money for a new blouse! She put the money back in the money box. She picked up her school bag and put the money box in it. Then she walked to Clara's room.

'Clarie, get your coat and shoes. Chris is coming to pick us up.' Said Rose. 'What, why? Asked Clara. 'He asked if we wanted to go to the stores with him.' Sunk Rose. 'Oh. I'm not going with him.' Replied Clara. 'You have to come with us. Chris needs us.' Whined Rose. Clara sighed. 'Fine. I'll go with you.'