Five Shadows

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I hoped a shadow would be waiting for me when I got back to my apartment. Someone to give me advice about my dad. I remembered what I'd thought in Monique's chair. It seems like I've been surrounded by sage, shadowy advice lately. Maybe I should just tap into that. I called Morgan. Well, I called Abby, but had her put Morgan on the phone.

"Hi Morgan!"

"Hi Aunt, Nora! What do you think I'm doing right now?"

"Um, baking a cake?"

"No!"

"Doing jumping jacks?"

"No!"

"I give up! What are you doing?"

"Playing with play-dough!" she yelled into my ear, gleeful at my ignorance.

"Fun! Hey Morgan, I have a question for you." No answer. I could practically see her chubby little hands squishing the play-dough. "If you had a friend at school-"

"Sienna!"

"Okay, but Sienna made you really, really mad and you didn't talk to her for a long time. Then all of a sudden she wanted to move in with you. What would you do?"

"Would we share a room?" That was a valid question.

"No. I guess Sienna would sleep on the couch."

"Would I have to play with her?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Yes. She could live with me." I breathed out. "But there would be rules."

"Rules?"

"Like, if there's one muffin left, I get it. Aaaaaand... she'd have to make my bed for me every day. And she has to color with the broken crayons. I like the pointy ones. But she can have some of my cereal. That's okay."

"Your Marshy Mallows? That's really nice of you, Morgan."

"Well. She's still kind of my friend. Kind of."

"Morgan, you are very smart. Do you know that?"

"Yup! Bye!" The line went dead. I guess we were done talking then. I had a little explaining to do when Abby texted, "Did you tell Morgan that Sienna is moving in with us?!" but once that was smoothed over, I was able to marinate in what Morgan said. She may have some good points. But she was four. So I definitely needed a second opinion.