Always Near

New Dad

"Listen, I never knew you existed, your mom and I would have gladly taken you in. If we knew you were alive with Shai here, we would have loved you just as much. Your mother and I, we thought you were a still born. We had no idea you were alive, and by the time you were healthy enough to come home, we didn't know about you. You were put in the foster system, and are adopted now," My dad explains.

"Actually, dad, she's not adopted, not yet. Maybe you and mom can try and fight for custody, I mean, she is old enough to just say 'I want to go with blank', right?" Shai asks.

"Well, yes, now that you say it, it is possible," He says thoughtfully.

"I don't know about you, but I think it's a great idea, right, Shay?" Shai looks at me now.

"Well, yeah. But wouldn't it get confusing? Two Shay's?" I ask.

"Maybe you can be referred to as Anne? My parents never call me Anne," Shai looks serious now.

"I mean, that could work, but does Shay want to be degraded to her middle name?" My dad asks.

"I would be fine with it, I mean, if I get to be called my own name sometimes?" I state, but very hushed.

"That would be fine. Here, lets call mom and see what she thinks," My dad says, grabbing his phone.

"Hey! You're that girl from the bus! You look like my sister!" The little boy looks up at me.

"Nathen! This is my sister, and yours too! Be nice!" Shai exclaims.

"Hi, Nathen," I whisper.

"Why are you so quiet?" Nathen asks, "Oh, no, I have another sister?"

"Yes, Nathen, you do. And, she can be quiet if she wants!" Shai tones her voice down, but stays in the shouting region.

"Sir yes sir!" Nathen shouts.

"Good!" Shai runs over to him and starts tickling him.

I giggle at the fact of siblings. I've never had them, so I find it funny, them play fighting. I can't stop the giggles once they come. I start tearing up and end up sitting down to control myself.

"Wait, you collect Cabbage Patch Kids too?" Shai looks over at me.

"Yeah, do you?" I look at her, knowing she does from her choice of words.

"Uh, no duh! I love them!" Shai exclaims.

"So do I!" I squeakily squeal.

I laugh and resume my thoughts. My dad is on the phone, talking away. I've never felt so close to my family before. Partly, it's because I didn't know they existed, secondly, I may love my foster family, but boy, would it be nice with my real family.

I look around, and notice the clock, it's already 2. I stand, and look at Shai. She looks so at peace, like she could stay there forever. I tap her shoulder.

"Yeah?" She looks at me.

"I have to go, it's 2, I'm gonna miss the bus," I tell her, in my normal, small, voice.

"Okay, well, I'll call you, or email you. Bye!" Shai exclaims.

I walk off, and feel a bit better. Finally, I might be home, with my real mom. I would be fine with living with my foster parents, but I would love meeting my mom. I would love if I could hold my own brother, and tell secrets to my twin sister. I love life right now, I wouldn't give it up for the world.

I spoke maybe a little bit too late.