"I...I don't want to go..." I whispered as my guidance counselor apologized to me. I put my face in my hands, trying not to cry. All the kids....what was I going to tell them? They would be heartbroken...
I woke up with start from the dream I just had in which I told my Guidance Counselor what Emil had said. I rubbed my eyes, trying to figure out how I really felt about this.
At first, I felt horrified. All these kids needed to be adopted by someone and that someone couldn't be me. Then, I felt happy for some reason. Feeling happy should be the one thing I shouldn't be thinking of. If the kids didn't want to be adopted by anyone else other then me, I would get fired from my job, just like I did in the nightmare.
I had to do something.
"What's wrong, (Name)? Did we do something wrong?"
That's what I heard the whole day. I tried my best to push them away and it was breaking my heart to see their saddened faces. I would close my eyes and work up the best glare I could manage, then reply something to quiet them. I'm the worst person in the world right now.
I didn't hug them goodbye at the bus, just glared coldly. I yelled at them more that morning and snapped at The Troublesome Trio whenever they would set off a prank. I toke Arthur's and Lukas's spell books. I locked most of the toys away, much to Lily's dismay. Her green eyes filled with tears and she immediantely started sobbing. I even put Emil's puffin in a cage. In the middle of the day, I literally broke down crying in front of Emil because I felt so cruel.
No one talked during dinner. Even the usually cheerful ones were dead quiet. All of them stared at me with fearful looks. My glare had probably worn into a tired, washed out sad look.
There were no bed time stories at all, they all actually gathered into one of their rooms. I felt terrible. They were probably seeking comfort from each other.
I couldn't go to sleep that night, there was no way I could...
I woke up the next day, still feeling like the scum of the Earth. Slowly I got ready for the day. It was a Saturday so I guess I'll let the kids sleep in...
Was that pancakes I smelled?
I ran to the kitchen, wondering who was making breakfast but by the time I opened the door.
"Good Morning, (name)!" A chorus of voices cried. My eyes widened in surprise at the messy, flour covered children. A couple came up and hugged my legs. A few held up drawings that they had made for me.
"Wha..." I couldn't even finish my sentence. My mouth hung open as Arthur walked up to me, tugging at my shirt to get my attention.
"Do...do you like it? We must have done something wrong...because you were mad yesterday. Emil said you cried too. So we made this for you to say we're sorry. Are you still mad at us?" he asked.
I crouched down to their level, smoothing Arthur hair on his head before I kissed his forehead.
"No, I'm not." I tried not to cry while I spoke. "I'm sorry what I did yesterday too."
All of them happily cheered, embracing me in a group hug. I laughed, hugging and kissing all of their little cheeks. No. I would never try to be mean to them again. They were MY kids. I would find a way to make them really my kids soon, so that I could never be taken away from them.
"What is this?"
All the kids froze, looking up at the face that haunted me in my nightmares, who had told me I was fired.
There, by the doorway, stood Mr. Knozz. In his hand he held a picture that looked like it had been drawn by Feli. On the top it said: To Mommy.
