Searching For Hope

Chapter Eleven

"IT'S FINALLY CHRISTMAS!!! " I dash out of my room and head toward Lola's room. I bang on the door. "WAKE UP!! WAKE UP!! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!"

I run over to Derek's room and repeat the same thing.

"GET UP!!" I scream to Amanda.

I dash downstairs and race to the tree. "GUYS HURRY UP!!!" I scream.

They come down the stairs while we all stare at the presents wrapped in red and green wrapping paper. I run to the window that looks onto the backyard. "It's looks like a winter wonderland!" I exclaim.

After I said that, Amanda starts singing the song that was in my mind. "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening."

We all join along while hugging each other. "A beautiful sight, so happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland."

"OK, enough singing. LET'S OPEN OUR PRESENTS!" Derek screams.

We reach under the tree and grab our presents. "Make sure to get the small one first!" Amanda says.

"Three...ONE!" Derek teases.

I open up my present anyway. I peek inside. An envelope. Money? I rip open and pull out a slip of paper:

Dear Emerald,

We miss you so much! We have a surprise for you are the door! Go and open it with your siblings!

Love,

Mom and Dad

"Did you guys get a letter too? I got one saying that there is a present near the door." I ask.

"Me too! Let's go!" Lola and Derek say.

We walk over to the front door and open it. "MOMMY! DADDY!" Derek shouts and with a jolt of energy, he gives them a huge hug. "I'm so happy to see you!" Mom says as Dad gives him a tighter hug.

Me and Lola walk over too and give them a humongous hug. "We missed you so much! Are you feeling better?" I ask Mom.

"Ya, but I still have a lot of time left to heal. I actually wanted to talk to you about that." Mom answers.

We head toward the couch as Amanda gives them a hug too. "I'm so happy you could come and see them on Christmas! They missed you A BUNCH!" She says.

Mom and Dad chuckle and take a seat. "Well, Mom has to go back to the hospital in a couple of hours. She needs one last check-up that will last about a day. I'm so sorry but we wanted to see are little chipmunks before Christmas ended. Mom was just going through a tough time." Dad informs.

"Yes, yes I was. I also wanted to say sorry to you Emerald. That night, in the restaurant, I did not mean to yell at you like I did. I could not stop myself. When I was your age, I had anger issues and anxiety. The past few days, they seem to be coming back. The doctor said ever though I lost it for a short amount of time, I got it back and I may have it for the rest of my life. Yes, that is gonna be a HUGE transition but we can get through it!" Mom says.

"I sure think so," I say with enthusiasm.

"OK, goodness it's 9:30. We gotta go in 5 minutes. Here, open it." She thrusts the presents into our hands.

"Wow! A real live Dinosaur! Thanks Mom!" Derek exclaims.

"Aww, Mom you shouldn't have! This is such a pretty necklace thanks!" Lola thanks.

"Mom! It's awesome!" I say as I place yet another ring on my middle finger, "Now, I have three rings! Lola gave me one as a present too! Thank you so much!"

"No problemo!" She hugs us.

"Now my turn." Dad throws the presents at us.

"Hey!" I exclaim, "Oooo! A new phone cade! Pretty, thank you!" I say.

"You're welcome!" He answers as Derek and Lola open their presents.

After we finish up opening boxes, Mom and Dad leave with a hug and a kiss for us all.