The Flower Girl

ELEVEN

"What's the news?!" I asked nervouslt.

Sarah stared and gave a half smile, "Well, I just got told that your parents have come out of therapy" My forehead wrinkled, what was therapy? Should I be happy? "Really?" I asked, not knowing what to say. "Yes! You and Tommy are going to see your parents!" I flinched. I didn't wanna see mama, or papa. 

Or did I?

Sarah seemed to catch on to my worry, "Don't worry, I heard that your parents got the help they really needed." She winked. I smiled. 

The next morning, I explained to Tommy we were going to see mama and papa. He asked questions, but I answered with phony answers. I knew Tommy was not ready for a conversation like this. 

We waited about two hours in some white office looking room. My leg bounced in either nervousness, or excitement. 

Sarah finally called us, "Tommy, Katherine! We are ready!" When we heard Sarah call our names, we knew it was time. We ran all through the hallway beating Sarah to the door.

"Now hold on a minute kids! We need to go with the officer first!" I frowned at that response. Officer Willow walked in, "Hey kids, how have ya'll been?" Neither of us answered. She laughed, "Alright follow me." 

We got into the back of her police car and when I asked where we were going, she looked at me through the rearview mirror, and just smiled.

Once again, I was at the police department with Tommy. Everybody looked busy. Shuffling papers. Typing on computers. Writing notes, I started to worry again.

We sat on the blue chairs at the main office. Tommy stared at the posters on the wall. His feet were dangling because he couldn't touch the floor. "Alright, in a few minutes I will take you both to your parent's house." I gulped, my throat dry. Did I want to go home? Was this all a big mistake?

"Alright, let's go!" Officer Willow said with a big smile. We followed.  

We got to his car and got in. "Okay kids, you ready to see your parents?" Officer Willow said excitedly. Tommy and I stayed silent. 

The ride was fun. Tommy and I played I spy. We spotted trees, dogs, cats, houses, and cars. It took about fifteen minutes until we were finally home.

It looked the same. Same brick house. Same bushes. Same garden. Same everything. I spotted mama and papa's cars. All the same. 

Everything seemed normal.

My neighbors were outside mowing the grass, but I knew they were just trying to see what was happening.

I held my breath when the officer knocked on the door. 

The door opened. I let out my breath. Momma. Papa. They looked different...a good different. Cleaner. Happier.

 I wonder what they both had to say to Tommy and I. Oh how I wanted to know.