An Australian Love || A Robert Irwin Story

O N E

2015

Mari

This was it. This was the moment I would be part of a family. A real family.

The judge smiled before picking up her gavel. "Sanai Mari, do you want to be a formal member of this family?"

Nervously, I nodded and spoke, "I do."

"Sanai, would you like to come up here and make it official by using the gavel?" I shook my head no and shrunk in my seat.

The judge nodded, not pushing me any further before slamming the gavel and smiling more. "You are now officially an Adams."

2017
Mari

I was up later than I should've been. But it was a Friday night, so I was okay. Not having school the next day felt great. Jimmy Fallon has come on. I was about to turn the channel when a cute boy came on.

"Robert Irwin everybody!"

Irwin? As in Steve Irwin? I grabbed my iPad and googled him. He's 12, and has an older sister. Her name is Bindi and she's very pretty.

It was towards the end of the show, and he brought out a sloth.

"This is Valentino, a little eight pound baby sloth."

I guess I got caught up in staring at Robert that I hadn't notice my mom walk in my room.

"Sanai, it's way past your bedtime."

"Mom, I'm twelve. You said that after I turned ten I wouldn't have a set bedtime anymore."
She knew I was right so she switched the topic.

"So, what are you watching?" She looked at the screen, looked back at me and nodded. "Yeah go to bed. You have a crush and I do not want to hear about it at almost midnight."
Laughing, I hugged her and turned off my tv.

"I couldn't sleep, so I turned on the tv and Fallon was on," I yawned and snuggled in closer to my ladybug pillowpet. "Goodnight Mom." She leaned over and kissed my forehead before wishing me a goodnight.

2019

"It's the first day of high school. How do you feel?" I smiled, jumping up and down.

"Tired as shit. Who had the bright idea to make us wake up and catch the bus at dawn's ass crack?" We all laughed, yawning afterwards since Grace was telling the truth.

"Hey skippy long stockings, why do you have so much energy at," Tyler looked at his phone, "6:53 in the god damned morning?"

I smirked. "Because smartass, I drank 16 ounces of coffee." I pulled a coffee cup out of my bag.

"Babe, if you already drank one, why do you have another? And how much is in that one?"

"Justin, I suggest you choose your next words carefully. I have another 18 ounces of coffee, and you know how I get when I've had coffee."

"Crackhead, why do you think he asked?" My other best friend laughed. While he wasn't paying attention, I punched him in the gut. Jason groaned as he fell to the floor.

Justin stared at me, unsurprised. "Sanai, apologize." I shook my head, and he grabbed me by the throat, knowing it was a weakness of mine. "Babygirl I'm not going to ask you again. And remember our agreement; if you're good this week, you get a six pack." I rolled my eyes and smiled innocently.

"Add in a pack of pop tarts and you've got yourself a deal." He dropped his hand and before he could respond, the 5 minute bell rang. I kissed him on the cheek and disappeared into the crowd of almost two thousand kids. Jogging down the commons and into the science hall, my phone lost service right as my text message to Justin went through.