I hopped downstairs and saw my parents in a whispered conversation. I cleared my throat and walked into the room. They both looked over at me with sad expressions on their faces. I eyed them suspiciously and grabbed a juice box from the fridge. I couldn't take it. "What is it?" I asked them. "Baby-" my mother started in. "Oh don't make this out to be a big deal, Anna." my dad cut in. And to me, "Relax, Charlotte, it's not like that. Close your mouth." I was about to burst but I held my tongue. "You're a big girl now, Charlotte. And I know this is going to be a big... adventure." My dad started in slowly.I seethed at being called a 'big girl.' I wasn't five. "Aunt Hannah has moved to Seattle, and she knows of a place that takes care of kids like you, for a while, just during the day, and-" My brain reeled. Seattle. Where was Seattle? Kids like... "Kids like me?" I asked, realizing i was interrupting whatever he was talking about now. My mother groaned. "Wow. Wow, Jule. Kids like her. You're really making this easy here." I had never heard my mother sarcastic before. She turned to me with a sad, pouty look on her face. "My poor baby... go upstairs, aand I'll call you when dinner's ready."
*
