리틀팍스

 That day, Mom came home at 9:00. Super late. As soon as she arrived, she made a few calls. Then, she said, "There. I called the principal and your homeroom teacher to tell them you were moving." I gnawed on one of my fingernails. I did not want to be retold about the fact that we were moving.  

 "Mom?" I asked. "Can you reconsider your plans about this moving thing?" Mom sighed. "We discussed about this, Sweetie," she said in a tired voice. "We have to move. Do you know the biggest reason why I decided to move?" I took a wild guess. "Money?" 

"No, Mia, no," Mom said, shaking her head. "Your dad's recent death was as hard for me as it was for you. I couldn't forget anything about Robert. I sometimes even thought forgetting would be easier. But I couldn't. Every time I passed your dad's hospital building, which belongs to some lady now, tears filled my eyes. And do you think I didn't know about you accidentally entering the hospital building? Living here makes us sadder and makes us imprisoned in the past times. Moving to a new town and leading a new life would be better. For me. And for you."

 I bit my lip. My breath became rough and my nostrils flared. "How can you say that?" I demanded. "I won't forget about Dad no matter what, and I don't want to!" "Young lady," Mom said. I could see she was trying hard not to shout. "I do not like the tone of your voice." "I do not like the tone of your voice either!" I shouted angrily and stomped upstairs to my bedroom. "Young lady-"

 The next day I didn't dare talk to Mom. I just ate breakfast, got dressed, and headed off straight to school. Twelve days past like that. I did not want to make up with Mom.

 D-13. One day before the dumb moving day. I went to school without talking to Mom. When I arrived at school, I walked up the stairs and opened the door. I stepped inside when- "SURPRISE!" Mrs. Merling, our homeroom teacher, and all our classmates were there. Everyone was holding wrapped gifts with all size. There was a big banner on the back of the classroom. It read: Good Bye, Mia. We'll Miss You. in big, fat, black letters. Balloons were floating all around.

 "We planned a surprise good-bye party for you," Raye said, putting her hand on my shoulder. "Do you like it?" "Yeah! You guys are the best," I said, smiling. "It was Richie's idea," Mrs. Merling said. "You mean.. Richie Bellagio?" Mrs. Merling nodded. She pointed at a shy-looking Richie. 

 I blinked. I was surprised because he was the biggest, fattest, most disgusting bully in the whole solar system. "Hey, Mia," Richie said. "I'm sorry that I teased you. It was... well, you were kinda cute when you got angry. I'm sorry." My mouth dropped open. I remembered something Mom had told me: boys only tease you because they like you. It was actually right.

 "Now, it's present-opening time!" Mrs. Merling announced. "Mia, pick the first gift you are going to unwrap." The kids all looked at me. I randomly chose one and ripped open the paper. Inside was a Make-your-own-skeleton-kit. Ooh. It was cool. Very cool. Since my dad was a doctor, I was interested in those stuff since I was young. And only one person knew about it- Raye. I read the card. Surprisingly, it was from Richie.

Dear  Mia, 

 Hi, it's Richie. I know your interest in human bodies or stuff like that.  So I bought this. Hope you like it. Plus, I'm sorry that I teased you. I wish you wouldn't move.  Good bye.

Love, Richie

 P,S. This is my phone number- 595-4427-3812

 Love? Seriously? And why was he telling me his number? Maybe Richie did really like me after all. "This is from Richie," I said. "Thank you." The next present I opened was Allison Granger's. I got three mechanical pencils and a fountain pen. I also got a book(from Mina), a portrail of me(the work of Yoko, the best artist in out class), a pencil case(from Sophie), a dictionary(from Know-It-All Nathan), a coloring book(from Daphne), a whoopee cushion and a fake roach(thanks a lot, George), lip gloss and a friendship bracelet(from my BFF- Raye) and many other things. I was grateful.

 That night, when everything was ready for the move, I was doing homework when Leonardo suddenly shouted, "Mia, look! There's a shooting star! Make a wish! Quick!" Leonardo was right. I looked out in my bedroom window and saw a beautiful shooting star. I closed my eyes and made my wish. I wish I wouldn't move. Oh yeah, and it would be good if I could make up with Mom.

 But I knew that the first one wouldn't come true.