12 journey 2009
"Calm down, Mary, calm down. We're almost there, almost there."
"I can't, George. I feel like I'm going to give birth right here."
George glanced towards his neighbor, Lucas, who was filming at that very moment.
"Damn you, Lucas! Is this the time for jokes?"
"Calm down, George. It's a historic day. My wife gave birth yesterday, and now yours is. I have to film all of this!"
Mary yelled at Lucas. "I swear, when I'm done, I'm going to kill you, Lucas!"
Two families were sitting on the sofa watching the recording.
George, Mary, Lucas, and Sarah were watching the video and laughing. In the middle were two children: a boy named Ethan, George and Mary's son, and a girl named Lily, Lucas and Sarah's daughter. They were looking at each other in amazement at the video, while their parents were laughing.
"Well, it's getting late. We should go."
Lucas and Sarah got up, but Lily remained seated.
"Mom, I want to stay with Ethan for a little while."
"Okay, no problem. Let her stay, Lucas, and she'll come to your house tomorrow."
"Okay, we'll go now, but be polite, Lily."
"Okay, Dad," Lily said politely.
The parents went home, and Lily went upstairs with Ethan to his room.
"So, Ethan, what are we going to play today?"
"Let's finish that story we were working on."
"The one about a father's love for his beloved son?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Lily was surprised. "I just want to know where you got that story and idea from?"
"I don't know, Lily. I just thought of it. Come on, come on."
Ethan changed his tone to sound like a grown man.
"I'm going to marry her, son."
Then Ethan's voice returned to its normal tone.
"What do you mean you're going to marry the girl I love, Dad? Fathers sacrifice everything for their children."
"Not me, son. I've sacrificed a lot, but I won't sacrifice this one too."
"I hate you, Dad. She won't accept you. She'll reject you. She loves me."
Lily interrupted the imaginary conversation.
"Dad used to tell me that all fathers are willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, and you're saying a father would take his son's girlfriend's love? How is that possible?"
Then she slammed her fist on the bed like a lawyer.
"That story is fake!"
Ethan was furious that Lily had interrupted him.
"It's a fairy tale, you idiot! Why are you interrupting me?"
"Because fairy tales have to be realistic and logical. This one isn't. Let's think of another story. I'll make it up."
Mary entered her son's room.
"I heard a loud noise. What's going on, children?"
Lily asked, "Mrs. Mary, can a father love his son's girlfriend?"
Mary laughed at Lily's words. "That's unbelievable! A crazy, complicated father, my dear!"
She went to sit beside them to find out what they were talking about.
"Mom, I've made up a story and I'm building it out with Lego bricks."
"Miss Mary, it's about a father who loves his son's girlfriend."
"So what, Mom? It's something that could happen, isn't it?"
"No, dear, that could never happen."
"But I've seen in movies that they can sacrifice anything for the girls they love, and that father can fall in love with her and she with him."
"Well, my son, but the question is, does he love his son more or his son's girlfriend?"
"His son."
"Then, Ethan, he should sacrifice for his son."
"No, Mom, I still don't believe that."
"Well, you'll believe it tomorrow. Now go to sleep."
Mary took the Lego bricks and put them in Ethan's wardrobe and turned off the light.
"Goodnight." "Congratulations, little ones!"
"Just so you know, Mom, we're not little ones, we're 12 years old!"
"Okay, grown-ups."
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The school bell rang.
French class ended for the eleventh-grade students.
"Lily, Lily, Lily!"
Lily turned around and saw her friend Rose.
"Hi Rose, how are you?"
The girls hugged each other tightly.
"Where have you been? It's been so long!"
"Well, actually, there were a lot of problems at my house, Lily, so I couldn't come."
"I'm so sorry, Rose, so sorry!"
"It's okay, Rose, it's all over now. Actually, I'm having a party at my house. Do you want to come and celebrate a little?"
"Of course, of course, I'll come!"
"Wait a second, come with me."
Rose took Lily aside for a bit to ask her something.
"Can you tell Ethan?"
"Why don't you tell him?"
"Actually, I'm a little shy. I want you to tell him."
Lily was excited. "Ooooh, you sneaky girl! You have a crush on him!"
Then she joined in the fun, and the two girls laughed.
"Okay, I'll tell him tonight, trust me."
Rose hugged Lily. "Ooooh, thank you, sweetheart! I love you so, so, so much!"
"Me too, Rose. Well, I have to go now."
"Okay, okay, but don't forget, okay?"
"I promise I won't forget."