“Cats don’t keep witches away!” she cries.
“But I thought in the movie?—”
“That’s Thackery, Daddy. He’s trying to be reunited with his sister.” She says the words with the disappointment only a second grader could muster.
“I guess I’ll have to watch it again. How’s school going?”
“It’s okay.” She shrugs. “Aunt Cass said I could go and read books in the third-grade class now if I want.”
“She did?” My aunt Cass teaches at the only elementary school in Eureka. “Why would she say that?”
“Because I already read all the books in the second-grade class!” Like it’s so obvious.
“Okay…” I realize I might need to have a chat with our aunt when we move Maddie out here. “I guess that’s a good thing?”
“Oh, yes, the third-grade books are thicker, and they have Junie B. Jones. Second-grade books are for babies.”
Squealing noises come from behind her, and she looks over her shoulder fast before turning to me again. She squirms in the chair, and I’m pretty good at knowing when she’s done talking.
“Do you want to go back and finish the movie with your aunts?”
She makes a cute, worried face. “I can talk to you some more.”
“It’s okay, baby. I just wanted to see your face and tell you I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daddy!” She leans forward as if she’ll kiss me through the camera, then drops back onto her butt again.
“Tell Ladybird goodnight…” I turn the phone, so she can see our dog on her bed.
“Goodnight, Ladybird!” Maddie yells in her small voice, which makes Ladybird emit a loudRooo!Which makes us both laugh.
“Maybe you and Aunt Heather can come here in a few weeks. Would you like that?” She nods her head so fast, I’m worried she’ll get a whiplash. “Okay, then. Give Aunt Heather the phone and go finish the movie.”
“I love you, Daddy!” she yells again, blowing me a kiss before shoving the phone at my sister.
“Love you, too.”
And with that, she’s gone.
Heather’s face appears, her nose curling with her smile. “She might not sleep tonight.”
“Or you’ll have a bed partner,” I chuckle. “How much candy has she had?”
“Aunt Cass made Rice Krispie Treats shaped like witches and black cats. She’s had about three of them.”
“Jeez, sis!” Air hisses through my teeth. “Give her some milk or something.”
“I’ve got it under control.”
“All right, well, have fun, and I’ll keep you posted about coming here.”
“We’re basically packed. Just say the word, and we can hop on a plane.”
“I’ll go ahead and get tickets for two weeks out. I should have found something by then.”
She nods, and I agree to email her the details. Tossing the phone onto my bed, I bend over to give Ladybird a paton the head. I took her out after dinner, so she should be set for the night.
I’m actually surprised she’s up here with me rather than down in the crate with Spanky, which she’s started doing over the last few days.
