12 A Lump in My Throat

CHAPTER TWELVE A LUMP IN MY THROAT "HOW'S IT GOING?" Rosie said and handed me a takeout bag from Jethro's. "Really good," I answered. "Do you think you won't move now?" Simon asked and handed me a small paper bag. I knew there were chocolates inside. "I don't know," I said honestly. "Mom and Dad are remembering a bunch of nice stuff. Hummingbirds and bike rides and pizza-making. And, thanks to you guys, they're eating some of their favorite things from town."

"Molly!" Dad yelled from the kitchen. "Who's at the door?" "You better go!" Rosie said. And Simon said, "Good luck!" I brought the french fries and chocolates back to the kitchen. "It was Simon and Rosie again," I said, holding the bags behind my back. "They really helped me a lot." "They're good friends," Mom said. I just nodded because I got a lump in my throat when Mom said that. I thought about moving away from Rosie and Simon. And my eyes got watery too. "I smell something familiar," Dad said and sniffed at the air in an exaggerated way. "French fries? From

Jethro's?" "Right," I said and brought his bag of fries out. I decided just to give Mom her chocolates from Barbo Brothers, because that lump was still there. I couldn't make it go away. I didn't want to talk. I couldn't dry up my eyes either. And Mom and Dad noticed.

"Molly?" Mom asked and came closer. "Is something wrong?" I shook my head. "There is something wrong," Dad said. He came closer too. I had to tell them. I couldn't keep it in any longer. "I know what's going on." "You do?" Mom asked. "I heard you both Thursday morning," I said and sniffled. "I forgot my book report and had to run home to get it. I heard you talking upstairs while Mom was drying her hair." "You already know?" asked Dad. I nodded again. It was super hard to talk with that lump stuck in my throat.

"Well," Mom said. She was smiling a little bit— and I couldn't understand why. "What do you think about it?" "I like our house," I whispered past that lump. "I'll

miss Rosie and Simon so much. I don't want to move."