The Big Move In!

"Just one more box and I am all set Pepper!" I say as I lift my pet squirrel off the ground. I found her abandoned by my neighborhood park one day, and I just didn't have the heart to abandon her. In my lonely house, with just me and my dad—well mostly just me, since he is always out on business trips— Pepper became a great friend for me. It's almost as if she is a real sister to me.

I lift the final box filled with all of the small stuff I missed around the house while I was cleaning, and taped it shut. With a sigh, I look at the empty house once again, with a feeling of nostalgia. All those days where I ate dinner alone, came back home from school with no one to welcome me back, and most of all, feeling lonely on days that matter the most, everything is going to be different now.

Pepper licks the corner of my eyes from my shoulder, which I didn't notice were tearing up. I smile a little as my heart warms up. Suddenly the lyrics to "IF WE HAVE EACH OTHER" by Alec Benjamin starts playing.

"Oh someone's calling!"

I look at the caller ID on my cell-phone to see that it is my dad.

"Hey Dad, how are you?" I say, with a small smile on my face. Ever since he told Mrs. Rachel—his wife—about me, they decided it's best to combine both me and his true family all together. The thing is, I am actually not his real daughter. He adopted me ever since my real parents died after being tragically ill, and kept it a secret, as he was too afraid at the reaction of his enormous family about this situation. But, regardless of all that, Mr. Austen took me in as his own daughter and raised me as his own, secretly, regardless of having thirteen own children of his!

Yes! You heard it! He has thirteen children, all boys might I add. Now, I am going to be part of their very generous family. Gosh! I can't just express how excited I am to go from Ms. Lonely to Ms. Joint-Family!

"I am doing great Sana. How is your packing going? I hope you are almost ready?"

"Yes dad, I just packed the last box"

"That's great..." There's a small pause after he said that. I wonder what he is thinking?

"Sana ... are you okay with these sudden changes?" Oh? So that's what was worrying him.

"um..."

"Look, it's still not too late Sana! I could always..."

"No! Dad! That's not what I was thinking at all!" I say stopping him in his tracks; surprising him a little, "I am actually very happy for you... for us! I know you have always been honest with me, and I am happy that you finally got to tell Mrs. Rachel and everyone about me. I guess, I am just nervous to suddenly go into a huge family after being alone for so long!"

"I knew it.. I knew this was a bad idea! It's all. My fault that you are feeling these emotions, I- I should have done better" he says becoming entirely flustered. I chuckle a little at his reaction.

"Dad...Dad!" That makes him stop his ranting. "I can't wait dad... despite all these confusing emotions right now, I am actually very excited" I honestly express myself. It's true that I am afraid of all the sudden changes, and considering how I am the only girl apart from Mrs. Rachel in the house, it definitely is nerve-wracking. But, Dad doesn't need to know all that.

With that last assurance, my dad finally relaxes a little. "I am happy too sweetheart, you can finally meet all your brothers I have been talking about all this time, and, even if it's not the best, I know you will be happy more than anything"

"Thank you for everything Dad"

"I love you"

"Love you too!" with that I ended the call. I look towards Pepper, all curled up on top of the box in front of me, sleeping peacefully. I carefully pick up the box and take it to my car, that has the rest of my packages inside. Since I am living alone, Dad made sure I had a driver's license by the time I turned 16, so that it will be convenient to travel around by myself. Now, this is going to be the last day my car will see this driveway ever again.

"This is it Pepper!" I lock the house and sit inside the car, turning the engine on. I look back towards the small house once again, where 16 years of my life have been spent. It's hard to admit but, this small house was where I made some of the most wonderful memories with Dad and Pepper. But now, it's time to say goodbye to the old.

"Here starts our new life!"