ials needed for the opening ceremony,

she turned on the lights in the living room, she noticed some activity

cartoon nightgown, with little stars awarded by he

left hand while holding a marker in her righ

Mommy to stay with you?" Cecilia had been too bu

causing trouble for her mother. Being born prematurely, she was light

a difficult child; even when she was sick,

s ago, in that dim bathroom, she had f

Alston refused to acknowledge her, and the

't want her daughter to be involved

med excitedly. "Has

wn and lifted Gladys from the small bed, but her g

es of Alston and Sandy se

e come from? And why w

's head

er teeth, frowning. "Our teacher in the neighboring class said that my

this seemingly insignificant question blew a huge hole in Cecil

ook at these things!" Cecilia took the magazine and thre

made on the magazine. Words like "Alston," "Cecilia," "Sandy,"

cilia to be so angry. Her big, rou

d not want Gladys anymore?" Gladys's voice trembled as tears streame

eyes wel

hem up in the dictionary. If she hadn't stumbled upon it

hurting her, so she qu

Gladys too. Daddy would never not want Mom," Cecilia comforted as she placed her bac

"Then why doesn't Daddy come to see

as choked

er Gladys was born, she had been living here with her.

er children, also had a father. It's just that her father was different from other

hild, but now, Gladys was get

very day after work, very late at night. But Gladys is already asleep

"Mom, is what

rd to buy a big house for Mom and buy lots of pretty clothes for you. Ot

to school when he's free? Gladys wants to show her classmates that she has a Daddy, tha

a chok

ugged at her sleeve, lo

me, Mom will ask him to take Gladys to school. It's

excitedly, then burrowed into her blanke

o accompany her, she just said "good night" and turned o

he names on her phone's contact list for a l

get

take Glady

she even

ream

ht as well help Gladys t

ssing and turning in bed, unable to

row, and I might be busy until late. Can y

iately agr

ri

on the other end of the phone, then Erin continued, "I saw the magazin

t Alston and Sandy or any other women, but now that Gladys knows about this, when you pick up Gladys f

In my opinion, why don't you talk to Alston about what happened

.

ned silent fo

I'll find out. But Cecilia, I don't want what happened three years ago to happen again. If Alston is still b

ka

still be someone who likes you," Erin said, trying to cheer Cecilia up. "In

ecoming serious. "What nonsense are y

t's just to show Alston that the wife he thinks i

nd I don't have the kind of r

chance to continue; she h