Chapter 2: An Opportunity
Ruthie ran into her room. She was so upset that she didn't even say goodbye to her guests. How could Martin move across the country? His life was here? She was here?
Ruthie had it etched in her mind that somehow she was going to get together with Martin. Even though everyone said that it was a silly fantasy, Ruthie thought it was plausible.
After she had cried her heart out, Ruthie quietly walked down the stairs. She thought being alone was too depressing. Being around people would be better for her self-esteem, even if that meant she had to hang out with her parents.
However, before Ruthie reached the kitchen, she started to hear her parents talking, but by the tone of their voices, they were talking about something serious.
"When do you think we should tell everyone?" Annie said.
"I don't know. It seems like the longer I put it off, the harder it'll be to tell them." Eric said.
"Well, we're obligated to tell them. I mean, they're bound to find out sooner or later." She insisted.
"And we will." He said soothing.
"I know it's just, I never thought this would happen, well not until it was just the two of us."
"It's practically the two of us. I mean we've got Matt, Marry, Lucy, and Simon out of the house. All we have is Ruthie and the twins."
"Despite who lives in our house, don't you think this will still impact everyone's life?" Annie declared.
Ruthie had enough. Her parents were talking intently, but they weren't talking the subject in hand. She marched down stairs and walked up to her parents.
"What will change everyone's life?" Ruthie asked permissibly.
Ruthie's parent did not say anything. They just looked at each other; they did not know what to say.
"You guys can't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about," Ruthie prosecuted, "… but I heard you two talking. What will change everyone's life?"
"Well," Eric spoke first, "I guess we're not exactly comfortable talking to you about it."
"Why not?" Ruthie demanded.
"Well, actually I guess what your father is trying to say is that we want to tell you with the rest of your brother and sisters." Annie clarified.
"With all seven of us," Ruthie laugh, "You think that you can get all of seven of us in the same room at the same time. That's impossible. Why can't you guys tell me?"
"Because we're afraid how you might react." Annie said.
"Well, I'm going to react the same way despite when you tell me. And you might as well test you news out on me, beside if I'm the worst reaction you'll have, then you'll already get it out of the way."
Ruthie's parent looked at each other, for she did make a good point.
"Okay." Eric declared.
"Why don't you sit down?" Annie suggested.
"Sure." Ruthie said in awe.
Reverend Camden took a deep breath and began, "I've helped so many people over the years and I've been at the church for just as long. There's been nothing but positive results for the community."
"Yes?" Ruthie said. She had no idea where her father was going with this, but by the tone of his voice Ruthie could tell that it was not heading in a good direction.
"I've been provided a great opportunity; an opportunity that would allow me to help different group people?"
"What kind of people? People with special needs or something?" Ruthie asked.
"No people who aren't exactly here?" He explained.
"I don't understand?" Ruthie said.
"I've been provided the opportunity to help people in Bloomfield New Jersey… I was actually…" He took a deep breath and said, "I was offer a job to be a new minister in Bloomfield.
"So does that mean?" Ruthie dreaded the words…
"We're moving."
