Um...Not much to say right now. XD Erm...enjoy? --
Sally placed the last of the plates along the table, every now and then glancing back and forth from the front door and back to all her children who now lined up to get into their seats for dinner. They each spoke vividly to one another with grins wide on their faces as they spoke of their day. Ever since they were able to speak with their father this morning, they had all been much happier then usual. Just knowing that their Daddy was alright, made them happy. Sally took her seat at the dinner table, throwing glances at the door again; waiting for her husband to enter with their new daughter. For a moment, she felt guilty. Not only for not knowing what she looks like, but also due to the fact her children had yet to learn about their new addition. She sighed; she and they would learn soon enough.
"Mommy," spoke one of her daughters, who was seated a few seats away from her.
Sally leaned over, smiling welcoming, "Yes, Polly?"
"Is Daddy coming home soon?" she spoke, pouting obviously.
Following her was a chorus of questions that all followed same substance as Polly's previous questions. Each of her daughters had spoke in a worried tone about their dear Father.
"Is he wunning late?"
"Yeah, is Dad coming home, tonight?"
"Where's Daddy?"
Sally wasn't sure how to respond all the girls. All she could do for this moment was stand and clap her hands to grab their attention, "Alright, settle down!"
They had gone quiet now at their Mother's words, and they cowered back into their seats, messing with the food on their plate. Sally sighed and slumped back into her seat. She took a sip of her water to cool herself down. Setting the cup back down, she glanced up to all 194 eyes. Across from her, she had noticed Jojo. He stared back at her with his black eyes, and slumped back in his seat before finishing off a piece of pork in his mouth. Still, he didn't speak, knowing that Sally would soon continue on and explain the matter when she pleased.
Sally did just as Jojo predicted, "Daddy's just running a little late, today… He had an important errand to run after work."
"Ewwand?" repeated Heady; she sat just beside Sally, with her sippy cup in hand.
Watching her youngest daughter, she had smiled, "Yes, errand. Girls," she began, then glanced to her son and continued, "Jojo...Daddy's bringing someone important with him, tonight."
"Someone important?"
"Who?"
"Yeah, Mom – who?"
Sally took a breath, she wasn't sure what to say. She barely knew the girl, and she wasn't sure if she could put her into correct terms. Taking a breath, she had began to speak, "Well, she's – "
The door opened wide with a creak, and all attention was aimed toward it.
"Daddy!"
"Dad, you're home!"
"Hey, Daddy!"
And sure enough, there was Ned. A number of the girls had bounded from their seats and gone over to their Father to greet him, properly. Ned had grinned; he seemed in a much happier mood then the previous evening. He leaned down to them, opening his arms wide for them, and a number of the girls had pounced onto him with a large hug. They giggled, happily, and Ned grinned. He always enjoyed coming home to see his little girls. He then glanced behind him, making sure of something and he stood. He stepped back from his daughters and backed up a bit to pull forward Melody, gently by the hand. She seemed timid and frightened, she even shook a bit as she glanced around to the number of Whos around her.
"Girls, this is Melody," Ned spoke, gently setting a hand on each of Melody's shoulders now as she stood in front of him meekly.
"Meelody?" questioned one of the girls in a sing song tone.
Ned had nodded, and knelt back down now so that he was closer to each of their levels, "She's your new sister."
"Sister?" spoke another.
"We got another sister?"
Ned had laughed gently and glanced to Sally now, who now came through the crowd of girls to reach Melody and Ned, "You haven't told them yet, have you?"
Sally laughed gently, and then shrugged with a smile visible on her lips, "I haven't gotten around to it, yet."
"Well, now's as good a time as any," Ned grinned and stood again. He motioned toward Melody now as he looked to Sally, "Sally, this is Melody, the girl I told you about."
Sally knelt down to Melody's level and smiled sincerely to her, "Nice to meet you. I think you'll fit in just fine here. You don't have to look so nervous."
Nonetheless, Melody could not help it. She was out of 'box' now, and she wasn't quite sure what to do. All eyes were on her, and, frankly, it was frightening her a bit. She took a breath to steady herself and nodded to her new Mother. She fidgeted in her spot now, but apparently, the rest of her 'sisters' were beginning to grasp the concept, and grins spread one by one along their faces. They each trotted over to her now, surrounding her at every corner.
"Hiya, I'm Hogey!"
"I'm Hooley!"
"I'm Hilda!"
"Polly!"
"Sue!"
And so and so forth; despite the fact there were ninety-six names to be called out, they managed to all be presented in less than five minutes. This stunt, to Melody, was an apparent accomplishment, and she stared in awe to all of them. Ninety-six sisters, she thought and she could not get over the undeniable contrast from was used to. Just this morning, she was an orphan, without a family and without a hope in life. Now, here she was with a father and mother, younger sisters, older sisters… The thought made her want to smile, but she was in too much of shock at this point to really comprehend this fact.
"Hey, J-Dawg!" spoke Ned now, grinning widely as he then had his eyes set on his son. He had not moved from the table, but had merely been continuing his dinner. At the sound of his Father's voice, he glanced to him and arched an eyebrow, "Aren't you gonna say 'Yo' to your new sis?"
Jojo glanced to him and then he met eyes with Melody. With a sigh, he flung himself from the table and wandered through the crowd of his sisters, until he had reached Melody. He looked to her. She was taller, but not by much. Still, he held out a hand and spoke simply to her, "Jojo."
Melody watched the hand, unsure. It held the same structure of his father's hand, she noticed, the way it was held, and how the fingers stretched apart as he offered it. She stared at it for a moment, but she soon noticed his impatience as she left him there with his hand open to her. So, with that, she had taken his hand and interlaced her fingers with it.
And she shook hands with her new older brother.
-- And so, Melody has been adopted. 8D