CHAPTER TEN
(chapter title-Girls Points of Views)
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MAUREEN'S POV
I can't believe that Hannah would run away like that. I don't know what to do with her - I could lock her in her room - no, because then she would hate me even more. I really don't know what to do. At least she's with Mark and them, so I know she's in good hands. When she comes back at 5, she is so grounded for running away. What is a woman to do with a twelve year old? In two months, she and Anna are gonna be 13, John and Eileen are gonna be 14 and then after them, Jules will be 14. These kids sure do grow up fast.
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ANNA'S POV
Why would Hannah run out like that? She's my sister, for goodness sake! Why not take me with her. I know why - mom said that she just wanted to be by herself. She has been wanted to be by herself since Uncle Collins passed away. She and Eileen sometimes hang out together, which is fine with Jules and me because the two of us are like sisters. We can share our secrets and not tell anyone about them. I'm glad that I have her for a friend.
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HANNAH'S POV
Why can't mom understand that I want to be by myself for a while instead of listening to her dumb protests? It's like - I really don't know how to explain it. I just wish Uncle Collins was still alive. Whenever I would feel sad, he always knew what to do to cheer me up. I loved it when he would tell me about Aunt Angel. I absolutely loved it when he would tell me the story about how they met. I also loved it when he told me stories about Aunt Mimi. Anna and I were eleven when she died. Jules, John and Eileen were twelve. Aunt Mimi was never the same after she had Jules. She was always so weak - I could never understand why. Uncle Roger had said Aunt Mimi was so weak because she had a disease called HIV. I knew that Aunt Angel had died from complications from AIDS. Uncle Collins, Uncle Roger and Aunt Mimi had HIV. I guess life just goes on. Us kids just have to understand that.
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JULES' POV
Dad and I have formed a really special bond ever since mom died. He's so supportive, sweet, sensitive, a wonderful singer. The list goes on for miles, but I can always say that he has always been there for me - whether it be a school play or whatever. I will always love him, no matter what happens.
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EILEEN'S POV
Ever since my dad died and both Uncle Roger and Uncle Mark had taken me under their roof, life has been treating me okay. I'm on the soccer team, the school newspaper, tech crew for the winter play and in various clubs - including the Spanish and Drama Clubs. Uncle Roger has told me to stop calling him 'uncle' and start calling him 'dad'. I don't think Jules could be more excited about us becoming sisters - once aunt Joanne helps uncle Roger fill out and complete the adoption papers. I can't wait to be Jules' sister - well adopted sister, but still.
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JOANNE'S POV
It's hard being a mom. The girls didn't come with a manual, telling us how to raise them. Maureen was so tired after she gave birth to Hannah, but I was so proud of her. I was holding Anna, who looks exactly like me. After the nurse got Hannah cleaned up, weighed, measured and into a baby sized hospital gown, she handed Hannah to Maureen. Maureen just beamed as I handed Anna to her so that I could go tell Collins, Eileen, Mark, John, Roger, Jules and Mimi that they could visit. Since John, Jules and Eileen weren't old enough to come to visit Anna and Hannah, a woman named Stacy offered to watch them. I led the adults to the room, looking back every so often to see if they were still following me. As soon as we entered the room, I checked to see how Maureen, Anna and Hannah were doing. Everyone fussed over the babies and congratulated Maureen and I. We just smiled as Collins and Roger asked if they could hold Hannah and Anna. I carefully took Anna from Maureen and handed her to Roger while Maureen handed Hannah to Collins. Both men gently talked to the babies as Mark pulled out his camera and filmed them, Maureen and I. I will never forget that day as long as I live.