Lizzie Gets Siblings

There was once a little gator girl. Her name was Lizzie. Lizzie loved to roll around and snuggle in her warm blanket. This was mostly because gators are cold-blooded, which means they get cold really easily. Lizzie didn’t have many friends. She was still very little and only knew her daddy, her uncles, and her neighbor. They were all adults though and Lizzie wanted to meet people her age. She’d talk to her daddy about it all the time.

“Daddy, I want friends.”

“Lizzie, I am your friend.” Her father would say to her.

“But you’re my daddy and that doesn’t count.” Lizzie explained. Clearly her father could see her dilemma.

“Well, Sweet Pea.” Sweet Pea was the nickname Lizzie’s daddy had given her, because she was green. “Daddy is going to work, but there are some very needy children just like you, that are even more lonely.”

“How can that be?” Lizzie wondered, as she was always lonely when her daddy left for work, even though her uncles or the neighbor would watch after her.

“There are some children who don’t have a mommy or a daddy.” Her daddy explained.

“But then who gives them hugs and kisses?!” Lizzie was shocked to learn that there were other kids out there who didn’t have someone like her daddy.

“There are people that help take care of them, to make sure they are fed and warm. But they don’t have any parents until someone comes to adopt them.”

“Adopt them?”

“Yes. That’s when someone becomes a parent to a parent less child.” This was starting to make sense to our young gator but she still had a question.

“Daddy, could you adopt another kid?” Her daddy had a surprised look on his face and he took time to think before he answered.

“I could. Although I’m not sure if I should.”

“Why not?! You give me hugs and kisses. You make sure I stay warm, and you always tell me you love me. And even when you go to work you make sure someone is taking care of me until you come back.” Lizzie didn’t know why her daddy would think that he shouldn’t love a child. Especially when that child could become her new best friend.

“Lizzie, there are plenty of other people to take care of them. And I have you to worry about Sweet Pea.”

“But I want friends. And I want other kids to have a really nice daddy like you. And you’re the only daddy I know.”

“I promise Sweet Pea, I’ll think about it. And you remember that this wouldn’t make them your friends.”

“It wouldn’t?!” Lizzie was even more confused. How could she not be friends with a child that she was sharing her daddy with.

“It would mean you’re their sister.”

“Is that better than being their friend?””

“It can be. You’ll be annoyed by them, and I’m sure you’ll annoy them too. But you would grow to love them I’m sure.” Lizzie never thought about being a sister before. She wondered what it would be like. Her daddy kissed her goodbye thought and left her in the care of her uncle.

Later that day, her daddy had come home from work, and she heard voices that were different.

“Wow, this place is really nice.” One voice said.

“Yes, and if you like it, this can be your new home.” Her father said. Lizzie was curious so she poked her gator head around the corner and saw her daddy standing with two little elephants.

“Come on out Lizzie. I see you peeking.” Having been caught, Lizzie walked over and saw one elephant was a bit bigger than the other. Her daddy would explain that the bigger elephant was Ellie and that the smaller elephant was Meep.

“Why is your name Meep?” Lizzie asked he little elephant.

“Meep!” The little elephant said.

“That’s all she knows how to say.” Ellie said.

“Oh, that’s weird.” Lizzie said. After all it was weird that a little girl could only say one word.

“Meep!” Lizzie could tell that Meep did not like being called weird.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Meep crossed her arms and sat down, looking at Lizzie like she just pushed her. “I’m really really really sorry. I’ve just never met someone who can only say one word before.” Lizzie was telling the truth, but she didn’t want to upset the girl who could be her little sister.

“It’s okay. She gets mad a lot. What’s your name?” Lizzie was even more confused now because her daddy had just told them what her name was.

“My name is Lizzie. My daddy just told you that.” Ellie put her hands on her head and looked down.

“I’m sorry. I forget sometimes.” This was even more strange, because in all the stories her uncles told her, elephants were always good at remembering things. Her daddy knelt down between the two elephants.

“Lizzie, Ellie has a hard time remembering things and Meep has a hard time learning words. She’s only learned her name. Because of this, not a lot of parents have been open to adopting them.”

“What?! Why wouldn’t they be adopted?!”

“Because Sweet Pea, some parents aren’t able to help young children with these kinds of problems. But it doesn’t mean they are problems. I’ve decided to adopt them because I think I can help them. And I think you can help me help them.”

“How can I do that?” Lizzie had no idea how she could help Ellie remember things or how to help Meep talk.

“By being their sister. And loving them despite these flaws. Just like I’m sure they’ll grow to love you and help keep you warm.” Lizzie thought it would be nice to snuggle up to her sisters when it was really cold. “But I need you to all to get along if you’re going to be home here.”

“I can do that!” Ellie shouted, waving her arms excitedly. Lizzie thought this was cool, because it reminded her of how she liked to roll around when she was excited. Lizzie turned to Meep who was still on the floor but she was looking down this time.

“Meep, I really am sorry if I hurt your feelings. I do want to be your big sister. And I want to be Ellie’s little sister. I promise to snuggle you whenever you want.” This always worked when Lizzie was mad at Daddy. Who doesn’t love snuggles.

“Meep!” Meep turned away from Lizzie. Apparently Meep didn’t like snuggles.

“Meep, please give Lizzie a chance.” Ellie hugged her sister, even though Meep was squirming around a lot. “Please, please, please!” Meep looked at her big sister and then looked back at Lizzie.

“Meep.” Meep looked down and walked over to Lizzie, and gave her a quick hug, then walked back to daddy. “Meep meep meep meep.” Lizzie had no idea what Meep was saying but she could tell Meep was willing to try to be her sister. It seemed her daddy had learned to understand her new little sister already though. How did he do it?

“Thank you Meep. I can’t wait to start this new family with all of you. Now there will be days I won’t be home, but you’ll have each other and your new uncles to look after you.”

“Meep!” Ellie ran over and hugged her new daddy’s leg, Meep did the same. Lizzie didn’t understand why until Ellie spoke.

“You’re going to come back right? You’re not going to leave us.” Lizzie didn’t know why they would think their daddy would leave them. But she also wondered what may have happened to their daddy and mommy.

“I will always come back to you my little Elliephant. And you my little Meeper have nothing to worry about. We’re a family now, which means I won’t ever leave forever. I love you guys very much.” Lizzie liked that her new sisters already had nicknames. She ran into the group hug that was starting.

“I like having sisters.”