“Mare, let’s go.” I am waiting by the door for her. She comes out in her polka-dot skirt, pink sweater, and two caps — one for the Celtics, one for the Bruins.
“Greta can wear the one she wants,” she says. “And I’m bringing my book and my toothbrush … do I need to bring a snack?”
“No, baby, Miss Ellie will have snacks.”
“Okay. I’m ready — oh, a picture of my sister.” She goes to the fridge and takes down the one of Ren gearing up for her first horse show.
“I’ll miss you, Ren,” she says to her sister. Renny crumbles and puts her arms around her. She walks us to the car.
“Goodbye, I love you, I’ll miss you,” Ren says as Mare buckles her seatbelt.
“Here, take dis, and nevah fahget me,” Ren says, digging in the dirt driveway for a rock. Mare takes it, looking deeply touched.
“I’ll never forget you, Ren,” she whispers. They embrace, weeping.
“I love you, bye-bye,” Ren sniffles. “I love you and I miss you and I’ll nevah fahget you.”
I finally have to start the car moving. Ren bangs on the door and I stop it.
“I love you Sissy! I LOVE YOU!”
“I love you too, REN!!” Mare shouts, blowing kisses through the door. Cute Husband finally comes to take Ren inside. When she gets there, she dissolves and she watches me drive Mare away, far away, all across town to her first overnight at Greta’s house.
“I can’t sleep without my sister,” she bawls.
“Sure you can,” Cute Husband says. “It’s spelled b-o-d-y p-i-l-l-o-w.”
Such love! I hope my girls will have such a relationship someday! Thanks for sharing Liz.
I love that!
The best is that Mare climbed into bed and propped her photo of Sissy up right next to her.. “where I can see it all night”. So cute.
How cute is that?
I don’t know what is going on in your house this evening … but I’m listening to Greta upstairs sobbing and saying “Maaaaaaary” over and over. I have already tried to comfort her three times, to no avail. Parting is such sweet sorrow.
There’s nothing like it. The love and devotion always outshines the catfights, dirty looks, tattling and torture. Sweet sisterhood.
I remember being sad when my sister went to Girl Scout camp- I was probably under 5. I’m fairly certain it wasn’t the first time she had spent the night away so I don’t know why I was sad. Maybe because she was going and I wasn’t?
The next time I was sad that she was leaving was when I was 14 and she moved to college. I didn’t realize until my parents picked me up that night that my sister was really gone and I was truly sad. We grew closer after that- no more bickering about me stealing her clothes or fighting for the phone. And after she turned 21 it was really cool cuz she bought me a bottle of Captain Morgan.
I wouldn’t trade my sister for anything. Even a bottle of Captain Morgan.
totally delicious. you can just picture what they’ll be like when they grow up. so, so sweet.
Awww. Almost makes me want to give the Toddler a sibling.
Almost.
If I could gestate one that sleeps through the night at 3 weeks.
And wants to spend his first year sitting in a bouncy chair.
And will change the kitty litter.
Nah, only child it is.