It was Friday night and the family gathered together to have dinner as usual. Leila took a quick glance at everyone. They were all busy eating.
"Tomorrow is a weekend and there's no school." Leila broke the silence. "Why don't we take Clark and Shirley to the amusement park? The kids study very hard all week. I think it's a perfect time to enjoy."
Melissa had no objections. She always agreed with Leila.
Sheryl also wanted to hang out with her kids but the thought that Leila and Melissa would join them made her feel sick. However, she couldn't think of any other reason to say no. Besides, it was not a big deal. So she also nodded.
Charles wouldn't make himself a wet blanket by refusing the proposal since everyone seemed to like this idea.
"Great! That's it then. We're all going to the amusement park tomorrow!" Leila announced, gazing at Charles lovingly. She felt proud that he agreed to her proposal. But, as usual, he ignored her.
All young and young at heart love amusement parks; Clark and Shirley were no exception. Upon hearing the plan, they jumped and cheered with joy. The unhappiness that the school work had brought them now disappeared and their gloomy hearts cleared up.
"Mom, I'll go to the park wearing my lovely new hat. Don't forget to remind me to bring it tomorrow!" Shirley hadn't stopped capering and clapping since she heard the decision. Now she was busy thinking what she should bring with her tomorrow.
"All right, all right! I promise." Sheryl was amused by her lovely little girl. She patted her hair tenderly and smiled.
"Please wake me up early. I don't want to be late." Shirley put on a wide smile and blinked at her mom, fluttering her long eyelashes, her big eyes filled with expectation.
Clark, who was sitting beside her, also grinned with excitement. 'Great! We can have a wonderful time tomorrow!' he thought.
"Okay! I'll knock on your door to wake you up before the sun rises, lazy piggy." Hearing Sheryl's words, Charles couldn't help laugh out loud. With the woman he loved and his adorable children around him, he felt so blessed.
"I'm not lazy piggy! Clark is!" Shirley yelled at Sheryl, pouting. She blushed as her father continued laughing. Embarrassed, Shirley covered her little face with her hands.
Clark sighed and pulled his sister's hair gently to get even.
It was already late, but the children were so excited that they couldn't fall asleep. They lied in their little beds with their eyes widely opened and kept chattering.
"I'll count to three, then you need to close your eyes and sleep. Or else, I won't take you to the park tomorrow," Sheryl threatened them. Sheryl had tried her best to put the kids to sleep for the last 30 minutes but failed. The children were too energetic to be put into bed. They ended up laughing and chatting instead.
"Okay, Mom. We'll sleep right now! Good night!" With this, Clark and Shirley pulled the quilt and closed their eyes. "Good night." Sheryl stood up and carefully walked towards the door. Holding the door knob, she took a quick look at the children before she closed the door, but saw them open their eyes again.
Sheryl felt amused. She walked back in, tucked the quilt around the children and left the room. It had been a while since she last saw the children this happy. There was no harm in letting them relax a little.
Sheryl had hardly closed the door when she heard the children's giggles again.
To everyone's disappointment, Charles got a phone call from the company, telling him that there was an emergency. Needless to say, he couldn't go to the amusement park with the children any more.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: His Real Wedded Bride