Episode 120: Maureen's Birthday (LONG Part)
A few weeks later. It's Monday afternoon, 2:38 p.m. Everyone wanted to get home from school and work as quickly as possible. Because today is Maureen's birthday. At home, Thornton was already waiting impatiently for Morgana and Sam to arrive. Maureen had been allowed to sleep in her parents' bed one last time the night before, while her father used the night to redecorate her bedroom. Now everything was finished.
There hadn't really been any guests at Sam's birthday party either, but that was more or less because he doesn't like large gatherings. "Hey, you didn't have to do without guests because of me," Sam said when he arrived last in the kitchen. "It's okay, honey. I already asked the other parents, but no one really had time. The main thing is that the family is together." Maureen was definitely the most excited about the birthday cake. "Food, food..." / "Hehe, here we go, sweetheart."
Maureen doesn't quite understand the point of blowing out the candles yet, but she'll understand it more and more in time. Right now, the little girl is perfectly happy. She has parents who love her very much and a big adopted brother she looks up to. "Come on, blow them out nicely, you're getting heavier,“/. "Hahaha, you're feeling a bit weak today, my darling.", Morgana joked. But even she knew that Maureen was no longer a small, light baby. The days when she was carried around were definitely over.
A little later. "Are you sure you can manage this huge thing, Maureen?" / "Yes, of course, I'm starving, we skipped lunch today." / "Oh dear, Thornton?" Morgana exclaimed, feigning mild alarm. "What is it? I was just doing some speech exercises with her, it somehow slipped my mind." / "It's alright. But don't eat so much cake, my sweetie, or you'll get a tummy ache." / "Okay, Mom. Can we go outside for a bit then , Sam?"
"Sure, but only if Mom lets us," said Sam, while someone glanced at Morgana. She nodded. "An hour of playing outside is okay, but then it's bedtime." / "I don't want to do much, I just want to pet the horse…" / "Hmm, okay." Maureen is an easy child. It might just be a little more difficult later in life, though, because she sometimes talks faster than she thinks. That could potentially lead to some awkward situations.
After the birthday dinner was over, Sam went outside with Maureen to grant her wish. A short whistle, and Leighton turned his attention. "Hey, look who's here…" The stallion was slightly irritated when he saw the girl standing next to Sam, but then he lifted his nose and recognized the familiar scent.
Leighton started moving forward with curiosity and slow steps, stopping close to the girl. Sam walked alongside him for a while. "He's not so big anymore." / "Hehe, he's still the same size as always. You're just not so small anymore, that's why he just seems that way to you." / "He has beautiful eyes. And I can really pet him?" / "Yes, of course, he's never bitten anyone. And you, just like everyone else, are family to him.".
Maureen cautiously extended her hand. The stallion sniffed it briefly and pressed his head against it. “Hehe, he likes me.” “Hnhn, yes, like I told you, he knows who’s family… Would you like to play something else?” “Mmm, oh no. What’s in there?” She gestured past him. “In the stable? Come with me, I’ll show you.”
Sam went with Maureen up the stairs that led from the lower part of the stable. "Oh, what's that?" / "This? A training dummy, so I can learn some martial arts techniques. It would be much better with a real person, of course, but the basics… um, I'm sure you don't really understand yet." / "To me, it looks like a clothes rack." Sam looked at his training dummy and burst out laughing. "Hahaha, Yeah, you're right about that.".
While the children spent a little more time in the barn, their laughter echoing outside, Thornton stood by the water trough the whole time. Eventually, Morgana joined him when he didn’t return to the house for a while. “Are you okay? You’re so quiet?” / “Our girl, she’s not little anymore. Now we have to keep an even closer eye on her to make sure she doesn’t get up to any mischief.” / “She’s never been up to any mischief, eh?”
Ee turned to his wife and nodded. “That’s true, of course… But I know how unstoppable children can be sometimes. I got up to my fair share of mischief as a kid, too.” Morgana smiled, knowing that her husband hadn't had a particularly good childhood because of his father and was therefore a bit of a rebel. "I can well imagine it. Perhaps she won't turn out to be a whirlwind like you, but will prefer to bury her nose in books, like I used to. Don't worry, besides, her big brother will keep an eye on her." / "They're not really siblings." Thornton looked at her seriously. "I know that."
When his serious expression didn't change, she asked him, sounding almost slightly worried. "What's really going on, huh?" / "Oh, nothing. I'm just realizing now how quickly time has passed since… all this happened. What if our daughter sees her… 'brother'… in a different light someday?" Morgana was beginning to understand what was troubling her husband. "Oh… THAT'S what you're worried about?"
Thornton took a deep breath and continued speaking calmly. "Well, she'll get to that age eventually, and then…"/ "Thornton, our girl, just had her birthday and has her first day of school tomorrow. And Sam treats her like a little sister, not any differently. And I don't think that's going to change… okay?"/ "Hmm, you're right. They were just… silly thoughts on my part. Should we send her to bed?"/ "Give them a little more time, the weather's lovely."
Later. Shortly after 9:00 p.m., the children were back in the house. Maureen hadn’t seen her own room in almost 24 hours. Thornton had gone to great lengths last night to rearrange it for you. "Thanks, Dad! It looks so great. I like the picture on the wall." / "I don't really believe in unicorns, but who knows…want try out your new bed?" / "Yes."
Maureen climbed onto the bed and tested it with her knees and hands. "Hmm, it's a bit hard." / "That'll change the more you lie in it. But don't jump on it, okay?" / "But maybe it'll get a little softer, hehe." Her father looked at her and couldn't help but smile a little. "I doubt it, hn." / "Well, okay, I'll don't jumping on it."
"Okay, then… You should probably get dressed in your pajamas soon… Should I read you another story?" / "No, not today, but maybe tomorrow?" Thornton looked at his daughter, a little surprised. Children almost always want a bedtime story. But he just nodded and smiled. "Well then… Good night." / "Good night, Dad."
For their standards, Morgana and her husband were in bed quite early today. It was only a simple birthday celebration, but they made good use of the time in the garden and with the children. "And, is she asleep?" / "I think she is now, yes. She's very happy with her new room." / "She's just not very demanding yet." / "Yes, not yet. Good night."
The day is drawing to a close, and an exciting time at school is about to begin for Maureen. Luckily, she doesn't have to go there alone in the mornings, but she does have to walk back alone in the afternoons. Fortunately, the school isn't far from home. And hopefully, despite her sometimes clumsy nature, Maureen will make lots of friends.
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