Little Em'ly

Dear Oma and Tante,

Big Sisser is a girl in love.

With her cousin.

Whose name is Emily.

Sister asks lots of questions about Emily. All day long it sounds like this:

“When will Emily be here? Where is Emily? Why does Emily have to fly? Will Emily be sad that I have an owie? Will Emily kiss my owie? Why isn’t Emily here? I want to sit next to Emily. I want to be with Emily. How long will Emily stay? Why does Emily have to go back to Indiana? When will Emily be back? When will Emily be here? Where is Emily? Why does Emily have to fly? Will Emily be sad that I have an owie? Will Emily kiss my owie? Why isn’t Emily here? I want to sit next to Emily. I want to be with Emily. How long will Emily stay? Why does Emily have to go back to Indiana? When will Emily be back? When will Emily be here? Where is Emily? Why does Emily have to fly? Will Emily be sad that I have an owie? Will Emily kiss my owie? Why isn’t Emily here? I want to sit next to Emily. I want to be with Emily. How long will Emily stay? Why does Emily have to go back to Indiana? When will Emily be back? When will Emily be here? Where is Emily? Why does Emily have to fly? Will Emily be sad that I have an owie? Will Emily kiss my owie? Why isn’t Emily here? I want to sit next to Emily. I want to be with Emily. How long with Emily stay? Why does Emily have to go back to Indiana? When will Emily be back?”

Mama has to answer every one of those questions every time or else Sabrina repeats it louder and louder and louder.

Mama says it’s nice when the cousins come because they she doesn’t have to do much parenting. Sabrina just disappears with Emily and reappears for snacks and bedtime.

Mama found Sister yesterday with Emily. Emily had picked Big Sister up and Sister’s arms were tight around Emily’s neck. Mama told Sister that before we go to Aunt Michelle and Uncle Greg’s, Sister had to sit on the potty.

“I’m going upstairs with Emily,” said Sister.
“That’s fine,” said Mama, “but before we leave I want you to sit on the potty.”
“I want to go with Emily,” said Sister.
“You can go with Emily,” said Mama. “But first you have to sit on the potty.”
“I’m going upstairs with Emily,” said Sister.
“Good,” said Mama. “Just make sure you sit on the potty.”
“I want to go with Emily,” said Sister.
“Fine,” said Mama. “Go with Emily. To the potty.”
“I’m going upstairs with Emily,” said Sister.

Mama gave up.

Sister has been asking for a while, “Is Emily available to come to my birthday party?”

Mama said we could ask, but that we also had to invite our other cousins too. “Why?” asked Sister. Mama said it was because all the cousins love us and want to spend time with us. She said it would hurt the other cousins’ feelings if we didn’t invite them.

Sister had an easy answer.

“But Emily is the best one who I love the best.”

Mama paused.

Then she sighed.

“Whom you love the best,” said Mama. “Whom.”