Sophia was waiting patiently for the twins to come chill. Judy and Jada lived next door with their mother, Monae, their step father Drew, and their half sister and brother, Aiden and Bianca, But every weekend since the divorce they would get a visit from their father, Michael. Two years ago Drew and Monae got married. This was the worst time of Judy Jada and Bianca’s life. The family got closer again after Aiden’s birth last year, but Bianca always felt left out because neither Drew or Michael was her father, in her 16 years of life she never met her father. It wasn't paradise for the rest neither because Drew never liked Michael and never will, but Michael always says, “Life too short, grudges are a waste of perfect happiness, always smile, apologize when you're wrong and let go of things that keep you from spending precious time with the one’s you love.” He would always tell the twins and Sophia who he treated as his own to never let that out of their heads.
Judy and Jada were basically always home alone on weekends and after their father leaves they would always come hangout with Sophia who was not much older than them. The twins were a couple of weeks away from becoming 14 and Sophia was six days into 14.
There was a knock on the door. Sophia went to open the door and saw Michael standing by the elevator, “Hey Uncle Michael!” said Sophia.
Michael smiled, “Hey Sophie, how are you. Is your mom home?”
“I'm fine, thank you and my mom went out” replied Sophia.
“Okay tell her hello when she come home..awh I have to go, have a good time girls, I was suppose to be at work right now”. The girls girls looked at Mickael like he was dumb “Then why are you still here, I’ll never understand you old people” said Jada.
As Michael headed towards the staircase Judy called, “ Dad can I stay at your house for the rest of the week, its like we never spend enough time together anymore. I feel like you don't know me anymore, I just wish you were here more often.”
Michael turned around and walked back to Judy, “ Honey don't say that, you know how much I love you guys” Michael hugged Judy and gave her each of the girls ten dollars to go and buy some food later. But Judy still did not look satisfied. She didn't want money, she wanted time, time with her father.
As Michael finally left Sophia shut the door. Jada was staring at Judy, “Get over it Judy, you're so dramatic, it was never even that serious” said Jada.
Judy looked at Jada as if she was trying to understand what Jada Just said. “Your such a evil little...Ugh”! replied Judy.
Jada had a smirk on her face, “Whatever twin sister. Yo, lets go buy some chinese food” said Jada.
In New York there was always somewhere to go, something to do and something to eat. The girls went to order three orders of shrimp fried rice with chicken wings, two pepsi’s and a ginger ale. That was their favorite meal. When the girls returned home they put Gossip Girl on Netflix. The twins and Sophia loved Gossip Girl.
“Blaire and Chuck need to finally be a real couple” said Jada referring to Gossip Girl.
Sophia looked in Judy’s direction and saw that Judy was unhappy. Sophia wanted to talk to Judy but knew that wouldn't go progressively while Jada was around. She thought of something to get Judy alone.
“Judy can you come with me to my room and help me fix my laptop.” said Sophia to Judy who was a tech genius.
As Sophia and Judy walked toward the bedroom Jada rolled her eyes at them as they left.
“So what’s wrong with your computer?” asked Judy.
“There is nothing wrong with my computer.” replied Sophia
Judy looked at Sophia in annoyance “ So why am I here!” said Judy.
“Well..you're not happy and I want to know what going on. This has more to do with just missing your dad.” said Sophia
Judy took a deep breath and started talking, “Alright, Jada doesn't know this but I overheard my dad on the phone with his doctor....” Judy started tearing up, “ he’s sick Sophia, he might die soon, it could be today, next week, next month or next year. But yet he still goes to work, still tries to support us. When he could be spending valuable time with us.” continued Judy.
There was a short silence. Sophia’s jaw looked as if it was going to drop to the floor, her brown eyes watered up, tears began to run down her cheeks and her eyes began to get puffy and red. Sophia tried to speak but the words wouldn't come out, it was as if someone compelled her to never speak again. Sophia tried talking again “Un...unc..uncle M..M..Michael cant die” Both of the girls held one another.
“Yeah Sophie I use to think that too. I thought my dad was superman, I use to think he could get through anything, that he could never be harmed. I thought he could live forever...I..I thought I would have my dad... forever.” said an emotional Judy.
Sophia and Judy continued talking and comforting each other unaware that a noise Jada was eaves dropping. Jada was furious, she heard everything. Jada stomped back to the living room and awaited Judy and Sophia.
As Sophia and Judy walked into the living room, an angry Jada approached them, “So when were you planning on telling me our dad is sick! You act like you're the only one who loves him and misses him when he’s not around! NO! You're just the weak one who wants everyone to feel sorry for her!” Jada was breathing so hard and building up so much anger that you could see her tiny veins popping out her neck.
“I was going to tell you but I wanted to make sure it was true.” said Judy.
Jada was still angry, “Make sure it was true, right okay, then why were you telling Sophia!” said Jada
Sophia didn't want to be in the middle of this but it was obviously too late for that.
“I told Sophia because she knew something was wrong and she got it out of me. Maybe if you would have a little more empathy for me when I’m down and not always put me down even more and always think of yourself than you would have known!” said Judy.
Jada got even more heated up, “Of Course... everything always ends up being my fault. And you're always the victim. Seems to me you're the one who only thinks of herself.” said Jada.
Sophia interrupted, “Okay! Okay! Right now both of you are thinking about yourselves when you should be thinking about your father and other people this can affect. This should not be a time of you two fight, we should be coming together and comforting each other.” said an annoyed Sophia
The girls calmed down and sat down. They started Reminiscing on the times there parent were still together, movie nights, family get togethers, sleepovers and all the times Sophia has been there for them. They talked through the entire afternoon and put their differences aside. The twins knew Sophia was right, sometimes in the most horrible times of your life you can't feel sorry for yourself. You have to hold it together and make things better for the people in your life and the people who are helping you out of the situation.
The twins knew that even without their father they had others who loved them dearly and they would always have Sophia.
Sophia and the girls held hands. “ We’ll always have to stick together, now and forever” said Sophia
“Now and Forever” said the twins.