Who wants to know?

 

( Clearly, no one understood the familial bonds of friendship more than small children. )

What's coming out?

There were some kids at the park today who played catch with me. It was fun. I love playing catch. We didn't get to do it on the trip because Uncle can't catch and keeps throwing it in the wrong place (I think it's cause he only has one good eye), and Apa doesn't throw hard enough. I can throw things for Toby to get but he doesn't really catch, he just smells for it after it falls. Plus he can't throw at me cause he doesn't have hands.

I'm happy I'm back because I missed Mommy and Ishmael, but the trip was fun. It would've been funner if Apa and Uncle were still kissing, I think. It was really nice seeing Natana. She looked hurt, though, and she wouldn let Apa use his powers. It's good cause that would hurt Apa, but what if Natana's doesn go away?

 

( Two minutes later, the door to a small private room in the emergency ward swung open. )

Ishmael sleeps a lot. He gets on high places so Toby won't try to bite him. Uncle says Ishmael and Toby are gonna be best friends. I hope it's soon.

Apa is thinking about things. I don know what things, but he's being quiet. He isn't kissing Mommy or Uncle. I don't think he's happy. :(

Uncle and Mommy say it isn't because of the men hurting him, but I bet that made him sad. I don know why people want to hurt Apa. Uncle says it's not gonna happen again, but sometimes Uncle says things to make me happy and maybe they aren't true.

It's a kitty!

Apa brought home a kitty. But it's black with gold eyes, not like this picture. I like it, though.

I think someone hurt the kitty. He's shy. And he gets scared. Toby likes him, but then he purred and Toby thought he growled so now Toby doesn't like him. :( Uncle says Toby will change his mind.

I'm happy Apa's back. He looked so bad. I start crying when I think about it.  Apa says not to cry. Uncle gets angry and says it's never happening again, but he's not angry at me. He's angry at the people who hurt Apa. I try not to cry because I want Apa to be happy, but it's hard.

He was really happy when he found him. He and Uncle kissed, even though they said they weren't going to do that anymore. And then he looked kind of weird but Mommy hugged him.

Uncle's friends were there, too. They helped. It was nice. Thank you for helping. :)

Uncle said we should put up pictures of ourselves because we weren't hiding anymore, but Apa doesn't like his picture taken and it hurts Uncle's eyes and Mommy said I'm too little to have my picture on the internet, so we only put Mommy and then actors who kinda look like Uncle and Apa.

Apa and I were playing when Uncle came in. Apa looked at him quietly…it was weird. He looked embarrassed, but then Uncle came and gave him a big hug. Then Uncle said was going on a road trip. I think it made Apa sad for a minute.

 

[“You said I could, didn’t you?”

  

“And you never replied. I rather thought you weren’t because of me.”

 

Smart bastard.]

 

He asked if Uncle was leaving “because,” but Uncle said no before he could say because why. They were talking Kurdish. Uncle’s teaching me Kurdish, but I didn get most of it.

 

Uncle says he’ll be back soon. He and Apa musta talked more, because Apa seems happy. I think he’s still thinking about Uncle, but he’s got a new happy in his eyes. Mommy says we’re getting a cat. I hope the cat likes Toby. Toby likes everybody. He's going with Uncle.

[“Just so you’ll have someone to miss.” 

 

“We miss you, Uncle.”

 

“I knew you’d miss me, Cookie.”

“She won’t be the only one.”]

Uncle isn’t trying to look happy anymore. He’s smiling for real.

 

He hugs Apa, and sits on the couch with him, but they don’t lie on the couch and kiss. Mommy says they’re not doing that now, but I don’t know why. It made them happy.

 

Uncle said Mommy should kiss Apa now. Mommy threw a cup at him. It broke on the wall, but that was ok because Uncle was laughing.

 Mommy says I can tell you my name as long as I don’t say my last name!

 

I’m Nikki. I’m five and seven-eighths of a year old, and I live with Mommy and Apa and Uncle and a cat and a puppy. Who are you?