On Family

This is a story I wrote for the CBC.  I was a finalist on Canada Writes.   This was also the first piece I had published!

Enjoy!

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I would tell them after lunch. I had been putting this off for far too long. The girls deserved to know. They needed to know. And I needed to tell them. Today.

I got them dressed and put them into the car. “We’re going to McDonald’s”. Howls of excitement from the backseat.

The plan was working. Take them through the drive-thru, eat at the park, then tell them.

I knew it was time to tell them.

Although unasked they both had questions. I could see it in their eyes.

It was time they knew.

As we rolled through the drive-thru window and collected our happy meals, I could see it in the drive-thru girl’s eyes. Even she saw the truth. What was I doing with these two?

I was tired of the looks from strangers.

I was worried the girls would pick up on this as they got older.

I had to tell them today.

We drove into the park and found a spot in the shade. I unpacked our cheeseburgers and watched as the girls dove into their food. Then I told them, “Girls, you’re adopted”.

They both paused and looked me in the eye, tails wagging.