My Ex-wife, My Destination

Hope bounces on the bed, squealing with excitement. “Yippie! Tomorrow is my holiday!”

After coming back to school, I changed her clothes. We had our lunch together, and then I put her on the bed so that she could take a small nap.

Just a few minutes ago, she woke up, and I was telling her to get up and do her homework, but she was saying she was feeling lazy. However, all her laziness dissipated into thin air as soon as I told her that tomorrow was her day off.

She is a tiny drama queen.

“Be careful, Hopi. You might fall.” I caution her, glancing up from the laptop while sitting on the sofa.

She exclaims, “Mommy, I’m so happy! Tomorrow, I get to be with you the entire day.”

“Aww, same here, baby. Even I’m happy that we are going to spend the entire day together.” I tell her, glancing at her with a smile before again started working on my laptop.

“Mommy.” I look at my left when I feel Hope tapping on my thighs.

When did she come here? God, I wish I could have her energy.

“Yes, baby,” I ask her, keeping my laptop aside.

“I’m here to tell you. No, wait. I’m here to inform you about something really important.” She places her hands on her waist, looking extremely adorable.

“Okay ma’am, order me.” I hide my smile because I know she will create a whole drama if I smile at her when she’s trying to be serious.

“Whatever work you have, complete it today. Hope is also going to do her homework because tomorrow we will just have fun. Okay?” She instructs me, showing her index finger while keeping her other hand on her waist.

“Okay, boss.” I tap her nose, causing her to giggle.

Her laughter is music to my ears. She is a precious gift from God to me.

“My good Mommy.” She gives me a quick kiss on my cheeks while I do the same.

Before I can ask her anything else, she runs out of the room, singing, “Tomorrow is my holiday. I’m going to complete my work today only.”

God, we both eat the same food. Still, her energy level is thousands of times more than mine.

Hope’s P. O. V.

“Mommy, Hope can’t eat this. It’s so squashy.” I put the bananas on the table with a yucky face.

I won’t eat them. Huh! Who eats raw bananas? How can anyone even like them when you can have banana pancakes? Hehe. My mouth is already watering just thinking about banana pancakes. They’re so yummy. “It’s not squashy, Hope.” Mommy glares at me. “I know you want a pancake. That’s why you’re doing this drama.” My eyes widen when I hear mommy’s words.

How did she know? Oops. Now I have to do something. “What? No, Mommy.” I look at her, making an oh-so-innocent face. “Hope is not doing any drama. Trust Hope.”

Smart move, hope!

“I know very well what exactly you are trying to do, you little girl.” Mommy comments, taking a sip of her coffee, while I just stare at her with widened eyes. “Time to play the second card, Hope,” I murmur under my breath and immediately look at my mommy with my cutest pout. “Fine, I will give you another one. Every banana can’t be squashy, right?” She asks, smirking at me, startling me. How can I even underestimate my smart mommy? “No, Mommy, every banana is squashy. Trust your baby, Hopi.” I bat my eyelashes at her. I see Mommy parting her lips to say something, but I immediately cut her off. “And it’s very bad manners to waste food, but I can’t eat squashy bananas. So, do one thing, Mommy, make a banana pancake. That way, we will not waste the bananas.” I finish my sentence with my perfect toothy smile, which I know mommy can’t resist.

Hehe. Mommy’s hope is so smart. “Yeah, right? Naughty girl.” Mommy smiles, flicking my nose and making me giggle before going to the kitchen to make the Yummy Tommy pancakes. “Woah… Yummy Tommy Pancakes come soon. Hopi is waiting.” I sing while colouring my sketchbook. ***

At night also, I jump on the bed in excitement because tomorrow is my holiday.

I snuggle into the cosy bed, feeling tired after all the jumping around.

“I’m so tired now, Mommy,” I utter in my cutest voice, and Mommy comes over, holding a glass of water for me.

“Why did you jump so much?” Mommy asks, sounding a little concerned. “Now you’re tired, baby.”

I explain, “But Mommy, I was jumping because I was soooo happy.”

“Here you go, my little princess.” She holds the glass to me as she sits beside me. I get up, take a few sips of water, and hand the glass back to her.

“Now sleep, Mommy’s baby.” She instructs, caressing my long, silky blonde hair.

“No, Mommy. Today, I will sleep late because tomorrow is a holiday.” I exclaim excitedly, jumping on the bed once again.

“Oh God, where do you get so much energy?” Mommy mutters in disbelief, causing me to giggle.

“Mommy, you should also jump with me. You’ll enjoy it a lot.” I suggest, clapping my hands between jumps.

“No, sweetheart, you enjoy yourself.”

“Please, Mommy.” I plead, giving her my best puppy-dog look, and mommy can’t resist my request.

We both jump on the bed together, holding hands and laughing crazily. It is so much fun!

After a while, we both settle back on the bed. My small body rests on mommy’s body as she gently caresses my hair with pure affection.

“I love you, Mommy.” I kiss her on the lips, holding her face with my hands.

“Oh, my sweetie, Mommy loves you even more than all the stars in the sky,” Mommy replies, showering my face with kisses.

We lay there cuddled up. As she continues to stroke my hair gently, I drift off to sleep while listening to the soothing sound of her heartbeat.

***

The Next Morning

I feel upset when mommy tells me she has to go out for work and can’t take me along. I want to stay with her the entire day.

“Mommy, take me with you. I won’t disturb you. Look, I’ll put my finger on my lips like this,” I try to convince her, putting my finger on my lips and trying to melt her heart with my cuteness. I feel like crying when she denies it, shaking her head.

“Baby, I’ll call my friend to take care of you. You’ll enjoy spending time with her.” She tries to make me understand, but I’m just a kid. Why would I understand? I want to spend my holiday with my mommy, not her friend. That’s it.

“But Mommy, today is our day, just you and me.” I make a sad pout, and she kisses my pout, trying to make me happy. However, I’m still very, very upset.

“Aww, my baby! Mommy is sorry.” She holds her ears, melting my heart in seconds, but I still want to spend time with her.

Then an idea pops into my mind to stop her from going today, and I hide my smile and agree, “Okay, Mommy.”

“You can watch your favourite Disney movie. I’ll come back after taking a bath,” she tells me, and I start planning in my tiny mind.

“Okay, Mommy,” I reply as she switches on the TV for me.

When she leaves the room, I immediately get out of the bed and tiptoe towards her cupboard so she won’t notice what Hope is planning.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

First, I take out a huge bag and start putting all of Momma’s footwear from the closet into the bag, one by one.

“Yippee, it’s done.” I clap my hands in happiness after putting all of her footwear in the bag.

“Now, where should I hide this bag?” I ponder, putting my finger on my chin.

“Yes, I’ll hide it in my closet!” I jump up when I get the idea.

I try to pick up the bag, but it’s so heavy.

“Mommy, it’s too heavy. How will I hide it?” I cry while struggling to carry the bag full of Momma’s footwear.

With all my energy, I drag the bag towards my closet and hide it inside.

“Oh, I got tired,” I murmur, wiping the imaginary sweat from my forehead. “Hope, you’re so hardworking.” I praise myself and giggle, putting my hand over my mouth.

I run back to my bed, sit down, and prepare to watch the movie.

“Mommy is back!” Mommy squeals after coming out of the washroom and hugs me. I wrap my arms around her with a mischievous smile.

“Now, Mommy has to get ready.” She pecks my forehead before going to get ready.

I run after her. “Hope also wants to get ready with you.”

I really love doing my makeup.

“Okay, princess.” She picks me up and places me on the dressing stool in front of the mirror. As she does her makeup, standing behind me, I try to copy her by applying lipstick.

“My cute princess.” She pulls my cheeks from behind, and I just smile.

I pick up the blusher and put it on my cheeks while grinning. Mommy opens her cupboard to wear her shoes, and I control my laughter, watching this from the mirror.

She stares at the empty cupboard in shock and then looks back at me. I immediately start doing my makeup, applying blusher to my cheeks.

“Hope, where did you hide my footwear?” She shoots me a glare, rushing towards me.

Her eyes widen in shock, seeing my red cheeks. “Hope, why did you apply so much of blush on your face?” She shouts, snatching the blusher from my hand.

“Am I not looking cute, Mommy?” I ask, giggling.

“You’re looking like a monkey, Hopi”

I bat my eyelashes, placing my finger on my cheek. “Your cutie Monkey.”

“Hopi, stop distracting me. Tell me, where did you keep my footwear?”

“What are you talking about? Mommy, I didn’t hide them. I was just watching my favourite movie.” I answer, trying to act smart.

“Hopi, Mommy knows you have done this. You can’t lie. Tell me where you hid them, or you won’t get any toys for the entire month,” she warns me, causing my eyes to widen.

I become super duper scared.

What? No toys for an entire month? How will I survive? I have to tell her the truth.

“Mommy, I just wanted you to stay with me at home,” I tell her in a dejected tone, looking down and playing with my hands.

“I’ll try to come back super soon to my Hopi! Now tell me where you hid them,” she requests in an extra sweet voice, melting my poor heart.

“I hid them in my closet. It was so heavy, but I put all my energy into it. See, Mommy, your Hope is so strong.” I show off my little muscles as Momma retrieves her footwear from the huge bag.

“Yeah, you’re very strong and getting naughtier day by day.” She puts on her heels after sitting on the stool.

“Yes, I’m your naughty princess.” I giggle.

“My baby.” She comes and picks me up in her arms, and I hide my face in her chest. I love being in her arms.

“I’ll miss you, Mommy.” I pout as she makes me sit on the stool and cleans my red cheeks with wet wipes.

“I’ll miss you too, princess, but I promise I’ll be back soon. The work is important for Mommy.” She explains to me, cleaning my face.

“All the best for your work, Mommy.” I show her my little thumb.

“Thank you, Hopi.” She clasps my face and kisses my forehead.