All For A Dream

Chapter 1 The morning started off with exciting news for this happy little family of four. Maria, the mother, had explained with patient clarity, as mothers feel is necessary, “Isabella, our big girl, is going to be ten this year. Izzy, you will be in double digits! Your father and I have found a bigger apartment. We don’t want you and your brother to continue taking turns sleeping on the couch or sharing the bedroom. So, my sweet girl, you can help with this expense. Don’t worry, you won’t have to get a job! Daddy and I have both gotten raises and if we don’t have to pay anyone to get you up and ready for school, we can afford it. You will be closer to your school so that you can walk. This is how you can help. Do you want to do this big girl thing?” The response was, “OH YES! Please. I am getting old enough to do more to earn my keep! I want to help!” Isabella, better known as Izzy, glowed with excitement. Mother and daughter laughed with joy at this declaration. Izzy was so very ready. Life was good and getting better! Young Isabella felt that she was quite rich. She loved her life. She could now walk Matteo to school instead of having her parents pay their morning sitter to do that. She was going into the double-digit zone of responsibility very soon. Who knew ten would make you so grown up and responsible? The best news of all was that she would not be ten for a few months, but she was starting the walk of responsibility early. There were so many exciting responsibilities owned by the oldest in a family. She felt she could handle anything asked of her. She was almost ten and her parents trusted her. Could anything be better? They were living the American dream and were officially on four wheels now! There were so many wonderful events for this little family. America was, indeed, a land of opportunity. There are responsibilities that need fulfillments for all to be citizens. These are not to be overlooked, but… Matteo’s addition to the family vocabulary was the word “Kiddos”. He wasn’t a child. He was a kiddo. The kiddos observed this new purchase of their car with rapt attention and barely suppressed excitement. Matteo said, “So, more money is a very good thing. How can I help can make money, too.” His little face looked puzzled when everyone laughed. Daddy picked up his handsome boy and they spun as one around the new “used” car. “Ah!” remarked Izzy, “We are rich indeed!” Izzy’s long dark red hair reflected the sun as she and her mother joined the joyous event with a spinning dance behind the male celebrants! They had come to this country to work and become citizens. The children had been born here so they were Americans. Next on the list was to review what was left to be done to make the parents Americans, as well. They knew they were behind in this quest but had been working so hard and kept pushing this need back to be done when time permitted it. They were driven to “be all they could be.” Demanding work meant success. Now this new car was going to be initiated with the first ride being to school. Then the adults would head for work. How could life be better…. except, maybe a bit more chocolate in their diet? Maybe this would be a reason for another family chat, thought the youngest kiddo who was a huge fan of chocolate. Because Matteo was so excited about his first ride and it was to be to school, he was eager for school. After this initial ride, the two children would walk together to school. Matteo was told that he was to hold his sister’s hand and follow her directions until he turned ten and then there would be another talk about responsibility. Matteo asked, for clarification, “But, Mama, when I turn ten, I will still be younger than Izzy. She will just keep on having birthdays to stay ahead of me. When will I be in charge?” Maria looked at her lively inquisitive son and answered, “You will know when that time is here as you learn more and grow. One day you won’t have to ask because you will know. That is when you will be more responsible. Now you will wait and feel safe with all this love around you, my lucky son!” Matteo raised those inquisitive eyebrows of his. He wondered who got to make up all these rules. The question that begged attention wasn’t how their lives together could get better, and we are not talking chocolate. The question to be answered was what could happen to make life events tumble down? (Stay tuned! Life can be so unpredictable. This little family had much to learn about life’s twists and turns. The most important question wasn’t about when changes would happen. It was what these changes would be.)