Emma returned home later that night around eight. Her dad wasn’t home yet, so Emma went into her room and stuck some stickers on her cd player and notebooks.

 

Phillip returned home at 8:30 to a very different looking daughter.

 

“When did you do that?” he asked Emma.

 

“TJ and Sam did it for me for Christmas!” she replied to him, beaming.

 

“It looks... nice.” he said with a smile.

 

“Thanks dad.”

 

“So, did you want to know what your last Christmas present was?”

 

“Oh yeah! What is it?!”

 

“Well, I think you’ll like it very much. It’s something you’ve wanted for .... ever!”

 

“What is it, what is it?!”

 

“Go into my briefcase, and it’s in the front pocket.”

 

Emma picked up her dad’s briefcase and opened it up. Reaching into the pocket he instructed her too she pulled out two plane tickets.

 

“We’re going to Maryland?! For how long?” Emma asked, excited.

 

“Well, when do the tickets say?”

 

Emma looked over the tickets and tried to find when the next plane would leave to bring them home after the trip.

 

“I can’t find a date... except the day it leaves.” she said.

 

“Exactly! We won’t be coming back!”

 

Emma ran up to her dad and gave him a big hug. “We really get to move? To the east coast? Oh thank you dad!”

 

“I’ve already made arrangements for you to start school there a week after we arrive. You will be going to Braxton Elementary.”

 

“When do we leave?”

 

“In two weeks. It’s not much notice, I’m sorry about that. I found a house out there too. It should be pretty nice.” Phillip explained to his daughter.

 

“Dad, thank you so much. This is the best Christmas present ever!” Emma said giving her father another hug.