Chapter7
Howie stared when AJ appeared with the small girl with suite case by his side.
�Howie this is Glory, Glory this is Howie.� AJ said smiling down at her. �Hi Howie.� She said with a wave.
�You�re the one that use to have the ponytail.� She proclaimed smiling.
�Hi.� He said smiling at her then looking up at AJ quizzically. He stood and extended his hand to Glory. She reached out her own and shook it.
�You�re a lot shorter in real life.� She said looking up at him. AJ had to chuckle at that.
�Glory is going to be coming home with me. She�s going to be staying for a while.� AJ looked at Howie with a smile.
�Okay, well can I take your suite case Glory?� Howie extended his arm for her bags. She smiled as she handed them to him. When they had put them in the car they started for AJ�s house.
The first thing Glory noticed were the two front gates in front of the house. They seemed magical as they opened when they approached them. Her eyes lit up when she saw the house. It wasn�t a mansion, but in her eyes it was like a castle. She had never lived in anything so big before or beautiful. She had only lived in old run down apartments. She felt like she was in a fairytale being whisked away somewhere magical.
�You...you live here?� She asked in amazement.
�Yeah.� AJ said driving into the driveway.
When they entered the house the first thing she noticed was the marble floor as she stepped onto it. She looked at the front wall where a huge painting hung. She stepped in the middle of the foyer, extended her arms, and slowly turned around looking up at the chandelier that hung from the ceiling pretending she was a princess.
�Come on.� AJ told her walking towards the den. She then noticed the soft, red, think carpet underneath her feet. She felt like she was walking on sponges on the floor. When she entered the den all the bright colors lit up her eyes. There seemed to be too many things to look at all at once. She almost felt as though she had to catch her breath.
The big screen TV in the front of the room was one of the things that caught her eye. She had never seen a TV so big before. All the funny framed cartoon looking pictures on the walls made her smile. It seemed more like something a kid would put in there room. As she walked towards the couch she felt small little paws tapping on her legs. She stepped back in surprise.
�That�s Cheerio, he doesn�t bite, he�s really friendly.� AJ said looking at the little brown and white dog. She bent down and petted him making little cooing sounds. The little dog jumped in glee as she scratched behind his ears.
�I think he likes you.� AJ said looking down. �He�s so cute. This house is so cool.� She said standing back up. �Well, you live here now too. You can look around and check it out if you want.�
�Really?� She asked excitingly. �Yeah, go ahead.� She scampered off toward the back, with the little dog at her heals.
�She�s so happy.� AJ said looking down the short hall. �AJ! What is this...what are you doing? You said you were going to think this all out before you decided anything.� Howie exclaimed as he came over to where AJ was standing.
�I know, But I had to bring her with me, I just had to. I couldn�t leave her there.� AJ told him checking the hall to see if Glory was on her way back.
�AJ, this isn�t like when you go to the pound and see a puppy and feel sorry for it and bring it home. This is a child, a real little person. A person that you have to be responsible for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can�t just leave her home and put a bowl of water and food out for her when you leave. It doesn�t work like that. Your always busy and half of the time you forget to do things for yourself. How are you going to do things for her? How are you going to take care of a child?� Howie asked him very seriously.
�D, I understand all of what you are saying...� AJ started as Glory and Cheerio came running back up the hall.
� I like the kitchen, it�s nice. The aquarium in there is so big. This house is really, really cool!� She exclaimed smiling from ear to ear. �Can I go up the stairs and look too?�
�Yeah, go ahead, I�ll be up later to show you your room.� He said smiling back at her. �Okay. Come on Cheerio.� She said calling the dog as she headed up the stairs.
�Like I said before...� AJ started as he lowered his voice. �I understand what you�re saying but you weren�t there. Howie, when I went in to that room to see her, she was so sad. I mean you could just see the pain across this girl�s face man. She was so hurt and she seemed so withdrawn. It was like she had been through a hundred storms in her life. I mean, you can still see it even now. Look at how pale she is, look at the bags under her eyes.� AJ paused for a second.
� That place was killing her Howie. I swear to you, she was rotting there. I couldn�t... I just couldn�t leave her there knowing that she was mine. Knowing that I could make her better. And you should have seen her face man. Howie, when I told her I was her dad and that I was going to take her away, it just lit up like a Christmas tree. I couldn�t leave her there, I just couldn�t. I mean, she�s mine, she�s apart of me. Look at how happy she is right now. Look at her smile. It�s this amazing feeling to know I put it on her face. I may not be the best father in the world, but who is? No father gets an instruction manual so I figure, I�ll just have to learn like all the rest. Everyone makes mistakes.� AJ shrugged as he looked back towards the stairs to see if Glory was coming.
�AJ I understand how you�re feeling, but even though everyone makes mistakes, it usually doesn�t involve someone else�s life. You have to ask yourself if you�re the best thing for her.� Howie told him with a caring expression on his face.
�AJ are you coming?� Glory called from up the stairs, breaking through their conversation.
�Yeah, I�m coming.� He called back up to her. �I have to go Howie. I know you don�t understand, but I have to do this man. I know I can be a better father then my own father was, I know it.� AJ said as he grabbed Glory�s suitcases and headed up the stairs.
�Hey.� He smiled as he caught sight of her standing at the top of the stairs. � I love your house. It�s so big.� She said smiling down at him. �Don�t forget it�s our house now, and yeah, there�s a lot of houses on this block that are way bigger then this.� He told her.
�Really? Woah.� She replied.
�Your room is over here.� He told her as he headed towards the door on the side. He went inside and put the bags on the floor.
�I�ve never had a room this big before.� She said walking over to the window.
�Yeah, well it�s pretty plain right now. We�ll have to decorate it for you so it can be the way you want it. For right now I hope you like yellow walls. This was just a guest room and I didn�t spend much time decorating it so that�s why it�s kind of plain. I just never seemed to have time to put any pictures on the walls or put a new spread on the bed.� He said sitting down on the plain light blue bed. �But you have your own closet, dresser, and TV in here so I figured this would be a good room for you. The other guest room just has a bed and a closet. You okay?� He asked looking at the girl as she peered out the window.
She hadn�t turned around or acknowledged him since he had started talking to her about the room.
�Yeah. It�s just...all so perfect. It�s like it�s not even real.� She said slowly turning around. �I wish...I wish my mom could see all of it. She would have loved...loved everything. Thank you.� She said walking over to him.
�Your welcome.� He smiled back at her.
�So everything going good in here?� Howie asked as he appeared in the door way.
�Yeah, I like the room a lot.� Glory told him smiling.
�So hey, want to go to the movies or something?� AJ asked her.
�Yeah! Sure.�
�Want to come with us Howie?� AJ asked him with the you know you want to come look on his face.
�Yeah, why not.� He answered smiling and rolling his eyes sarcastically.
After the movie they went back to AJ�s house and Howie went home. AJ then decided to rent a bunch of movies and pick up a pizza. He also got candy, chips, and some other sweets. He and Glory stayed up late laughing, and splurging on junk food.