Two Houses for Younes

Younes was seven years old. He loved building things with his blocks, racing his little cars down the hallway, and hiding his little sister Sarah's markers just to hear her protest.

Sarah was four years old. She loved drawing, socks that didn't match, and her stuffed animal, which she took absolutely everywhere.

At home, there was also Abi and Oummi, and for a while now, Younes had noticed something, something hard to explain.

Abi and Oummi talked less, sometimes they talked in the kitchen in low voices, and when Younes came in, they stopped.

Other times, they just seemed tired.

Younes didn't like it, but he didn't ask questions.

One evening, after dinner, Oummi put the plates in the sink, then came to sit in the living room.

Abi sat next to her.

He called Younes and Sarah, and asked them to come over for a bit.

Younes looked at Sarah, Sarah looked at Younes.

When Abi and Oummi asked both of them to come sit at the same time, it was rarely to announce that there was ice cream in the freezer.

Younes settled on the couch, Sarah climbed up next to him with her stuffed animal under her arm.

Abi took a deep breath, then explained that they had something important to tell them.

Younes felt his stomach tighten.

Oummi continued, she explained that Abi and she had decided that they were no longer going to live in the same house.

Younes stayed silent.

Sarah, she frowned, then asked where Abi was going to sleep.

Abi told her he would sleep in another house.

Sarah thought for a few seconds, then asked if his bed was going with him.

Abi told her no, his bed would stay here.

Sarah hugged her stuffed animal, then asked if her stuffed animal could come with her.

Abi told her yes, her stuffed animal could go with her.

Sarah seemed reassured.

But Younes, he was not reassured at all.

He looked at Abi, then Oummi, then Abi again.

He asked if they would still be Abi and Oummi, even if they didn't live together anymore.

Oummi moved closer to him, then told him that of course, they would always be Abi and Oummi.

Younes looked at his knees.

Another question came to him, he didn't really want to ask it, but it was stuck in his head.

He asked if it was because he had been too naughty.

Abi answered immediately that no.

Younes looked up, then asked, even when I broke the lamp?

Abi told him, even when you broke the lamp.

Younes continued, and when I pushed Sarah?

Sarah interrupted right away, very loudly.

Abi held back a smile, then explained that what was happening between Oummi and him was an adult decision, that it wasn't because of Younes, and it wasn't because of Sarah either.

Sarah held up her stuffed animal, then asked, even him?

Abi answered, even him.

This time, Younes smiled a little, but only a little.

The following days were strange.

Abi prepared boxes, some clothes disappeared from the closet, some books too.

Then one morning, Younes noticed that Abi's shoes were no longer by the door.

He stood there looking for them, even though he knew very well where they were.

They were in the other house.

Abi's new house wasn't very far.

The first weekend Younes and Sarah were supposed to sleep there, Younes packed his bag.

He took his pajamas, his toothbrush, two pairs of pants, his book, and his favorite red car.

Then he added another car.

Then a third.

Oummi watched him, then reminded him that he was only leaving for two days.

Younes answered that he knew.

He added a fourth car anyway.

Sarah arrived with a bag almost as big as her, and announced that she was done.

Oummi opened her bag.

There were three dresses, six socks, a coloring book, a plastic spoon, two stuffed animals, and no pajamas.

Oummi looked at her.

Sarah simply asked, what?

Oummi asked her why she had taken a spoon.

Sarah looked in her bag, then answered, oh yeah.

She thought for a few seconds, then added, just in case.

Younes burst out laughing.

Even Oummi laughed.

For a few seconds, everything seemed almost like before.

Then Abi arrived, and Younes remembered that they weren't all going to leave together.

In the car, Sarah talked nonstop.

She asked if there was a bathtub, if there was cereal, if there was a window, if there was a chair.

Younes finally told her that all houses had windows.

Abi answered that no, not all.

Younes sat up straight immediately.

Abi smiled, then added that his, though, did have one.

When they arrived, Sarah ran everywhere.

She asked if one room was the kitchen, then if another was the bathroom, then she opened a closet.