It was a very wonderful snowy morning. So beautiful and crystal clear that even dogs would use the potty on the fire hydrant when they want to. However, the canines aren't using them, they're all frozen solid, and it's too cold to be outside for all pets and animals to be out and about in the weather. Fortunately, it was also two days after Christmas, and inside the Francesca residence, it was a great day for Babbs to go to her local park and play in the snow with her friends: Jackson, Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal.
"Babbs honey?" Asked Mommy. "Yes Mommy?" Answered Babbs, "Will you be going to the park with your friends today?" Mommy asked again. Babbs sweetly nodded to her and Daddy as they were eating breakfast at the dining table. "Wow, that's amazing, sweetie. I betcha you're gonna have a wonderful time!" Said Daddy excitedly as he patted his daughter on the head with one of his strong hands.
Babbs smiled at her Mommy and Daddy, and how much she had grown to love the school she was in. As well as making great friends along the way. Mommy and Daddy are also proud of their daughter for being more confident in herself, helping her friends with their confidence, and becoming individuals in their own right.
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After breakfast, Babbs finishes her orange juice, wipes her mouth with a napkin, and runs to her room to put on her pants, sweater, coat, hat, gloves, warm socks, and snow boots for her local park.
Babbs then runs to the door of her apartment saying bye-bye to her parents and will be back for lunch and snack time when she comes home from her favorite park in the process. "Have a great time Babbster!" Said Daddy, "Oh, and stranger danger! Got that, dear?" Said Mommy, she and her husband make sure that their child keeps herself safe.
"I will, I promise!" Smiles Babbs, and blows kisses at her parents while they see her off to the local park and play in the snow with her friends. And she never looked back.
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As she continues to head to the park, Babbs sees a big long pile of snow on the sidewalk. Babbs stops and thinks for a moment. Hmmm… now this is an EXTREME path to walk through! She thought, after looking at the tough obstacle she was facing. Which could be very difficult for a little six-year-old girl.
Suddenly, Babbs hears humming not too far from her direction. She quickly turns to a man who's shoveling the snow from the driveway of his house. Babbs saw this as an opportunity to ask the man for a child-size snow shovel that she could borrow to shovel the big pile of snow that was blocking her route to the local park. As well as asking him for help shoveling the snow with her to make it much easier in the long run.
Babbs walked to the driveway to ask for the man's assistance. "Excuse me, sir," she asked, as the man turned his head in the child's direction. "Hm? Oh, why hello there kiddo. What do you need?" The man answered. The man is very sweet, kind, and helpful to boot. He will come to anyone for assistance. Just as long as they ask him, of course.
Babbs nodded, "I was wondering if we could shovel the big pile of snow on the sidewalk next to us. You see, I'm going to the local park to play in the snow with my friends from school and I really need someone to help shovel the path so I can get through, please?"
The helpful man begins to think for a second. At first, he's a little skeptical about helping a young girl who is on the spectrum, however, he then halts his skepticism and finally agrees to help Babbs with the snow shoveling.
The young man walks into the garage, looks for a child-size shovel, finds it, walks out of the garage, and kindly gives the shovel to Babbs. And now, the two are ready to do snow shoveling.
Babbs and the helpful man begin to shovel the snow as swiftly as possible. When the two were finished with the shoveling, Babbs kindly gave the young man the child-size shovel back to him and thanked him for the assistance.
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Babbs happily waves goodbye to the man and goes on her way to the park. She then finally made it to her favorite local park and saw her friends: Jackson, Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and their new friend, Lowenthal playing in the beautiful blanket of white snow. "Hey, guys! I'm here! HEEEYY!!!" She shouted. Jackson stopped making his snow angel after hearing Babbs' voice. He sat up and saw young Babbs out from the park's gates and smiled sweetly at her.
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The six children began to play a lot in the lovely white blanket of snow at their local park such as snow angels, snowball fights, making nice igloos, and creating first-time snow sculptures for fun. Everyone was having a great time in the cold playful tundra of the local park and it was awesome.
"Gosh, that was so much fun!!!" Said Babbs with excitement, as she was panting from playing in the snow with her friends: Jackson, Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal. Even the cheeks on their faces were rosy pink from the cold snow too. It was an amazing day for the six-grade school kids. "Yeah!!! It sure was, right guys?" Jackson asked the others. "Mm-Hm! Definitely." Answered Alana happily.
"Uh-huh!" Said Eddrick. "Absolutely!!" Exclaimed Lowenthal. "Yep!!! Totally." Also said Stephanie as she smiled at her dear friends. DING, DING, DING, DING!!! All of a sudden, the clock on the city's clock tower started to tick. It was noon and time to go home for lunch.
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However, before they all left for their homes, Babbs then asked her friends about coming to her apartment for an end-of-the-year get-together on the 31st of this month. Jackson, Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal all thought for a second about the get-together at Babbs' place. After that, the five finally said yes to the get-together.
Babbs quickly smiled, and she and her friends gave each other a big hug. Then, the children said goodbye and would see one another on the 31st of December this year which was going to be the greatest day of their little lives.
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After Babbs returned home for lunch, she then heard Mommy and Daddy talking about something in the living room. Something very big. Babbs was curious, but a little confused at the same time. Babbs decided to step into the living room and ask her parents about what was going on.
Mommy and Daddy quickly turned to their daughter while smiling at her. Fortunately, Mommy and Daddy have big news for their sweet little girl. Mommy happily looked at Daddy, and Daddy then nodded at her with kindness as well as to reveal the big news to Babbs in an instant.
"Babbs sweetheart?" Smiled Daddy, as he and Mommy were about to give young Babbs great news. He kindly walked towards his daughter, gently took her little left hand and walked her to Mommy's tummy. She touched the tummy with her hand and something moved inside her Mommy's tummy. Babbs started to gasp excitedly, and her long hair fluffed in happiness. She curiously asked her Mommy why her tummy is so big. Mommy giggled happily.
"Babies, Daddy and I are going to have another baby." Explained Mommy. "Actually, it'll be two babies. Meaning twins!" Said Daddy sweetly. He also gave Mommy a big kiss on the cheek, and how that their little Babbs is going to be a big sister. Daddy lifted up Babbs to give her a big kiss on the cheek too, as she was happy to receive this amazing news from her loving parents.
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On the 31st of December, which was now New Year's Eve 1999, Babbs and her family were cleaning around the apartment while Mommy was knitting little socks for the soon-to-be-born twins which will be due on the 5th of January.
"Hey, Antonio? Did you get snacks ready? "asked Daddy, as he was cooking the meal for tonight's get-together. "Not yet, amigo. I'm now making newer treats in the process." Answered Tio Antonio.
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Meanwhile, Babbs and Abuela Juanita were cleaning up the apartment making sure that everything was spotless for the get-together with Babbs' friends as well as their families for New Year's Eve. Babbs was at first, having a little difficulty with cleaning the floor with her child-size mop that she got for Christmas because she loved to help her family clean up the apartment and make meals and bake snacks from scratch which was very astonishing to boot.
Although the cleaning, cooking, and baking may not go as well as planned for the first time when Babbs does it on her own. Fortunately, however, she would kindly ask for assistance from her family as well as her friends and the staff in school whenever Babbs needs it the most. Babbs has the greatest support system in her community, and the greatest people in her grade school career who care about her, protect her and love her.
Not because they respect her for her disability, but also respect her as a true person ever since she started elementary school with the friends she made along the way.
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After the cleaning, cooking, and baking were done, it was time for Babbs, Daddy, Tio Antonio, and Abuela Juanita to clean themselves in the bathrooms for the get-together for New Year's Eve, as Mommy was finally finished with the baby socks for the unborn twins. One pair was pink and the other pair was blue, meaning the babies would be a girl and boy which was very exciting and she couldn't wait to tell Babbs and the rest of the family in the apartment.
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Meanwhile, after Babbs, Daddy, Antonio, and Juanita were finished cleaning up themselves in the bathrooms, it was time for them and Mommy to put on their fancy clothes for New Year's Eve in the apartment for tonight. Young Babbs was very excited for her friends and their families to come and celebrate December's final day of 1999 and to finally begin the new millennium with the ball drop at 42nd Street in New Yorbany and watch it on TV.
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When the Francesca family were all fully dressed, Babbs kindly asked Daddy to stylize her hair for their New Year's Eve party. Even though Mommy was always the one who would stylize her daughter's long straight hair before she and Jackson went to school by themselves and met their schoolmates: Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal outside the school building and headed to their classrooms until the first bell.
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"Gosh, I hope my friends from school will come to our get-together today. I just can't wait!!!" Exclaimed Babbs very eagerly with lots and lots of optimism. "Don't worry, Mija." said Mommy, "they'll come… I know they will." Said Mommy again. "That's right, Babbster. We still need to wait a little more patiently, and your friends will come here in no time. We promise you, okay?" Winked Daddy kindly at his daughter to give her encouragement and patience throughout the process.
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It's now 4:00 in the afternoon, and after waiting the doorbell completely rang. Babbs curiously pondered who was at the door. Was it her friends, the mailman, a takeout delivery person, or perhaps it could be a stranger? She doesn't know at all.
"Mommy? Daddy? Who's that at the door?" Asked Babbs curious yet a little scared at the same time. Babbs ran toward the back of her Mommy and hid behind her in fear. "Oh, Babbs sobrina." Tio Antonio calmly smiled at his niece. He then patted her head and told the child that there was nothing to be afraid of. And that her family is here to protect her when she needs it.
DING DONG! As the person rang the doorbell from the hallway. "Hello? Is this the Francesca residence?" Babbs then recognized that voice from somewhere before. It was Jackson's Daddy, which means Jackson is here with him too. As well as Eddrick, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal and their families have also arrived with them.
Daddy walked towards the apartment's front door, looked through the peephole, and saw his daughter's friends and their families ready to enter the home and party their pants and dresses off.
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"Oh my gosh! You guys made it!!" Smiled Babbs excitedly, as she was very happy to see her friends from school which was very amazing. Daddy then opened the door and was happy to see Babbs' friends and their folks coming all this way to see and meet the Francesca family in their own apartment building.
"Hey everybody! We've brought soda and juice for everyone!" Said Alana's Mommy with great enthusiasm. "Gracias, señora. How delightful." Exclaimed Antonio happily. Alana's Mommy gave the drinks to Tio Antonio and Abuela Juanita, then went to the kitchen and put them in the refrigerator to get cold for the New Year's Eve party later on.
But for now, they're all going to watch some cartoons on TV, and then play board games along the way to pass the time. Not to mention, listening to music on the radio to keep one another busy in the process. That makes a lot of sense since the party begins at around 8 PM. So Babbs' friends were four hours early, which was amazing to see.
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After four hours of cartoon watching, board game playing, and radio music listening to the Francesca residence; it was finally 8:00 PM and the New Year's Eve party had at last begun. The grownups started to place the meals and snacks that Babbs' Daddy and Tio Antonio made from scratch on the coffee table which was wide, and wooden but rectangular to fit the table completely.
However, unlike other coffee tables, this one was really expandable. So Mommy slowly began to crouch her legs without hurting the twins in her tummy and gently opened the coffee table into a longer table for the meals and snacks of the party. With that, Francesca's New Year's Eve get-together began to start in an instant.
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As everyone finished eating the meals as well as the snacks, it was time to make New Year's Resolutions. "W-What's a New Year's Resolution, Mommy?" Questioned young Babbs, curious yet confused at the same time. Mommy kindly started to answer her little girl's question. "Well sweetie, a New Year's Resolution is a promise or goal that people around the world make for themselves to begin doing good things or stop doing bad things within the start of the first year. It's an amazing experience with intentions such as human growth as well as improving on something people would like to get better at." Smiled Mommy, as she gently patted Babbs' head.
Babbs also smiled at Mommy as she closed her eyes with pure kindness. Daddy began to smile at his wonderful girls and gave them a big hug. Babbs and Mommy accepted the hug and hugged Daddy back in the process.
Everyone awed them with sincere purity, and Tio and Abuela did the same and then got into a hug as well. Babbs was absolutely glad to have a great family and friends as her great support group throughout the beginning of the first grade. And it was awesome!!!
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The party was beginning to end, as it was 11:59 PM and the ball at 42nd Street was about to start its drop for the new millennium which will become the year 2000. Babbs, Jackson, Alana, Stephanie, and Lowenthal were very excited for the new year to start in their young lives. All except for Eddrick, who was standing in a corner for some other reason.
Was he scared? Was he nervous? Or perhaps he was very anxious about the new year coming up in several seconds? Babbs ran to Eddrick and asked him if he was okay. He sadly answered, "I just don't want this year to end. And then, when it comes, everyone and everything will start to change… FOREVER!!!!!!" Sniffled Ed, while trying to hold off his tears.
"A-And… I can only hear in one ear because of that. And it's driving me crazy!!!" Babbs' eyes began to tear up, but wiped them with her left arm to try and stay strong for one of her friends.
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Eddrick sadly explained that when he was small, he was diagnosed with one-sided deafness. Meaning that he could only hear with one ear. His parents were concerned about their little boy's hearing loss. But Ed's grandmother would get completely annoyed with him and his disability, she would hurt Eddrick physically and emotionally constantly during preschool and kindergarten. But his mom and dad never did so. They've always loved their child very much. Always have and always will. His folks began to send the grandma to a mental facility so that she would never yell or hit young Eddrick ever again. They signed him up for the Disability Support Program to help their son find ways to hear and understand the world and the people around him.
Around that time, the 4-year-old Eddrick would also meet a 3-year-old Jackson. A boy who was one year his junior with autism and ADHD was with his Daddy waiting to be called by one of the nurses for Jack's first appointment.
"Oh, Eddie sweetie! Look, there's someone here who would like to play with you." Said Mom happily to her son. "Would you like to make a friend, son?" Asked Dad kindly. "W-Weally?" answered the younger Eddrick curiously and innocently. Mom and Dad nodded at their child with such love and purity, Eddrick began to smile very sweetly at his parents.
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Mom then gently put little Ed down on the rug to make friends with little Jackson, who was very shy at the time. However, he was able to become friends with the 4-year-old in the process even as they grew up; which was amazing to boot. And the boys had been close ever since. Jackson and Eddrick would eat together, take naps together, play together, and of course, get into fights or in trouble together.
Ed's parents would pitch in with Jackson as well as his Daddy and help communicate well with young Eddrick too through compassion, patience, and kindness. Eddrick was happy to have his family and their friends by his side.
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Babbs finally understood Eddrick, his struggles, support, and hardships and smiled at him because of that. She sighed happily, then gave him a hand back to the party for the ball drop which will end in 20 seconds. "C'mon Ed, everybody waiting. Let's go back to the party, okay?" Babbs winked at her friend kindly. She was so happy to see Eddrick feel better from his struggles and hardships when younger.
He then held her hand, and the two returned to the party just in time for the year to end in 10 seconds. The children and grownups began to count excitedly.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
And with that, 1999 had come to a close. And the year 2000 has finally arrived in New Yorbany.
~ The End ~