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Priscilla clapped to her reaction. “I knew I did well.” Then she bent down to become the first one to meet Elsie. “Hello, Elsie, I am Aunt Priscilla. Do you like your party?”
“Hello,” she said, but she looked a bit confused. “Thank you, but it is not my birthday.”
Priscilla chuckled. “I know. This is your welcome party. We are so happy that you are here.”
Elsie’s brown eyes widened even more, and she looked up at Luce like she needed confirmation. Luce gave it to her with a small nod. She was smiling, but I could tell she was very emotional. This extra party was mostly due to Priscilla’s character, but it also showed how much my family valued Elsie.
This was what she deserved.
Luce looked at her daughter with soft eyes. “Do you want to play with the other kids?”
She nodded, looking a little shy. I knew she didn’t have any problem with making friends, but this was a new environment.
I asked, “Do you want me to introduce you to them?”
This time she nodded more enthusiastically.
Before I could put my hand out for her, barking filled the room, and Priscilla’s son and their dog Apollo barged into the room. Elsie jumped over Luce, shouting, “Mama!” Unfortunately, Luce didn’t seem like she could protect the kid because she also looked terrified at the sight of the gold pitbull.
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I absolutely forgot there was a reason we didn’t visit this house.
“Don’t laugh,” Luce yelled at me.
Priscilla started petting the dog's head, trying to calm him down, but he was very excited. “No need to be scared, Luce. He is a good boy.”
“I am not scared,” Luce said with a terrified voice. “Elsie is.”
Elsie nodded, still wrapped around one of Luce’s legs. “Dogs are bad. Cats are good.”
I wondered who taught her that.
I was just about to step up and end Elsie’s ridiculous dog phobia, but before I could, Priscilla’s son Tony got closer to Elsie. “Dogs are not bad. Apollo is not violent. He just wants to play.”
“He does?” she asked skeptically.
Tony nodded in his classic mature nature. “Yes. He loves new people.”
Elsie eyed the dog and Tony for a few seconds, but then with a small voice, she said, “I would also like to play.”
“I can introduce you to him.” He reached out to her, smiling. “My name is Tony.”
Elsie let go of her mother’s leg and stepped closer to Tony shyly. Then she shook his hand. “I am Elsie.”
“Nice to meet you, Elsie. This is Apollo. Do you want to pet him?”
She nodded.
Tony slowly pulled her from her hand and put her hand over Apollo’s head. Elsie slowly started petting him, and when Apollo licked her hand, she just giggled. Tony smiled, watching her.
“I can introduce you to the others as well. Do you want to go?”
“Will Apollo come with us?”
“Of course.”
“Then yes,” she said excitedly but then looked at her mother. “Can I go?”
Luce smiled. “Of course, baby.”
