Chapter Eleven: Quiet Day:

My house has been quiet these days. There aren’t many people around like there used to be. Dotty’s still here and so is Andy. I own the house now. Bunny and her family are still around too. In fact, I was twenty-four the last time I saw her. I was walking around in my backyard when I heard someone say, “Psst!” I happened to look up and see Bunny staring back at me.

“Bunny!” I said. “What are you doing here?” She stood up from the bushes. I was amazed that she still wore those pink rabbit ears.

“I came to see you,” she told me. I tilted my head at her.

“Me?” I asked. “What for?” Bunny shrugged her shoulders at me.

“Just because,” she said.

“Just because?” I asked.

“Just because,” Bunny repeated. We sat on the old stone garden bench. I looked up at the sky.

“Everything’s different,” I said.

“Yes,” she said.

“Most of my family is gone,” I said. “Daddy’s gone. So are Tim, Thomas, Josie, Monkey, Little Johnny, Hong, and Mr. Charlie.” I looked over at her. “I haven’t heard back from Yu in years.” Bunny shook her head at me.

“I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“I hope he’s alright,” I said. I kicked my feet back and forth.

“He probably is,” Bunny replied.

“How is your family?” I asked. She nodded at me in thought.

“Good,” she replied. “Mama J and Chuck finally got married.”

“Did they?” I asked.

“Well, sort of,” she said. “They are committed to each other now.” I tilted my head at her.

“Committed?” I asked.

“It’s like a wedding ceremony,” Bunny explained. “Only, they aren’t really married, but they are committed to each other.”

“Ah,” I said, nodding. The autumn breeze blew over our heads. I looked down at my feet.

“What’s going to happen now?” I asked.

“I have no idea,” Bunny said. “I can’t answer that for you.” I drew my knees to my chest. Part of me wished that it could go back to the way things were before most of my family disappeared.

Five weeks later, Yu came back home.