news?â
âNope,â Carly said. âGet to the important stuff. Whatâs the secret plan?â
âLetâs buy welcome-home presents for our new sisters.â
âLike what?â Carly said.
âLetâs buy matching bearsâbride bears!â Abby said.
âWith lots of white lace.â Carly wiggled all over.
Abby twirled her flashlight. âMommy and Daddy will be surprised, too.â
Carly grinned. âIf we keep it a secret.â
âWhen Daddy buys gas for the car, weâll ride along,â Abby said. She planned everything. She always did.
Abby had another idea. âLetâs make cards for our sisters, too.â
âOut of pink paper,â Carly said.
âAnd lace from Mommyâs sewing box,â Abby said.
Carly clapped her hands. âTo match the bearsâ gowns.â
The girls did their hand-over-hand secret code. Then they prayed.
âDear Lord,â Abby began. âWeâre getting new sisters.â
âThey might not know about you,â Carly added.
Abby finished the prayer. âPlease help us show Your love to them. In Jesusâ name, Amen.â
They turned off the flashlights and crawled out of the closet.
Abby curled up on Carlyâs bed and cuddled two teddy bears.
Carly looked worried. âWhat about our secret place? Can we keep it a secret from our new sisters?â
âDefinitely,â Abby said. âBut not for too long.â
Carly looked like she was going to cry.
âWhatâs wrong?â Abby said. She moved close to her sister.
âIâm afraid you wonât be my best friend anymore,â Carly whimpered.
She hugged her bear. âMaybe youâll like our new sisters better.â
âDonât be silly,â Abby said, patting Carlyâs hair. She wished her own hair would grow. Long and curly like Carlyâs.
âLetâs make a braid,â Abby said.
âGoody!â Carly said. She hopped off the bed to get some hair ribbons.
âMake four braids,â Carly begged.
âFour will look silly,â Abby said.
Carly pouted. âCome on, Abby. Just for fun?â
Abby tossed the hair ribbons onto the bed. She stomped out of Carlyâs room. She could hear Carly yelling for Mother.
Let her tattle. Abby didnât care.
It would be great having a sister who wasnât such a baby.
THREE
Abby put the bride bears in a yellow basket.
âIâll carry it,â Carly said.
Abby slid the welcome-home cards into the basket.
Carly twisted her hair. âDo you think theyâve seen bride bears before?â
âMaybe. Maybe not. There will be lots of stuff in America theyâve never seen.â
âWhen will we give the presents?â Carly asked.
âYouâll see,â Abby said. She wished Carly would stop asking so many questions.
The airport buzzed with people. Some carried suitcases. Others pushed carts and pulled luggage.
Mrs. Roop, the caseworker, spotted the airline schedule. âFlight 225 is late.â She pointing at the screen above their heads.
Abby and Carly groaned.
âLetâs have some dessert while we wait,â Mother suggested.
They strolled toward the snack shop.
âShow us the pictures again,â Abby said after dessert.
Her father pulled out pictures of two Korean girls.
Carly stood on tiptoes to see the pictures. âWill they get homesick?â
âOur home will soon become their home,â her father said. âWe want to make things easy for them. You and Abby can help us.â He hugged Carly.
âWe'll help them learn our ways, Daddy,â Abby said.
Carly nodded. âAnd Godâs ways. We promise.â
Abby couldnât wait to give the bride bears to her new sisters.
She remembered getting her first bear dressed as a bride two years ago, at Christmas. Her father had read the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Eve. Everyone opened
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