"Alright, what else are you going to pack?" Ethan asked. Pluto stopped walking up and down and sat on the bed. Ethan smiled at her and threw her a treat. Pluto barked and caught it in her mouth instantly.
"Hmmm, I don't know, of course I have to pack underwear," Joy said as she dumped her underwear into her suitcase.
"Of course, of course," Ethan said. "What about a swimsuit?".
"A swimsuit?" Joy asked.
"Mhmm, you know a swimsuit, the one you put on when you want to go and swim," Ethan said.
"Oh, yes, I know, I know what a swimsuit is. The problem is that I don't know how to swim," Joy said sheepishly.
"How come you don't know how to swim dummy?" Ethan asked with a scoff.
"Well, no one has taught me how to swim yet, so I don't know, and we don't have a pool in my house, but we do have a garden and I like the garden so much," Joy smiled.
"How sad, well, what am I saying? You're only five years old, of course you don't know how to swim. I know how to swim though, my dad taught me when I was six," Ethan said proudly.
"Oooh, that's nice Ethan, it means I still have time to catch up to you. I'm going to be six in October, maybe I can learn how to swim before then," She smiled.
"Well, the best time to learn how to swim is right now. It's summer after all, it's extremely hot and that's why I remembered the swimsuit in the first place. I have my swimming trunks with me, I tool all six of them.".
"Well, I don't have a swimsuit, or at least I don't have one that fits. The only one I have is from when I was a baby and my mommy dressed me up in it to take some pictures by the beach," Joy said.
"You are going on a mini-vacation right?" he asked and Joy nodded.
"You should just ask your dad to teach you how to swim, he should have time since he's going on vacation with you," Ethan said.
"I agree, that's such a good idea Ethan. My grandpappy has a pool in his backyard! Also my grandma and grandpa, I am sure my daddy can teach me how to swim and if he doesn't know how to swim, one of my uncles can teach me," Joy giggled.
"Oh yes, I forgot you have like four uncles," Ethan scoffed.
"Yes, and I love them so much. Ethan, how many uncles do you have?" she asked.
"I don't have any uncles," He said.
"Ooooh, are you sad? You can borrow some of my uncles, they will be very happy to be your uncles as well," Joy said.
"I don't need your uncle charity dummy, I am perfectly fine with no uncles or aunts. Why do you think my family is so rich? They don't have to spend money by giving their siblings some, they spend it all on me," He said proudly.
"People give their siblings money?" Joy asked.
"Of course, of course they do. Especially when your siblings are poor and they always ask for money. I have seen people who get angry because their siblings always ask them for money and they don't even have money left to take care of their actual family.".
"I think you're exaggerating a little bit Ethan, it can't be that bad to have siblings. I want a little brother or sister someday..." Joy said.
"Don't, because as soon as there's another sibling in the house, all the love, food, and tv time will be divided and that's terrible. I never want my parents to have another child, they will forget all about me!" Ethan said.
"I don't think that's true Ethan, your parents love you a lot, and siblings are nice, you have someone to talk to, someone to play with, someone to have sleepovers with all the time," She giggled.
"Whatever, anyway, moving on, back to the swimming pool thing," Ethan said. He did not want to keep on talking about this.
"Okay, fine, so I don't have a swimsuit though," Joy said.
"Maybe your mom has one, or maybe you can ask your parents to buy one for you," Ethan said.
"Yes, maybe, you have so many good ideas Ethan," Joy smiled.
"Yes, I do, you should start paying for all my good ideas," Ethan said.
Joy giggled, "What would I pay you with?".
"I will take my payment in candies, gummies and chocolates next time we see," He said.
"Okay, fine, I will pay you in candies, gummies and chocolates," Joy said.
"That's a deal," Ethan laughed.
"And I'm finally done packing my things!" Joy said excitedly, she zipped up her suitcase and sat down on her bed.
"Finally," Ethan said.
"So, what should we talk about?" he asked.
"I don't know...hmmm, you know what, my mommy and daddy have been nicer to each other lately and it's so nice. They smile more when they are together and they laugh as well," Joy said.
"And what do you want me to say to that dummy?" Ethan asked.
"I want you to be happy for me Ethan, this is all I have ever wanted and it's finally coming true," She replied.
"Well dummy, let me make it clear to you that you had the key to make them stay together all this time.".
"What do you mean?" Joy sounded confused.
"People can no longer separate when they have a child, even if they want to, they cannot because a child forever joins them together," Ethan said. "You have the power to keep them together, you can force them to love one another," Ethan said.
"How?" Joy asked.
"Wait, this is another one of my good advices, you need to increase my pay first.".
Joy shook her head and laughed, "Okay, fine, I will increase your pay, I will give you two more chocolates, deal?".
"Deal!" Ethan said. "Anyway, back to what I am saying. You can keep them together and force them to love each other. It is simple, just make sure you do everything in your power to make them stay together at all times," He said.
"And how do I do that?" she asked.
"You are their only child, all their attention will be on you at all times. You just need to use those baby brown eyes of yours and they will do your bidding, especially your dad," Ethan said.
"Hmmm... I don't know about that. They are nice to each other, but they do not love each other, my mommy told me that," Joy said.
"Well, for them to have gotten married in the first place, it means that they loved each other once before, and love does not just disappear. You can't just start hating someone overnight, that's what my mom says," Ethan said.
"Deep down, they still love each other, all you have to do is find a way to bring that love up to the surface.".
"And how do I do that?" Joy asked. His words were so confusing, but she kept on listening because she wanted to make her parents fall in love again. If being friends again made them so happy, then being in love again would make them happier and they would be a big, happy family and then she would be able to have some siblings.
"You are smart dummy, I am sure you can figure out a way to do that on your own. That's all the advice I have for today," Ethan said.
"Okay, thank you Ethan," Joy smiled and Ethan scoffed. "Ethan, how does it feel to have parents who love each other?" She was curious, she wanted to know what it felt like.
For as long as she could remember, her parents had never been together together, and she had seen other children with their parents who were in love and she wanted that.
"Well, it's not all that great, they kiss and hug all the time which is disgusting." Joy laughed hearing Ethan gag.
"And just because they are in love does not mean that they don't argue. They still argue as much as other people, the difference is they can't leave the house when they are upset with each other and they still sleep in the same bed, or my dad sleeps on the couch if the argument was that bad," Ethan said.
"Apart from that... the most important thing is that they make up... If they didn't make up, I don't think I would have both parents right now," Ethan said.
"I agree, making up is very important," Joy nodded.
"Yep, when I get a wife, I'm never going to sleep on the couch even if we get into a serious argument," Ethan said.
"Why not?" Joy asked.
"I've seen my dad on the couch... he's miserable, it's so small and tiny and he barely has any room to sleep and his legs are over the handles, it definitely is not comfortable. It doesn't matter how bad me and my wife argue, I am never going to leave the sweet comfort of the bed," Ethan said definitely. Joy giggled, his reasoning was very funny.