"Whoa. Awesome, Jon!" Zoe exclaimed, grinning, as she walked into the room. "You have to tell me all about what that feels like."
Jon just rolled his eyes and mumbled to Marie, "Don't ask." She nodded and turned back to look at half of her new bigger family.
His mom seemed more subdued, smiling a forced smile and saying, "Are you ready to come... home?"
"Yeah, Mom. We're all dressed and ready," he said, motioning toward himself. "You want to walk?" he asked Marie under his breath.
"I'll let you do it, y'know, just to get used to it," she replied, grinning. He began to walk unsteadily, not yet used to the extra weight on his chest or his shoulders. His family led the way out, an uneventful walk, and the moment they piled in the family minivan, Zoe and Mikey talked to them both, bombarding them with questions. Zoe and Jon talked while on the other side of them, Mikey spoke with Marie, seeming almost bashful.
"So Jon's really a girl like you? And you're really my new sister?" he asked, wide-eyed.
Marie laughed as she replied, "Yeah, just like me. It looks like I am. We're your new sister, actually." Her laughter grew louder as Jon choked beside her, and Mikey began to laugh too, more at ease. Eventually they arrived back home, Zoe and Mikey both finally satisfied.
