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“I’m excited,” Linda signed.
Bob grinned. “I’m excited too.” He looked up. “Oh hi! Welcome to Sesame Street.”
Bob tapped Linda on the shoulder and pointed. “Look who’s here.”
“Hello! Welcome!”
“It’s a very special day today,” Bob translated as Linda signed. “Barkley and I are moving into Bob’s apartment with him.”
“We’re going to move all of Linda’s things down the hall from her apartment into mine,” Bob continued. Signing as he spoke the way he always did when a visitor was around.
Linda nodded. “You can help if you want.” She picked up a chair and stacked it on the wagon they had borrowed from Big Bird.
Bob watched her with a smile for a moment. “You know, Linda and I have been dating for a long time, and we’ve decided that we want to try living together. That means we’ll have breakfast together every morning before Linda leaves for the library and I start teaching for the day. And after she comes home we’ll have dinner together too.”
Linda joined Bob again and tapped his arm before pointing to the table. “Should we move that next?”
Bob shook his head. “Let’s move the wagon first so we have more room.”
Linda nodded. “Okay.”
“Gosh,” Bob remarked. “I’m just so happy we’re finally going to move in together.”
“Barkley’s excited too,” Linda pointed across the room with a laugh.
Barkley was turning around in circles barking happily.
“Hey Barkley Boy!” Bob called to him. “Want to help me move the wagon?”
Barkley’s tail wagged excitedly and he bounded over to Bob, knocking him over.
Linda shook her head. “Barkley. No.” She scolded.
On the floor, Bob sighed. “Linda?” He signed. “I just found a downside to you and Barkley living with me.”
Linda shrugged and shook her head.
-
Linda and Bob set down the table carefully.
“That was heavy.” Linda commented.
Bob nodded. “You’re right. It was.” He gave Linda a hug. “But just think. When we’re done moving everything, we’ll be living together.”
There was a knock on the door and Gordon poked his head into the room. “Hi.”
“Oh Hi Gordon.”
Linda waved a greeting.
“I just thought I’d see if I could help move anything.” Gordon also signed while speaking.
Linda nodded. “The couches need to be moved. Bob’s couch needs to go outside, and mine needs to come in here.”
“There’s only room for one couch,” Bob explained. “And Linda’s is comfier. So we’re keeping it and donating mine.”
“Good idea,” Gordon agreed. “I’ll help you carry them.”
-
Linda and Bob each set down the boxes they were carrying.
“Well, Linda. This is the last of it. We can start putting things away tomorrow.”
Linda smiled. “Dinner?”
“Dinner sounds great. But in a few minutes okay? I just want to sit down for a bit.”
“Okay.”
Bob sat down on the couch and Linda joined him. He put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. Linda rested her head on Bob’s shoulder.
“I’m happy.” Linda moved just enough to sign those two words.
“I’m happy too.”
They sat together for a moment, then Linda looked around. “Where’s Barkley?”
Bob got up and opened the door. Barkley bounded into the room and immediately knocked several things over.
Bob shook his head. “I think we forgot to make sure there was enough room for Barkley.”
Linda smacked a hand to her forehead. Barkley just sat there and smiled.