"Riverbank is going to be different, Claire. I promise." I hear my mom say.

"How?" I ask. I've lived in every place imaginable. Farms, cities, suburbs. You name it, I've lived there. All for my absent father. General Peters. That's my dad. He's always at work. It's like he's dead. That's how little he comes home.

"There's a really really good school. They don't tolerate ANY bullying or fighting. It's an A+ school. I know you'll excel. Grades or behavior aren't a problem for you." She says.

"Yeah, but people are." I say.

"Claire!" She exclaims as I pack up a box with books.

"It's true! Here in New York is the only place I've made friends. I've been here for five years and loved it, suddenly you're going to take me out now that I feel comfortable?" I say.

"You will NOT speak to me in that tone of voice, young lady." She replies.

I sigh, "I'm sorry, Mom. I just really don't want to move all the way to England."

"I know, honey. I'm sorry, but this is where your father has been deployed. With his promotion, I think we'll see him a lot more. I know you and your sister have wanted that. Now, tell me when you're done packing, so we can start loading the moving van," she tells me and kisses my head.

For once, I don't want to move. I love this quaint appartment, the pretty city lights, all my friends, and now I have to give it up to move to a town far from any other civilization. As I pack my books, I think about what will happen in Riverbank.

The towns name is even cheesy. I unplug my X-Box and TV and pack them. They're the last thing. I look around my now empty room and sigh. I'm really going to miss this place.

There's a knock on my door. I turn around to see Whitney, my closest friend, walk in.

"Hey, Soda Pop," she says.

"Hey, Huckleberry" I unenthusiastically say.

"Do you really have to go? I wouldn't mind sharing a room with you." She asks.

"You know I already asked my mom. Her answer was 'No, No, NO! A million times NO!'" I sigh.

She hugs me tightly. Whitney has the best hugs. Of everything, I'll miss her most.

"I'm going to miss you so much." She says.

"I will too," I reply, fighting back tears, "call me every single day, you hear?"

She laughs at my remark, "Wouldn't miss it for the world." We bring my last boxes downstairs, and load them in.

•. •. •.

I stare out my window at the white clouds that surround the plane. I don't think this 12 hour flight will be very entertaining. I grab my phone out when my sister asks, "Claire Bear?"

I put my phone back, "yeah?" I say.

"Is moving to Britain going to make Daddy visit more?" She asks.

The innocence in her voice is undeniable. I love my 4-year-old sister to peices. I can remember my twelfth birthday, when my parents told me my mom was pregnant...

"That's what mommy says, Avarie." I tell her.

She sighs, "I wish someone knew for sure..."

I put my arm around her, and explain,"we all do, but Daddy's work makes him leave a lot."

"I miss him" she tells me.

"I do too..." I say, "I do too."