Olivia_Wiseman_05

Indie:
"Uh," I take a moment, not to just get in the car, but for what I'm about to say. "I-I'm still scared."
"Why?" Uncle Kimmy says.
"I miss Tennessee. I miss Cassidy."
"Look, Indie, I know it's hard to accept change. Trust me, I even have a hard time accepting change but you gotta adapt. As your Nana said, it's better to learn now, than later."
No, no, no, no, no! I try to hold in all the pain and all the tears as thoughts fill my head like a rain of sorrow and despair drown me in the deepest part of the sea. California...

Felix:
Donnie and I throw rocks at a pond walking home from school. Ever since Diana's mom took custody of the girls, I haven't been seeing them lately. I hope I see them again. I kinda miss them. I miss Maria and I miss how life used to be. Life changes like the vast ocean and her waves of glory and we, life on Earth, have to just live in it and deal with her aptitude whether we like it or not...

A Different Life, A Different Story

CASSY, UNCLE KIMMY, AND I sat underneath a tent with pillows and blankets in his living room. He took a flashlight and read "The Three Little Pigs" to us. We fell asleep but I woke up, staring at the ceiling of the tent, to Uncle Kimmy's booming voice. I peeked out of the side of the tent as he paced back and forth in the kitchen. Cassy leaned against the counter. I listened to their conversation:


Cassy said rubbing her head, "Thanks for putting Malauge to sleep."


"Jail, I have to go to the police station to bail her out, stay here with Malauge."


I stay in the tent, quiet and patient as Cass took out a hand full of money.


"No, Cass, I'll bail her out. How much money do you have there?"


"Two grand almost three. I work Night shifts," she wearily said her voice strung from a lack of sleep.


"I have more than enough money. I'll bail her out, while you keep your money and spend it on candy or something fourteen-year-olds like."


"I spend it on bills, clothes, food, and Malauge's health benefits. I don't have the money to waste on childish things like candy." There's silence for a while then she said, "Fine, I'll do the laundry. I'll wait for you to bail Mama out. Oh, and I got food for Mally to eat for breakfast tomorrow before she goes to school."


And all my little nine-year-old mind could grasp was, Cass plus thousand dollars equals a trip to California.


I go back to my area of the tent and snuggled up with the blankets and pillows and whispered to myself, "California."


Indie - California