Unexpectedly Mine

(Based on a true story)

Chapter 1: Memory Lane.

I stepped out of my neighbor’s car, from a long day at school, I looked to the sky. The black and grey clouds seemed to hover just over my cul-de-sac. When I reached my front door the thunder roared as if warning me to stay out. As I stepped inside I was amazed by how many people could fit in my house. Most of them were my family, but there were also some people that I did not recognize. Thinking that this was just another thing I had to get used to I started to go upstairs to my room so I so could listen to my new cd and block out everything that was going on. Then this lady, who must have been a doctor, came running down the stairs looking as if she had just seen a ghost, and she told me that it would be better if I went and watched TV because I wasn’t allowed upstairs at the moment. I never thought who is she? Or why is she telling me what to do? I just did what I was told.

I found my little brother on the couch watching Sponge Bob Square Pants. I decided that it was good enough for me so I sat on the opposite side of the couch, curled up in a blanket and watched as Patrick helped Sponge Bob build a new house. I was just getting into the show when my dad came into the room with tears streaming down his face. It surprised me to see him like that because I’ve never once seen him cry, unless me or my brother said something that him laughed until he cried. But those were tears of joy and this was something completely different. He bent down, so that all three of us were eye level and his voice quivered as he said, “Your mother just died.” He took a deep breath and slowly continued, “You may go up and say goodbye but she won’t be there…she won’t say anything back.”

At that moment my mind went blank. I didn’t know what to say or how to react. My brother shook his head and left with my dad to say goodbye but I couldn’t do it. I knew that if I went and saw her now that’s the only way I would ever be able to see her again. I didn’t want that. I couldn’t handle that. I slowly turned and started staring blankly at the television. When my brother came back down stairs, our grandma came and read to us. All the stories she read were about death and how if feels to lose a loved one. But somehow I didn’t feel anything, it was as if I was empty. The only thing that went through my mind is how I never got to truly know her. I was only in the third grade, only eight years old, so I couldn’t really talk to her. I felt even worse for my brother because he is three years younger than I am so he never got to know our mother at all. I tuned in and out of what my grandmother was saying. When she was finished she asked if we had any questions, I shook my head as if I had forgotten how to speak.

My brother, Andrew, asked “ Grandma is mommy going to heaven?”

“Yes, Andrew, your mother is in heaven. And she is always with you and always watching you.” she said as she took us, one in each arm, and gave us each a wet teary kiss. “ I love each of you, very, very much.” she finished she got her books and headed for the kitchen to see if there was anything that she was needed for.

My friend’s mom came to pick Andrew and me up so that we could get out of the house. Our dad thought it would be best for everyone if we weren’t around for this. When we arrived at Cathy’s house, we went our separate ways. Me with my friend James and Andrew with his friend Taylor. Our game was just running around and losing energy. How that was fun I have no idea but I guess as little kids anything works, just as long as you’re moving. Finally we ended up standing in the middle of the street, trying to figure out what to do next, I looked towards James house. I saw his mom and her friend looking at old scrap books and crying silently in the garage. I turned my gaze up to the sky as if why me? Its black and grey clouds opened and started to rain as if mourning for my loss.

“Elizabeth…Elizabeth” I slowly opened my eyes and turned to see my hooked nosed math teacher glaring at me. “Aw how nice of you to join us again,” Mr. Turner said. Then he mumbled something about meeting him after class, but I couldn’t tell cause I was still a little groggy from my nap. I missed the rest of the lecture on special right triangles, but I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. The memory of my mother’s death was still clear in my mind. I remember thinking that I must have been crazy because I never once cried that die. Not even a tear. It was then, when I remembered what a minister told me, “If you cry before it happens then there’s no need to cry a second time.”

I knew Mr. Turner would be less than happy with me if I just left when the bell rang so I slowly packed my things and zipped my backpack. I walked over to him as he was washing of the overheads for the next class. “This is the third time that you have fell asleep in my class this week. I don’t want you to fall behind.” I nodded looking at the ground “I know. I won’t.” Hoping that would end the conversation, I looked up at the clock and then back at him. Thankfully he’s not as dumb as he looks and he wrote me a pass to my next class.

As I left, I saw them. The two most perfect people in the world. Nikki Davidson and Sean Becker. Nikki is the kind of girl that you can only see in the movies. She has gorgeous light brown hair with all the perfect flips and curls to it. The kind of body every model would be jealous of, and the kind of face that you only see in the magazines. Every guy wants her and every girl wishes to be her. Sean has the body of the gods! There can’t be a single gram of fat on his body and muscles in all the right places. His perfect tan matches his deep brown eyes and hair. He’s the kind of guy that only dates cheerleaders and stupid preppy girls. As I got closer I overheard Sean trying to ask Nikki to hangout this weekend. She looked and saw me. Luckily my best friends with her younger sister so she knows who I am, and she’s at least nice enough to wave and acknowledge me in the halls. So she waved and I just smiled. I probably looked like a complete dork cause that’s what happens when I get all nervous for no good reason. When I passed them I heard Nikki say, “ Sorry Sean but I have this… thing that I have to do this weekend.” My mouth dropped. Dang! I wish I could be that cool. I mean seriously! To be able to turn down the hottest guy in school, God, I’m so jealous.