The Sensible Solution

chapter one

        Take a look inside the town of Westlake, you'll see an array of neatly organized gated communities, bright golf courses, quaint and subtle window shop-lined streets and extravagant dining options all over town. But what do I see? I see too much money, too many problems, and too many people who need to experience life outside of the town-from-hell in which I have been raised in.

        Westlake, Texas has been my home for almost 17 years now, and despite the fact that all my friends live here and my favorite ice cream shop (which I couldn't bear to do without) is here, nothing is keeping me here. I long for something more; I feel misplaced. I don't desire couture gowns or expensive steak, I love spending my days in my favorite jeans and snacking on fast-food. But that's just not acceptable from the eldest and only daughter of Taylor and Monica Sanders, who are arguably most influential and wealthy couple in Westlake. The life I was born into includes generations of the Sanders family name living right here in Westlake. 

"Brooklyn! It's nearly noon, you are sleeping this summer away! Why don't you do something today, for God's sake you can't live in your bed." my mother came loudly clicking her heels into my bedroom at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m., it was no where near noon! Squinting my eyes and drowsily lifting my head from the pillow, I saw her standing with her hands on her hips, her signature pose, at the edge of my bed frame.

        It was 2 weeks into summer break and my mother was already complaining about my lack of activity. Not that she was far off the target, I had pretty much spent those weeks in bed watching movies, since my best friend Callie was in the Dominican Republic until next week. This was not regarding the fact I had no interest in participating in anything going on here in Westlake. As of recent, I had grown increasing tired of the town that I held responsible for pinning me down from everything I ever wanted to experience.

"There's nothing to do here," I groaned sleepily, referring to our dead-beat town which the most interesting activities for kids my age consisted of shopping on daddy's credit card, golfing, or studying to get into an ivy-league university all day and partying all night. Quite a cliche rich neighborhood, I always joke that we should call MTV and get ourselves a nice reality show.

"Well you have to do something. How about you and I go shopping and then head for a late lunch, I have something to speak to you about anyways. Now go shower, I expect you to be downstairs and ready in less than an hour,  Brooklyn, I'm not kidding." my mother spoke down to me, not waiting for a response before swiftly walking out of my room as fast as she came.

        I physically deflated, high-end shopping was every woman's favorite past time here. No doubt the shops would be packed. Why did we have to go out to eat? We had a state of the art kitchen downstairs. Despite my negative thoughts, I hastily rolled out of bed, not wanting to face my mother if I wasn't ready within her time frame.

        After a quick shower and dressing in a sundress and sandals I hoped would be up to my mothers expectations, I descended the staircase in record timing. I found my mother waiting in the living room typing on her iphone.

"Finally Brooklyn," She sighed, and looked up to eye my outfit up and down, and slightly nodded an approval, "Let's go, I'm already starved."

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        A quick drive into the heart of Westlake brings an array of small shops and restaurants, including Randy's Ice Cream Parlour, my favorite. My mom pulls into The Rose Garden, and upscale cafe.

"We will eat here, and then drive to Dallas to shop." My mother informs me, turning off the ignition. Dallas is a 40 minute drive from Westlake, but we only shop there when my mom wants a bigger selection, usually for special occasion dresses and such.