Meant To Be

chapter 4

"Here you go." Said the boy's mom. She handed me ten bucks and I said thank you before getting back in line. My parents don't voluntarily give me money except for my two dollars a day for lunch. This was like a miracle to me. I thought about various things such as what to say, how much longer it would take to get to meet my current mcm's. Most people decided that they liked either Hakeem or Jamal. I never could choose. Finally 6 came. The mall started to fill with screams as Jussie and Yazz came through sears to the table set up. I wished for a moment that I could've traded places with a cashier who they walked past. Knowing that they were now in the building, I was motivated to keep waiting in line. We gradually moved up along with others who were there when we came. Before I knew it it was 7. "Are you serious?!?" I thought. I dreaded being here a lot longer. I started to see people rushing through when a security guard opened the gate. I became salty seeing that people who just walked up on the side were able to squeeze through when I had been waiting for hours. There were three women who looked at least 40 who had been waiting with their daughters (I guess) in front of us. They began to complain about skippers and my mom joined in. We all decided to stay together so that we can squeeze through together when the gate opened next time. Some guy who looked like he was in his 20s was yelling "Slow Down!" When all this occurred like he was a guard. One of the women in front of us explained to him that people started to come in and skip us from the side. Again he said "Slow down", this time looking around us. Part of me wanted to knock him in the head for being so annoying. Another part wanted to go to the front at that very moment. Another one of the women told the security guard near us what was happening. He did nothing. Minutes passed. I heard someone loudy whisper "They're about to open it!" Mom and I joined arms with the ladies in front of us. Another security guard opened the gate. We pushed together and started squeezing through. My mom got under the black elastic rope before they closed the gate again. She kept pointing out that I was her son. People kept asking if I was her son. I confirmed it, and the ladies in front of me as well as others let me through. Thank God. And Mom. She's my rider. The line was way smaller inside the black elastic ropes. Mom and I were relieved to be up here finally. I panicked about my appearance. I could feel my lips peeling as well as my hands feeling rough. I felt like my eyebrow pencil might have rubbed off in some spots. After all this, I just wanted to meet the two guys sitting at the table not far from me now. I tried to take a picture, but there were still at least 2 rows of people in front of me. My phone blurred when I zoomed in, only able to see backs anyway. Ugh how I wanted an iPhone. I was so in the moment I didn't realize how nervous I was. For the millionth time someone asked me if I had my wristband . I held my hand out and a lady cut it off with scissors and threw it in the trash can next to her. I proceeded to the end of the table, following the people in front of me. "No cell phones at this point." Said a female security guard. I was going to keep it in my hand, but my mom said give it to me. I got you ." loud enough for the lady to hear . damn it. I told mom how to use my camera. She nodded and I walked behind a little boy approaching the table. This was it.