I Need To Stay This Time

Moving In

The car stopped in front of a shabby, worn down apartment building.

My dad is in the navy, meaning we have to move every few months for his work. I hated moving, leaving my friends behind, all of my new favorite places and things to do.

I opened the door slowly and stepped out. I grabbed my bag from the trunk and waited for my dad and brother to get theirs. We walked inside and found our new place. We were 4 stories up and all the way at the end of the hall. I unlocked the door and set my bag down. I took Liam to his room and helped him unpack a bit before I heard knocking.

I walked past my dad in the kitchen putting stuff away, and opened the door. "Uh, hi?" I was confused. "Hello, I'm Neil, you're neighbor, I have a 2 sons, and I'm glad to meet you." He reached his hand out to greet me. I shook his hand as I said "Oh, I'm Lenna, I have a brother named Liam, and my dad is Jackson. Nice to meet you as well." I said cheerfully. "I was hoping you all would like to come over for dinner later? Once you're unpacked mostly?" He said with a smile on his face. "We'd be happy too, I'll let my dad know, is 7 okay?" I asked. "Of course, were 428, to the right of you." He said as he backed away from the door. "Thank you." I said as I shut the door.

I turned around and saw my dad behind me. "Who was that?" He asked. "Those were our neighbors, they invited us over for dinner at 7, and were going." I told him knowing if I hadn't made the plan that he would blow it off. "Uh, okay. It's 5 now and I'm tired from driving all day, I'm gonna nap, wake me up 10 minutes before we leave." He yawned.

I was going to make him dress nice to make a good impression. I made my way to Liams room to check on him. He was passed out on his bed as well. I decided I would let them sleep until dinner, I had to unpack as well.

I found the empty room and started unpacking clothes into my dresser and closet. After unpacking all of my clothes, I needed a break. I went to the newly put together kitchen, and made a smoothie.
I gathered the ingredients and put them in the blender. I turned the blender on, but then remembered my dad and brother were sleeping. I turned it off immediately and got tea instead.

Liam came out of his room, looking annoyed. "What was that loud noise?" He asked quietly. "It was the blender buddy, I forgot you were sleeping, I'm sorry." I felt bad for waking him up. "Can we talk, sis?" He asked sounding scared. "Of course bud, lets go sit down." I walked him to the couch and we got under a blanket. "What's up, bud?" I asked. "I know why we keep moving, but I don't like it. I miss my friends from Texas, and Virginia, and California."He spoke holding back sobs. I pulled him into my chest, trying to comfort him. "I know, I miss my friends too, but we have to get used to it. Since mom died, dad is the only way we have a house and food. Every time we move, I get a job to help, but I can't support as much as he can. He needs his job to help us, and while its hard to keep leaving, we don't have a choice." I tried to explain without crying.

"Lia and Jason gave me there phone numbers. I want to talk to them all the time. I miss them so much. Could I use your phone to talk to them?" He asked. "Of course you can, do you still have their numbers?" I asked. He got up and ran into his room. It's been hard for us and I hope this can make him happy. He came back holding a paper. He gave me the paper and I saw the phone numbers. I created contacts for them and gave him my phone. He ran into his room with the biggest smile.

I curled myself into a ball and let out my tears. Before we moved, my dad was told he was stationed there for 2 years. After a year of living there, my mom was hit by a drunk driver on her girls night out. She was in the hospital for weeks before she went into a coma. My dad had to take off a lot more to help my brother and I since my mom couldn't. He was on the verge of getting fired when my mom died.