Mean Trish (A Mean Girls Story)

Chapter 1: Worst News EVER.

Life was nothing short of picture perfect in Kenya. Each day waking up and feeling the scorching hot sun on my skin, whilst I lay in the long grass soaking up the Vitamin D. The lingering smell of Sol De Janeiro 68 was the only way to describe my surroundings and how sentimental they were to me. This is my life, or as I should probably say now, WAS.

I was walking along the sandy path back to our observation tent in the Kenyan Countryside, my mother specialised in Zebra watching and was planning to write her own book about it. I heard a faint shouting in the distance, I almost mistook the person of whom it came from to be a mirage... it was my mother.

"Trishy! Trishy! I have news for you." My mother bellowed to me at the top of her lungs.

I smiled at her and waved... little did I know the news that would follow and how it would change my life forever.

My mother caught up to me, out of breath from the scorching hot sun beaming down as she ran to me. "What's wrong?" I asked her in a plain voice.

"Trishy, my darling, you know how I always promised to do whats best for you in every situation?" My mother said.

My once happy expression turned to one of confusion, with a mix of fear. What 'situation' could she be referring to?

"I've been dreading telling you this, Trishy, I really have. We're moving back home, to Illinois."

My heart dropped, but at the same time I felt it beating even faster. I always was curious of American High School life after watching 'High School Musical' in the tent with my mother when I was younger. As much as I tried to push these feelings away, could I possibly be excited for this move?

Time froze, I sat contemplating.

"Trishy? Trishy?!" My mother screamed in my face as a result of me giving no answer.

"Listen, Trishy, I know this is a big change, but I want you to know that I am forever and always going to be here for you. I mean, I have raised you here since you were 4 years old, this is a big change. Talk to me"

"I'm fine." I told her, without a single emotion.

As fast as I could say 'cancelled' we were on a one-way flight to Illinois. I stepped off the plane and felt the air on my skin, it wasn't the same, it felt polluted. This time around the air smelled nothing like Sol De Janeiro, but more like cigarettes with a mix of gasoline. I hoped that the suburbs would be more welcoming than the city.

I could tell that my lack of emotion during the move scared my mother a bit. A change such as this would be frightening for anyone, never mind a girl who was moved to Africa at only 4 years old. It was the only thing I knew, the only place I could call home.

The taxi drove us to our large housing estate on the outskirts of the city, my mother had shown me pictures of the house but they seemed much larger than what stood in front of me.

I was looking at an American suburban neighbourhood house, I don't know what I was expecting to be so fancy, after all, I did live in a tent for practically all of my life.

From the sound of skate boards rolling endlessly on the tarmac roads, the sound of car horns beeping in the distance, everything was foreign to me. It all felt like an allergic reaction, something my body couldn't genetically handle. Where was the long grass? Where was the sand? Where was my home? I certainly wasn't looking at it, thats for sure.

My mother tapped my shoulder from behind.

"Everything must be changing so quickly for you." She said with a hint of sadness to her voice. "I know exactly how you feel."

"Mom, I'm fine, I told you before. I don't need you to pity me, I'll handle this in my own way" I made very clear to her.

She sighed, then smiled. "With an attitude like that in this country, I'm certain you will have no bother making friends at school."

I didn't want to be reminded of school. In fact, I didn't want that word to escape anyone's lips.

All I knew, was that I had to face it head on. No regrets.