Good Luck, Babe!

Take me back to california

Ben Rodriguez.

Why did my parents choose to move here? Of all places to move they choose a farm town in the middle of nowhere.

They basically just sprung it on me too. "Happy 16th birthday! We're moving on the opposite side of the country!"

But I won't complain, my sister needs a change of scenery after, well her episode. So if she starts to get better, I'll be happy.

"Ben! Come help your dad move stuff out of the car!" My mother yelled to me, her long black hair in a bun.

I walked back down the stairs of our new porch and went to help dad.

"Do you really think this will help Valeria?" I asked him once I got over to the car.

I looked over at Valeria, her once tan skin had gotten lighter, her eyes had dark circles under them. Once she was my mothers twin, dark hair, tan skin, light eyes, but now her eyes had darkened and she lost weight.

It hurt me to see her like this, so broken down. But as long as she wasn't around any pills here, I can only pray she gets better.

"Hopefully, I can't guarantee anything, but me and your mom refuse to send her away like your abuela told us to." He looked at me grimly. "Now help me carry our stuff in."

He tried to give me a smile, but his eyes gave everything away. Valeria trying to kill herself had really taken a toll on all of us.

When I walked into the house it was empty, but the floors were clean and sunlight poured through the windows in golden streams.

"Can I look around?" I asked my mother.

"Yep, go ahead!" She waved me off before stepping back outside.

I set down the box I was carrying and went up the stairs. On my right were 2 bedrooms and on my left was one other bedroom, a closet and a bathroom. We had already decided that I got the smaller one, so I headed toward the end of the right hallway.

The room had two large windows at the back, showing a view of a field and a few trees. It had a small closet on the right of the door, then an area for a bed at the left.

I heard footsteps behind me, only to find Valeria creeping down the hall toward me.

"Hey! Have you checked out your room yet?" I smiled at her.

"Yeah, it's nice." She sighed.

"Do you want me to get your suitcase?" I ask.

"Yes please."

I walked out the room and back down the stairs. When I walked outside I saw my mother talking to another woman, her skin slightly tanned and her hair braided behind her back.

"Oh! Ben!" Mom looked at me. "This is Alma Sato, she is our new neighbor."

I walked over and shook her hand, she was shorter than me, but only by a little bit. Which was hard to do, I stood at a non-confident 5'5. I had always been the shortest boy in my old town, so It was embarrassing when I met a woman taller than me.

"Nice to meet you." I let go of her hand.

"How old are you?" She asked.

"I just turned 16, ma'am."

"I have a son your age." She turned to my mom. "Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? I doubt you have much to eat just yet."

"We would love to! Just let me ask my husband." My mother said to her.

"Alright! We are in the phone book when you have an answer." Alma waved goodbye and headed up our dirt driveway.

"You hear that! A son your age!"