Maybe They Were Right

17

January 24,2022
Los Angeles, California

| Third Person Omniscient |

It was a school day and Karina was feeling good. Mondays started to be her favorite day after a conversation with Ms.Rochelle. After telling Ms.Rochelle she hated Mondays, she fussed at her. Ms.Rochelle told her that every day she woke up was a blessing and to say she hated a certain day was ungrateful and selfish of her. So many people wish they could wake up to their own home, own bed, own food, own car. Karina did feel bad after that but Ms.Rochelle gave her some encouragement and some bible verses to read when she felt like that day wasn't her day. It made her change her perspective and to be grateful every day...even if she felt like it wasn't a good day.

Joyce dropped off Royalty since Chris was still at home with the baby. Since Royalty has been at school, all she does is talk about Lovely. Every day for the past two weeks, that's all she talks about. Today there was an assembly for the kids in the gym and Karina was standing at the back with the other teachers. As the speaker spoke and did a puppet show, the kids laughed and were engaged. Surprisingly. Karina's phone vibrated constantly. She excused herself and walked out the gym.

"Hello?"

"Oh wait. Are you busy? I thought the kids were at recess." Janiyah said.

"Hey, and their at an assembly right now. Everything okay?"

"Oh yea, I just never responded to your text you sent me the other day. What happened girl?" Karina walked into her class and shut the door. But not all the way.

"It was terrible. I dropped off stuff for the baby at Chris's, and he let me hold her. She's such a beauty. We ended up watching Snowfall and Norbit and he fell asleep on my shoulder then moved to my lap. I was playing in his hair and tell me why his girlfriend walked in on us? And to make matters worse, I WAS WEARING HIS SHIRT"

"GIRLFRIEND?! When did he get a girlfriend?! And what were you doing in his clothes?!" Janiyah said and Karina sighed.

"I don't know and because I didn't want to hold the baby in my clothes since I came from doing hair and from the store. But I felt so bad. I don't feel as bad now because I didn't do anything wrong. But I just wish Chris would've told me."

"Yea he should've said something since it his HIS girlfriend. That's messed up, Karina."

"Yea. And the night I left he ran after me and kept asking if I was okay and I told him I was fine."

"What should've came out his mouth was 'Karina I apologize for not telling you i'm in a RELATIONSHIP.'" Janiyah yelled the last word.

"I know I know."

"So have y'all spoken?"

"No and I think I want to take a step back. That whole situation made me feel very uncomfortable."

"I don't blame you. But when you are ready to talk to him, be straight up about how you feeling." Karina nodded as if Janiyah could see her.

"I will. I have to go though. I'll talk to you later." They said their goodbyes and Karina went back to the gym and stood with her coworkers for the remaining of the assembly.

• • • • • • • • • • •

"Okay carpool line up! Riley stop running around." Karina said as the kids lined up. It was the end of the day and Karina was ready to get home. She didn't have any appointments today. She walked the kids outside and said her goodbyes to every student that left. Royalty was the last one and they were sitting down and talking.