Lemongrass and Sleep (A Clodagh Story)

From The Start

"We are moving to Ireland? As in all three of us?" I rapidly flashed my eyes between my parents. This would be a great start, maybe I can make some new friends for once.

My father spoke in his deep voice from across the table after he cleared his throat ,"The move will be happening next weekend on sunday, I will be having you stay home friday to pack."

"What is my new school going to be? Is it going to be a christian school as well?" I ask my parents, I assumed what the answer is going to be, however I was completely wrong as my mother answers the question, "No, this move is already expensive enough and as of right now until we can afford it, you will be going to a public state school."

"Oh." My voice was laced with surprise, my eyes widened as well.

"Good night darling." I smile tiredly at my mother and father and wish them a good night. I get up from the dining room table and start to get ready for bed.

I lay in my bed and ponder this random start to a new life. I wonder what it'll be like?

Maybe I can make a huge group of friends, or even just one will be nice. They'll probably have a totally different accent from me, I don't know what an Irish accent sounds like, it must be beautiful. Will they have red hair like what the movies say?

I continue to dream of my hope filled thoughts as I drift to sleep.

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The next day goes by excruciatingly slow. Once Friday hits my father wakes me up early in the morning to start packing. He hands me a few boxes, I don't have much to pack, but I pack up what I do own. I pack up all but two sets of clothes. Church clothes for the morning and clothes for the plane. According to my parents it'll be about an hour flight to Dublin. We are packing up our furniture Sunday morning, I wouldn't call it morning, it'll be around 12am, however we need to get our furniture sent out as soon as possible so we can have it in Dublin. They say we don't now our neighbors until we get there, but I hope they have a girl my age. Another 13 year old would be nice, mostly middle aged men and old people live in our complex at the moment.

Maybe I will meet a boy, then we can married and have kids together, I can stay home and spend all my time with them. Just how my parents want my life to be like.

I was officially unenrolled at my school here in London, I'll be enrolled in my new one on Sunday. I'm nervous and excited to go to this new school, what if they find me weird for not having the same accent? What if I look so much different to them I'm quite literally an outcast. What if I don't have the right manners or what if I do something offensive?

My thoughts are all over the place as I think of this move.

I rip off the last piece of tape I need for my final box. My room wasn't that decorated before but now it feels really empty.

I had a few shelves with little trinkets from throughout the years. My clothes from my closet. And the most important thing to me, a walkman and a cassette of Britney Spears. I only have one cassette but it is the most special to me.

I go into the living room where my parents are carefully packaging a cross that hung above our door, "I'm done!"

They appointed me to start on the kitchen. So I did. Eventually they joined me, and little by little we got everything packed.

The rest of the day and Saturday blurred. I went to church on Sunday, quickly and basically immediately changed into a set of gray sweatpants, a plain white tee, a black hoodie, and tennis shoes which were nearly ready to retire.

"Are you excited?" My mother who was next to me in the middle seat asked, I was given the window seat. While my father was given the aisle seat, which he absolutely despised.

"Very!" I responded quickly and excitedly as I opened my book. The plane ride was boring but they gave me a book to read, "Because of Winn-Dixie" I got through about half of the book before the hour was up. It helped ease the anxiety of the move.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the local time is 12:34 pm. Welcome to Dublin, Ireland." A flight attendant says over the intercom, everyone is clapping, despite being as confused as I currently am, I proceed to clap with them. I asked my mother about it when we got off the plane. It's a symbol of gratitude that the plane landed safely and a thank you to the pilot.

We take a train to our new house. Yes. An actual house. On the ground. No upstairs or downstairs neighbors. We have our own house. *Click!* the door unlocks. I run inside, "Woah! It's huge!" Or at least it feels like that to me. It's not much bigger than the apartment but it feels huge.

"Clodagh. The movers will be coming soon, why don't you go and take a walk around the neighborhood?" I nod and toss on my hoodie. It's September so it's starting to get chilly outside.

I hum different Britney Spears songs to myself as I walk. It's a nice neighborhood, people keep their house's appearances really neat. My favorites are the ones that look overrun with plants but are really just lots of flowers and ferns strategically placed. The smells are wonderful too. The whole neighborhood smells like a mix of floral and freshly baked goods. I love it here already.

While looking around I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and I run into someone.

Tall. I'm assuming a girl. I fall to the ground, luckily in the grass beside the sidewalk.

"Sorry! Are you okay?" She reaches out her hand to help me. I can't help but notice the freckles on her hand. As I take hold of her hand,she swiftly pulls me up and all I see while getting pulled up is red hair and a green hoodie.