American Kisses

Breaking the News

"Chris! Wake up already! It's 10:00, you missed breakfast!"

"Uuugghhh! Dad, it's a free country. Let me sleeeep!"

I roll over on my bed and cringe from the dry drool on my chin. It is to early for this. I hear whispering from outside my door, and decided to ignore it. Then all of a sudden, a little bag of skin and bones jump on my back and it starts to bounce and yell.

"Wake up Chwisy, wake up! Come and play with me!!!"

Little Johny. My four-year-old brother who is obsessed with superheros. Every morning it's the same thing. I get up late, skip breakfast, and he pulls me to his room to play superheros. He was always Superman, while I played as the villan who would try to capture him and use tickle torture to get the "needed" information.

I let him pull me out of bed and begin to drag me to his room, when my dad stopped us.

"Chris we need to talk. Come sit down. I'll get us some coffee. Johny, go to your room for a little bit so I can talk to your sister."

Confused, I go to sit at the table. Johny gives me look that asks, what is going on? I shrugged and he left to his room.

It has been a couple of weeks since school has gotten out and summer has just begun. I can't believe I only have one year of school left. I mean, there's still college, but who cares about that?!? I'm just curious as to what my dad has to say that Johny can't know about. My heartbeat picks up at the nervousness that this might be bad news. My dad walks back in and hands me my coffee. He takes a seat in front of me, and begins taking.

"How have you been Chris? "

"Dad, stop stalling. We both know you have something important you need to tell me. Just spill."

"Well you see, I never really liked sending you to that terrible school of yours. The economy here is dropping faster than ever before. And... well..."

"DAD!!!"

"Fine! You're spending your senior year in Manchester as a foreign exchange student. I know this really nice family there who will be taking you in. It's only for a year and I'm only doing it so you can finish strong in school. Please, don't be mad."

My heart dropped. I can't believe he's sending me away. He's taking me away from Johny. I don't want to leave. I love America. I can't just leave. This is crazy. When I finally found my voice I tried to stay calm.

"Why? What about Johny? I don't want to leave. Daddy, please don't make me. What about my friends? Can I please just stay?"

I was breathing heavily after my little rant. Breath Christine, breath.

"I'm sorry honey it's for the best. This is what your mom did her senior year of high school. Actually you will be attending the same school she did. I thought you would be ready for a change. I thought you wanted to follow in her footprints. I'm sorry. Everything is already done."

I am so angry. Why would he do something like this without consulting me first? He was only trying to help. I need to stay calm, and act like I'm okay with this.

"Okay. Your right. If mom did it, so can I. When do I leave?"

"Thank you for understanding sweet heart. We will be fine. And you leave in two weeks."

This is gonna be the worst year ever.