His Effect On Me

Chapter 15

        "So, right now I'm going to be singing something different from what I usually do. There's two really important people here for me today so I thought I'd sing a special song for one of them in particular." I hear an excited yell and look over to where Drew and Annalise are sitting. Drew is smiling fondly at me while Annalise is yelling and clapping excitedly. I grin at them before I move from the stage over to where the piano is and begin to play.

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has everything?

Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here you'd think
Sure, she's got everything

I've got gadgets and gizmos a plenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty!
But who cares? No big deal,
I want more

I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see them dancing

Walking around on those
What do you call 'em? Oh, feet

Flipping your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumping, dancing
Strolling along down a
What's that word again?
Street

Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wandering free
Wish I could be, part of that world

What would I give if I could live
Out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day
Warm on the sand?

Betcha' on land, they'd understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women, sick of swimming
Ready to stand

And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions
And get some answers
What's a fire and why does it - what's the word?
Burn?

When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world

As I play the last note everyone occupying the shop starts to clap. I look up with a bright smile on my face. There has been a lot of new customers coming in to the shop. A lot of them say that heard from others that there was live music here so they came to see me. I felt grateful with how much exposure I was getting lately. Being a singer was never something I wanted to do full time though. It's what grounds me . Suddenly on my lap is a smiling little girl.

"Annalise!" I wrap my arms around her and kiss her on the cheek.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Annalise." I speak into the mic and contemplate what i'm going to say next. "She's my daughter."

It had been a week since we had talked things through. My birthday was in three days and were going to make everything official with Annalise by filling out the adoption papers on that day. I know I'm young but I'm determined to make this little girl the happiest one in the state of Washington. My eyes automatically move to find Drew's. When they land on his I can tell he's a little shocked but then he smiles at me and I know its going to okay.

"Your what!?" And then it's not. I look up to where the shops entrance is to see someone I really didn't want to at the moment (or ever again, really.) My Mother.

I mentally swear to myself.

"Hey, Annalise," I place her back onto her feet. "Go with Daddy, okay?"

She nods quickly and runs over to where Drew is. I slowly get up and walk over to my Mom.

I was expecting yelling. I was expecting name calling but I wasn't expecting her to skip all of that and go straight for the slap.