A Christmas Wish

Chapter 4

"Hey Cat," my mom said as I slumped into the passenger seat of her SUV. I have a sarcastic grin as I stuffed my backpack under my legs. "How was school?" she asked, really wanting to start conversation. "Fine," I said, still struggling with my backpack. "Mrs. Canterbury gave us our next narrative topic," I added, pulling up the brims of my boots. "Oh really? And what is it?" my mom asked, pulling out of the high school parking lot. "It's a pop culture thing. Karla insisted on it being about some stupid boy band called One Direction," That was when I heard the first peep from my six year old sister in the backseat. "ONE DIRECTION?!" she yelled. My mom waved her hand, indicating to calm down and be quieter. Valerie ducked down in the seat and giggled. "One Direction is amazing," she cutely said, playing with the giant pink bow on top of her blonde semi-curly haired head. "Yeah, I've heard," I said, pulling the mirror in the car down form the ceiling, fixing my loose hairs that kept getting in my eyes. "Can I help?" Valerie asked, twisting herself around my seat so I could see her adorable little kid face with her big green eyes gleaming at me. I shook my head. "I'm sorry bug. But I think Mrs. Canterbury might be hooking us up with some tickets to see them... and backstage passes so we can host an interview," "OH MY GOOOSSSSHHH!" Valerie screeched in excitement. "VALERIE! CALM DOWN!" my mom said, getting sick of Valerie's random screeching. Then Valerie sunk down in her seat and didn't speak for the rest of the trip home.

As soon as I walked up to the house that I have lived in my entire life, I stepped onto the front porch steps and got inside.
I jogged into my room and threw my dark green bag onto the mahogany floor. I threw myself on my bed, freshly made with my new deep purple colored sheets and comforter. I smelled the fresh scent of clean sheets, and it made me smile. I loved sleeping in a fresh cleaned bed. I rolled over my side and plugged in my Christmas lights in my room and I sat there and dazed at the twinkling lights for a moment and then I closed my eyes and relaxed.
When I opened my eyes, I glanced at the clock and I had fallen asleep for two hours! I jumped up and opened the door of my room and I glanced downstairs at the den area and I saw Valerie watching one of her little cartoons she loved. It was probably a Disney movie. She was obsessed with Disney movies, just like I was. I gently closed my bedroom door behind me as I skipped downstairs to sit next to my sister.
"Where were you?" she asked, wondering why I had been in my room so long. "Sleeping," I said, glancing up at the TV and realizing she was watching Peter Pan. I was right. It was a Disney movie.
"You're only suppose to sleep at night," she said, making a sassy remark. I rolled my eyes. I always called her the little sass-master of the house, and she thought it was a cool nickname thing. "Well... I sleep in the day too," I said, looking back at her. Her eyes brightened as she thought of a fact from school she remembered. "You are a BAT!" she said, giggling. I was puzzled for a moment, and then she explained herself. "You sleep in the day like a bat... You are non... cu... torn.... ell?" she asked, trying to pronounce the word. I laughed, "Nocturnal?" I asked and she nodded and sat in my lap. She was looking at the TV, but then she jerked her head around to me and tilted her head back cutely. "I love you Cat," she said, hugging me again. I smiled and giggled at her randomness. "I love you too Val," I replied as I ruffled her hair, and she lay back in my lap and I tickled her side and she almost fell off of the couch. Her little laughter was to die for.
"GIRLS!" I heard mom say as she turned the corner. We both froze and turned to her. "Don't break anything," she said not stopping her walk. "No problem!" I said, continuing to tickle Val. That was when Val fell on the floor and I picked her up before mom came back.
Val looked at the TV and was staring at for a while from my lap before she spoke. "I want to go there," she said, pointing at the screen and smiling. The picture on the screen was a London scene where the Darling family in the movie lived. Then I remembered... LONDON! COLLEGE! ACCEPTANCE!
"I'll be right back bug," I said as I set Valerie down on the cushion next to mine. "Okay!" she smiled as I rushed off towards the kitchen. "MOM MOM MOM!!!" I yelled, sliding on the tile because of my socks. "What what what?" she said, setting a ladle in the sink and catching my excited gaze. "I GOT ACCEPTED!" I screamed jumping up and down. Mom's face changed into a never-ending grin as she ran to hug me. After she let go of the hug, she looked back into my eyes as she placed her hands on my upper arms. "Into California State right?" My excitement died as she said that. I shook my head in disagreement. Her attitude changed as she realized that HER dream for me wasn't coming true. "But sweetie... What college are you talking about? You know our whole family has gone there, and you get automatic admission," I sighed as I told her the truth, "The University Of London! In LONDON!" My mom's smile was completely gone by now. "Cat, we can't afford that. And you know that,"
When she spoke my heart dropped. I forgot that it was a private college, meaning more payments due, higher tuition, higher dorm costs, and higher everything.

"Mom, I'll get scholarships and student aid and financial stuff... PLEASE just support me on this!" I begged, tugging on her sleeve. "You really want to leave me and Valerie for four years?" she asked, tears were forming in her eyes. I felt my skin turn cold. "I'll come back for the holidays honest," I said as I hugged her. My mom got quiet for a moment and looked at the tiles and then back into my eyes. "I really don't want you to go," she said, fixing the loose hairs in my face. I sighed and frowned at her with a pouty face. "Mom. You don't understand! This would be a perfect opportunity to be a journalist! It's a perfect city for it," I continued, giving her legitimate reasons. She rolled her eyes and wiped her cheek. "Cat, I still don't think it's a good idea. It doesn't matter what you want to do in life, I just don't think its for you," she said, and this time, I got upset when I didn't mean to. "MOM! ITS FOR ME NOT YOU! NOT EVERYTHING I DO IS SOMETHING YOU WILL AGREE WITH!!!" And as I finished, I walked off in anger, and I stomped upstairs. I heard Val yell at me from the couch. "CAT! Come back! You said you would come back and watch!" she said, patting the cushion next to her. I sighed and looked around. "Val, not now," I said as I went into my room and closed the door.
I growled in anger to myself as I knocked my head against the wall. My mom never let me do anything. I knew she would never let me go to London. You know what? I was just going to go. Forget my mom. I can do this! I'm almost 18. I'm gonna go.... If my mom helps with the money. Dang. I guess I can't go.