And Life Goes On

And Life Went On

             I woke up and checked the night stand clock that Aunt Cherry had placed in my room two days after the funeral. " You gotta know whether it's night or day sweetie, you can't live concealed in this room with the blinds drawn forever", she stated after walking in my room that Monday afternoon. I responded by grunting and sucking my teeth at her, which she didn't care for too much. I know that because she yanked off my covers after that and told me I reeked of depression and tears and she couldn't bare to see her favorite niece this way. 

          I pulled my covers off my body reluctantly, and gathered my clothes, wash cloth, and towel and headed to the bathroom right next to my room. I turned on the shower because the water took a little while to warm up, and I grabbed my toothbrush and began brushing my teeth. After gargling, I took off my clothes and hopped in the shower. It felt good to have the steaming water cascading down my body. I began washing my hair because I hadn't done so in almost two weeks. Soon I was patting myself dry and applying lotion to my body. I looked at myself in the mirror. My shoulder length, brown hair needed a trimming. My dark brown eyes were bloodshot red  and puffy from all the crying I had been doing lately. My normally chubby cheeks looked slimmer due to the fact that I had barely eaten since the accident, even though Aunt Cherry has been begging me to. 

       I left the steaming bathroom, wearing black sweatpants and a loose fitting white tee-shirt. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen to see Aunt Cherry flipping pancakes. The smell of it was enough to send my stomach growling and my taste buds tingling. "Chocolate chip, your favorite if I remember correctly". I had to smile at that. I don't know what I would do if Aunt Cherry hadn't been kind enough to take me under her wing. 

       As we were eating the pancakes and bacon Aunt Cherry had prepared she cleared her throat and spoke up " I didn't want to ruin the moment but I have to tell you, some social workers are going to be coming over later on to discuss, you know", she stuttered as she spoke " your circumstances. They also feel it would be best if we enrolled you in the local high school over here.

    "Well it was bound to happen eventually", I responded. I didn't have that many friends back at my school in New York, well none that I was really close  with anyway so transferring schools wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to me. But still, the whole idea behind why I have to even switch schools doesn't settle well in my stomach. 

     After that comment Aunt Cherry told me that the social worker would be here around five in the evening so I should brace myself for then. She also told me I should put on something a little more decent because she didn't want the social worker to think I was a bum or anything around those lines. I laughed at that because I did kind of look like a homeless hobo. 

     At around 5:15 the doorbell rang, and I heard Aunt Cherry open the door and greet someone. "Leila", she yelled "come downstairs there's someone here to see you". I checked myself in the floor length mirror hanging on the back of my bedroom door. I was wearing white jeans with a light pink blouse and black flats. I thought I looked decent enough. And considering that I've just been through the most traumatic experience, this social worker person should be glad I'll actually be wearing pants in her presence, instead of just wrapping a blanket around my body and calling it a day.

    "Coming", I called back making my way out of my room, down the stairs, and into the living room right by the entrance of Aunt Cherry's house. "Hello", greeted a middle aged brown skinned woman with dark brown hair that was cut very short and styled in what looked like twist. She had silky smooth looking skin and wore diamond studs with grey slacks paired with a black shirt and blazer. She also wore stilettos so high, I would break my neck in if I ever tried to walk in them. 

    "Hi", I said back after admiring her appearance for the past couple of seconds."My name is Sabrina and I will be your social worker. First off I want to say that I am sorry that you've have experienced what you did, but you seem like a strong girl, so I know that you will persevere". She reminded me of my mother, always knew exactly what to say, at exactly the right time. I couldn't help me grin at her. She probably thought I was a creep right now, but she didn't know how much of an effect her words had on me. 

     All three of us sat at the two couches in the living room. Aunt Cherry and myself sitting at the three seat sofa against the wall and Sabrina sat at the love seat right in behind the coffee table in the center of the living room. In the next two hours we talked about what lies ahead in the near future for me. That included money from the state that Aunt Cherry would be receiving even though she doesn't need it. So instead she's going to put it in a savings account so that it can pay for some of my future expenses such as college and things in that nature. We also discussed what I would do about school and settled on me getting home schooled by a tutor for the rest of the school year, and then starting regular school again in September for my junior year. Since it was already almost April and school ended in June it would make more sense for me to start school again for the new school year. I'm also hoping the talk will die down by then about why I moved in the first place.

     Aunt Cherry said I could take my drivers test during the summer if I wanted to. My dad had taught me how to drive last summer, so I think I'm pretty much prepared. She also said that she would consider buying me a car after my I take my driver's test so that I have a way to get around town. Aunt Cherry was a pediatrician, so she had a pretty good salary. At around 7:30 Sabrina was heading towards the door. "Have a good night, and thank you so much", Aunt Cherry said as we stood on The porch. "Yeah, thank you I really do appreciate what you've done for me so far", I said. 

    "No problem, I'm just doing my job. And you guys take care". She got in her car and took off. Aunt Cherry and I walked back inside the house. We decided to watch a movie and order Chinese food. So that's exactly what we did. And for just a second I felt my world starting to turn again. And life went on.