Cleshay

Nine

It's me again. But I'm now 9 years old on my way to the 5th grade. I know what you're thinking, "a nine year old in 5th grade". Yes, well it's true. My mom started me in school earlier when I was younger, I was only 2 years old when I started pre-school. Anyways, 5th grade was honestly one of the best school years I've had. I became well known, I was still ugly or at least that's what I thought. I had just started to join sports outside of school, I was in cheer and I did softball. Every thing was going well, but the one thing I hated about 5th grade was my 5th grade teacher. My 5th grade teacher was short, middle aged, and had fading blonde hair. Every morning she would come in wreaking with the harsh scent of coffee, her name was Mrs.king.

Mrs.King found every reason to get on my behind. In class she yelled all day long, for no reason ! I got used to it after a while. Even Mrs.King couldn't destroy this year for me.

Though I still haven't spoken to my father or brother anymore things took a good turn. I've gotten closer to my grandparents (on my dads side). You're probably wondering why haven't I talked to my father if I'm in contact with his parents. Well here is what happened, a short time after I was born my dad and my grandpa got into an argument about my mother. My grandpa really didn't like the fact that my dad married and had children with a black woman, harsh right? Even though my grandpa and my mom had their extreme differences, they put them aside for the sake of me and my siblings.

I would go over my grand parents house every other week. Every time I came over my grandma greeted me at the door with a huge bright smile. My grandma was about 5'7 with shoulder length blonde hair and brown eyes, She was very thin and fit, and she would always sport her diamond bracelet my grandpa gave her. Every time I would go over their house I would be welcomed by the aroma of food. See my grandma loved to bake cakes. There was always a new cake sitting on the table every time me and my sister went over. I really enjoyed my grandmas' company.

As soon as me and my sister caught up with my grandma she would send us down stairs to greet our grandpa. My grandpa wasn't that tall he stood about 5'11 and had thinning gray hairs at the top of his head. My grandpa had a thick mustache that would prick me every time he kissed my cheek. As soon as I walked into my grandpas' work space his big gray eyes would get wide and a smile would be plastered across his face. His smiles warmed my heart. Me and my grandpa could talk all day long, we had a very good connection. I really hate that we lost it.

My grandpa would always tell me "work hard, play later", he told me that he always saw something in me that he knew would just make me a success. I took everything he said to heart and now it's made me a very strong person, that's learned how to accept the past and move on to achieve my goals. My grandpa supported everything I did and even taught me how to do more things. See, my grandpa was a retired mechanic and every so once and a while he would take me to his old shop and we would build a play set out of old car parts in the grass at the side of the building. I think it was quite an site to see. My grandpa and I would be out in the field until dusk building and playing around.

I think the only reason my 5th grade year was so successful was because of my grandparents pushing me to do what I thought of as the "unthinkable". Now I look back at it as being a huge blessing. My grandparents were truly wonderful.

After the days activities my my grandpa would go back home. As soon as we got home we walked in on my little sister and my grandma setting the table for dinner. "Go wash your hands my dears" ,she sang. We did as told and joined her and my sister at the dinner table. At the table it was always tradition to sing our very own "manners song" after prayer. Sometimes, even now I might once or twice catch myself singing it in my head.

"No elbows on the taaaa-ble" we all sang, finishing the song.

After dinner we would all go down to the basement and watch a movie and by the time the movie was over my mom would be there to come pick us up. We kissed our grandparents good-bye and made our way home. At home I would go directly downstairs and play with my toys. Everything was peaceful until I heard my mom and her boyfriend arguing. My little sister ran downstairs towards me and dragged me back upstairs where we eves-dropped by my moms door.
CLICK, CLICK, the door nob jiggled. Me and my sister raced into my room and hid behind the door. As we ran my moms boyfriend raced out of the room and out of the front door.  Creeping out of the room was the sound of our weeping mother. I slowly walked out of my room only to find her sitting on the floor rubbing her slightly bruised face. 

My eyes welled with tears as i began to cry silently, trying not to startle my little sister. 

"M-mommy is okay baby, g-go back to your room. I'm okay i promise", she whispered. 

I shook my head and quickly wiped my tears before returning to my room. I led my sister to her room soon after, then went to sleep.

The next morning i stayed quiet, i asked no questions about the night before.My mom woke me up and told me to pack me and my little sister a bag. She didn't tell us where we were going but when i looked out my bedroom window and saw my dads car i had a pretty good idea.