More Alive Than Dead

Moving day

"Mariah, are you almost done yet?" My mom was yelling from the bottom of the stairs, pestering me to get out of my room.

"Yeah, I guess so." I said in return.

"Well hurry up hon, the movers are getting impatient." She said back to me, trying to sound nice.

I grabbed my last box, filled with pictures I took with friends and family. I walked over to my door. I looked at the measurements that were engraved onto the door frame growing up as a child. I was going to miss my little purple room. Well, it wasn't so little now since my bed, dresser, and desk were already in the moving van.

"Hi kiddo, are you ready?" My dad said to me, greeting me at the door.

I ran my fingers up along the door frame. Remembering each time my dad took my height.

"One last time?" I asked him.

"Alright." He chuckled in return.

I put my box down next to my feet, and leaned up against the frame. He took out his pocket knife and right above my head and made a cut in the wood.

When I was up against the door frame I realized that I was already pretty tall. My dad who stood about 6'3 was still taller than me. He has black scruffy hair, dark green eyes, and always has a clean shave.

"There, now who's my big girl?" He said while talking like a baby.

"Dad. I'm 17, not 3." I replied while picking up my box.

I walked out of the bedroom door, my dad followed behind. I walked down the stairs and looked outside. My mom was in the car, looking at herself in the car mirror, fixing her make up. She had her blonde hair down like usual, I have the same hair as hers, I'm thankful I would look weird with black hair like my father's. I share a lot of similar genetics with my mom, the hair, the nose, the lips, and even the eyes. We both have bright blue eyes.

The movers were putting the boxes of our possessions in the truck.

"Seth, where do you want this?" One of the movers said to my dad while holding up a lamp, that should have been put away.

"It's Mr.Vincent, and I'll just put it in our car." He replied.

My rolled down the car window and was looking around for something.
"Katie? Katie? Where are you sweety?" She said still looking around.

"Hun, could you go find your sister? We have to leave soon." She added.

I looked to the backyard and saw her playing with our family dog.

"Found her. I'll be right back."
I said over to my mom while I put my box next to the door. I walked to the sliding door that let to the backyard. Opened it and went onto the porch.

"Katie, come on. You know were leaving." I yelled over to her so she could hear me.

"I know, I was just playing with Buster. One last time before we leave." Katie replied while petting Buster.

I went off the porch over to her and Buster, and knelt down next to them and started to pet Buster as well.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss this place too." I said while continueing to pet Buster.

"Alright Kitty Katie, let's go." I added while standing up and giving her a smile.

Katie had blonde hair too, just like mine and my mother's, but hers was thinner and not as long. She always kept her hair in two pig tails. Katie shared her eyes with our dad, dark green. My little sis is very energetic, like a baby kitten. That's why I call her my Kitty Katie. Love her to death.

And Buster, he's our 7 year old German Shepherd mix.

She grabbed Buster and went for the car out the side gate that led to the front of the house. I went back through the sliding glass door. I closed and locked it up, then went to the front door and picked up my box.

I looked back one last time remembering the birthday parties, Christmas celebrations, and Thanksgiving nights, knowing I'm going to miss it with every fiber in my body.

I'm going to miss our little house in San Dimas. Hey, maybe Los Angeles will be fun.