Adopting Hollywood

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        *EDITED*

THE BAUMANS

"First impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes."

       -Elliott Abrams

Here we go.

    The entire plane ride my anxiety and my nerves were flying all over the place. I opened the bag my mother packed me halfway through the flight and found that she had packed me some gum and my iPod and I smile as I take it out of the bag. I listened to music for the rest of the flight, trying to drown out all the other noise on the plane and to interrupt my thoughts.  

    Now I find myself getting off the plane and making to my way to the guest arrivals. The station in California isn't too different from the one back home but I still stop someone to ask them where I go to find my pick up.

    They point me in the direction and I head that way. I stop and look closely and almost miss it. I guess I was expecting the sign to say 'Bauman' but instead it reads 'N. Richards'. I guess they don't need the paparazzi flocking me today.

    The reality of everything that is happening sets in again and I almost have another panic attack. I head straight for the sign and I follow the tall man to the car and get into the black SUV and wait for the man to load my bags into the back before we pull out of the airport.

    The car ride from the airport to my new house is the longest car ride I have ever experienced. It only takes an hour to get from the airport to the house, but it feels like forever. I pull and tug at my hair nervously and stare out the window as we pull up to a big gated community.

    My mouth drops open as I realize it's not a community beyond the gates, it's just one giant house. My house. It's huge. I notice it has its own parking lot, a large swimming pool outside and inside to the left of the house and a tennis court. There's a play area for the youngest of the Bauman's and lots of land for the animals they own to run free.

    I step out of the car and take some of my luggage from the driver and head up the stairs to the font door where I pause a moment. I look up at the tall building and swallow hard before knocking at the door.

    What the hell do I say?

    'Hi it's me your daughter you left. Hey how's life been without me? Hi, my name is Natalia Richards. I mean what?

    I decide to just wing it and wait for the door to open. When it does, I come face to face with James Bauman, the same Bauman I used to think of as 'husband material' or a 'God'. I receive a sigh and he calls out for Sherry and Theo.

    "Mom, Dad, she's here." He shouts into the giant house and Theo and Sherry descend the long winding staircase and greet me at the door. This all feels like a dream, like I'm in a movie or something.

    I hold my breath as they approach me let it out when they stop in front of me and give me wide smiles.

    "Oh Natalia, I can't believe it, you're actually here!" Sherry screams, pulling me into a tight hug as Theo laughs and joins in. I awkwardly pull out of the hug and let try to slow my breathing instead of falling into another one of my panic attacks.

    "Now we have a complete family." Theo says taking me by the shoulders to study me. I suddenly feel very exposed in my short skirt and slim fitting tank top, but they look at me in awe.