Ocean Eyes . Jonathan Brandis

One

.Grace.

I watched as, Lily, my sister of six years old, played with her American girl doll in the yard. I didn't really have a choice to babysit her but my parents didn't give me an allowance for no reason.

My friend Sarah was at her last swim meet of the season since summer was ending. My other friends Steve and Samantha were there supporting her.

I wish I could've been there but my dad needed me since my mother has been ill.

It started last year around Christmas. My mother began having symptoms. We thought it was a virus until she began having nose bleeds and bruising more than normal. It happened at least four times a day. She was diagnosed with leukemia in January, on my birthday.

She now basically lives at the hospital nearby. My dad basically lives there also. They have a really close relationship and I honestly don't think my dad could take her loss very well.

Of  course my sister doesn't really understand. She thinks mom will be better soon. She is really strong and I admire that, she even gets me through days, sometimes, with her positivity.

I, on the other hand, believe this is just Gods way of showing how imperfect the world is and how unfair he can be.

My mom was my best friend and still is. It's just different now.

I found out that she's gonna start chemotherapy in November and that her cancer is getting worse. My dad tried to hide it from me but I eventually figured it out due to all of the bills and letters from the hospital.

He doesn't believe I'm old enough to understand, but I am. I understand a lot of things.

I begin to hear conversation and look up from reading my book on to kill a mockingbird for the third time.

I see Mrs. Harmon with her poodle, Teddy. She was a widow who lived around the block.

She was talking to Lily. Lily would have been all over Teddy but no one really likes Teddy, except Mrs. Harmon, since he's old and mean.

"Oh hi Grace," Mrs. Harmon notices me and waves. "Hi Mrs. Harmon," I wave back. "Such a lovely day, isn't it?" She says. "Very," I smile in reply.

I wasn't really in the mood to converse with a seventy year old woman, but no one could possibly be the slightest bit mean to her.

"Tell your parents I said hi, I'm bringing over some roast beef later," she says. "I will and thank you," I reply.

Teddy notices a neighborhood cat and begins pulling Mrs. Harmon, thank God.

"I better go now," she grabs on to her hat so it doesn't fall off. "Have a nice day," I tell her. "You too," she looks at me then Lily, who was still fascinated at her doll and the world.

I was almost finished with the next page when there was another interruption.

My next door neighbor comes home. Out of the car comes Mrs. Brandis, Darcy, and Jonathan. I notice that they had just gone grocery shopping.

"Hey Lily!" Darcy calls her noticing us. "Hey Grace!" She adds. I wave to her and Lily runs over to her. They were best friends.

"Hi Grace," Mrs. Brandis says noticing, also, as she unloaded her vehicle. Jonathan helped her.

Of course Jonathan noticed me too but he wouldn't acknowledge me if the world was on fire and I was the only one who could save him.

We used to be best friends but high school came and so did harsher cliques. He chose to be popular and I chose to be normal.