Above The Clouds

                                                                 CHAPTER ONE

                "Serika, will you please get the mail?"

               "It's Niomi's turn."

               "Serika Evelyne.."

               I roll my eyes, and get up to go out to the mailbox. Even though I did it yesterday, and the day before. I love my big sister but, she needs to get up and help around the house. I get out to the mailbox, and start looking through the mail. Normal bills, junk mail, a letter for my sister from her girlfriend, and.. What's this? There's an envelope that has a slight pink color and.. It smells like tons of flowers. It's addressed to, "The Palmer Family." Well, that's us. Weird, there isn't a return address.

               "Ma, there's a weird letter here.."

               I walk into the kitchen to find my Mom on the phone. I assume she's talking to my Aunt Pamela. When they're not together, they're talking on the phone or texting.

               "Hi Aunt Pamela," I say as I pick up the other house phone in the livingroom.

               "Hello sweetheart. How are things going? Found a boyfriend yet?"

               "You know I'm focusing on my studies.."

               "Right. Isn't there a boy you think is cute? One who asked you on a date?"

               "Aunt Pam-"

               "Leave Serika alone, Sis. She's got her head on the ground, not in the clouds."

              "Anyway, I got the mail, Mom. I tried to tell you, but it seems this is the only way to get your attention."

               "I'm sorry baby girl. Bring it in here please."

               I hang up the phone and take the mail into the kitchen. I decide to hold onto the pink envelope and let her go through the other mail first.

               "What's this?" I hear as the envelope is snatched out of my hand. I turn to see my sister, looking at the envelope, curiously.

               "I was wondering the same thing. There's a letter from Aly."

                 My Mom hands her the letter from her girlfriend. She looks it over, and sets it down on the counter. She goes back to looking at the pink envelope.

               "What do you have there, Niomi?" Our Mom asks.

               "I'm not sure.." She answers and hands the envelope to our Mom. Our Mom looks the envelope over, with the same look of curiosity my sister had. She tilts her head and smells the envelope. Her eyes got big. She describes the envelope to my Aunt Pamela, who I guess wants to see for herself because my Mom says, "Alright. See you soon." before hanging up.

              My Mom continues to look at the envelope, still smelling it a bit too. My sister and I both sit there for a few moments, watching her. Then we look at eachother, with a "Wtf?" look.

               "Yo Ma. You gonna open it?" Niomi was getting impatient.

               "I will." Mom answers, not taking her eyes off of the envelope, still twirling it in her hands. She looks at it like she's holding a baby alien or something.

               "When? I wanna know what's in it!" I say, shaking my Mom. The anticipation was driving me crazy. My sister and I both hated not knowing things.

               "Oh, I don't know. I kind of like the smell. If I open it, the smell might escape."

               Niomi growls, something she often did when she was irratated.

               "Ni, you are eighteen years old. Don't you think you're too old to be growling at me?" My Mom had a point.. But Niomi doesn't think so. She crosses her arms and looks at my Mom like she's the devil.

               "Just open it, Ma. You're getting on my nerves."

              Our Mom looks at her with such a look, that Niomi automatically uncrosses her arms and puts a fake smile on her face. Mom then puts a fake smile on her face. Niomi made a face at Mom, she made one back. They continue to do this, until Niomi farts. Now, you don't know my big sister. She may be a girl but, she acts nothing like one. She'll burp or fart no matter where she is or who's around, and she farts like a MAN. So, my Mom and I both automatically plug our noses, as Niomi smiles with pride. I swear, there is something mentally wrong with my sister.

               "So Mom," Niomi says, still smiling, "Are you going to open the envelope now?"

               Our Mom laughs. "After you trying to stink up the kitchen? Hmm.. I think I'll wait until your Aunt Pam gets here."

               "Are you kidding!? Aunt Pamela takes FOREVER to get here! She drives like an old lady." Niomi exclaims, as she immitates our Aunt.

               I giggle, "Yeah Mom, that's not fair. You should just open it."

               "Well, tough-oh. You'll have to wait for your Aunt to get here."

               Ugh! I hate when she says that word.

-So, this is my first time ever writing anything other than poetry. Not promising it'll be good or anything. But, I got the idea from this dream I had while I was pregnant. I'm hoping it turns out as good as my dream, or better.

Also, I'm a teen mom who works. I'm a busy girl. I will update the story as often as I can. Hopefully atleast once a week. Just so you know.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it! ")