Over the Rainbow

Prolouge

It was 9:07pm and I had just finished my double shift at the small cafe.I asked Mikey if he needed any help locking up but he just waved me off. Mikey was a coworker of mine who often got the same shifts as me. He was a nice guy and really funny too. He made the long shifts tolerable.

I packed up the remaining soup of the day in a small bowl and figured I'd bring it home for mom and dad. I then grabbed my coat of the rack and put it on, waving goodbye to Mikey as I took my fair share of the tips and left, hearing the faint bell in the door as it opened and closed. I stuffed my hands in my pockets and let out a yawn, walking down the busy road, and peering into the avenue shops. Everything inside was always so overpriced, there were only a few good stores who sold quality things for a reasonable price, and one of those places happened to be the music shop.

I always loved going to the music shop, especially because the owner wasn't on your back, nagging you to buy some expensive thing that isn't at all what your looking for. In fact, the owner was a good friend of mine, and I would often go there in my spare time and help around the shop, listen to him speak of his wild past vividly, and just practice some instruments. My parents would come with me every so often and we would have a whole jam session, consisting of my dad on the Congo drums, my mom dancing, and me with a pair of maracas, the three of us singing our souls out. Those were the days I lived for.

As I walked by the closed music shop, I stopped in my tracks, looking in the window display. In awe, as I took a few steps closer to the window, staring directly down at a ukulele. Such a simple instrument, with a simple sound, yet one of my favorites.

My eyes trailed over the price and a small smile made its way to my face. 65$. I looked back at the small instrument, admiring it for the smooth, shiny wood it was made of and the ring of patterns that bordered the instrument.

"Like what you see?" Someone questioned me.

I instantly knew who it was thanks to there thick Jamaican accent and I turned around smiling warmly at the man.

"Hey Mr.Jones. What are you doing out so late?"

"I left somting in te shop" He answered, looking down at me with a tired smile. I noticed his eyes shift to behind me and I turned around to followed his gaze.

"Ah, te ukulele, just got tat today," he fished in his pockets for his keys "if you come by tomorrow you can play it" . I grinned, glancing back at the ukulele. He simply sent me a playful wink before disappearing into the store, coming back a few minutes later and locking the door.

"Goodnite Delilah" he waved his hand and began wobbling towards his car.

"Night Mr.Jones" I called out. I made my way home, passing the community garden, which my mom loved to go to every Sunday after church. It brought a smile to face as I thought of my mom. Her birthday was coming up and she was turning 34. I couldn't wait, me and my dad had planned a fun day out at the park, followed by a day filled with her favorite things.

I let out a content sigh. Joy filled my body as I neared home. To an outsiders eye, I was someone who worked too much and didn't have any fun, who didn't let go. Someone who didn't hang around with friends outside of school, instead you would find me at the cafe, or doing my homework. But that wasn't true. I did let go. I let go when I hung out at the music shop with Mr.Jones, and when I was eating dinner with my family. Maybe I did work a lot, but it was all for my family. I would do anything for my parents, even if it meant that I worked longer shifts at the cafe, they've sacrificed so much for me, it wasn't only right for me to sacrifice so much for them too.