Jai & I

Chapter 1: The news...

This morning I got the news. Mum, dad, my sister Jade, my brother Jake and I. Mum and dad sat us all down in the living room, with a platter of dry crackers, cheese and dip placed on the coffee table in front of us. The lounge chairs circled the coffee table that was centered in the middle of the room, so we had a clear view of everyone. As we were all waiting patiently for mum to join us in the living room, dad was sitting there staring at us nervously. Everyone was quietly waiting, preparing themselves for some terrible news. As mum walked through the entrance of the living room, she was carrying two coffee’s, freshly prepared. She hands one to dad and then sits on the lounge next to dad facing us.  Everyone is waiting for mum or dad to start speaking. I watched as dad sat with his head down, facing the floor. He held his the mug with both his hands, while to steam from his coffee travelled up upon his face. Dad was obviously very nervous for some reason, and everyone could see that. For the first couple of minutes everyone was just staring at each other, waiting desperately for someone to talk. Mum was just staring at dad with a concerned look on her face, as she placed her mug on the coffee table in front of her, she reached her arm out towards dad and gently placed it on his back. Finally, my sister Jade, who is only 12, began the conversation. “So, what did you want to tell us?” she states, obviously beginning to get frustrated. “Well,” started mum, “your father and I have made a huge decision, and we wanted your opinion on it.” “Okay, what is it” I reply. “We are going to be moving to Australia. The weather is beautiful there, it is a much better environment for you kids to be growing up in and living.” Says dad. Straight away I can tell that Jake and Jade are surprised and worried. “So, what do you think?” suggests mum. “What about all our friends?” says Jake worriedly. “Well, if you would like to have some friends over for a going away party, we would consider that.” Says mum as she looks over at dad. “When are we leaving?” says Jade in a soft voice, as a tear runs slowly down her cheek. Mum moves from the lounge towards Jade, she sits down beside her and wipes away her tear. “We leave in 2 weeks, so we must start packing right away.” She says with a stern tone in her voice. “I’m actually pretty excited!” says Jake with a smile on his face. “Well see Jade, Jakes excited! We are going to have a lot of fun!” mum says with a smile on her face, trying to cheer Jade up. “Well obviously we don’t get much of a say in it then if you have already organised it.” I say. Mum turns around to face me, she puts her hand on my shoulder and says in a quiet voice, “its for the best Angel. You will meet plenty of new friends, and before you know it, it will feel like home again.” Without making eye contact with mum, I get up off the couch and head upstairs to my room. As I walk out of the living room I hear mum faintly say, “the boxes are in the garage! Start packing please Angel!” I kept walking without making an effort to acknowledge mum, and head straight to my room, slamming the door behind me. Yeah I was upset, frustrated and most of all disappointed.