More or Less

Chapter 10 • Manifest

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6 Year-old Alisha's POV

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It's Easter's Day today and I'm helping Mommy color the eggs. I can draw very good like Daddy, so she gives me a pack of markers to make them even more pretty. Everybody is at Mommy's house today, and Mike, Mommy's boyfriend, is cooking on the grill outside. He's cooking hotdogs, chicken, and other stuff that I forgot the name of. I know that it all taste very delicious. My smaller sisters are playing outside with our cousins. I want to go outiside and play too, but I have to help Mommy with the eggs because I'm a big girl and that's what big girls do - Help their Mommies.

Everyone looks so pretty today. Me and all my sisters are wearing matching pink dresses, pretty, white shoes, Pinks bows in our hair, and stockings. Mommy doesn't like to wear dresses because she says she has chicken legs. I don't think so. I think she's beautiful no matter what, but she doesn't believe me, so she's wearing dark jeans and a pretty, floral top.

I finish the last egg and put it in the pretty, purple basket Mommy bought for them.

"I'm finished, Mommy," I told her excitedly as I run over to her. She's making salad by the sink. I reach over and put my hands under the running faucet. The colors on my skin begins to wash away.

"Already, huh?" She asked as she briefly glances over her shoulder. She smiles likes she's really proud and I'm glad that she likes them.

"Help me?" I whined as I rubbed my hands a little harder. The paint is off, but I could still see a little shadow of it. I begin to panick.

What if it stays there forever?

Everyone will make fun of me at school.

Mommy laughs when she looks at my face and I begin to cry. She puts a little soap in her hands and massages it into mine. The shadow immediately begins to go away, so I sigh with relief.

"See," She said as she dried my hands with a paper towel, "Mommy's here to help and protect you. You don't have to cry."

I sniff a little and wipe my tears. Mommy bends over and kisses me on the forhead. I quickly feel happy again. I tiptoe and wrap my arms tightly around her neck. She lifts me up and puts me on her hip.

"You'll always help and protect me," I told her, "Right, Mommy?"

She snuggles me close and tickles my nose with hers.

"Always."

After everyone plays a little and eats some food that Mike cooked on the grill, Abuela comes out the house with pretty baskets filled with candy and wrapped in plastic. Me and my sisters look at each other and open our mouth in surprise.

"Easter baskets!" We screamed at the same time. Everyone around us laugh as we race to Abuela and snatch one from her.

"Dame un beso," She asked with a smile. We take turns kissing her cheek, say our thank you's, then we run and sit on the grass to open our baskets.

My basket is yellow and filled with Spongebob Squarepants stuff because Abuela knows that's my most favorite show ever. I snuggle the Gary Snail plush bear to my chest and begin to trade candies with my sisters and cousins.

It's night time and everyone is beginning to leave. I feel sad because I love playing with my cousins Jaylene, Jose, Stephanie, and Fifi. I love playing with my sisters, but it's boring sometimes.

I help Mommy clean-up as Abuela puts the rest of my sisters to bed. Mike gives me a Squidward teddy bear for helping them. I tell him thank-you, give him a hug, and kiss him on the cheek. He smiles at me, kisses Mommy, then leaves to go home. Mike has his own kids to give Easter baskets to. I tell Mommy about the pile of Skittle bags I got from trading, and I show her everything in my basket. She listens to me, humming here and there, but it seems like there's something bothering her.