Daddy *UNDER CONSTRUCTION*

Orientation

I got out of the cab, opened up the trunk, and lugged my red suitcase out of there. I had just returned home from college. I had barely scrapped by, but thankfully, I had graduated. Hallelujah Jesus!  I walked up to the apartment complex, trying to remember the number of the apartment my family had just moved into. I wandered around until I found a number that seemed familiar. I stood in front of apartment door 21, and knocked on it three times. The door immediately opened, and behind it stood my mother with her blinding smile. She wrapped me up in the warmest hug only she could give.

She pulled back with tears gleaming in her eyes. I resisted rolling my eyes; she acts as if she hadn't just seen me over FaceTime 5 minutes ago, but I respected her emotions because she had it rough without me, her only emotional support as a single mom.

"Oh mami, don't cry. We're suppose to be celebrating my return! Soooo, where's my cake?" I gave her my big prankster smile, and she chuckled at my antics.

"Sweetheart, I just missed you so much. You should've stayed home and gone to college here," she whined like a child.

"Mama, it's already happened. Drop it."

I brushed her off. Grabbing my luggage, I stepped into the newly renovated minimalistic apartment with wood floors, white walls, and white furniture to match. Ugh, I need darkness. I told her I wanted to take a nap, but she shook her head.

"You were just sitting on your butt all day! You have to go out. Since today is your little sister's orientation, I though you could go with her and spend some time together," my mom suggested.

I tried to be logical with her, even though this women is as stubborn as a mule, "Mama, I have been with my sister almost her entire life. I think she's had enough of me, and flights are tiring. You know I hate people, and I've been around them ALL DAY. Please just show me-" Before I could finish, she tugged my suitcase out of my hands and began almost limping towards the back of the apartment. I slowly followed behind and kept asking her not to make me go.We eventually arrived to the small barren bedroom with only a single bed in the room.

Let the hibernation begin.

She collapsed the suitcase onto the bed, and popped it open. "Here I'll put your clothes up, and you can go with Jessie when she gets dropped off by the bus."

I grabbed her shoulder, making her face me. "No, mother, listen, Nap. Now. Me." I emphasized by pointing at my new favorite person: this bed.

My mother realized that I wasn't backing down, so she began bargaining with me "If you go this one time, then I will pay for those new Bose headphones you've been wanting for Christmas."

I stood there shocked. Eyes wide as plates. Mouth agape. Those headphones are almost $1,000! "M-mom, it's just an orientation, don't worry about it I'll go....but still buy me some headphones."

My mama smugly smiled, knowing she was going to win this whole time. She gave a quick hug, and told me, "Besides, I'm have too many house chores to do. I don't have time." She then began pulling out my rumpled clothes and folding them.

I raised my hands in exasperation. "Oh my god Mama! If you just told me that, I would've done it! GOD, you are too much." She frowned in response, "That's no way to talk to your mami. I-"

There was knocking on the door. I went to go answer it. My mom yelled out from my room, "It's probably your sister!" And as she had yelled, there was my cute little sister. She squealed when she saw me and basically glomped me.

"Ash, I missed you SO MUCH! Mama is no fun to talk to, and you barely, more like never, text or call me. Are you coming to my orientation with us?" She asked in excitement.