Leola and Ozzie vs. The World

Chapter 3

After school, I stayed at school. I'm not in any clubs or anything, I just wanted to stay and chill with Mrs. Parker. I know it's weird to hang out with your teacher but Mrs. Parker is more than a teacher. I'm not the only one who does it anyway.

Mrs. Parker sat at her desk grading papers while I stapled them.

"What college did you go to?" I asked her.

"FAMU". She answered.

"What was college like?"

"Awesome, sure I'd have to study and take some serious test but other than that, you can meet people, go places, and lots more!" "My favorite thing to do was go to Jazz concerts". I snickered.

"What?"

"Nobody listens to jazz, it was only good in your day, ya know, when the Tv didn't have color".

"Hardy, har, har, speaking of college, what's your plan?" I shrugged. "Well you better think of something quick, graduation is in two weeks". I wasn't worried.

"But before that, its prom!" " Are you going?"

"Yael wants me to go so we can say goodbye to our friends but I don't want to".

"Well you should, Yael has a point". "After prom and graduation, everyone will be on their way out of this town". " You might not see them ever again". "Prom is something every young adult should experience, and what's that thing you kids say...YOLO, go out there and take a chance". I nodded trying not to let those words sink in but they did.

Mrs. Parker turned the class lights off and took the papers. I walked out with her, we went to her car.

"I'll walk". I said before while she started her car.

"See you later Leola". Mrs. Parker drove off. She's one of the things I'm going to miss when I graduate.

It was almost dark by the time I arrived home.

"Where have you been!?!" Shouted uncle. I ignored him and headed for the kitchen. I love the guy but he's getting in a bad habit of thinking he's my father.

I spotted my mom and dad arguing. What happened to mom's mood.

"He needs a place to stay, for Pete's Sake he's your brother!" Mom said.

"But not my responsibility!" Dad stopped shouting when he saw me.

He kneed down and hugged me. "Leola!"

I'm practically Daddy's Little Girl. I look like him, acted like him and had the same feelings towards everything. My dad was a big muscular guy with a body stained with scars from work injuries.

"Daddy!" I said hugging him back. Uncle came into the kitchen.

"She's been out for hours!" Uncle said. "Aren't you gonna punish her?"

"Shut up Zan, she a young woman, she can handle herself". Uncle rolled his eyes.

"Did you guys watch the news this morning?" I asked trying to break the tension between them.

"No, why?" Dad asked.

"Cows are extinct". Dad, mom and uncle freaked out a little.

"There are thousands of cows, that's not possible!" Uncle pleaded.

"I guess it is, no more beef".

"That's not much of a lost for you isn't it". I happily nodded my head.

"I'm getting drunk to this". Uncle said rubbing his forehead.

"Oh no your not, you have a job interview in the morning!"

"I told you I can find a job on my own!"

"But have you, no!"

I grabbed a apple and ran upstairs to escape the arguing.

I jumped in my bed and pulled out my phone to check Facebook.

Scrolling down in my news feed I saw that Yael took a selfie of me without knowing at lunch. I was in the background talking to Mrs.Parker. It said #TEACHER'S PET. I smiled at Yael's stupidity.

Thinking about Yael and Mrs. Parker reminded me of what she said to me in after class. I finally made a decision to call Yael.

"Did you see my picture?" He instantly asked.

"Yeah, I'm gonna totally kick your butt for not tagging me". Yael laughed.

"I called to say", I said"I'm going to prom".

"Yes!"

"Your totally fangirling it".

"Whoo!"" This might be fun!" "You and me-um not that like we're going as dates or anything, not that it's a bad thing, I mean we could go as friends or dates, its your choice, I-

"Dude, chill, we can go as dates or friends, either way it's cool".

"Oh, right, my bad".

"See ya later dude". With that I hung up.

I took a deep breath and realized how cool Yael was. Then I realized I'd have to be in a dress, ugh, and I'd have to dance, ugh, and I'd have to be...girly. Ugh.

Ozzie ran out from under her bed chanting"Leola is going to prom, Leola is going to prom!"

She's so quiet I forget she even exists sometimes.

Under Ozzie's bed was her secret hide out. She has stashed candy there, blankets and some books. Ozzie is a serious bookworm. She's always under there reading a thick book. Sometimes she hides in there when the adults are arguing too.

"Leola!" Called mom.

"Yes!" I yelled hoping she wouldn't call me out of my comfy spot.

"You're going to prom?" I sighed knowing what was coming next.

"Yes!"

Mom screamed in joy like a girl meeting Justin Beiber. She would kill to get me to do something girly.