2nd Place

• Uno // Flashy

Flashback : February 2010, six years ago.

Dear diary,

Hey, my name is Ronnie Chanté Alston. I'm ten years old and I feel all alone for the first time, like my mom is here but it's like I'm invisible.

All she does is work, comes home to cook for us, goes over her boyfriend Clayton's house. She goes out with him I guess, cause she gets dressed in pumps and a mini dress. They come back drunk and go upstairs to have "their alone time", then awake in the morning heading out for their own separate jobs. And the worst part is they do it all over the next morning.

I'm surprised Rhonda isn't pregnant the way they be doin' it everyday like that. And yes, I called my mother by her first name. She's acting less of a mother to me so I call her Rhonda.

Wondering where my dad is ? Well, his name is Ron and he's away serving our country overseas at the moment. My parents were in love a while ago, but it fell through once he left.

Once while me and dad were on Skype in the kitchen, my mom came in and confronted her feelings to him. She said she couldn't be with him anymore because she needed to "try new things". He couldn't do anything but agree, since he's not here. She had already packed his belongings for him, ready to go for when he comes back. But, at this moment his belongings are in the back of my walk-in closet.

She doesn't know how hard that was for me and dad. I could tell he wanted to cry, but not in front of her. So I took my laptop into my room and closed the door, where we both cried. Then we stopped and talked about what we'll do when he comes back for good, because these small visits just aren't enough. We are going to have the time of our lives.

- Ronnie Té (Té sounds like Tay)

--

Present day - Monday, Feb 22, 2016.

"7:00 ! Ronnie, mommy said get ya ass up!" My six year old sister yelled at me. No, she's not allowed to curse, but if my mom tells her to say "Get ya ass up" she has to say it.

Silence.

"Ronnieeeeee." She dragged.

I finally replied "Okay." With my face into the pillow and my covers over my head.

"No, Ronnie, like get up for real. Get out the bed, remember when I got a whooping for sleeping too late." She said snatching my cover off and shaking me.

I sat up fully for this one "Robbie, she can whoop your behind. But, me that's a different story. She can't beat MY ass. I don't care if she's my mama, she doesn't even care about being my mother. You and my dad are the only ones who care about me nowadays." I told her.

"I'm sure mommy cares." She whispered with that sugar sweet voice of hers.

I couldn't help but smile "Ok, Robbie I guess she does. But, I gotta get dressed little one." I said and kissed her cheek as she left and closed the door behind her.

I went to the bathroom, did my morning hygiene and hopped into the shower for thirty minutes.

--

After my shower I dried off, put on some fresh undergarments along with deodorant, and walked into my closet in search of something to wear today.

Hmm, I'm thinking something sorta spring/summer feeling, since it's getting warmer here.

I slipped into on my white Starbucks high-low tank top, khaki Holister short-shorts, a pair of white Nike socks, laced up my Gold 10's, applied some Bobbi Brown mascara along with baby lips. I put in my gold heart stud earrings and put on my gold double band ring with a small pyramid on top. I switched my phone into my glitter gold case, fluffed my curly fro, and latched my arm into my beige bauletto Fendi bag.