African Beauty

Chapter 1.

This was the opportunity of a life time. I didn’t want to take the offer at first. I was doing fine at my high school with my friends. I didn’t want to start a new life.

“ Why don’t you wanna take it sweety” my mom asked, while we were sitting in the living room discussing this subject.

“ I will miss my friends, you will miss your friends, you’ll have to find a new job. It’s a whole lot of changes.”

I got an scholarship from an American High School to go study there. I just got a scholarship for getting straight A’s. I didn’t want it neither did I asked for it, but I was grateful. But I didn’t want to leave my friends neither did I want to go to America alone so my mother offered to go with me. But that meant her losing her current job and trying to find a new one in America. And it’s not easy finding jobs, especially in this crisis.

“Don’t worry sweetheart. I will find a job, you will find new friends there and you will keep in touch with your friends.”

I sighed. So this is it?

America had more study possibilities for me. And even if I stayed here at Curaçao me and my friends will still have to go parted ways after we finish high school.

I took the pen laying on the table and signed that I will accept the offer to study at Avalon high.

I handed the pen to my mom and she signed too. She folded the paper and put it in the envelope.

“It will be alright” she said and hugged me.

“I hope so” and I hugged her back.

***

Everything happened so fast. Avalon were glad to have me. Mom quitted her job and started to look for jobs. She found one as a maid but she had to start in June. So she emigrated to America. I stayed in Curaçao and I will emigrate in early August, before school starts in late August. I will miss her, but she promised to call me frequently.

On the bright side I will get to spend the entire summer with my best friend Gabriella. Gabriella was beautiful. Hispanic . We will sure enjoy eachothers company this summer. Good thing we both got a summer job at a restaurant. I wanted to enjoy all my friends company and my beautiful islands sea, sand, landscape and charming pastel buildings and equally colorful history before I left.

“Gabriella wake up. Today is Tuesday, you have a morning shift” I told Gabriella whom didn’t want to wake up.

“Let me sleep woman” she groaned.

“But you have to work lazy girl” I said to her, holding back a laugh. I slowly walked out of her room and went into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and poured cold water in a cup. This will wake her up I thought. I walked back in her room and poured the content of the cup in her face.

“Ahhhh..what was that for?” she screamed.

“I’m sorry but you have to work babygirl.”

“I don’t have to” she whined. “ I freaking took the week off for you and this is how you say thank you?” she said in a hurt voice with her hands on her heart.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” I suddenly felt bad and sad. Bad because I woke her up with cold water and she took the week off for me. Sad because I realized that I will be leaving next week. I will sure miss them.

“You didn’t have to take the week off tho”

“ Ofcourse I had to. It’s the last week with you baby” she said.