16 & In Love

Chapters 9-11

Chapter 9:

It's 9 in the morning and the sun rays are still shining brightly through my west window. I sit up in bed, my bare legs crossed beneath my torso and I breathe calmly in.. and out.. "I should go outside today" I say to myself and with that, I untangle my legs and jump out of bed. Walking with one foot in front of the other, alternating at each step. I steer myself towards my closet. What to wear today? I glance around, shuffling through sweaters, dresses and winter coats hanging up. I decide then to look for a shirt in my dresser and a pair of shorts. After a minute or two of searching, I switch my dried paint splattered white tee with a variety of pinks, oranges, reds, greens and blues, for a newly washed light cotton spaghetti strap tank top. With its dull but beautiful gray coloring, I chose white shorts to match. I slide on the white jean material up my jegs, locking it in place with the button. Still full of excitement to go outdoors, I race out my room and downstairs. "Mom, I'll be in the front yard!" I yell, though probably guessing she's still asleep. On Saturdays, Mom usually gets up around 12 and we have breakfast for our lunch. Though because I wake up earlier than my mother, most of the time on the weekends, I just find ways to occupy myself while the time passes. Today, I'm going to feel the sun soaking in my skin and rough-silky leaves of grass under my feet, while still sticking out between my toes. I toss open the door, step on the other side then close the entry way behind me.

A huge grin spreads across my face as I run across the concrete path and into the large grassy area in front of the house. I lay down under our only tree, my face up towards the sky.  I never understood exactly why I loved nature so much, all I knew was that no matter what season or time it was, everything outside was breathtaking. In the Winter, people see death of most things that use to be once green. But what I see is a start of a new life in process. Every living thing has a timeline. Instead of mourning over the sad things of nature, such as an animal dying or a flower wilting, think of the new beauty that will grow. That brings hope for so many potential ideas.

Back inside, I hear the sizzles of eggs and bacon on the skillet and the smell of freshly made pineapple pancakes filled my nostrils. "Good Morning Dear" mom speaks over the counter as I walk into the kitchen. "Morning, everything looks great so far" I smiled, then take a seat on the black painted wooden stool which sat next to the kitchen bar, on the opposite side where mom was cooking. I admire the golden tops of the cakes and the bright yellow bits submerged within. Mom takes the stack and places them inside a clear container with a bright green lid. "Put these in the picnic basket." Mother says as she slides the container towards me and brings her focus back to the eggs. Scooping both into another container. Though this one was metal, keeping the heat in. I grab both containers then start searching the room that I was in, imaging the little birds on paintings hung in the kitchen singing a melody of cheerful words, then taking my gaze to the dining room table, where I find the picnic basket. Light brown with rows of gold and red, all woven in with a rectangular shaped. I let my fingers move against its surface before sitting down the pancakes and eggs inside. Turning around, I watch mom walk towards me with another container in hand. Probably the bacon. "I'll get the drinks" I tell my mom, swiftly passing her and back into the kitchen. I curl my fingers around the hard handle of the refrigerator then pull my hand towards my body. A cool breeze exhales the giant box, touching my skin, sending a chill through my body. I search the inside of the door, starting from the top till my eyes stopped on the orange drink. I picked it up and shut the door behind me. Two tall metal thermal cups sit on the counter in front of me. I fill both to the top and screw on the lids then adding them to the basket.
"Napkins, silverware, plates is already packed. Anything else you need Raina?" Mom questions as she slides both C-curved basket handles on her left forearm.
"Nope. I think we have all that we need." and with that, I run over to the front door and slide on my converse where I had left them the night before. Mom and I exit the house, locked the door and drove to Cypressdale's Cemetery...