~Chapter 2~
Today was the worst day of my life. Today was the day that Jeremy was leaving us to go to Iraq. My mother and I couldn't stop crying. My mom and I stood near the front door with my brother's bags. Suddenly we heard footsteps and we turned around. We saw my older brother walk down the stairs in his camouflage army uniform. I fell to the ground on top of his luggage and started to weep. Through the corner of my eye I saw Jeremy hugged and kiss my mother. I knew my mother was acting strong, but once Jeremy left she would crawl into her bed and cry for the rest of the day. Just like she did when dad died, except she'd cried for way more than just a day. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see it was Jeremy and turned back and continued crying. He picked me up and hugged me tight.
"Don't leave Jeremy. Please don't leave", I cried.
"I don't want to, but I have to", he told me.
"No Jeremy, no please don't!" I yelled.
He put me down and bended on one knee, "Here Isabelle," he opened my hand and put his Eagle pin in it, then he continued, "I hope that when you wear this you will think of me". He got up, took his bags and walked out the door. My mother hugged me with one arm and waved goodbye to Jeremy with the other. He threw his bags in the trunk of his truck, blew a kiss then drove away.
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"Wake up Smelly Belly!!" my mom was shaking me awake.
"Stop mom. I'm 13 years old", I told her still a little tired.
"Come on you don't want to be late for your first day of 8th Grade!!" she exclaimed.
"Wanna bet?" I challenged her.
"Look, I know with your brother leaving and all that you're in a bad mood, but perk up honey!" she said and walked out of my room and into hers probably getting ready. I pulled myself out of bed with all my might and staggered to the bathroom.
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I came downstairs in my blue Converse, black skinny jeans and a cardigan and tank top from Forever21. My hair was down straight with my bangs to the side. I went to the cabinet to take out a bowl and make myself some Lucky Charms. After I finished pouring the milk I sat at the dining table and ate.
"Oh honey stand up let me see you!" my mom exclaimed. Ugh, I stood up and spun around once.
"Isabelle Marie, you look beautiful! All the boys will be all over you!" my mom said.
"Mom please stop", I said with a laugh.
"Oh I notice you're wearing your brother's pin", my mother noticed.
"Yeah I'm always gonna wear it", I tell her.
She smiles as I look at the clock on my Blackberry and see it is 7:45 am.
"Come on mom, you need to bring me to school", I said a little upset at the fact that I wish I was saying, "Come on Jeremy, you need to bring me to school".
"Oh ok honey, well let's go", my mom said as she grabbed her keys and I followed her out the door and into her Escalade.
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All day I kept thinking about Jeremy. I miss him so much! Why did he have to leave so soon? Why did he have to leave at all?! I get off the school bus and walk down my long driveway and into my house. My mom is not home from work yet, so I go into the snack closet and grab something to eat. I find Oreos and snack on those with a glass of milk. After I'm done with my four Oreos and milk I walk up to room with my backpack. Inside my room, I open up my Algebra textbook, get a piece of looseleaf and a pen and start working.
It's 5:00 and I'm done with homework. "Who would give homework on the first day of school?" I wonder to myself. As I put my school books away I hear my mom pull into our garage. I walk down the steps and into the TV Room and turn on MTV.
"Hey honey! You done with homework?" my mom asks as she walks through the front door.
"Yes mom", I reply.
"Okay. How was school?" she asks.
"It was okay, I guess. School is school", I told her.
"Oh ok. Well what would you like for dinner?" my mom asks as she plops the shopping bags down on the Dining Room table.
"Pizza", I say.
"But I just went out and brought ALL of this food!" she tells me.
"Fine then can we make homemade pizza?" I ask.
"No. We could have Spaghetti and Meatballs or Hamburgers", she said.
"Spaghetti and Meatballs", I tell her. My mom prepares dinner as I continue to flip through channels.
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I come home from school a few days after the first day of school and see my mom.
"Why are you home so early?" I wonder out loud.
"We got a letter in the mail", she starts. My eyes widen. "From the army", she continues.
"JEREMY?!!?! LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!" I say excited to hear from my brother. I run over and my mom gives me the letter. I tear open the envelope, unfold the letter and read it out loud,
"Dear Mom and Belle,
How have you been? My plane ride was a little unpleasant. There was this weird woman, most likely in her late 50s. She was wearing sweatpants, a
loose t-shirt and she must of had at least a billion rings and bracelets on each finger or wrist. She was crazy! Anyway, in the beginning of the plane ride she
was reading a book titled "How to Become One With Your Inner-Self". Then mid-way into our flight she was doing yoga or meditating or something! I don't
know, but she reminded me of you Bells. Haha no I'm just kidding. It's so boring here without you, Belle. I miss bike-riding every day. Racing each other
EVERYWHERE! Going to get ice cream. I miss all of that and I miss you! And mom, I miss your home-cooked meals and your hugs and your smile.
Iraq is so boring without you guys! There's nothing really new with me except the time difference. It's so hard because I feel so awake even though it's
8:30 pm here and we have to go to sleep. So I decided that before I go to sleep I should send a letter home to you guys so you know I landed safely. Please
write back telling me: 1. How you guys are. 2. How's 8th Grade Bells? 3. How's Work, Mom? I love you guys so so so so soooo much that I can't even
explain it in words, so when I find out when I'm coming back home on leave I'll show it to you guys. I love you, be safe and write back soon!
- Jeremy"
I folded back up the letter and hold it tightly as I run up the stairs and place it in my bed side drawer.
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Please, Don't Go!
Teen Fiction13 year old girl, Isabelle, is best friends with her 19 year old brother, Jeremy. But when Jeremy has to go back to Iraq to fight in the war she is so upset and overwhelmed. Now that he left it’s just her and her mother because her father passed awa...
