"Are you ready Loren?" Anne directed this in the general area of upstairs seeing as she had no idea where I was.
I was in "my" room taking a
last look at the first house I ever lived in. See, my parents just died in a car crash and now I'm going to live with my godparents. Most people live with their grandparents or other family if something happens to their parents, but no. I have to leave warm and jazzy New Orleans, Louisiana, which I love, and go to cold and dreary London, England with my godparents. Don't get me wrong, I love England, it's awesome place. I just don't want to leave all my friends and move there.
I finally decide there is nothing more to do, so I turn around and head down stairs.
"As ready as I can be." I said as I stomped down the stairs.
I picked up my purse and walked outside to all my friends. I walked around giving hugs and saying my good-byes. I was able to hold in the tears until I got to my best friend, Jenna.
Jenna, a perky red-head, had been my best friend since preschool. I couldn't stand to leave her and under all the pain we collapsed on the ground and just cried.
We were finally able to get up without falling down again. We then had one of those cliché call-me-every-day moments and hugged again. I finished going around the circle and made my way to the car. Everyone crowded around the car to watch me leave.
Once in the car I pulled out my sketch book and drew my memories of New Orleans as I pulled out of my driveway for the last time.
****
An hour later we had gone through check in and security at the airport and were now sitting in our gate eating sandwiches and waiting to board the plane. I didn't talk except when Mary asked me if I was excited to go to London. I couldn't really say what I was thinking because it was a little mean so all I said was "I guess". I had my phone in my hands and I was looking through my contacts. I still couldn't bring myself to delete "Mom", "Dad", and "Home" yet. I clicked on Jenna's name a couple times, but something about just leaving an hour ago made me feel weird about texting her. I kept searching through my contacts but I didn't spot anyone that I felt comfortable talking to about this.
****
A half hour later we were on the plane and getting ready to take off. I had the window seat and Anne had the aisle seat. I preferred the window, not so I could look out it, but so I could lean against it and sleep. Hey, I'm a teenager, what do you expect?
****
About two hours into the flight Anne had fallen asleep. I tried, but failed, so I took out my sketchbook again. I've been painting and drawing since I was about 8, I'm 17 now. They were flying over my art stuff with all my other belongings and I couldn't help but worry. Those paintings may not mean a lot to most people but they mean everything to me.
I flipped through my sketches of the French Quarter and all the things that go on there. It was my favorite place to go for inspiration. There was always so much activity there that it's hard not to get inspired. I skipped to a new page and got out a soft graphite pencil. I pictured London in my head and began to draw. Airplanes are the smoothest form of transportation, in my opinion; therefore they're the best to draw on.
After a half hour of drawing I had Big Ben and part of the London Eye done. I ended up having to use my laptop and find a picture of the London skyline. Anne began to toss and turn and eventually woke up. I excused myself and went to wash the graphite off my hand. When I came back Anne was holding my drawing.
"Did you do this?" she asked as I sat back down.
"Yeah, I got bored and I'm tired of drawing New Orleans scenery. I thought 'what better way to break in a new city than drawing it'." I tried to sound cheerful.
"It's amazing," she replied as she handed it back to me.
"Thanks, but it's not done."
"I'd love to see it when it is."
"Alright." I slid the book back in my bag and pulled out my pillow. I leaned my head on the pillow against the side of the plane and fell asleep listening to the hum of the engines.
