The dream behind the reality

“Aliliyah, can we talk?” my dad asked while knocking on my bedroom door. “Sure, Dad. Come in,” I said. He opened the door and walked in with that face parents make when they’re about to annoy and nag you about something they know you’ll have no interest in. When he walked in, I met his eyes with my own, ready for the conversation. I had a feeling I knew what he wanted. He’s been wanting me to join a club all summer long, and today is the first day of my last year in high school. He wants me to join something this year because he thinks it will help me make friends. “Listen, hun, you need to join something this year. You’re already on the perfect track to graduate early, and I doubt it’ll be as much of a distraction as you think it is. At the age of sixteen, you’re going to graduate two years early without any friends to support you,” he said. “But Dad, I have you, Mom, and Mark to support me, and I really think that’s enough. Besides, I don’t make friends that easily. Everyone who talks to me thinks I’m a weird academic freak, and I can’t deny it either. At the same time, I’m okay with that because you’re right—I am going to graduate early. To be honest, I just don’t think I need more people in high school in my life,” I told him in all seriousness. “I’m not gonna lie, kid. You sound like you think you’re better than everyone simply because you’re smart. But guess what? As your father, it’s my job to make sure you know that you’re not. It’s true—you excel in academics, and for that, I’m incredibly proud. But what about sports? I bet your ten-year-old brother would absolutely beat your ass in that. I think you should join something not only to make more friends but also to test your ability and durability,” he said. “Okay, Dad, fine. I will join something this year. I’ll look as soon as I get to school. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get ready. I’ll meet everyone downstairs in twenty minutes,” I told him. “Thank you. I really don’t think you’ll regret this decision, and I’m really happy you’re going to do it. I’m excited to see what you choose,” he said while walking out of my room. I actually already had an idea of what I wanted to join. I’ll admit, when it comes to sports, I fail really badly. My first year as a freshman, I scored a D in gym class. I don’t get how I managed that because gym is normally supposed to be very easy. I was thinking I’d get into wrestling. That way I can learn to defend myself and please my father. It’s ultimately a win-win. I guess I better get out of bed and start figuring out what I’m going to wear today. I was thinking I’d go ahead and wear my dark pink sweater and blue jeans. After all, it’s been kind of chilly out lately, and I’d rather not freeze my ass off. After choosing my outfit for the day, I went to the bathroom across the hall and jumped in the shower. You’re going to think I’m dirty, but I hate showers. Yes, I’ll take one every day, but I hate the part where I get out and it’s just freezing. Why should I have to go through that every single day? It sucks even more because I use a space heater to help against the cold, but for the first few minutes while I’m still wet, it does absolutely nothing. I washed my hair and body and got out to start getting ready for school. I put some hair product in to sit and then started brushing my teeth. After I spit out the toothpaste, I rinsed the product out of my hair, finished drying off, and put my clothes on. The warmth is always the best feeling. Once I was dressed, I finished doing my hair and headed downstairs for breakfast. As I walked down, I saw my mom standing next to my brother looking at a paper from school. He was looking up at her, clearly seeking approval. The next minute, my mom nodded at him and said, “Excellent, buddy. I’m very proud of your work.” She then looked at me and continued, “At this rate, you might graduate sooner than your older sister.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s only ten and barely in middle school. Besides, there’s no way he’s smarter than me. He still wets the bed at night.” “HEY!” Mark said while getting up to confront me. “Mark, sit down. Aliliyah, you need to be nicer to your little brother. You know he can’t help it,” my mom said. “You’re right, Mom. Mark, I apologize. I shouldn’t have brought that up,” I said to him. My mom nodded her head and said thank you. She then turned around to make me a plate of food, but Mark was still furiously watching me, and if looks could kill, I’d be a total goner. I smiled at him and walked over to sit next to him. Patting his head, I said, “You know I’m kidding. You’re just as smart as I am, and I know you’re going to do great things when you get older. In fact, I’m so confident in you that I sometimes wonder if I’ll end up working for my little brother.” “You really think so?” he said, excitement filling his voice. “Oh yeah. I just gotta know now—do you promise to be a good boss, not only to me but to all your other employees?” I asked. “Oh yeah, I do,” he said. “You hear that, Mom?” She turned around to look at him as he continued. “Ally thinks I’m so smart she’s gonna end up working for me when we’re older.” “Well, I believe it,” she said. While handing me a plate of food, I started to munch away when my dad finally revealed himself. He walked down the stairs and immediately looked at me. “Hey, Dad. Good morning once again,” I said. “Good morning,” he replied. He looked at my mom with a glint in his eye. “You know, I talked to Ally this morning and finally convinced her to join something this year,” he told her. She looked at me and asked if it was true, and I confirmed. “Have you given any thought to what you want to do?” my dad asked. “Owen, you just convinced her this morning,” my mom said before giving me a chance to answer. I spoke up. “Actually, I do have an idea of what I want to participate in.” My mom looked at me with intrigue in her eyes, and my dad had the biggest little-kid grin I’d ever seen. “I was thinking about doing wrestling. What do you guys think?” I looked at them with both hope and curiosity. They looked at each other and then back at me. My dad spoke first. “I think that’s a genius idea.” “I’m really glad you guys are on board. I decided that if I was going to be a part of something, it should be something that could potentially help me in a time of need.” “I love it,” my mom said. After we all finished talking, my mom sent me and my brother to school. I got my driver’s license this summer. My parents gave me my car under one condition, and that was to help them take Mark to and from school and sometimes his practices. I figured it was a pretty fair trade. Mark and I got in the car, and I took him to school. “Hey, Ally,” Mark said. I looked at him in the rearview mirror and asked what was up. “I was wondering if you wanted to go to the park after school?” he asked. “Oh yeah, sure. Do you want to play a round of soccer when we get there?” I asked. “Yeah, I was going to ask you that,” he said. “Well, it’s good to know we’re both on the same page,” I said. I eventually arrived at his school, and he got out to go inside. He instantly saw one of his friends, and they both ran in together. After I saw him get inside, I went to school. My school was just a little way down the street. As I started driving, I noticed a guy watching me. I continued on to school but took a lap around the block to see if he had followed me. After not seeing anyone there, I realized I was probably being paranoid and figured he was just looking at something else. I went to school, parked, and walked inside.