Ties that Bind You

    “I honestly can’t believe it!” I exclaimed out loud in delight as my Aunt Linda continued to read out the acceptance letter from Georgia State University. “We look forward to welcoming you to one of the nation’s premier urban research universities” …. The rest of the letter sounded like a huge blob in my ears as I began to recount all the events leading to my long-awaited exit from the dreaded Xavier high school, the one place I know to be capable of bringing my biggest fears and my best moments in life together in the span of my high school years. It all began when my mom had to move us to this dreadful city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Do we really need to move? I think you might be exaggerating about my behaviour”.  She quickly glared back at me giving me the ‘you’re so lucky you’re not next to me look’ and I quickly responded with one of my quirky smiles whose sole purpose is to make sure she doesn’t stay mad at me for long.  She playfully rolled her eyes, looking away and I said to myself “still got it” which had me giggling instead of heartily laughing in order to maintain the effect of my charming green eyes. “Tracy, to the best of my knowledge, you’re the only girl in your grade that managed to be both suspended and expelled in the same day” she began. “I don’t think your dad would be proud of you if he was here” she added, which made me feel shitty. I walked away from the conversation by pretending to help out with conveying the luggage into the Chevrolet Traverse parked outside. I reclined the seats to pave way for more belongings to fit into the van. “I mean, who has half the mind to spray paint the principal’s car, mix glue with the hair shampoo in Gabriella Montez’s locker after P.E, then sound the fire alarm three times in the day, I mean, three times? Tracy, if you didn’t like Mr Shabalala’s Afrikaans class that much, you could have just asked to be excused and spent the rest of the period in the nurse’s office.” What can I say? I felt destructive that day. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably siding with her on this one but let me tell you how it went down. I got to school pretty late so I was already expecting a warning from Mrs Sanchez about not going to graduate if I keep missing all my first-period classes which, to be honest I think is a little stretch because I always get to class in time for the roll call so I don’t know what’s up to her skirt most mornings. This time though, I got to class pretty late because I forgot to set the alarm and I missed the bus. Apparently, my mom called out my name a couple of times before she left for work and thought I was still moody because of our disagreement the night before. I mean, why would you think dating my history teacher, the one man I swore to sacrifice if I ever get serious about my religion --that’s right Jesus, I’m going to be on your team real soon, be a disciple or whatever they call those people—was a good idea. Anyway, I got so mad, I skipped dinner and never left my room after I saw them making gooey conversations through the window before I got home from Kaitlyn’s. I put some of my stuff in my locker and then as I turned to sprint for my biology class that was about to begin, I bumped into none other than the she-devil, little miss high and mighty, the reason I pray the school bans make-up, Gabriella Montez.  “Ugh, it touched me, I need to go home and take a shower.” and her dumb little possie laughed and pointed at me in agreement.  I thought to myself, she doesn’t need to make contact with me to take a shower. Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right. I politely curtseyed and just tried to walk away before creating a bigger scene than Gabriella. As I walked away, I knew I would get her back but my main focus at the time was to make it to Mr Newton’s biology class, ironic I know. On my sprint, I saw the principal entering his office so I abruptly put the run to a halt since I didn’t want to be flagged that early in the morning but ended up pushing Carl to hit the fire alarm. As it sounded, the whole school got into a frenzy and rushed to the nearest exits. As I was about to blend in, Mr Yoo, my beloved principal had the hallway lights reflecting on his slightly bald head but I couldn’t even draw a grin because I was so tense. He called me into his office as the rest of the student body started filing in. After being reprimanded and warned that I’ll end up with a suspension if it repeats itself in the semester considering I’m known to be a trouble maker. I took the warning very seriously yet it happened three times on that day of which none were my fault. I got the suspension indefinitely. I got so mad, and I remembered what happened with Gabriella and I knew I had to do something. The bell rang for a change of subject and we had to change for P.E. I rocked the soccer with the rage building in me. I left for the shower and I saw Gabriella’s dumb possie carrying her shampoo bag so I told them that she was looking for them impatiently. They unconsciously dropped the purse and I saw an arts and crafts case next to it. I’m sure you knew what I would have done with the glue and the rest is history. That is actually why I got expelled from the school. I tried explaining to my mom but she wouldn’t listen. She then began making preparations to move me to another school. I finally landed in another school where I transferred my credits, Fast forward to the last day of school in Townsend Harris high where I met the two best human beings in the world, cute ass Stephen Chong, the exchange student I saw as a brother and nothing more (shame on you) and a brand-new Tracy because this time I was bagging the boys. If you’re old enough to be reading this, you probably know that a little bit of heaven has to come with hell, you know. I met so many douche boys who just wanted to get in my pants. I guess you can say puberty did me right. Some of which I was warned against by my other best friend and neighbour Kaitlyn Myers a cute brunette, with a great sense of humour and not to mention her great advice which I barely ever listen to and her amazing body, honestly if I was her mom, I’d have signed her up for every modelling gig in the country because honestly, a bombshell. Not to go off-topic now, we got the hottest boys to sign our yearbooks since most of us would not be seeing each other again, we would like to have something to remember ourselves by. Stephen was the most emotional because he was told he’d have to go back to his country which instantly put me in tears as well as Kaitlyn. “Tracy Albright! Are you even listening to me?” Aunt’s angry voice returned me to the present. Your mother and I were just talking about how the fees are so exorbitant to the extent that we’re reconsidering your move out of here so you probably end up in one of the colleges in the state like New York University or Columbia University.  “But I never applied to those schools, what if I don’t get in?” I asked about to tear up.” “There are so many unticked boxes that we can’t risk losing this opportunity for me”. I couldn’t believe I was about to lose this chance to get a fresh start. Considering all the things I got myself involved in out here in this city, I can’t bear to spend another month here not to mention the rest of my college years under the same supervision by my aunt and my mum. No way! I had to find a way to get out of it. Just like that, an idea began to form in my head as my parents kept on rambling about there being no other way.  “What if I get a job?” I said out loud. “What are you talking about?” my mother asked. Aunt Linda’s face began to form a smile as she signalled my mother to allow me to talk.  “I can get something part-time to cater for my fees and probably find a cheap room to rent as my accommodation, honestly I feel this would help me be a better person”. Seeing them nod in agreement as I spoke, I got myself thinking I got myself out of a fix, not knowing that staying in New York with all those terrible memories would be a slap on the wrist compared to the experience I was about to have in a whole other state…