Het wild imagination

Just a girl

Chapter 2

It was a fine afternoon. The weather seemed better, as though it was trying to bribe me to stay behind and not leave, but there was nothing I could do. School was about to resume and even though I had the best summer holiday with my grandma, I knew it was time to go back home. My grandma lives in Florida, the Sunshine State in the southern United States, which is very well known for having cool beaches, while my family and I live in the neighboring state, which is Georgia, the Peach State, just a little bit of distance between Florida and Georgia, since they both share the same border.

There was my grandma, sitting on the balcony. One could tell she was sad. Well, why wouldn't she? I'm her favorite grandchild and I really feel bad for her. Although she pleaded with my brother to let me stay with her, she was even prepared to train me in school, but my dad declined the idea without a second thought and my mother was in support of her husband's idea, poor Grannie. She couldn't do anything, so I promised her that I would always visit her.

I was done packing my bag when Doggie, my Grannie dog, rushed into my room. He stared at me as though he was confused about why I was arranging my bag. Doggie was a new dog and I met him the day I visited. Although I wasn't really a pet kind of person, he and I got along so well. We played all the time. In fact, he made life different and fun unlike before. “Are you going to miss me big guy?" I said while rubbing his head. Just then I heard the sound of my dad's car, I quickly smiled, knowing how much I really missed my family……

My name is Anna Jenkins. I'm 15 years old, a bit fair, or you could say chocolate-skinned, I'm a bit short or average. I guess everything about me is just in between. Not really the favorite kid in the family, or maybe you can. I just have that face that makes them not think twice about ignoring me. Yeah, I was not that beautiful, at least not like my two elder sisters plus I was slim, and I was like a shadow always there but ignored. Did it hurt? Of course, when uncles or aunties include cousins, it just doesn't make you feel warm like they do to your sisters, so during the holidays I drive down to Florida to be with my granny. She was the only one who treated me specially and differently. She praised me a lot and always stood up for me and I so much loved her.

“Anna dear?" My Grannie called out to me. I quickly went out to the sitting room, and smiled at my dad, John Jenkins, who was having a conversation with my grandma. He smiled back at me. "Good morning Sir”, I greeted him.

Turns out he had work to do in Florida, so he arrived two days ago and came this morning to pick me up so we could both go back home together and, since it was going to be a long drive from Jacksonville to Atlanta where we lived, we needed to leave immediately. He got up and took my bag from me. I hugged my grandma. She gently squeezed cash into my hand. I wasn't surprised because I was already expecting this part to happen. “Thank you so much Grannie", I said, and waved her goodbye and left.

"How are you?” My dad asked, and I just nodded my head, indicating that I had a good holiday. He smiled and handed me a pack of cookies he bought on his way here. I happily accepted them and thanked him. The drive was quiet as I laid my head against the car seat. All I could think of was the beautiful moments I had with my grandmother and I kept wondering what she and Doggie would be doing now. A smile ran across my face as I began to replay the wonderful moments I shared with Doggie and how uncomfortable I was around him. At first, I couldn't even begin to picture how I got to like him so much. All I do know is that he made my holiday so adventurous.

“Should we drop by and find something to eat?" My dad's voice brought me back from my daydreaming. "No, I'm not starving," I said, as I looked out the window. I saw a couple entering the restaurant, the way her hands were carefully rested on her waist, the smile on her face. I sure wished it was me, not when I'm older, but at that moment, it wasn't because I found the man attractive, or he was my specs, but because I wanted to be loved like that.

I began picturing myself at that moment, being much older than just 15, wearing a nice black dress with my hair all curly and shiny, and I would be looking gorgeous and breathtaking. Maybe it wouldn't be in Florida but in New York or Paris, the city of love, everything would be so perfect, my husband would be well off and I? Well, I don't really know what I want to be, my passion or my dreams, but it still doesn't matter. All that I cared about was that I was also going to be super rich, maybe famous I guess, but that's not the case here. I imagined it was about having a beautiful marriage.

“Your uncle visited us while you were away. He asked about him, and we told him he had gone on a holiday, and he said," You should just make time to visit and stay with them for a while, since you enjoyed traveling ” Again my father drew out from my imagination, I looked at him, not sure if I had heard anything he had said to me

My father looked a little pissed, not surprised. “Where does your mind always run off to?" He asked not to look at me as he concentrated on the road. I sighed and told myself the answer: “ Somewhere I felt like I belonged other than my reality you could say".........