“Celia!” I heard someone whisper my name loudly but thought it must be a dream because I was still asleep.
I was exhausted, I thought. Go back to sleep, girl.
“Celia!” This time, it was louder and accompanied by the thunk of a pillow over my head.
I scrambled up, my arm out to defend my head. “Mom, stop! I’m trying to sleep!”
Even as I said it, thoughts started to filter into my head. She only used the pillow when I absolutely had to wake up. Otherwise, she’d have just left me to sleep in my own version of zombie land.
“Celia, it’s late, you have to get up!” She stood over me, hands on her hips, arms akimbo as I gaped up at her.
“The bus!” I screamed out as I realized that if I didn’t get on the bus that would take me to the Big Apple, then I’d be stuck in Iowa missing my first week
