It’s time. Peri can feel death approaching as sure as she can feel the floor below her. She gets up to greet it, although fear threatens to paralyze her in place. If only she could see her family one more time. But it’s too late. She doesn’t even reach the door before collapsing to the…
It’s moving day for Kai and me. I get up extra early to pack up our things and get Kai ready. Pop-pop warms up left-overs for breakfast. I greet him with a big hug before we sit down to eat. Quincy Sr.: Sweetheart, I want you to know that if you ever need anything, you…
Michael shows off his new ‘light spin’ moves while trying to convince Mama Nadine to dance with him. Mama Nadine: Oh no…I’ve never been much of a dancer. After some convincing from the rest of us…she finally sways her body a bit to the music, but we can tell that it’s not really her thing….
I approach the Barista at the coffee shop that’s basically nothing more than an outdoor food stand. Alida: Hi…how are you? I was wondering if you guys are hiring. As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I hear a chuckle behind me… I turn and look to see a guy about my…
Today is the day that I age up to a young adult, but I’m not too sure how I feel about it. I go to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed. Mama Nadine has a cake all lit up and ready for me once I return to the kitchen. After a couple…
I sit in the kitchen the next morning…feeling everything that Claudia was feeling when she was sitting in that exact spot, days before it was time for her to move out. Mama Nadine: So, did Miss Hillary give you some information to get you started? Alida: Yeah…I need to go to Strangerville today to meet…
Each morning is beginning to feel sort of like a long goodbye…since Raul, Michael and I will all be moving out on our own over the next few days. I’m up early getting cooking tips from Mama Nadine when Raul enters the kitchen to let us know that he’s all packed up and ready to…
It’s Raul’s birthday…the day he ages up to a young adult. We gather at breakfast time to wish him a happy birthday and watch him blow out his candles. The twins really get into the spirit. I’m guessing that they really like birthdays. I can tell that Mama Nadine is feeling a little down. I…
Michael and I enter the house and see Mama Nadine and Darwin sitting down talking to two pretty little redhead girls. Mama Nadine: Ah…there you are! Alida, Michael…this is Molly and Emily Canfield. Alida and Michael: Hi The girls return our greeting in soft voices. Mama Nadine: Alida…can you show them to your room and…
I know I can’t avoid her forever, but I’m still afraid to face Mama Nadine the next morning when I wake up. Luckily she’s still asleep when I tip through her bedroom on the way to the bathroom the next morning. When she finally does wake up…Mama Nadine heads for the kitchen and begins cooking…
