Chapter 2 Bright afternoon

Chapter 2

It's a fine afternoon, the weather seems better as though it was trying to bribe me to stay back 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 grandkid 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'm done packing my bag when Doggie my grannie dog rushed into my room, he stared at me as though he was confused 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 but him and I got along so well, we played all the time in fact he made my different and fun unlike before "Are you gonna 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 can 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'm like a shadow, always there but ignored. Did it hurt? Of course, when the uncles or aunties including cousins just doesn't make you feel warm like they do to your sisters, so during the holidays I drive down to Florida to be in with my granny, she was the only one who treated me special and different, 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 can 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 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 can'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 really hungry," I said, as I looked out from the window I saw a couple entering the restaurant, the way his hands were carefully rested on her waist, the smile on her face I sure wished it would be me not when I'm older but at that moment, it wasn't because I find the man attractive or he was my spec but because I wanted to be loved like that

I began picturing myself in 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 you and we told him you had gone on a holiday, and he said you just make time to visit and stay with them for a while since you enjoyed " 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".........