Her wild imagination

Chapter 1

"Good evening Miss Anna Jenkins, this way please," one of the security personnel said to me, I gently came down from the car and smiled at him "Thank you Sir" I responded to him, I could feel the night's breeze blowing up my ego and success, what can a man do when you successfully get everything you have been praying for maybe even more than you imagined, I guess it's in that moment you realize you were worth more than you told yourself.

The woman I have become, now I carry the lesson and experience that once broke me, but now it's teaching me; the whole arena was set up for no one else but me, am I surprised? Maybe yeah, oh, but I'm taking it all, the credit, the smiles, the praises, including the hate, although I'm gonna trash that one.

As soon as I began taking a step towards the door, I could feel my swollen legs, not out of pain but success. I felt like they were too big, way too big to carry me, and if I wasn't careful, I was gonna fall off this huge mountain that had been created because of my success.

One thing about life is that you can choose for yourself what you want to be but sometimes not what you have to do to get there, people always praise you, telling you how lucky you must be feeling because of what you have achieved but what can I say, I don't believe in luck at all, it has its own people and lovers, some of us who were never lovers of luck end up fighting to get our way through all the time, it's as though it doesn't even know us by name so it doesn't favor us.

But I got to know that all hope's not because there's something way bigger, better, and more effective than luck and that's Grace, I believe in grace not luck because, unlike luck, grace does have its own people and it's not a lover of anyone, Grace works in mysterious ways, luck can come three times in a day but Grace comes maybe six times in a lifetime but each moment of grace sets you up for years sometimes generations to come.

Grace brought me this far; she remembered me after years of neglecting me.

"There she is, you are looking absolutely amazing, I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up I had to make arrangements for your arrival" That was my PA, Josh Henderson, a wonderful young man who became my best friend just, I can't believe how much we never really liked each other in college, although there's nothing romantic going on between us, this is what I can say, I do remember saying that Grace sets you up for a lifetime

Josh wasn't the worst person I had met so I had way worse than him but the one different thing was that he came as an honest hater, he always told me the truth, sometimes it wasn't a bad truth, his words weren't twisted sometimes I began to wonder if he actually hated him the way he claimed he did but he was one of the people who made me prove myself to the world and I know Grace used him to ginger me and get me out of my comfort zone.

"Miss Anna, they are ready for you" he said and I smiled placing my hands on his while we both walked in and as soon as my presence was felt, you could feel the walls of the magnificent hall collapsing due to the thunderous round of applause, I tried to keep my composure but I felt like crying out my eyes out, oh it's me, that Anna, who ever thought I could make it this far but it's all true, I closed my eyes and opened them but it wasn't an imagination, this one is real oh God it's so real the people are no longer in my thoughts, the decorations are no longer been pictured in my mind, they were all real, Josh left me and went to take his seat in the front row while I gracefully walked up to the stage, as soon as I got there I lowered my head not to them but to God which followed with the sign of the Cross.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am so glad to have you all here, truly I'm so honored and I would love to begin this note by thanking God, I can't deny that I wouldn't be here if not for him I wouldn't be here, the book "Her wild imagination" it's not just a story it's my story, it's about Anna Jenkins or Anaa bad luck as I would often call myself. Believe me the bad luck wasn't about dipping your foot in water while wearing a stockings or your umbrella getting spoilt in the rain or your crush not noticing you, those things can be forgotten in a day but some incidents can àleave you doubting yourself, over and over again and I can't begin to imagine just how much of a loser I called myself, and there's always that one question I asked, Why it just couldn't be me? You know, getting accepted, getting the best part of the meal or getting surprised in a wonderful way it's never me" I paused trying hard not to cry, I'm not just telling tales most people hear from every successful person out there, but this was my life, my journey, my experience, my pains and tears, they were not just tales they were moments and I can't let them feel I'm trying to buy their sympathy because it's way too cheap for my standards now, yes now. After all, there were times I wanted them to be heard, to be understood, but not anymore. I turned the first page of my book, took a deep breath I looked up at them, and began reading

"Well, anyway, I think it's time; let's begin, shall we? Her wild imagination by Anna Jenkins, I could remember that very afternoon as though it was just yesterday.....

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".........

Chapter 3

As I sat in the car, all I could think about was the stories I was going to tell my sisters, especially my immediate elder sister, since she loved hearing stories a lot. I couldn't wait especially when I knew it was going to be a long drive. "Do you need anything?" He asked, since we were driving through the Mandarin market, a popular market in Jacksonville known for its amazing local boutiques. I want a sweater from my grandmother when she was going to buy a few clothes for me I was like a tradition for us there is no way my grandma would send me back home without new clothes and shoes These were some of the things I gladly looked forward to whenever I went to visit her and sometimes she doesn't let me pick what I want. After all, she just wants to be the one who gives me something out of her own choice, and even though I really don't like the clothes you gave me, I never turn them down because I always see how happy she is whenever I say thank you, and I accept whatever she gives me.

"Thanks, Dad, but I don't need anything right now. Maybe we can stop at the next restaurant to eat. I'm starting to get hungry," I said. "No Problem," he replied to me.

My dad was kind of a different person whenever it's just the two of us not that he doesn't care but you know he kind of never gives you so much attention to want to stop by at the market to get you something except he planned for it but why on a drive to somewhere it doesn't really do that but Whenever is just us he tests to pay a little more attention to me or maybe because he missed me since I've been away for over two weeks I don't know but I kind of do enjoy it

Citing the next restaurant he gently pulled over, "So what do you want to eat?" He asked as he opened the door and got down, likewise me, "Anything?" I said as we both walked into the restaurant.

We found an empty table and sat down. I looked around the restaurant, though it was not that big, but it was sure comfortable and warm. I smiled to myself wondering what it would feel like running a beautiful place like this. I was just about to drift into my World imagination when I was interrupted by my father's voice.

"Anna, I think we should order fried fish and shrimp," he said, looking at the menu and then looking up at me, waiting for my answer. "No problem," I said as he gently waved his hand, and the waiter approached us with a smile on her face.

"Good day sir, you are welcome. What can I get for you both? She asked my father to place the order while I was satisfying my eyes scanning every corner of the place "That will be all, thank you" my dad said and she thanked him and walked away shortly after she returned placing the meals on the table she turned and said to me "I hope you enjoy your Meal dear" I smile and thanked her.

I began devouring the food, and honestly, it was amazing. "Do you like it?" my dad asked with a mouthful of ffood"YeYess so delicdeliciousaid and h,e smiled as I could see this satisfaction in his eyes.

"Well you better already be up here you know we still have a long way to go" as he said that I nodded my head

The less than 20 minutes we were done and headed outside he got into the car and the journey began again, You know that feeling when you are looking outside the window of a car, you tend to think about your life, your dreams and some people think about their love life, you know just getting yourself out of reality once in her while imagining what your life could have been if things turned out differently.

But I was just imagining myself, being the queen of England's daughter, what it would be like to be a British person, and maybe I would have a different name and personality but then I figured it means I wouldn't be able to know my grandma even my family "No I'm kinda happy with my reality" I said to myself.

"Did you say something?" My father asked, unbeknownst to me, that I might have said it a bit aloud, I knew if I said no, he would think I'm starting to talk to myself, which is weird. "Yeah, I was singing," I said, and he didn't say anything else. It seems like he bought the lie. I reached for the car stereo and connected my phone to the car's audio system via Bluetooth and started playing my favorite tunes. "Now that's why to enjoy a long ride," My dad said excitedly, and we laughed it off.

He was right, music is more than just a beat and lyrics are like a sound the soul recognizes. When you listen to good music, even your spirit and your soul dance to the beat while your mind enjoys the lyrics.

I can't believe I have been sitting for almost three hours. My butts was starting to hurt, and I looked up to see the signboard "Welcome to Atlanta." I smiled to myself. I'm home with loads of stories and gists and finally my butts can rest. "You seem excited?" My father asked, "Who wouldn't be? My butts hurt like hell." I said, and he chuckled.

In less than forty minutes, my father pulled over to our house, and there it was. Our house is not that big, just a simple duplex but perfect for our family. It has a cozy living room with big windows that let in lots of natural light. The kitchen is warm and inviting, where we cook meals together. The bedrooms are comfortable and just the right size for each of us. Our backyard is a lovely spot to relax and spend time together.

The house may not be fancy, but it's home. We've made many happy memories here, and it feels warm and welcoming. It's a place where we can be ourselves and enjoy each other's company. We've decorated it with our favorite things, and it feels like us........