What Can Graham Do For You?

Cyrene Parris (See-reen)

I taped up the last box, sighing in frustration my mood saddened as I looked around my now empty room. I moved the box to join the others against the wall and made my way to look out the window. The July sun warmed my face as the 'For Sale' sign mocked me in the front yard. My thoughts wandered. The last 13 years of my life spent here practically changed and forgotten at the declaration of 'I Do' from my mother and her new companion.

Although I moved here at the age of 4, this is where I made the most memories that I now held so closely to my heart. I could not imagine my life away from the sweet but hustling city of New York. I found it strange that we were moving back to California. We originally lived there but after we left my mother had nothing good to say about the state until now. What was even stranger to me was how quickly they got married. After three months of dating that seemed beyond rushed to me. Nevertheless, I remained quiet since moving in with her newly wedded husband and his son was one of the compromises I had to make. It seemed like the right thing to do despite my unsettling feeling with changing my environment. Luckily, my mother had encouraged me to apply to Stanford University. My acceptance letter indicated the change was, nevertheless, in my immediate future.

"Cece are you done yet?" my mother's yelling brought me out of my thoughts and I drew my attention to my cracked door across the room.

 "The trucks will be here in five! Don't forget that I'm putting them in storage, so you need to separate the stuff you need!" 

"Yes mom, I'm done!" I called down to her. She claimed that Steve her husband, already had new furniture for me. I have had my current furniture all my life, so why not take the chance to dump them in the storage?

"Since you are done, get down here! Daniel and Steve just pulled up, so make sure you look decent. Thank you!" She yelled again.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. She always criticized my appearance, she expected me to look perfect all the time or somewhat close to it. I walked over to the mirror attached to the outside of the closet door. With my mother's words ringing in my head, I smoothed out imaginary wrinkles out of the fitted white tee that I paired with a black and white Adidas joggers. I rubbed my hands along my hair, slicking the stray hairs back to the ponytail.

Steve Harper my new stepfather was head of his law firm, and their consummation now included my mother as a lawyer. Daniel his son, well, technically my stepbrother and I have never seen eye to eye from the day we met…literally. His immature comments on my "Amazon height" because I was 5' 10", and my 'lack of a social life due to me being homeschooled, limited how well we got along. He always talked down to me like I was not good enough and I was not used to such treatment which made it harder knowing this is who I will be living with. 

I took my time and headed down the wooden stairs nervously and in anticipation of the brutal comments I knew was waiting for me. My eyes traveled across the room only to see my mother and Steve captured in a lip-lock while Daniel stood in the corner of the room. I could already hear him in my head which terrified me. 

"Look it’s the skyscraper," he started, a smirk spread across his face instantly, "Say hey to God for me, I mean, since you're closer to him," He cracked childishly.

"I really can't stand you!" I spat at him, which pulled my mother and Steve away from each other then turned their attention towards Daniel. 

"Daniel, didn't we talk about this. You are 18 so act like it. We are a family now, so please act accordingly as well," Steve pleaded. I internally cringed at the word family. Cold day in hell, I thought to myself. 

"Ok pops. Sorry Cyrene," he said with the smirk still on his face. I was truly disgusted by his childish behavior and I could tell that I was in for miserable times to come.

"I told you before, so don't let me have to tell you again. Please, call me Cece," I said through gritted teeth and crossed my arms.

"Cece, it's not that serious. Calm down, the truck is here," Mom said as she walked past me, patting me on the shoulder.

"Okay Cece," he said and made a face while he called my name in a mocking tone. 

 Mom went on a call and my aunt Sonia, who agreed to take care of putting our stuff away in storage. I could feel Daniel's stare piercing through my skin. One person should not be this annoying, I thought to myself. I rolled my eyes at him and walked off to find my mom. The next hour was spent moving boxes and pieces of furniture to the trucks that came. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of it. 

While everyone loaded the last of the boxes, I excused myself to give my best friend her final goodbye. My neighbor, Chelsea, who was also home schooled, was my best friend and study, partner. We have been friends from the moment she moved next door five years ago. She became the sister I never had. I rang her doorbell twice within a couple of seconds. 

"Cece please don't go," she begged as a greeting and quickly embraced me in a hug so tight that I could hardly breathe.

All the memories of us came flooding but I had to be strong. She was the only friend I have ever had, and I know it's going to be hard finding another like her.

"Trust me if I had a choice I'd be staying" I replied as she released me from her grip. “Besides this is all your mom's fault she introduced Steve and my mom.”

“I know” She sighed.

"Make sure you always text me. Do not forget to visit, I'm going to be so lonely without you," she listed off as tears began to brim her eyes. 

"Please don't let me get emotional on your doorstep. We will always be friends, Chels! I might not be here physically, but I'll always be there for you," I said, instantly overjoyed as she began to smile. I heard the horn from my mother's van, so I knew that was my cue to wrap it up.

"Take care, Cece" she hugged me again.

"You too," I said as I hugged her back.

 I was going to miss her. We finally let go, which allowed me to walk back over to mom's van. I looked back over at Chelsea who was still standing at her door. I waved and she waved back. I took one last look at the place I once called home before hopping into mom's van before we drove off.

"I'm so excited! We finally get to leave New York; the good life awaits us in California, I missed that place," Mom reminisced as she turned the key in the ignition, after refilling at a gas station.

“You never once gave me a solid reason as to why we moved in the first place'' I responded.

“Your dad and I did something bad back in the day. Let us just say that is behind all of us now and I am ready to move forward. Please let us not go that road.”

Her answer was vague, but I decided to respect her request. For the first time in a long time, I saw she was genuinely happy. The small-time my father was in the picture, he mistreated us all, especially her, so I was happy to see her this happy again.

"In the lights of new beginnings, maybe this will be my chance to become more social," I responded. Then I thought about it. "Or maybe not since I'm probably awkward, " I added as an afterthought. It would be good to meet new friends, even though none of them will ever come close to Chelsea.

"I'm sure Daniel has female friends he could introduce to you. Also, you will be starting college this fall. That is plenty of exploring, well the good type," she suggested, trying to lighten the depressing mood I was falling into.

"I'm good. I want nothing to do with him or anyone associated with him, come to think of it. I have been doing good all these years without being around people my age, apart from Chelsea, and it did not bother me much. Why should I let it bother me now? I mean, it wasn't like it was a setback," I rambled.

"Don't be too quick to judge now. It's not a bad thing to have people your age around you, lighten up," she persuaded while firmly gripping the steering wheel as she went 80 in a 60mph zone.

"I guess so. I still do not see why we have to drive to California. It would've been so much easier to fly, this is torture," I mumbled.

"It was my idea. We have never had a road trip, so here is one. I will be very busy soon so enjoy these moments because I do not know when we’ll get this much time again" she cheesed at me. 

I released a sigh, shaking my head at her as I connected my earphones to my phone. This was going to be a long ride and we were nowhere close to our destination.

How in the world am I going to go through with these changes? That was all that that was going through my head as we drove down the highway.

"You seem pensive, is everything okay?" the words flowed smoothly out of her mouth as she glimpsed at me then quickly turned her focus back on the road.

"Yeah, Mom. Everything is ...good," I replied hesitantly, still unsure of how exactly I was feeling towards this situation. These mixed emotions were eating me alive under the silence. The thoughts swimming around and the sea of confusion I constitute as my mind, overwhelming me to the brink of a mini panic attack. 

"It's not that serious. Everything will be fine, change is inevitable," I mumbled under my breath as I assured myself.