Juliette+Rolfott

Juliette Rolffot 1/22/12 Period 1 =Dominican Republic= It always seemed like a fairytale. Mango trees swaying along with the hammock tethered safe and secured. Giggles and laughs through the moments we share in our neatly, organized scrapbooks or just a bundle of pictures stuffed inside an album. Just hearing the massive blue waves splashing against the rough sand. But I was fooled. My life was just a game. And I was tricked into believing that this would be the beginning. But no….I was wrong. As I got back from school, I took of my tight, itchy uniform I had to wear for kindergarten. If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, yes, I did live in Dominican Republic and I did speak Spanish. But not to worry, I will translate this story in English. “Mommy, I don’t want any beans in my rice,” I whined, starring at the brown beans in a disgusted face. “Sweetie, you know that it is very healthy for you and it makes you strong.” My mom pointed to her muscles and made herself look like a super hero. Sighing, I stuffed my face in my hands. But still I ignored my mom and pushed aside the beans on my plate with my silvery fork.“Beside,” she continued, “Daddy will be coming with exciting news!” looking at her for a long time, a question mark popped on top of my head. Coming back from school, my sister was doing her homework in my room. Well, I mean “OUR” room. But at the time, I was only five and didn’t quite understand that. In the distance, I saw her tangle her fingers in her silky, brown hair as her book bag sagged down her shoulders. “Mommm!!!” I blurted out. “She’s doing her homework in MY room!” My sister looked straight ahead; red-faced, eyebrows pointed down, and cheeked pressed together. With anger, she busted out yelling, “Be quiet, you dim wit, it’s OUR room for your information!” Grabbing a piece of my hair, she pulled and tried to yank it out with all her might. Before my mom could say a word, my dad came urging in. Suddenly, we all stopped the situation and cried out, “Daddy!” He explained to us that he had important news and he wanted to discuss it with the family. We all gathered around the living room. My body shook. What was so important that we had to have a family meeting? “Okay, so, I thought about it for a long time and your mom and I both decided that were moving to your aunt’s house,” my dad announced. Phew! Well, that’s not too bad, I thought to myself. As long as we stay here, I’m fine.” In New Jersey,” he added. I stared at my father with my big brown eyes for a long time with a puzzled face. I didn’t know where New Jersey was neither did I know what it was. The only thing I knew about this place, was that it was not here. Exhilaration bubbled up inside of my sister like a soda. “Yes,” she sighed with relief, “Do I get my own room??!?” she asked impatiently. Interrupting my dad’s response, I interrogated him with questions like, where is New Jersey. Is it far away? How long will we be staying there? Answering, my dad told us that we would be staying there for a long time and that New Jersey is far away for us to take a plane. Tear drops found there their way sliding down my cheeks like a cascading waterfall flowing down a mountain. Trying to hold down my emotions, I realize that I was not brave enough, I was just a weak five year old. And I did exactly what I figured I do, salty water crystal streamed down my entire face. As it fell down my chin, it shattered, splashing against my shirt. Avoiding to dry the teardrops, I ran to my room waiting to be accompanied. Surprisingly, my sister came in and grabbed one of my blankets and placed it on me. Feeling warm and cozy the blanket wrapped its arms around me as it was alive. Waking me up, rays of sun that creped through the curtains, shined upon me. While the blinding light forced me to open my tired, baggy eyes, I noticed I sleep through dinner. Since my sister and I shared rooms, luckily, we weren’t forced to share beds. Two twin beds were spread across the room; one on the right side and the other on the left. Mine was specially placed on the left side with hundreds of stuff animals and teddy bears on top. Crawling out of bed, I tiptoed in the hallway to see if anyone was awake. My dad was looking online for airline tickets. Finding my mom, I was alarmed by a smell so powerful, my mouth began to water. It was juicy sausages frying on the sizzling pan with melted cheese on my mashed potatoes. Thinking about the crunchy goodness I soon be eating, the aromatic smell lead me to the kitchen. My lips twitched into a smile as soon as I saw my mom. Being sneaky, I dipped my finger into the soft, creamy smashed potatoes as the enticing flavors explored into my mouth. As I devoured my food, I wondered what it would be like living in New Jersey. I set my imagination into this place; having the chance to live with my cousins would be awesome! Right? Maybe, I will even have a fight with snow. A snowball fight. Would living in NJ be better than living here? It would probably be best to just go with the flow and take this opportunity to change my life. No, what am I saying??? Of course, it won’t. No matter what, this place would be incomparable. But…Ugh!! Competing with myself won’t do any better, especially at this time. It was already hard to figure out who I was anymore, why make it extra hard? A day went by and today was the first day of the week. This meant kindergarten for me. Everyday was meant to start fresh and new, but revealing that it was getting closer to the end of school, I’m letting it be the highlight of my life. Eating my breakfast, my mom was doing pig tails for me. Baby blue hair ties were wrapped around my curly- knotty hair. As I got ready for school, I turned to my mom and told her how I was going to tell all my friends that I’m moving really far away but I will call them as soon as I get there. She grinned at me and a huge smile spread across my face. Walking across the street was my school. School was where I could dance, play, and express my feelings. Two of my best friends were the one whose smile and laughter would brighten up my darkest moments. Their names are Elizabeth and Angelica. We were best friends since we met. “Pass the crayons!” Angelica screams with anger in her eyes. While I gently pass it to her, she snatches it out of my hand. All of us started getting grouchy when it was nap time. But as soon as I got to share my news with the class, everyone was blue. Yet, still they had so many questions I didn’t know the answer to. Pondering about it, all the questions racked my brain. Although there were questions I wanted to find answers to, they all spun around my head like a never-ending roller coaster. Inspecting all the kids, they seemed to be acting jealous. Realizing, I didn’t need to be sad because I was leaving. They would always remain in my heart and in my memories. This isn’t me saying goodbye, I’m just saying; until we meet again, I told them. Who would have known that moving would turn your life upside down? Each day got intense but it didn’t mean that it would make us slow. In fact, my dad got the plane tickets; my sister and I ended school and were almost finish packing our things. My family came over to help us move our furniture around and keep things nice and neat. After I heard we were leaving everything behind, I was shock. We would be set off to go early in the morning. I didn’t want to be left lost inside a conversation in my aunt’s house so I decided to practice English. Loud and melodious, music thundered inside my ear almost making me deaf. Party streamers sprinkled the floor as balloons filled the air. Cake laid on top of the counter while my parents danced with my family. Jokes echoed through the hallway and laughter came upon it. My family threw a Goodbye Party for us. Even though we were leaving our family and friends, we had new family and friends to make in NJ. Numerous of shimmering stars overflowed the dark sky with the bright, silvery moon on the side. My eyes tried opening but they just kept closing. Tilting my head forward, I began to fall asleep so I hoped on my bed and went right to sleep. Couple of hours later, it was time to let go. Everyone was shuffling into different directions. All I did was just stared at my room for a long period of time. I then fixed my eyes on my shelf, where there was a lack of available space due to my Barbies. Next to me, my sister stood patting my head. I looked in every direction. A lonely, hollow feeling emerged from the depths of my soul when I glanced at my suitcase. Hearing the footsteps of my dad, I turned to him and gave him a look with my watery eyes. A few streams drizzled out of my eyes that dropped on my bottom lip sinking into my taste buds. To that, I then knew I was not ready to leave this place behind. My uncles helped out my dad with the suitcases while my aunt and cousins helped us clean up. In no time, we were ready. For a second I thought about all the things I did in this house. Sharing made up stories to my family, giving hugs and kisses every night to my parents, fighting about silly things with my sister, having play dates with my two best buddies, staying up late watching movies. Watching the lights go off inside the entire house, I felt as if the house was already abandoned. We all squeezed inside the van trying to make ourselves comfortable. A we approached the airport, I could feel my stomach pulsating as I held back the tears. This time it was tears of happiness. “I’ll miss you!” I assured my family with a big hug. “Will miss you more,” they replied back. Entering the airport, a blazing hotness began to swell my eyes. So much people went in and out of the airport. As my dad waits in the line, my sister, mom, and I sit down on the horrible, uncomfortable blue chairs. I took a deep breath and miserably waited for our flight. My mom always tells me to be patient but from the corner of my eye, I saw her scrambling around, tapping her foot while checking her watch every five minutes. Even though we arrived early, time still went by fast. When we went on board of the plane, I took a last minute glance of where I was and then, I entered into my bland, new life. Everything happens for a reason. At the time, I was too young to figure that out. I still can hardly understand it now. But what I know now is that every little step I take can affect my future. My whole life. I used to think life was just a silly little game that would keep throwing surprises at you. A story with never-ending chapters. Here is my story. A story I wouldn’t have written, if I didn’t move. A story that contains the memory of a little child. Because of my parents I would not be here right now sharing this event. An event that changed everything. Even though things didn’t exactly happen as I planned it would be, I knew that was how things were suppose to be. Some people call it life but I like to use the word, reality.

Author’s Note: 2005. That was around the year my whole life turned upside down. While getting ready to move, I learned that not only letting go of my life was super hard, but to get use to my new life. From the day I was told we were moving till the moment we arrived at the airport. Since I only knew Spanish at the time, I struggled with school. But I started working really hard and got really good. Thanks to my parents I now know two languages; Spanish and English. Although I have friends and family that I haven’t seen in a long time, they still remain in my warm heart and I hope I remain in theirs. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy either, but I knew I be willing to make a change if I had to. Excepting the fact that I had to, changed not only my life, but my future.