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- Story Listed as: True Life For Teens
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Friends / Friendship
- Published: 01/28/2015
My mind shifted from nervous to excited. I shouldn't have been this nervous, after all this was my choice. I looked up to see this tall, castle-like building which reminded me of Harry Potter. The school looked at least two centuries old. As we walked in the building the door made a loud squeak.
I looked around to see a bunch of parents and students looking lost like deer in headlights, then I realized I was one of them. Posters with directions and information about clubs covered the walls. After what seemed like an eternity of walking, we finally spotted a small table with a label saying: room keys. We approached a little old lady who introduced herself and handed me a small key on a lanyard with the school name all over it. I had a smile from ear to ear on my face. I could not wait any longer to see my room and meet my roommate. We all went over to where the lady had pointed, which was the way to the rooms. I noticed my dad almost dragging himself from place to place, clearly unhappy about this whole situation. I knew he would miss me but I never thought it would reach this point.
We finally found my door, and opened the room. The room felt like a sauna due to the fact that it had been the whole summer since anyone used the room. All I could think about was that my mom had bought a bunch of winter stuff for Minnesota but not as much for the summer. We started to bring up my boxes from the car, organizing things so that there was a place for everything and everything had a place because my mom is a perfectionist. In her mind everything has to be perfect and planned appropriately, which is why she gave me lessons in everything from washing clothes to folding them before leaving Mexico. With my familys’ practicality we were almost done when the door opened.
A tall, skinny girl walked into the room carrying a small box. Her hair looked like the sun, sparkling with a slight shine from the window light. She had rapunzel-length hair, and was wearing small jean shorts with a tank top. I ran up to her like a little girl in a toy store and greeted her. Then I realized I probably sounded way too anxious.
She placed her box on the top of her bed and then turned around and whispered, “Hi! I’m Gwyn, you must be Regi.” I nodded and walked back to where my mom was building a small book shelf to help me be even more organized. I kneeled down and helped my mom the best I could. Gwyn and I looked at each other and then started laughing. The thought of a complete stranger being my roommate started to freak me out, but I knew we would be friends in a matter of seconds. After a while, the room looked a little more like home. Coincidentally, her bedspread was the same as mine and we both had similar color decorations, which made our room look even better.
After what felt like a chaotic day, Gwyn said goodbye to her mom and was just sitting on her bed with her laptop on. My parents came in from meeting all my teachers and I could tell that both of them weren't looking so pleased about our goodbye. My mom walked over to where I was standing and gave me a big hug. I could tell both of them were holding their tears in. I hugged my mom back, and that was when she broke down. This was the second time I had seen my mom cry, the only other time was after her grandparents died. Then my dad walked over and gave me a hug. In seconds we were all crying. My mom looked at her watch and mumbled, “I’m afraid It's time to go.” She gave me one last hug and then walked back. My dad walked forward and gave me another hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom wipe her tears and grab her purse. Then they both left.
“Wow, they must really love you,” Gwyn commented, and made me jump. I had forgotten she was there.
“Yeah, it's the first time we will ever be apart for more than two weeks,” I responded.
“Will you miss them?” Gwyn whispered from the corner of her mouth almost like she was afraid to ask.
“I guess,” I said thinking about it, and actually realizing that I would miss them, and then I asked back, “Will you?”
Then Gwyn mumbled, “I guess I will miss my mom, but I'm more afraid of her being lonely.” There was a minute of silence and then she continued “My dad died from cancer 1 year ago, and it's been really hard for her.”
Then without knowing what to say I replied, “I'm sorry.”
She let out a loud gasp and quietly responded, “It's alright, I miss him but it was nobody's fault. I just think letting go of him is the easiest way, but my mom keeps holding on. I don’t know if she hopes one day he will come back, but she needs to let go. It's for the best of us.” I had just met this girl. Not knowing how to respond I walked over and hugged her. Then she started laughing.
“What should we do? We should do something fun to celebrate!”
I couldn't understand why she could be so happy after a sad conversation. That was just the way she was. Happy. One day I hoped to see things from the bright side like she did.
Throughout the year, Gwyn taught me how to see the positive side of everything. I appreciate that she came into my life because it taught me something very important.
Finding Happiness(Regina)
My mind shifted from nervous to excited. I shouldn't have been this nervous, after all this was my choice. I looked up to see this tall, castle-like building which reminded me of Harry Potter. The school looked at least two centuries old. As we walked in the building the door made a loud squeak.
I looked around to see a bunch of parents and students looking lost like deer in headlights, then I realized I was one of them. Posters with directions and information about clubs covered the walls. After what seemed like an eternity of walking, we finally spotted a small table with a label saying: room keys. We approached a little old lady who introduced herself and handed me a small key on a lanyard with the school name all over it. I had a smile from ear to ear on my face. I could not wait any longer to see my room and meet my roommate. We all went over to where the lady had pointed, which was the way to the rooms. I noticed my dad almost dragging himself from place to place, clearly unhappy about this whole situation. I knew he would miss me but I never thought it would reach this point.
We finally found my door, and opened the room. The room felt like a sauna due to the fact that it had been the whole summer since anyone used the room. All I could think about was that my mom had bought a bunch of winter stuff for Minnesota but not as much for the summer. We started to bring up my boxes from the car, organizing things so that there was a place for everything and everything had a place because my mom is a perfectionist. In her mind everything has to be perfect and planned appropriately, which is why she gave me lessons in everything from washing clothes to folding them before leaving Mexico. With my familys’ practicality we were almost done when the door opened.
A tall, skinny girl walked into the room carrying a small box. Her hair looked like the sun, sparkling with a slight shine from the window light. She had rapunzel-length hair, and was wearing small jean shorts with a tank top. I ran up to her like a little girl in a toy store and greeted her. Then I realized I probably sounded way too anxious.
She placed her box on the top of her bed and then turned around and whispered, “Hi! I’m Gwyn, you must be Regi.” I nodded and walked back to where my mom was building a small book shelf to help me be even more organized. I kneeled down and helped my mom the best I could. Gwyn and I looked at each other and then started laughing. The thought of a complete stranger being my roommate started to freak me out, but I knew we would be friends in a matter of seconds. After a while, the room looked a little more like home. Coincidentally, her bedspread was the same as mine and we both had similar color decorations, which made our room look even better.
After what felt like a chaotic day, Gwyn said goodbye to her mom and was just sitting on her bed with her laptop on. My parents came in from meeting all my teachers and I could tell that both of them weren't looking so pleased about our goodbye. My mom walked over to where I was standing and gave me a big hug. I could tell both of them were holding their tears in. I hugged my mom back, and that was when she broke down. This was the second time I had seen my mom cry, the only other time was after her grandparents died. Then my dad walked over and gave me a hug. In seconds we were all crying. My mom looked at her watch and mumbled, “I’m afraid It's time to go.” She gave me one last hug and then walked back. My dad walked forward and gave me another hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom wipe her tears and grab her purse. Then they both left.
“Wow, they must really love you,” Gwyn commented, and made me jump. I had forgotten she was there.
“Yeah, it's the first time we will ever be apart for more than two weeks,” I responded.
“Will you miss them?” Gwyn whispered from the corner of her mouth almost like she was afraid to ask.
“I guess,” I said thinking about it, and actually realizing that I would miss them, and then I asked back, “Will you?”
Then Gwyn mumbled, “I guess I will miss my mom, but I'm more afraid of her being lonely.” There was a minute of silence and then she continued “My dad died from cancer 1 year ago, and it's been really hard for her.”
Then without knowing what to say I replied, “I'm sorry.”
She let out a loud gasp and quietly responded, “It's alright, I miss him but it was nobody's fault. I just think letting go of him is the easiest way, but my mom keeps holding on. I don’t know if she hopes one day he will come back, but she needs to let go. It's for the best of us.” I had just met this girl. Not knowing how to respond I walked over and hugged her. Then she started laughing.
“What should we do? We should do something fun to celebrate!”
I couldn't understand why she could be so happy after a sad conversation. That was just the way she was. Happy. One day I hoped to see things from the bright side like she did.
Throughout the year, Gwyn taught me how to see the positive side of everything. I appreciate that she came into my life because it taught me something very important.
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