Image Source: Kassia Phoy Photography, Los Angeles, California
Chapter 1: Mayflower
It was the spring before my eighteenth birthday. The early afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window of my room, casting light over all of the jewelry and perfume that decorated the vanity I sat in front of. I had just finished curling my hair, which has grown quite long since I cut it up to my shoulders two summers ago during church camp. That was during my rebellious phase. Sometimes, I feel like I'm still in that phase.
"May! Would you like to eat something before you go?"
"No Grandpa, I'll eat at the festival!" I yelled from my room which was upstairs in the old farmhouse. I had lived with Grandpa and my Mother for the first few years of my life, though I don't remember much of that time. My Mother had left when I was about eight years old, and it's been just me and Grandpa ever since then. She never came back. Why did she leave? I used to ask that question a lot. I'd always wonder about her and dream about what she looked like. Do I look like her, I wonder? I find myself wondering less and less about those things now though.
Lately, I have been spending most of my time helping Grandpa on the farm. We have managed pretty well so far, and he even talks about giving the Yodel Ranch to me once he passes away. I don't like to think about that though.
When I'm not helping Grandpa around the farm, I'm with Stu. We've known each other ever since we were little kids, though he wasn't so fond of me back then. We began dating after he confessed his feelings for me at the beach during the Fireworks festival last summer. Though it's been a good couple of months with him, sometimes I can't help but wonder what my life would be like if I were with someone else.
No one around here really thinks about leaving. Everyone is comfortable and that's fine, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable. I've always had a sense of wanderlust because of my Mother, and I would daydream about the big city and what it was like all the time. I know, typical small-town girl, but I like to think I'm different.
The spring before I turned sixteen was when he first moved here to my hometown. A city boy who had inherited his family farm after his Grandfather had passed away. My Grandpa had known his family for a long time, and they had often did business together. The first spring he was here, our brown mare had just given birth and he cared the pony. He'd let me come over to see her and I even helped him train her. To this day, she listens to my commands more than his. Sometimes, when I was there, I would sneak peeks at him and his girlfriend as they kissed. Part of me was curious, but most of me was jealous.
His name is Jack and when I'm not dreaming of the city, I'm dreaming of him.