"Ally, we're moving again," my dad said last week at the dinner table.
I was used to this. My dad is a Navy Medical Doctor, so wherever he was posted at, I had to follow. It wasn't that big of a deal since we moved about every summer to a new place since I was in fourth grade. Right now I was just about done fitting my last cardboard box in the moving van.
"This'll be a good move," my dad says. "I can feel it."
I sigh and head back inside for a last look around. I liked it here in New Mexico. I didn't really make a best friend in school, but I was friendly with a lot of people. I pick up my messenger bag off of the counter and tap the top of the door frame as I exit the house for the last time. I close the door and lock it behind me, reminding myself that I needed to label the key for this house and put it on my special keychain that had every home I had lived in and the address on it as well.
"Ready to go, Als?" my dad asks as I get in to the passenger side of our Lexus.
"Yep." I answer, tugging on my seatbelt.
"We're going to follow the moving van okay?" he gestures.
"I know dad," I laugh, rolling my eyes. "Like we never did this before?"
"Okay, okay! Goodbye, New Mexico, hello California!" my dad exclaims, revving up the engine as the moving truck drives forward.
"Als… Ally… We're home now…" my dad urges, shaking my shoulder.
"Hmm…" I groan, trying to force open my eyelids.
I had fallen asleep when we stopped at that gas station and I crawled to the backseat to lie down. We drove for forever. I don't even know what day it is. We had to stay two nights at some hotels but we were finally here.
"We should've taken a plane," I said for about the fiftieth time. I sit up and stretch.
"Come on, Ally, it's actually really nice. Hurry!" my dad says excitedly, helping me out of the back so I don't fall from the sudden hit of vertigo.
I close the door and turn to face our new home.
Wow. It was a lot nicer than I hoped. We were in a cul-de-sac with about four other houses in it and across the street was more houses lining in the street. It was so freaking suburban. It had two stories and a nice mahogany fence towards what I took as the backyard. There was a nice stone path, and the house was a light green. There was a two door garage and quite near us was the fence of a next door neighbor. It looked like it came straight out of an American dream or something.
"Very… neighborly." I commented, tugging my bag on.
"I know right? It's perfect! A fresh start!" my dad grinned, putting his arm around my shoulder.
"I forgot, dad, um, where are we exactly?" I ask uncertainly, looking around at the houses.
"We're in Moreno Valley sweetie! I'm stationed up at Anaheim in the VA," my dad answers probably for the third time since I was totally tired throughout that entire trip.
"Where's the moving van?" I ask, looking around for the hulking automobile that we had been behind for a few days.
"Oh, they already put everything inside, all we have to do is unpack it," my dad answered, taking my hand and leading me to the small porch.
The windows on either side of the doors were nice and modern looking, and I was glad see a glass plane above the door for sunlight. That was always a plus.
"Oh, and I almost forgot," my dad says, pulling something out of his pocket.
"This is your new key, Ally." my dad smiles, handing me a copy of his key. "Will you please do the honors Als?"
"Sure dad," I laugh, opening the door.
The place was nice. Modern and reserved, and there was three rooms, a nook, a living room, a very modern kitchen, and a nice dining room. There were even three bathrooms, and dad gave me the master bedroom so I would have the bath in my room to myself. But the biggest plus was in the backyard.
"Oh my God, is that a pool?" I exclaim excitedly, throwing open the clear slide opening doors. It was lined with different kinds of stones and even had a little slide to it as well. Beside the pool was a small garden plot with a few budding flowers. The fence was high up, which meant much more privacy for us, and even a little gazebo with two chairs and a table.
"Wow, dad, this is amazing! Thank you, thank you. Thank you!" I grin, hugging him tightly.
"Your welcome Als," my dad laughed, hugging me back warmly.
I think I am actually going to like it here.