Chapter 1: When Will My Life Begin
"Can I get a bowl of fries please?"
Well, that's probably the hundredth time I've heard that today, and I still have a whole hour left before my shift ends. Even though I'm bored out of my mind from living out the same old thing at Isla de Muerta, the local diner owned by Ursula, I'm extremely grateful to have a job at all. No matter how many times Ursula irks me or how many shifts I have to cover, I need this job in absence of my father. Ever since he started campaigning for mayor, his priorities had shifted drastically. I really don't understand why he did it, but I know I have to support him unconditionally. I politely nod as I make my way to the kitchen, giving the order to Chef Louis and heading out to clear some more tables.
"Don't you just love the long, boring shifts?", Esmeralda remarks and I respond by giving her a small smile. Esmeralda was my best friend ever since my father and I moved here. She was asked to show me around High School and we stayed friends ever since. She even helped me get my job when we graduated and I didn't have a clue what to do afterwards. I didn't want to go to college. I'm such a free spirit and I had a feeling that I would feel trapped. I was just glad that Esmeralda felt the exact same way and offered to get me a job at the diner.
"Yeah, they're the best", I reply sarcastically as I pack a table that's been left in such a state that I question whether or not their mother taught them how to clean. I try to think back to who was sitting there. A group of old, short men, I think.
An hour later, Esmeralda and I finish the night shift and close up the diner. I wave her goodbye as I drive back to my father's house. I really don't expect him to be there, but it would be nice to spend some time with him. The drive is short and I lock my car, making my way to our house. It's not very fancy, but it's home. We live in the suburban area of West Andily, but our neighbourhood is nice. I know everyone on the street and I feel like they're more than just neighbours. The old women next door are very nice and always ask me how I'm doing. As I walk up the front porch I hear barking that makes me smile and bend over to my dog. Perdita is always good company.
"Hi, baby", I hear my boyfriend before I see him. I smile at him then kiss him on the cheek, wanting more than anything to get out of my mustard yellow and black uniform and into a hot shower.
"Hey. How was work?", I ask as I toss my keys onto the small coffee table in the living room, making my way toward my bedroom. I hear Kocoum's footsteps behind me, signalling him following. He works as a construction worker and helps my father with his campaign on occasion. I'm so lucky to be with him. I think my father welcomed him into the family and our home simply because he shared the same heritage. I'm still deciding whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.
"It was good. The new building is almost done. Apparently it's going to be a clothing store or something?", he says as he shrugs his shoulder, obviously clueless to what it actually will be.
"I think I heard something about that at work", I reply, looking for some clean clothes for my shower.
Thankfully, Kocoum finally gets the hint and dawdles back into the living room, turning on the television and I grab my toiletries and try to wash the day's work from my body. As I scrub the stress away, I can't help but think that there's more in the world for me. I know I was destined for something great, but what? It was so hard on my father and I when my mother died, and my grandmother couldn't move with us due to her illness. It was hard to try and figure myself out without a woman to guide me. My father was amazing, and he did his best, but with the mayoral shenanigans, I don't think he's as interested as he used to be. I decide as I dry myself off that I'll video call my grandmother and ask for her advice. She always gives the best advice.
"Hello, grandmother", I say as I giggle. She obviously still hasn't mastered skype.
"Hello, child", she says back as she finally is in the correct position so that I can see her and she can see me. I already feel wisdom starting to course through my body.
"How have you been?", I ask politely as she goes into detail about how her illness has temporarily given her house arrest, but how she must stay positive. I really admire her strength and hope that one day I will be half the woman she is.
"I don't know, I just feel like there's more that I could do. I'm not exactly sure what, but there's just a feeling. What should I do?", I say as she notices my distressed state and questions me on it.
"I have been feeling something lately. My dear, there is a path for you out there in the world, and you can't find it behind an apron. You must follow your dreams", she says simply. If only it were simple.
"But I don't know what I want! I don't know what my dreams are!", I say a little loudly before cringing. I don't mean to raise my voice to my grandmother who is trying to help, nor to my boyfriend, who fell asleep on the sofa while I was in the shower.
"That's the best part about the journey, isn't it? The discovery"
She's right. I know she is. I just feel like fate isn't on my side and I can't find a way to get a kick start. We say our goodbyes as I shut down my laptop and walk into the living room. The loud snores from Kocoum make me giggle as I cover him with a thin blanket before I take a quick peek outside. My father's car still isn't here and it's now midnight. I sigh as I walk back into my bedroom, getting underneath the comforter and praying that tomorrow the answer will come.