The next day, I went to Dad and said, "Do you mind if we can do school shopping later so I can take it easy even though I'm feeling better?"
"Okay, that's fine," said Dad.
Later, I decided to get some air, so we left the house by one to start school shopping. Dad was going to get new work clothes as well.
"Do you need a new backpack for this year?" asked Dad.
"No, I checked before we left and I'm still good for this school year," I answered with a smile.
"Okay," said Dad casually.
"This is so nice with the two of us being together, after a whole two weeks of late work nights," I said.
"I agree with you," smiled Dad.
"It's too bad about Kayla. She would've continue high school. At least I got Kaylee with me," I said, sighing a little.
"That's true," agreed Dad.
Kayla died after battling with leukemia just after spring vacation. She was in Iowa with me before that tragedy day. I miss her a lot. I took it very badly. So did Kaylee, who was Kayla's twin. They were close like best friends while Kayla and I were like sisters. They're my neighbors by only three doors down from me.
They have six other siblings and came from New York City. They went to school with Stacey, but that's not how Kayla and I met. She was being teased because of her colored skin by our bullies and I was brave enough to stand up for her. Kaylee and I met at lunch. We've been best friends ever since.
See, Kayla had leukemia a few days later and luckily, she lived because my friends and I did a fundraiser, How did she got it the second time? It's a long story. It started when I had a terrible memory from a fair in New York City. Kayla, Kaylee, and I were on our own. We were playing games after lunch when Kayla collapsed all of the sudden and she was rushed to the hospital. It was just her appendix. But Dr. Woods told us something else was wrong. I was so upset. A few weeks later, when I learned leukemia returned, I got very upset even more. That's how I stopped going to any fair to avoid that worst memory. I'm sensitive, so whenever someone mentions the fair, tears would start to flow.
We did everything we could do to keep Kayla alive. She was very strong. I was seeing her when the monitor went off. I didn't know what was going on until doctors rushed in. I waited and waited until I found out Kayla had died. I cried my eyes out. I couldn't believe my best friend had gone to heaven.
When I told it to Kaylee, she didn't take the news very well either, but she became strong right away. I became depressed for awhile.
It's very hard for me to forget about Kayla. She and Kaylee are identical twins, so it's kind of helping me to think Kayla's still alive, but not too much. I have tried everything to keep me focused on not forgetting Kayla.
At the mall, Dad and I went in Old Navy's. That's where I go for my new clothes. Dad does the same for his work suits. I found two to three shirts that I like. I picked out both yellow and blue sailor shirts and the third is red with a few sparkles and that said, I Love Boys. Isn't that cute? But I figured I could find a couple more shirts I'd like. The fourth one was a belly shirt, but there is no way I'd be allowed to wear that. I wouldn't blame Dad anyway since I don't like that either. Glad I didn't picked that out. I picked out a black cat on it, not a belly shirt. That's more like it. Then, I noticed the one that had a picture of me and Cam!
"Awesome!" I exclaimed softly.
We had it done a month ago, by a sewing shop. I couldn't believe it was there already. I'll wear that to school. I found out that shirt was a hit in every state after I cashed out. I picked out two jeans. I was amazed. Even Dad saw it, too.
"About a million shirts with that design have been sold everywhere," said a clerk.
"Wow," I said in amazement.