There are times when I hate that my parents are right. Today is that day. My body felt so sore, it hurt to move. I had bruises on my upper arms and back from the ropes yesterday and my back felt incredibly tight. I could hear Mom calling from downstairs that breakfast was ready but I made no attempts to get out of bed.
I laid in my bed, letting my thoughts run wild. My childhood was not normal but it was terrific. My parents had wrestled for many years as CM Punk and Jasmine Brooks in the WWE when I came along. Neither of them were ready to quit so I came along with them on the road. Dad had a private bus commissioned for him, which helped when we had to drive. We grew up a close knit family. My mom's best friend, Tamma, joined us as a nanny and left when she was signed to a national recording contract.
Aunt Tamma and Uncle Colt have been my parents best friends for well over thirty years. They live right around the corner from us with their two sons, Isaac and Jayden, who are like brothers to me. Isaac is fifteen and Jayden is thirteen, born a day after Mara.
I desperately wanted to follow in my parents footsteps. Mom and Dad were the best wrestlers in the WWE at one point and I wanted to be just like them. My dad is my hero. It makes me smile when friends of his tell me how much I remind them of him.
Right now I'll be happy just getting out of bed without screaming.
"Sandy! Breakfast is ready!" I heard Mom's voice call me.
"I'm coming!" I called back down the stairs, slowly pulling myself out of my bed and down the stairs.
Mom was grinning as I carefully walked to the kitchen table. She exchanged a knowing look with Dad before handing me a plate.
"Here you go, kiddo." she said, kissing my forehead.
"Thanks." I muttered, sitting down at the kitchen table.
"So, how are you feeling?" Rachel asked, looking amused.
"Dad's right. My whole body feels sore. And you get use to this?" I asked.
"If you stick with it, you'll see what I mean." Dad told me.
"I'm going to. Do people really quit after one day?" I asked.
"All the time." Mom replied.
"Lame."
Mom and Dad laughed, still giving each other the same knowing look.
"What's going on today?" Dad asked Mom.
"Mara has karate, PJ has scouts, and Rachel has violin practice. You and I have a meeting with the city council over the community outreach program before heading to the store." Mom filled him in.
"You know, I think we weren't nearly as busy before we retired." Dad said with a grin.
"Then your memory is vastly different than mine." She giggled at something. I knew better than to ask what.
"Not at breakfast." Mara sighed.
I locked eyes with Rachel who nodded towards our parents and rolled her eyes. I giggled.
"You're opening the store today, right?" Mom asked, turning away from Dad to look at me.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Good. I should be in by 4."
"It's good to see that nepotism is still in effect." Rachel teased.
I threw a grape at her, which she caught in her mouth.
"You're such a brat." I told her.
She bit down on the grape, juice spraying slightly, catching PJ in the cheek.
"Why do you have to be such a dork?" PJ asked, wiping the juice from his cheek.
I can't help but laugh. I love my family.
