Goodbye, Texas
This week we have a memoir from Karen, written in the present tense, about saying goodbye. If you've ever had to move, or say goodbye to family and friends, you should read this. It's a moving piece.
I feel my heart beating as I am on my way to school. It is just a usual day in the heart of
the lone star state of Texas. I am
so eager to sign up for the Spanish spelling bee. I do not know if I am good enough to enter or not, but hey,
it's always good to try.
When I reach the bill board to sign up for the Spanish
spelling bee my jaw drops open. I
cannot believe how many people have signed up already. The Spanish spelling bee is six weeks
away, and I need to study. A
lot. I am looking for spaces
available, and I see number forty two is open. I quickly reach for the pencil and write down my name in the
space.
I am relieved that my name is written down. Plus, I remember that I do speak
Spanish as my second language. My
Spanish teacher Ms. Rosalinda gave me a thick Spanish spelling bee book, to
help practice for the spelling bee.
I am pretty sure I am going to win this year. It is almost time to leave, and I am so eager to tell my
parents about me signing up for the spelling bee.
When the school day ends, my best friend Selena and I walk
home to tell my parents the great news.
It is still shiny and bright as the sun rises over our eyes. When I enter my house I see both of my
parents sitting on the couch looking concerned. They both don't say a word when I tell them Selena is coming
over. They tell me to take a
seat. "It's just to
talk." They also tell Selena
that she has to head home. They
both look concerned.
"Mom, dad!
Look. I entered the
spelli..."I get cut off by my father.
"We need to tell you something, and it might be
upsetting."
I am nervous to hear the news, but when my parents say those
three ugly words I never wanted to hear, I am shocked.
"We are moving," my father announces. I am speechless. My heart feels like it's ripping
a whole other side of me.
"Whaaa-ttt?" I finally say. Then they start to explain the whole
situation.
"We are moving to this nice, safe town called
Hopkinton. And it snows
there. It's also in
Massachusetts."
I can't believe what I am hearing. I start to get furious.
"But Mom, Dad, there's the Spanish spelling bee and I
signed up for it!"
They don't seem to care much. I think about all the things I could lose if I don't argue
about this situation: my cousins, friends, grandparents, uncles, aunts, my dad,
and especially my home. I'm so
upset and disappointed. This is
probably the most upsetting news I've ever heard.
I rush to my room, slam the door, and call Selena. I'm not the only one who's upset about
this. She's upset too. She starts asking questions, and I tell
her as much as I can. I take out
my Spanish spelling bee study book and throw it in the trash.
"Guess I won't be needing this anymore." I think about how now I'll have to tell
everyone what my parents told me, and how it will disappoint them.
I think in my mind, "I bet there's no one like me. What if I have no friends? Would I learn the same math?" There were so many questions.
I finally finish packing, with some homework besides
that. I can't bear to do any of
it. Instead I ask myself why. I never get an answer.
During dinner, I barely eat, even though my mom has made my
favorite dinner, salmon with lemon and salt, with white rice and corn. My parents constantly change the
subject. I don't. After picking through my fish and rice,
I run upstairs, upset.
"Honey, come back! Can we talk?"
calls my mother. All I
give her is the slam of my door.
I already know she is upset at me because of that. I just can't stop my cold
heart. I let out tear after tear
after tear until I finally fall asleep.
The next day I skip school to say goodbye to all my
family. I'm glad not to go to
school because if I have then I would just break more hearts. My parents and teachers are going to
have a meeting about moving.
Selena and my classmates make me goodbye letters. That is a gift I will never forget.
My mother finally tells me about where we are moving
to. I don't care; I'm not in a
good mood. I have time to say
goodbye to all my loved ones, and then we head to the airport. All my family comes, but I can't even
say a word. My heart is
broken. I say goodbye to everyone
and leave them behind. My eyes are blurry with tears.
When we get on our plane, we sit down in our assigned seats,
and I look back one last time at my home and blow a kiss. "I love you, Texas. I'll never forget you." Those are my last words to my home.