Iman Turner
19November 2012
Ms. Harmon
Pre-AP English 10
Summer
“Oh wow the first day of summer time for some excitement.”
I am jumping with joy wondering what fun is waiting for me this summer .as I am getting ready for some excitement my dad announces that we are going to Texas again to visit my over powering grandmother.
Trying to sound happy I say “yes I am ready for the fun not really” I whisper softly.
Remembering the awful summer in Texas last year, I began to get a flashback picking and eating greens all summer long not able to go outside or talk on the phone. Jumping at that awful flashback I say
“Are you serious not this year please no” with a smile my dad replies “I am going to Texas you guys can go to North Carolina with yawls uncle or go to Texas with me.”
Without hesitation I say North Carolina of course my brother and sister say Texas some real suck ups I’ll say. As I pack my bags my phone rings. I look at the caller ID and I see China I answer the phone and we talk until my uncle comes and pick me up. China tells me that her dog died and she is really sick, wondering why she called to tell me this I say I’ll text you later and I’m sorry for you’re lost.
As I get into the car and prepare for the long drive to North Carolina. While in the car I am reminiscing about last summer remembering that I will miss the fun games and laughs with my grandmother but I won’t miss the cooking and eating greens every day. Feeling bad about abandoning my grandmother I call her and tell her I am sorry but I will see you this next year.
Forgetting about the sad moment I get happy again because we stop for lunch at Applebee’s. I just love their wings.
As we make it to my uncle house he pulls up in his drive way and wakes me up saying “we are here get up sleepy head.” I jump out the car ready for the fun, as I get comfortable my uncle introduces me to his new girlfriend Shan and she has a son name Chris.
Chris says “do you remember me I use to go to school with you in the 2nd grade.” Looking confused I say “don’t remember sorry.”
Why didn’t I remember him? The question puzzled me all day until I went to bed, the thought woke me up then I remembered. It was like a light bulb had sparked in my head. Around the 2nd grade my mother died and i chose to stop remembering everyone even my best friends. I cried every night after she died thinking why her she was a good person? The thought of my mother death sparked the soft side of me that I try to avoid. Sitting up in the dark room crying.
Chris walks in and asks "why are you crying?"
I reply with "I remember why I didn’t remember you."
I explained the situation and he said "it’s cool but try to get some sleep you are in for some fun tomorrow."
As I wake up the next morning we eat some amazing breakfast. Thinking to myself no greens today yeah!
Getting to know Chris again was fun him telling me old stories about when we were young, he also told me he had a crush on me in the 2nd grade. Thinking how could you have feelings that young?
After Chris and I relived the past he asked me did i want to go to the movies tomorrow "of course" I replied.
Later that day we went to the beach and made some sand castles and laugh at the women and men with bathing suits to small for them.
Chris wanted me to come in the water but I couldn’t swim. So he promised to teach me and I was all up for learning new things so what bad could happen. Swimming is like riding a bike right I thought to myself silently. As I get in the water Chris pulls me out and lets me go.
Yelling for help he says "kick your legs and swim to me that’s how I learned to swim."
Thinking this is life or death I do what I am told and I was swimming not very good but i was swimming. I make it back to the shore and everyone is jumping with joy happy with what i have accomplished. We get back in the car and go home and cook some hot wings and French fries. At the dinner table we enjoy some laughs at some old pictures of my dad when he was young it was too funny. After dinner we go to bed until the next day.
I slowly wake up to and amazing smell my uncle’s girlfriend was cooking some blueberry muffins they smell like heaven.
As we eat breakfast Chris and i got ready for some more excitement before the movies. We went to a water park and got on all the water slides now that I kind of knew how to swim i loved it now. It was my first water park it was a very great experience.
Done with the water park we go home and get ready for the movies. Then ten minutes later I get a call it’s from my dad telling me that my grandmother had a heart attack and i need to come home the doctors think it may be the last time we get to see her and all the family should be present." At that moment I didn’t know what to do first my mother now my grandmother what wrong with me everyone I love has to die why? I tell my uncle the bad news and we leave for the hospital immediately. Of course it took us a long time to make it to the hospital.
Finally we arrive at the hospital all i could think was its all my fault for not coming to visiting her. I walk into her room and she is talking but not very good.
I tell her “I am sorry for not coming this is my entire fault."
"It’s na your faulk hun."
She could not speak right but I understood what she was saying it’s not my fault honey.
I smile and tell her "it going to be alright you will make it through this grandma don’t die on me now."
The rest of my family walks in and my grandmother speaks her last words.
"It’s my time to go honey and i will miss you all and Iman take good care of my dog feed her every day I love you."
That was it she just lays their eyes close not a breath of air coming out of her and the doctors rush in trying to revive her but it was too late. The doctor slowly pulls the cover over her face and i quickly give her a kiss and whispered,
"I will never forget you grandma."
I thought my life was over and there was no point in living. Soon i realized everyone has to die some time we all cry and grieve but sooner or later we have to move on and forget about it.
As summer went on i tried to let it go and have fun but it was harder than learning how to swim. It was even hard for me to sit through her funeral and look at her lye there cold dark and in peace while each family member tells stories about her and pretend everything is all good. Everything is not good how could they smile and laugh at a time like this? After the funeral I go home and find this picture or her and hang it on my wall. School will be starting soon and I will need something to get me through the year after all I think I will be the most affected my death.
Still to this day the picture hangs and I look at it every once in a while her big bright smile and her beautiful eyes that could tell if something bothered you. As I stare at the picture I can’t help but think if only I would have came to visit her she would still be alive. My dad always tells me not to blame myself its okay she is in a better place now."
Remembering her last words i call Angle my grandmother's dog and I feed her.
I cherish that little dog because it’s the only thing i have to remember my grandmother by besides the picture of her.
Soon summer ends and school begins i put the past in the past but i still go back and relive it everyonce in a while because that what my grandmother would want me to do.
