Chapter 2: Chapter 2:
We stayed overnight in several states for about five days. We would eat and stopped in a few stores, including gift shops to stretch our legs. We arrived Rhode Island early afternoon and were in Providence about ten minutes later. Our new house is 79 Center St., which isn't far from Women and Infants' Hospital. It was a nice looking house. It's kind of bigger than our old one, only it had two bedrooms. Mine even includes playroom. I can put my laptop in there.
"You're supposed to wait," said Dad.
"Says who? You know I can't sleep in a master bedroom," I told him.
That made Dad realized I was right. I have the guts to speak up to him. I'm not afraid to do so. We spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking everything.
"We can order pizza on our first day here and we can do food shopping tomorrow," said Dad.
"Okay," I said. "That's fine by me."
I found a pizza place online and we ordered cheese pizza and garlic bread. They even gave us a take-out menu when it arrived. The only relative that I have here is my cousin, Eliza. We are very close. We talk online and would visit me. She's my age. Her mom, Aunt Betty, is my mother's only sister. They wanted nothing to do with Mom since she left us for no reason. They both thought it was a terrible thing for her to do that to me and Dad. Eliza would be so excited to hear that I'm here now. We're more than just cousins, we're best friends. Her only brother, Kevin, passed away five years ago after he struggled with leukemia. I loved him, too. Poor Eliza took it very hard. I went to the funeral to support her, Aunt Betty and her husband, Mario. We also call ourselves sisters since she had no sisters.
The next day, Dad and I went food shopping at Stop and Shop. We bought a lot of stuff. We spent an hour or so. Dad and I had separate carriages in case of that. It was a good idea to do. When we went back home, we out everything away.
The doorbell rang and I went to answer.
"Hi," said a boy. "My mother made homemade apple pie to welcome you into our neighborhood."
"Thanks," I said taking the pie. "That was very sweet. I'm Rebecca, but you can call me Becky. All my friends call me that. My dad and I just moved here from California yesterday. It was for his job. He works for a doctor at a hospital. He worked at St. Jude's Hospital. And, now, his new job is at Women and Infants' Hospital."
"Cool. I'm Samuel Johnson. I live across the street from you," said Samuel showing me his house.
It was blue with while shutter.
"That's pretty," I commented.
"I live there all of my life with my parents and older sister, Angela, who is 16. She just got her learner's permit. She had a baby a month ago, but gave it up for an open adoption. She wants to attend college after high school before marriage and beginning a family. My parents and I were supportive," said Samuel.
"I don't blame her," I said.
"Her boyfriend was also supportive about her choice. He also wasn't ready yet. They both felt bad for that error. They didn't believe in abortions," continued Samuel.
He met Dad. We switched phone numbers so we can hang out sometime. Dad seemed to like Samuel since he was very polite and approved our friendship. I don't mind if he wants to approve or not first. I can see why: He won't want anyone who could be a bad influence on me and he would be afraid that person would change me to be a bad person. I don't blame him. I wouldn't like it either. Honestly, I'm starting to have a crush on Samuel. I'll wait until it's time if I can convince Dad to let me start dating.
If he think I'd become pregnant, wrong. I'd take birth control as a precaution. I want to go to college, get married, and then have children. If I did get pregnant, I'd give it up for an adoption like Angela did, not raise it.
The next day, Samuel and I hung out while he showed me the town.
"That's Central High school. I'll be going there for ninth grade this September. There's an open house for newcomers next month," said Samuel.
"Wow. I'll be starting there, too," I said.
At the mall, Eliza spotted me right away as she ran to hug me and exclaimed, "Becky!"
"Hi, Eliza," I said.
"Hi, Sam. He and I went to middle school together. We met in sixth grade and became friends," said Eliza.
"She just moved across the street from me the day before yesterday," said Samuel.
"Sweet!" cheered Eliza. "I go to his house often. It would be great to see you, too."
"I know," I agreed.
The three of us spend the rest of the afternoon together.
"I heard your mom lives here," said Eliza.
"Really?" I asked.
"What does she mean?" asked Samuel.
"It's a long story, but the short version is that Mom left me and my father ten years ago. We never knew where she was. He doesn't talk about it much. I saw my godmother, Martha, and she told me Mom didn't want to be a mother or a wife anymore, which may explain why she left. I was in day care and Dad was working. She left without a note and Dad noticed all of her stuff was gone. He was angry that Mom never picked me up from day care the day she left," I explained.
"Wow," said Samuel.
"Your mom works for Dave and Buster's at the Providence Place Mall," said Eliza. "But I didn't attempt to see her for what she did to you and Uncle Robert. Mom and Dad didn't care to see Aunt Beth for the past ten to twelve years for that."
Later, at home, I didn't tell Dad anything on what I learned from Eliza. All I mentioned she spotted me and Samuel at the mall and joined us.
"That's good that you get to see her more often," said Dad.
"I know. That's what made me to adjust here now," I said.
Then, I went to the phone and called Mary Jane and we chatted for a bit. However, I told her what Eliza told me online so Dad won't hear. Mary Jane thought that was strange. I added what my godmother mentioned. It was a secret. She promised not to tell anyone except Sarah and Janet. We're good at keeping each other's secrets.
"Becky, dinner's ready," Dad said from the kitchen.
"Coming," I said as I shut my laptop and went out there for supper.
Cooking is not my hobby. I have no talent of it.
"I start my new job tomorrow. I'm still doing my third shirt: 11:00 pm to 7:00 am so we can spend the day together," said Dad.
"Okay," I said.
"I told Dr. Lance and he didn't mind," said Dad.
He trusts me to leave me home alone while he's working when I'm in bed. I love spending time with Dad during the day and on weekends when he's off. He's off every other weekends and holidays.
"I'll let you spend weekends with Eliza when I work overnight," said Dad.
"Good idea. She and I have a lot of catching up to do since we barely see each other too much. The only times are when she visits me in California or when I visit her here," I said. "She's the only cousin I have now since Kevin's death."
I have no cousins on Dad's side. Like Kevin, his only sister lost her battle to cancer for the 2½ at the age of 19. He was 21 and was in college studying to be a doctor at the time.
"Eliza and I made plans to visit Providence Place Mall this weekend so she can show me around there. I have never been there before," I said.
"That's good," said Dad.
The next day, Dad said, "I have a double shift from 3:00 this afternoon until 7:00 tomorrow morning so the supervisor can train me today. It's only for tonight. You can have dinner with Samuel or Eliza."
"Alright," I said.
At least I didn't have to cook. Dad ordered Chinese at noon for lunch.
"I'll leave the number for the hospital in case you need me for an emergency like I did in California," said Dad.
"Okay," I said.
I never call him at work. Actually, I did that once when I noticed Grandma Tricia wasn't breathing one day while she was napping. I can remember that I called Dad right away. He was working the second shift, which was 3:00 to 11:00 pm, back then. He prompted me to call 911 at once. He was proud of me doing that. He told me how brave. Secretly, I cried when I found out she had died in her sleep. She stuffed a cardic arrest while she was snapping. I was too upset to go to her funeral and to see her buried.
As a reward, he decided to trust me to be on my own ever since. He changed to the last shift a week later.
After lunch, I phoned Samuel and told him.
"Okay. I planned to the movies with my parents. Why don't you join us?" asked Samuel.
"Sure," I said.
I told Dad about that and it was all set.
That night, Samuel and I went out to the movies with his parents after we had dinner. I liked them right off the bat. Angela wasn't with us though, she was with her boyfriend. We had a great time. At home, I had some free time on my own until I went to bed before 11:00 pm.
The next day, when I got up at 9:00 am, Dad was in bed. He naps for a few hours before and after work. I keep myself busy. He gets up an hour before lunchtime. At noon, we went out for lunch.
"I was told my boss will call me if he needs me for a double shift starting at 3:00 pm," said Dad.
"Okay," I said.
A few days later, Eliza and I were at Providence Place Mall. We explored each store. Then, we hung out at Dave and Buster's for a while. All of the sudden, some woman came up to me. Eliza apparently knew who it was.
"Do you know who I am, Rebecca?" asked the woman.
That was when I noticed it was Mom. I had no idea what to say or to expect.
"This is strange," said Eliza.
"I never knew you were here all this time when you took off on me and Dad. No one knew you were either," I said.
I didn't come to see Mom to begin with. I came to play in the arcade, which Eliza and I did for 30 minutes. We agreed not to tell Dad about this.
"I'm not ready to deal with her," I said.
"I don't blame you," said Eliza. "Especially for what she did."
We were in the food court.
"Martha would be shocked about this," I said.
"I know," said Eliza.
Two hours later, Eliza and I went to her house. I was spending the weekend since Dad was working. We're thrilled to be together more than ever.
"I have a secret to share. I think I'm falling in love with Samuel. I knew the moment from the day we met. I know it's too soon, but I'll wait until the time is right," I said.
"I believe it. He's so cute," said Eliza.
"Another thing is I want to convince Dad that I'm ready to let me date. I'm 14 going on 15 in October," I said. "I do plan to use birth control as a precaution."
"Good idea," said Eliza.
"I don't know how to do that since it's a girl thing," I said.
"You can always talk to Mom," said Eliza.
"True," I said. "I never thought of that."
Aunt Betty and I had girl talk and gave me good advice how you like a boy the first time you met. And, how to deal with Dad.
"I'll wait for now. Samuel and I just met this week when I first moved here," I said.
"It's okay. If you want more advice, you can call me anytime," said Aunt Betty.
"Alright. Thanks," I said.
I didn't bring Mom up. It wasn't a good moment. And, besides, we're having too much fun anyway.
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