SUMMER TIME

   Finally, the last day of school before the summer.  Usually I would be ecstatic that I would soon be able to sleep in and do what I want for 3 months.  BUT.. because I wasn't smart enough to knock out all of my science requirements yet, I thought I would get a jump on my senior year and take them over the summer, that way I got the easy version of the class and don't have to take them during my senior year.  I REALLY want to go to school half day!  Who wouldn't?   

   I have it all planned out.  I'm going to take the regional occupations program and work at the hospital for first and second hour, third hour I will have an accounting class (counts as math) and fourth hour will be independent reading (which counts as English).  Yes, I am taking the easy road!  I also have work study, so I don't have a fifth or sixth hour.  I get credit for working!  How awesome is that?

   Now if I could just get through this day, I have a few days off between now and when i have to start dreaded summer school.  This of course means that I won't get to sleep in every day.  Because those jerks at school don't understand the meaning of summer, even if we have to go to summer school, it should at least start a little later!  I have to be at school at the normal time, but only have to stay a couple of hours, so I guess that's a plus.  I have both Earth Science and Physical Science.  Wouldn't you know it, it's the same teacher for both classes.  When he noticed that I am in both classes, he informed me that he's actually teaching pretty much the same curriculum in both classes, so instead of having me be bored out of my mind for the second class, he's going to have me be his teacher's assistant (TA) for the second class.  Oh and did I mention that he knew my mom in high school?  Thank you mom!  You just earned me brownie points by going to school with my teacher!  

   Other than the crappy part where I have to still get up early every day, class isn't too terrible.  I have a lot of freedom from my new teacher and I also changed my schedule at work so that I start working the lunch rush instead of dinner, so I can at least hang out with my friends at night.  I really don't hang out with many kids from my school, I usually hang out with the kids from our rival school.  I know, I am such a rebel.  I changed schools a bit in middle school, so I actually went to school on both sides of town and know people at both high schools.  

   We are kind of a boring lot, but I hang out with a bunch of guys and we usually meet up at the corner gas station and wait there until country boy gets off work.  Some of the guys are motor-heads and have cool old cars, others are just normal dudes.  But they are all pretty crazy.  We usually have a great time. 

 

   My parents have plans to go on their annual summer vacation in a couple weeks, but I can't miss school or get time off work, since they will be gone over a week.  To my credit, I really don't get into too much trouble.  I may have a bit of a mouth on me and tend to talk back, but nothing too serious.  My parents keep a very tight leash on me.  I would say that I am very sheltered.  My dad won't let me go to parties, because he "knows what goes on at parties".  My parents had me when they were very young, mom was only 18 and still in school when she got pregnant, and my dad was 20, still living the wild life.  While I definitely know that I don't want that path in life, I still resent never being able to do anything fun with my friends, whose parents let them do what they want.  But the silver lining is that my parents and brothers are going to leave me home a whole week by myself! 

   I have already been told that the next door neighbors would be keeping an eye on me, which was funny, because I wasn't allowed to go over their house half the time, because they are too lenient with their kids (one of which is my best friend, Moni).  Also, the older lady on the corner, who I call Grandma Betty, I going to watch over me.  But I know as long as I don't get too loud or let anything insane go on, I'll be safe from her.  Lastly, my grandpa who lives on the other side of town will be making surprise visits.  Mom will call every day and I am to be on my best behavior.  I can have people over, but NO parties.  And I can't stay out all night. 

   I'm so excited for this little bit of freedom coming my way, you don't even understand, but I can't let on just how excited, or my parents will start freaking out and envisioning horrible things.  Seriously, my dad checks the miles on my car to see if I'm off gallivanting around where I'm not supposed to be and I am not joking when I say that when I first got my car, I still had to come home when the street lights came on.  Well at least until I got my job and then he gave me a little leeway since I work nights because of school and softball practice.  

   I will honestly say that I am away from home as much as possible these days.  My brothers are 9 and 13 years younger than me.  A lot of people ask me if my parents are divorced, thinking that one of my parents remarried and I have step siblings.  That's not the case.  Mom always said she wanted four kids, but she had me when she was so young and my dad was content with only me.  For 8+ long years, he won the argument.  Until he didn't.  My youngest brother is all boy and into everything all the time.  After he was born, my mom decided that 3 kids was enough and my dad went and had a "procedure" done so that they can't have more kids.  

   I know that they don't mean to make me feel left out or anything, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel left out.  If I'm honest, I would say that most of the time, I feel like they DID start a whole new family and that I just really don't fit in with the new atmosphere that they have going on.  It's like I'm an outsider looking in.  I was always Daddy's little girl and now there's a new kid in my place.  I don't hate my brothers, but I was perfectly happy being the only child.  Spoiled?  Yes, most definitely.  No competition for attention, or anything.  Oh well, it is what it is and I have to move on and I just can't wait until I graduate and move away.  The plan is to run off to Arizona, where my Aunt and cousins live, and go to college out there.  

  I just need to make it a couple of weeks and I'll have the house to myself and no little PITA brothers or nagging parents around for a whole week.  I don't even care that they basically have what accounts to babysitters that will be checking up on me.  I don't have any concrete plans as of yet, but I do have plans to hang out with the guys and Vero too.  It's going to be awesome!  I just wonder how many times a day my mom will call me to check and see what I'm doing.  It's not like I'm not going to be busy with work and school too.  So it's not like I can get into that much trouble in a week, right?