Beginning of Chapter One
-A Valuable Lesson-
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"So, how was it growing up?"

Growing up was always a joy for me. Being a careless kid and having the world at your fingertips in a sense, is the greatest. Or maybe it was because I was more crazy and imaginative than most kids. My imagination was key and it seemed to make the problems in my life the littlest things.

Like my parents. Even though I was a daddy's girl and I loved both of my parents, they still could've parent me better. They worked a lot. A lot A lot. And I always found myself staying with either my abuela or my uncle Chaz. And of course spending time by myself.

~

"Daddy? You gotta go to work?" I ask, resting my hands on my face.

"Yeah sweetie and you have to go to school"

"But-when I get out of school, you'll be home right?"

"No baby, daddy is still going to be at work. But your uncle is going to pick you up and take you over to his house, okay. He told me y'all are going to have so much fun this afternoon and that you can even play with new his dog, Bubba"

That made me smile. Uncle Chaz was like a best friend to me, even at the age of 7. It was crazy how a 31 year old man got along so well with just a 7 year old little girl like me. But that was my pal and I loved him like a second father.

But after my dad got me and my sister dress, we hit the road for school. My older sister name is Mariah by the way, who is now 10 years old. Dad dropped me off first at Silver Bluff elementary school, here on the outskirts of downtown Miami.

Once inside, he got me registered and filled out all the forms needed before it was time for us to depart. When that was done, he pulled me aside and got on one knee.

"Now I'm about leave okay and I hope you have a great day at your new school. I heard it's fun. Uncle Chaz is going to pick you up at 2 o'clock on the dot okay, so tell me what two numbers the hands are going to be on the clock when it's that time"

"The two and the.....twelve?"

"That's right. I love you Diya and daddy gonna see you later okay. Have fun" he gives me a kiss on the forehead before standing back up.

I watch him and my sister walk out, leaving me alone with a tall skinny woman at my side. I felt sad inside really, I hated when my daddy left me behind. But I was used to it by now. That went for my mom too. I barely saw her as it is and we lived in the same God damn house.

"Hi, sweetie. I'm Miss Cleare. What's your name?"

"Diynara...." I looked up to her.

"That's a pretty name. You ready to go see your new class? I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends" she led me out the office.

But the truth is, I didn't meet a lot of new friends at that school. Only one true friend, who would become my best friend later down the line.

Upon arrival to my new classroom, Miss Cleare introduced me to my new 1st grade teacher, who then introduced herself to me.

"Hi Diynara, I'm Miss Graham"

"Hi..." I spoke shyly, now looking up at her instead.

"You can go have a seat next to Kehlani over there. We're coloring pictures today, so you can go get started" she pointed to where she wanted me to sit.

I nod my head and walk over to the table, feeling the whole class of students watch my every move. I pulled back the red plastic chair and sat across from a mixed little girl with long brown hair. She looked up at me from coloring but I quickly looked down at the crayons on the table.

"Hi! What's your name?" she asked happily. ...well isn't she friendly.

"D-diynara, what's yours?"

"I'm Kehlani and I'm 7 years old. How old are you?"

"I'm 7 too"

"Cool. We're like sisters already" she cheesed. "You like to color? You can have the picture of the kitty cat" she slid me the page and passed me some crayons. "I'm making this doggie look like Clifford" she tells me while continuing to color.

"Thank you for sharing with me" I say, picking up a purple crayon to start.

"What's you favorite color?"

"Blue..."

"Ewww! You like a boy color sis? I like red"

I laugh. "Red is a boy color too"

"Really? Damnit...then I like boy colors too" she shrugged.

"Mhm. I like your hair"

"Thank you, my mommy did it. I like yours too because it's curly"

"Thanks" I smile, going back to coloring.

"So. What else can I know about you?"

"Well, I'm an Alien" I grin.

Her eyes and her mouth widen. "You are?!"

"Mhmm. I have a third eye on my forehead but it's sleeping right now" I point to the spot.

"That's so cool. Can you fly too?"

"Yeah and I can walk on walls and upside down"

"Cool. I wish I was an Alien"

"So you don't think that's weird?" I ask.

"No. I think it's cool"

"Oh okay because my big sister says I'm weird. She calls me a liar too but I'm not lying. Lying is bad, just like my mommy said"

"You have a big sister?"

"Yeah but she's mean big sister"

"Uh oh. I don't like meanies" she says with a frown.

"I don't either"

"Are you mean?"

"Nooo. I'm nice" I smile at her.

"Me too. I think your cool and nice. Wanna be my friend? I can share my fruit snacks with you"

"Yeah we can be friends. I think you're cool too"

And so, me and Kehlani became friends that same day. We made each other pictures and sat together at snack time, where yes....she did share her Scooby Doo fruit snacks with me.

I had a new best friend...👭

°Diynara, age 7 in the Media lol°
Hey, thanks for reading💕-Tasia B.