Changes

The Big "M"

Hello! As a little foreward, I'd like to tell everyone that I did post this story last year, but the creative well ran dy because I was writing about a place that I didn't know enough about to feel comfortable (Britain). Hopefully, now that I've changed the setting, I'll feel more confident.

So I hope you enjoy it! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I knew that this was a bad idea, I thought as I ran my tongue over my red braces. He’s probably not coming. He’s decided that I’m not worth it and to leave me in this airport.

“Candy?” someone behind me called. I spun around and saw my Uncle Max standing there, holding the hand of a six-year-old black boy.

Or, he was just running late. That's possible.

They both walked over to me. Uncle Max’s brown eyes were bright behind his circular glasses. “I haven’t seen you since you were six. Look at how much you’ve grown!”

I felt my cheeks heat up at his comment. Why do adults always have to say that?

He put his hand on top of my head, chuckling as he said, “Although, I guess you haven’t grown much; you’re still a short one. How old are you now?”

“I turn sixteen in November,” I mumbled.

“How wonderful! I’m sorry that we won’t be able to do much. I’m sure that your mother’s told you that money’s tight.”

“It’s no problem, really.” I looked down at the little boy, whose black eyes matched Uncle Max’s. “Hello. My name’s Candy,” I greeted, giving him a small, close-mouth smile.

“Hi, I’m Joshua,” he said back, his little Marylander accent quite obvious (People on the East Coast didn’t have the laid-back vibe of Californians). I held out my hand, but he ran towards me, hugging me tightly instead. I hugged him back, albeit awkwardly. “Are you my new big cousin?”

“She’s always been your cousin,” Uncle Max answered. He took a quick look at his watch. “Well, best be off. We left Steven in the house. He was being a rude one; flat-out refused to come.”

“I don’t blame him,” I answered honestly. I’d never met him before, so it wasn’t like he should’ve been running to see me. Uncle Max patted my head once more before grabbing two of my suitcases. I took another two, and Joshua was nice enough to take my carry-on for me.

Uncle Max led all of us out of the airport, to the parking lot and up to an old silver car. It was old enough that there was still a huge antenna on the roof, and both of the front rims were missing. I liked it, though; it wasn't too flashy. I just hoped that it ran well.

Uncle Max shoved three of my suitcases into the trunk, but the carry-on and last bag got to crowd Joshua in the back seat. We all loaded into the car and Uncle Max pulled off.

“I do hope that you’ll enjoy it here,” my uncle said, taking a brief look at me.

“It should be better than back home…” I commented, trailing off.

* * *

Two hours later, we reached a suburban-looking neighborhood. There were apartments everywhere. Uncle Max found a parking space and we all unloaded, carrying my bags up to the fifth floor of one of the buildings.

“Here we are,” my uncle said as he unlocked one of the doors. He pushed it open and we dragged my luggage inside. I looked around to see a simple living room on my right. The floor was hard wood and a brown sofa was backed against a wall. A TV sat on top of a wooden shelf that was full of books and movies. And the walls were covered with beautiful paintings.