Josie finally let go and she turned to her kids, "What do we say?" Then in almost unison the kids tried to say "Merry Christmas" but they were still young so it was hard to understand. I went up to each of them and gave them a kiss on there foreheads. "Merry Christmas you guys," I said, trying to produce the merriest voice I could.1
"Okay, everyone in the car! We are officialy late!" Josie said as she herded off the kids to her van. I followed behind, taking my seat in the passenger side. Josie got in and turned on the car and pulled out of my driveway. Josie then turned to me, giving me her worried look. "How are you doing?" Somehow the question didn't surprise me. She'd ask me that everyday for the last year.2
"Good for someone who lost their parents exactly one year to date," I said giving her the truthful answer. I was good, as good as a 1st grader taking the ACT's. Inside I wanted to scream , to jump out of this car and run back to my house and bury myself in my parents bed.3
"Listen A.J., Iknow it must be rough, but your parents wouldn't want you to sulk," Josie said. I know she means well, I just wasn't in the mood to care.4
"If they didn't want me to sulk then they should've died," I said turning my face to the window. Josie was just making today worse. She was dragging me to church, where everyone will tell me how sorry they are. Then once my back is turned they'll talk about how it's not right for a girl of my age (which is 18, an adult) to be live alone in her parents old house on the out skirts of town.5
Which brings Josie to her next point. "At least spend the night with us today." She asked this everyday too. Sometimes I agree when I don't want to be alone. But I really want to be alone today.6
"I'd rather not Josie."7
"Oh, please. I hate thinking about what could happen to you. You know I hated how your parents left you that house. Sure it's been on your father's side for generations but to think that you're suppose to take care of it." Josie just went on and on, just ranting her thoughts, she wasn't evening talking to me anymore.8
You see three months after my parents died I lived with Josie. Then on my 18th birthday I decided I wanted to live back at my house, were I grew up. I been living there on my own for the last 9 months. I just love it, and wouldn't give it up for the rest of the world. 9
I layed my head against the cold glass window. It took a while to get from my house to the town. But I liked the solitude. In between, though, was my favorite part. There was this gorgeuos forest, that n ever lost it's beauty, no matter what time of year. It just rushed by, yet it seemed to never end. I would love to get lost in that.10
My dad would tell me stories about the forest. He said that their were evil monsters in there. He would tell me if I ever went into the forest that those monsters would take me away from my parents. It was funny, because my dad always traveled in the forest. I've never disobeyed the rule though. Maybe it's because I've never had a reason to.11
The white forest zoomed past, you would think it would eventually thin out but it didn't. I looked deep and hard in the forest. One day I'm going to meet the forest monsters. ONly when they take me away, it'll be toward my parents not away. Then just as I thought I saw one Josie turned onto the main road, away from the forest.12
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