Читать книгу Surrender - Danielle Jones - Страница 3

My favorite childhood past time was with my Nanna. I was back and forth between parents, who split when I was only two months. My Nanna was my great grandma on my Dad's side. I stayed with her while he worked as a tennis pro. She was the most precious woman I'd ever known and had a huge impact on my heart in the years I came to know her. She made warm glazed doughnuts and chopped them up so I could use a tooth pick to eat, made dogs out of hot dogs and cheese for lunch, sewed several costumes for me that every little girl would treasure. She took the time to do little special things that always impacted the people around her. My best friend was an eighty something year old woman. She passed when I was nine, somehow in those handful of years with her, she became the primary example of the kind of woman I wanted to become in this lifetime.

Most of my life, my mom was my one of my best friends. My dad and my mom could never get along, that put stress on my relationship with my dad. In hind sight, I feel poorly about the way it effected us. Both my parents loved me in their own ways, I should of loved them more equally. I had a lot of rough patches with Dad. I do have to say now, that when I think of everything me and him went through I can see the love from him in every situation, that I wasn't always able to see before.

I only got grounded twice, for dishonesty. I did, however, skip high school a few times. I definitely don't claim to be perfect. My grades were never great, I was an average student, until my last semester of school. Somehow, I pulled off straight A's. I had not done anything spectacular. I was a cheerleader my entire life, I wasn't "a natural", I always had to put a lot of effort compared to the other girls. But, I had passion for it! It kept me busy and on the go. For awhile, I was socially awkward. I didn't have the gift of gab. I was always in Mom's shadow which was where I was comfortable, she always spoke for me.

I don't remember life too much before Mom, Big Brian, and Li'l Brian (step dad and brother) came together. Which I must add, are two of the coolest guys ever. We all met when I was little, but didn't unite until I was six. He wasn't my first step parent, my dad married a year prior, to a woman with a son and daughter. None of them cared for me, needless to say, I'm thankful that ended up as a short story tale. Mom's marriage was completely opposite, everyone mashed together like potatoes. My new brother felt a little rough around the edges about Mom for awhile, but nothing that didn't work itself out eventually.

We lived in a three bedroom house with my new dad and new brother, along with Mom, grandma, grandpa, aunt, sister-like aunt, baby cousin, and myself. Oh, and of course, my uncle Shawn on some weekends. Li'l Brian, Sammie (sister-like aunt), and I shared one bedroom. It was one of the few times I had shared one with Sammie at five, seven, and then fourteen. We were completely in or out of each other lives, but we always relied on one another.

My Uncle Shawn.. Where to start? In my eyes, he was so full of life. He danced, smiled, laughed, broke the rules, and lite up every room. He was another who lived with me a few times. I had an innocent crush on him, I wanted to meet a man just like him, someday. Light, bright eyes, beautiful teeth, and a look that melted hearts. He was accidentally killed my freshmen year, in a motorcycle accident, and had just moved out of my house two months prior. He, unfortunately, didn't get to finish teaching me his awesome dance moves that he was always trying to get me to catch onto. He had one son that will carry on his name, Daniel, my uncle told me that he was named after me, which made me feel so special and I am also the blessed one who gets to drive his white Honda for ten years now, we'll cruise until its last mile.

This book wouldn't be possible or complete without my very dramatic, delicate flower of a mom. She is a loving woman, who has always supported my decisions, and always tried her best.