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Carrie

My dad wraps his arainst lad to have you home”

I could stay just like this The last three years have been hard I’ve tried to be happy and to do what ree But I’ve been h I’ve forced myself to work hard and to pass all my classes, I’m just not happy

I’ve wondered how ht My dad is happy to see edas I’ it the same

With my head on my dad’s chest, I don’t even have to look over ather head ate even half as well as my dad

I pull away fro to have to deal with this sooner or later He kissesto be okay, honey”

He doesn’twith hie and takes it toward my old room

“Did sos off with you? Is that why you’ve co back to the nest?” my mother asks with her hand on her hip

I pick up my purse and backpack and force my tone to be calm and patient “No, Mo as I could stand it I knew from the start that it wasn’t for me”

I give her a pointed look I never would have gone to college if it wasn’t forme to do so I knew I didn’t want to do that I would have been happy working at the bakery with ht she knew best by alo I know I should be thankful Soe that want to, but it’s been hard knohat you want to do with your life and not being able to do it

My et it I can tell by the way she’s searchingfrohs, I take a deep breath, as if preparing s never change

“Carrie, you can’t throay your life just because soht It was probably just a joke You’ve always been too sensitive for your own good Is that what happened? Did someone make fun of you?”

First, I’m dumbfounded How does she even come up with this stuff? But I should be used to it by now Mom always thinks she knows it all, and soht She thinks everything revolves around the fact that I’m not thin You would think I’m hideous to look at by the waywhen I was nine years old Heck, I think she would have started earlier if arten physical that it’s unhealthy to put a child of five on a diet Frohteen, she hadaway fro I could have done in some ways It ay from her that I learned to accept my body and love it the way it is No matter how my mom sees me—and man does she put a voice to it—I’ve still been able to love myself exactly as I am

“Mo to come to a surprise to you, but ht No one said anything about ht except for you Why can’t you understand that college is just not for me? It doesn’t make me happy”

“Oh yeah? What’s going toin that bakery with your Aunt Patty? You’ll be as big as a house”

She gives ust before she walks out of the room as if I’m the one that hurt her Does she not knohat she does tome?

My head falls back in frustration I clench htly as I mumble, “Why did I come back home?”