In hindsight I really should have known this was going to happen. The signs were there. There were ads in the newspaper and commercials on T.V. The signs were there. I just thought even my family would not go that far. Then again they are crazy. I guess there was always a chance they would do it. So maybe this is one is on me.
The New Experience
That was the name of the program I guess you could call it. Good thing I read about it because I would not have known what my parents were talking about when they finally told me.
The New Experience was a program where a family adopts… well not adopt, but take care of another family's child for a year. The child could be any age and from anywhere in the world. From the United States to some unknown European, third world country, or whatever. They pair a family up with someone's son or daughter that wants to see the world or something. It is supposed to give everyone involved a new look on life. A new experience.
"This could be a good thing." my dad said.
"You guys are really serious aren't you?" Don't you think this is something you tell me before entering? Didn't you think this may affect my life?" I said.
"That's exactly why we are doing it. To improve your life." my mom responded.
"This could ruin my life." I responded quickly and loudly.
"No it won't." my dad said for certain.
"You guys are always the optimist. You two are crazy. I really think my parents hate me."
"No we don't," my mom said. She seemed to be getting angry. I guess she do not like these little insults I'm using. "We are actually doing this out of love."
Out of love? They don't tell me about this, but it is out of love. What is wrong with these people?
"We sent you somewhere for a long period of time. We want to see how it is to house someone else." My dad added.
"First that was among family. Second, this is on a much bigger scale. This person is from another country. Since it is you two I'm guessing the child is from another country." I waited. No answer.
You are not looking at the big picture." My mom finally said. "It is all about the experience and knowledge you get from the program."
"Because I had such a wonderful time with the experience I had."
Two years ago when I was fourteen, my parents sent me to live with my uncle, Steve, and cousin, Mike. Guess what? They live on a farm. I didn't even know people in my family owned a farm. Even if my uncle and cousin was on my mother's white side of the family.
My parents sent me there for the whole summer. I mean as soon as school ended. The very next day I was on the train to my unknown uncle's farm. They told me I was leaving on the day before the last day of school. That meant I had to cancel all my plans I had over the summer because 'no' was not an acceptable answer. My parents also forced me to leave all my electronic items home. They should have said leave fun at home. A summer of no music, Xbox, or handhelds. And it was horrible. My uncle, cousin, and I have nothing in common. Mike was just annoying. That boy couldn't hold a conversation, knew nothing about pop culture, and always snitched when I slacked off. I know they are from Tennessee, but you have to know the rules of snitching. Waking up at five a.m. was never any fun, and the labor was brutal. Not to mention the stuff you walk in on a farm.
When I came back I smelled like a farm for at least 2 weeks. I took 2 baths and one shower everyday just to mask the smell a bit. The only good thing that came from that whole summer was getting a little bit of muscle from the hard labor. Other than that I learned nothing making that whole trip a waste of my time and summer.
"It wasn't that bad." my mom said.
"You were not there. Don't tell me how I felt." I told her.
"Steve said you had a good time".
"So me trying to hitchhike from Tennessee to New Brunswick, New Jersey was me having a good time."
"That was the first week."
"The following weeks were all the same. Nothing changed. I hated it there. I stayed because you threaten that all my games were going to be gone if I managed to arrive back home once Steve caught up to me with his cell phone." I also stayed because I had no idea of how to get back.
"Would you stop complaining about everything." my dad said entering the conversation.
"I won't complain if you stop making me do these stupid things and coming up with stupid ideas. Or maybe ask me before making decisions about my life."
"Well this is not about you. We talked about it and right now…"
"No." I said interrupting my dad.
"What?" he asked.
"No." I repeated.
"No what, Ray?"
"Whoever is coming here, no. They could stay wherever they are at." I told him.
"No." it was my dad's turn to say it.
"Yes. Not this time, man. I will not be blindsided again with your actions. Hurry up and tell those people to stop packing and stay where they are."
"We can't do that." my dad said.
"Yes you can. Call the other family and tell them you have opted out. Tell them you do not want to do it anymore."
"We can't do that." he said again.
"Why?" For some reason I think I already knew the answer.
"Because she is coming in three days."
"What!" Once again I was blindsided.
"Yeah I…"
"Don't repeat it." I said. "When did you even sign up for this?"
"Before you came home from Uncle Steve's" my mom said.
"What the hell!" I yelled.
"Raymond! Do not use that language in my house!" my mom yelled back louder. She could be scary sometimes. I was pissed though.
"No. This time that was called for. You guys waited a whole two years to tell me. Now it is only three days before and suddenly you think it is a great idea to tell me. What is wrong with you? How does this make any sense at all?"
"First don't raise your voice at your mother." my dad said. I knew he was serious because he lowered his voice. I nodded.
"Okay. We did not tell you because we knew you would act like this. It won't be that bad. Just keep an open mind about this."
I was going to protest. Then I thought, what will be the point? My fate was sealed. I was still mad, but there was nothing I could do about it. That was probably the reason I was mad. The family was probably on the plane and she…
"Wait. You said she, right?"
"Yes." my dad said. "A girl is coming."
"Huh." I gave out a sigh.
"Is that a problem?" my mom said.
"What do you think me and a girl is going to do?"
"We don't know. Hang out maybe." my mom responded.
"Didn't you think that me and a guy would have a lot more things to do together?" I said no homo under my breath and continued. "You two would have known that if you at least asked me about it. Yet you wait three days before she even arrives to our house."
"Keep an open mind about this, Ray." my mom said repeating my dad. The more I talked to them the more I got frustrated. I have to keep my cool. These two are impossible. I have to take it slow with them.
Okay. Okay. Do you even know anything about her?" I asked.
"Yes" my dad responded. "Her name is Jessica Kim. She is 17 years old and from Tokyo, Japan. Her parents said she is fluent in English and knows about the customs."
So they are not complete idiots. She is around the same age as me and coached I guess you could say. That eliminates awkward conversations where she has no idea what I'm saying and vice versa. Not saying I am planning on starting a conversation with her. I'm still thinking about what I will be doing when she gets here.
"So three days?" I said.
"Three days." my dad responded.
That was it. I got up, left the living room, and went upstairs. I had nothing else to say and had to think about this more. I've just received a lot of information. The most important of this information was that in three days I will be living with someone else for a year.
Can things get worse in my life?