converging Realities

ANYA

It's unbelievable that I have only two more days to turn in my English essay. I still haven't finished my labs and SBA assignments either. School is really draining every ounce of energy from me, but as my grandma always says, "anything good never comes too easy." So, I have to put my head down and keep working. I'm just exhausted for today, so I'm going to call it a night of studying. I went to the bathroom to take a quick shower and then headed downstairs to eat.

"Mom, your curry chicken is always amazing. You must have put some magic in this one."

Anya's mom: "Haha, you know Maya practically licked the plate clean."

"She's quite the character," I said, laughing.

"Leave me alone," Maya retorted with an attitude.

Shortly after, I heard my phone ringing from the kitchen, where I had left it. I rushed to check the caller ID and answered when I saw it was 💖Bestie💖 calling.

Anya: "I thought you forgot about me, girl."

Jazz: "Girl, I was just busy."

She burst into laughter, You would think I went deaf

Anya: Gyal

Jazz: Sorry, sorry, I'm just excited.

Anya:About?

Jazz: "I'm going to look for Malaki today, lol."

Anya: "Alright, I don't want to hear any details."

Jazz: "Did you start Miss Frazier's essay?"

Anya: "Yes, and it's due on Tuesday, you know."

Jazz: "We can go to the library and finish it up, still."

Anya: "Ahh, later I'm going to help Mom with the dishes."

"Beep, beep, beep."

She couldn't have said 'later' or something; her attitude always gets on my nerves. It was already 8 p.m. by the time I finished washing the dishes, and I had school the next day. I always make sure to go to bed early so I'm not too tired at school.

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The next day at school, I was struggling to keep my eyes open in class. English class was a blur as I tried to focus on Miss Frazier's lecture. She droned on about the importance of literature, and I couldn't help but think about the essay I still had to finish. 

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day. Jazz caught up with me as I headed towards the library.

Jazz: Nya, yuh, ready girl

Anya: "I have to, or I'll be in serious trouble. Let's just get it done."

Jazz: lol...

We spent hours in the library, pouring over our notes and discussing the essay topic. Jazz was a great help, and we managed to make some good progress. As we wrapped up our work, I couldn't help but feel grateful for having such a supportive friend.

Jazz: mi seh gurllllll

Why she always scream inna mi damn ears? Mi affi really siddung and look pon her 

Jazz: "There's a club opening downtown this weekend. You in?"

Anya: "A club? I'm swamped with school and work."

Jazz: "Come on, just a few hours to relax. You've earned it."

Anya: "I guess a break wouldn't hurt; I'll check with my mom.

We are now at the bus stop, looking for a drive to get to park.  dem people here frounzy,

The taxi driver yells in my direction, "One and move, one and move innah town, baby." 

I gave a no-sign by shaking my head. He then approached.

"A wahm you nuh wah tek mi old car"

Nosa anno dat a mi and mi friend a travel

"Oh, nuh dat you fi seh man."

"Two and move, unuh fawud."

Oh, what a liar!  

We arrived at the park in about thirty minutes, took another drive to get home, and parted ways.

ANYYAAAAAAA, as soon as I step inside the verandah, my younger sister yells and jumps all over me!

 Heyyy, how was school today, Munchkin?

Maya: It was good. I made a friend; his name is Mathew.

 Kakafart…

Maya giggled as she hopped into my arms, and we shared a warm, sisterly hug. The simple joy of being together after a long day brought smiles to my face.

 "Well, I'm glad you made a friend, even if its a boy."

Maya: "He's nice, though. We talked about our favorite cartoons."

 "That's great, Munchkin. It's important to have friends. Now, how about we go inside? I have something exciting to tell you."

Maya's eyes lit up with curiosity as she eagerly followed me into the house. We settled into the living room, and Anya began to share the news of her upcoming night out with Jazz.

 "So, Munchkin, you remember my friend Jazz, right?"

Maya: "Yeah, the one with the cool hair."

 "That's her! Well, Jazz invited me to a special event this weekend, and she said you could stay with Mom while I'm gone."

Maya: "A special event? Like a party?"

"Kind of. It's a club opening. Jazz thought it would be fun, and I haven't had a break in a while."

Maya: "Wow! That sounds exciting, Anya. Can I come to the club opening too?"

I chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Oh, Munchkin, it's not really a place for kids. But I promise we'll do something fun together soon. How about a movie night tomorrow?"

Maya's disappointment quickly turned into excitement.

Maya: "Yay, movie night with you, Anya! That sounds awesome!"

I smiled, relieved that she was understanding. We spent the evening chatting and enjoying each other's company.

That evening, after getting Maya settled in for the night, I decided to take a little break before starting dinner. I grabbed my phone and settled on the couch, scrolling through TikTok to unwind.

Time seemed to slip away as I got lost in the endless stream of short videos. Laughter, dance challenges, and DIY hacks filled my feed, providing a much-needed escape from the daily grind. It was nice to have a moment of pure enjoyment, especially with the hectic schedule I usually juggle.

As I was watching a particularly funny cat video, I heard the front door creak open, signaling my mom's return from work. I quickly pocketed my phone and rushed to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.

For tonight's dinner, I decided to cook vege-chunks with baked beans and white rice. The aroma of the meal soon filled the kitchen, making the house feel warm and inviting. I chopped some vegetables and got the rice going while my mom shared details of her day. We chatted about Maya's new friend, Mathew, and I told her about my upcoming night out with Jazz.

As we sat down to enjoy our meal, I couldn't help but feel grateful for these moments with my family. Life was tough, and I had to work hard, but the love and support of my mom and sister made it all worthwhile.

After dinner, I helped Maya with her homework, making sure she understood her assignments. Then, it was time for her bedtime routine – a warm bath, a bedtime story, and a goodnight kiss. I tucked her into bed, making sure she felt safe and loved, and then I headed to my room to get some rest before another busy day at school.