Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I am from a very big family. I have a cute younger brother and a really mean sister. I also have my Aunt Rose, my Uncle Mike, their son Elliot, my dad, my mom, and grandma. We all live in one tiny house on Boulevard Street in Manhattan. “Come on Elizabeth or you are going to be late for school.” That’s my grandma. I go to East Brook Middle School and my best friend is Eva. “Elizabeth Van Sheldon I’ll give you ten seconds”. Whenever she uses my full name she means business, got to run bye.
I ran to the bus and sat in my usual seat next to Eva. The seats were really wet today since it was raining outside. You don’t want to be in middle school buses when it’s raining out. Some of the windows on the bus were stuck open and if you sit behind someone with their window stuck open you can expect yourself to have a full shower when you get off. Sadly Eva and I were those innocent people today. I got off the bus looking like a giant elephant had cried all over me. The rest of the day was pretty normal until Social Studies.
My teacher told me that she got Eva and me an all-expense-paid trip to go meet with real singers in California. She said, “I know how much you love singing and I wanted to get you these tickets for your birthday.” I was so excited that I breezed through all of the rest of my classes today, even math. That evening I got on the bus and told Eva the wonderful news but instead of looking ecstatic like I thought she would she looked sad. I was so confused. Then she said, “In your family when each child turns thirteen don't you guys do a huge shopping spree or something like that.” At first, I was trying to figure out what she was talking about. Then I remembered the Sheldon family tradition, how could I have forgotten. My face started to sag down thinking about how I couldn’t go. Suddenly, I had an idea. “What if I skip the tradition and do it next year? I’m sure my parents would understand,” I exclaimed with delight. “I don’t know Elli if you say so…” Eva said with a concerned look.
“No, absolutely not” my parents both screamed simultaneously. My grandmother rushed into the room complaining, “Did I hear that my baby was going to go to California on her birthday?”No mom, she knows that she has to respect the family tradition right?” my dad said calmly. “Right,” I said in a grouchy tone and stormed up to my room. Why didn’t my parents get it? This was my dream. I sat there thinking and after a while, I made my decision. I was going to California with or without their permission.
A few days later it was my birthday. I ran downstairs excited. I had to be at the airport by 10:00. Eva’s dad was going to drive me and Eva to the airport. Then, we go to California. My grandma made my favorite chocolate chip pancakes. She saw how happy I looked and exclaimed with delight “I guess you forgot all about that trip, that’s my little girl.” I went upstairs, took the books out of my bag, and replaced them with clothes for two days. I told my grandma that I was going to Eva’s house to study and was almost out the door until, my sister. She said, “I know you’re going to California and I won’t tell anyone until you lifted off, just be careful.” Then she walked inside. That is the sweetest thing my annoying sister ever said to me. I just stood there for a moment, then I remember my mission and ran to Eva’s place. I felt a thrill in the air as I ran to Eva’s place with my clothes in my backpack and my phone in my pocket. Every time my phone beeped I ran faster hoping my parents hadn’t found out yet.
When I finally got to Eva’s house I was panting so much. I guess in the thrill I forgot that I could have asked my aunt to drive me or just took my bike. Mr. Johnson got in the car and drove us to the airport and we went through the process to get on the plane. While we were waiting to get on to the plane my dad called. I freaked out. What if my dad found out? What if my sister told him? My voice got all cracky. I cleared my voice and tried to sound like I didn’t do anything wrong. I picked up the phone and said “Hi, dad what’s up?” My dad said, “hey Elli, I just wanted to tell you that we were going to go to the mall and for you to meet us there.” I was so relieved. I let out a big gust of air that I had been holding in for a long time. Then I realized my dad was still on the phone and said “okay, dad meet you there.” I felt really bad. This was the first time I ever ran away from home and lied to my parents. This was the only way I could do what I want to though. The plane took off and I was on my way to California. I was scared, a little worried, and a huge mess.
“What, she’s in California?” My dad exclaimed with his voice rose. “Well, she has the right to be. It's her special day and this was her dream. She has always wanted to be a singer and you know that. She knew that you wouldn’t let her go so she decided to make up her own decision. She is thirteen now and you still treat her like she’s three.” my sister said in a calmed tone. This was very dangerous because if you talk to my dad when he is mad your week will be miserable. There was so much arguing between the giant family that they got kicked out of the store. My mom was worried. My grandma was screaming about how ignorant I was. My dad was mad and was trying to calm everyone down. My little brother started crying and my sister was trying to calm him down. Elliot was trying to run to the arcade and my aunt and uncle were trying to catch him. All in all, it was a big mess.
After everything was under control and my whole family was at home; my parents both came to the conclusion that the tradition was unfair to me and that they would tweak it. They both called me and told me that I was right and that they were going to change the family tradition. They said, “ instead of going shopping when a child turns thirteen we are going to let the child decide what it wanted to do but it had to be as a family.” After they finished talking I started weeping uncontrollably. I missed them very much and felt bad for lying. They told me that I could finish my trip and come back home.
From then on the family tradition had changed and has still been so till this day. “Grandma your the best storyteller in the world.” my grandson said with excitement. “Mom come on you have to got to your weekly check-up,” my son said. That day was a day I would never forget and never will.
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