Late pt. 2: no siblings, please

I'm sitting in a worn maroon computer chair with messy bed head hair, eyes peering straight through these black and red frames on the last remaining day of July. Today worry attacks me with a sharp needle against my skin due to my immense and extended to-do list. Although much has been accomplished in the past two and a half weeks, much more has yet to be done. However, Olivia's gentle voice sings to me the classic Fly Me To The Moon like a mother's lullaby and releases my tension while also reassuring me in my capabilities to complete such large tasks at hand.

If only I could really fly to the moon and be with the one I love for just a little while...

JULY 21-24:
L to R: Me, mom, Amber, Toni, and Ninang Ching

My ninang and her two children flew down from New Jersey to visit for the first time in nearly seventeen years. (To those who are unfamiliar with the Filipino culture, ninang means god-mother.) Their stay was brief, only lasting three days. But during this short time, I was tested, that's for sure.

The family would be sleeping in my room for most of their stay. Meaning I would have to sacrifice many of my valued luxuries like sleeping soundly in my queen sized bed, blasting my music and singing at the top of my lungs, and watching anime and playing video games until night turned into the early morning. So after picking them up that Monday morning and having lunch, I was delighted to hear we were heading home. This was my chance to beat Kingdom Hearts 2!

I quickly climb up the carpeted flight of stairs and make my way to my sanctuary. I make myself comfortable on a patterned cushion and excitedly turn on the PS2. My concentration and attention are now dedicated to this game, and this game alone. My concentration is suddenly shattered when my ninang's daughters, Toni (8) and Amber (6), invite themselves into my room and begin destruction phase one. Together they are jumping on the bed, falling off of it head first, running rampant in the small space with lollipops in hand, and leaping over the controller cord. After giving them a straightforward talk about safety, they settle down, watching final cut scenes with me. This is when the question cannon started shooting. "Why did you paint your room green and not pink?" "Do you like your name?" "Why don't you talk a lot?" "Why don't you like Hannah Montana or Spongebob?" "Is this Louis Vuitton?" "Why is he wearing that necklace?"

After sending the two to find pleasure in playing games on the computer more suited for their age, I found some sort of peace after finally beating KH2 and enjoying the ending. I decided to reward myself by continuing to re-watch the anime series Noir, but fell asleep from a massive headache. I woke up to abrupt knocking hours later to hear we were eating at Chili's for dinner. Time for a good ol' recharge.

The next two days consisted of fun at Galveston, Kemah, and downtown and fantasizing at Telfair about our dream houses.

Through those days filled with unneeded screaming, running, and bombarding questions, my patience was stretched out like pizza dough to its thinnest state possible. Silence really is... golden.

And people ask me why I don't want a little brother or sister.