Meredith
Pasadena, Housten. that's where I'm going. my flight leaves in Three hours and as my mom sits beside me in the car on the way to Huddersfield airport singing a happy tune, I can't help but feel nervous.
"You doing ok sweetie" mom asks breaking me from my intrusive thoughts.
what if the plane crashes. or what if I end up in the wrong part of America. what if I'm kidnapped and sold into human trafficking. or I run into the mafia. I snigger at that one, too much reading on my part. all these questions twirl round and round my mind.
"sweetie" my mom asks again, and I blink.
"Sorry, what" I ask looking at her side profile.
my mom is beautiful, kind and open minded. still in her early forties and not a single grey hair in sight.
"Sorry I was daydreaming again" I sigh and look out of the window at the busy motorway.
I'm seventeen and flying to America to live with a family as a nanny. yes, I'm young but after the year we have had and the trauma of losing dad, mum thought it would be good for me to get away for a while.
she is friends with head educator of Preston university in Leeds where we live and pulled some strings to find me a family who will take me for the next year.
I love kids, so much so I want at least four when I'm older. the family I'm staying with are wealthy, like super rich and have two daughters, twins, aged Five. their last nanny only lasted a few months. I'm not going to ask why because its none of my business.
"I'm fine mum, just excited to get on the flight and enjoy being rich for a while" I chuckle and so does she.
the Richmond family have paid for me to fly first class and their driver will be waiting to collect me when I land. I have my phone, my kindle and a whole bag full of snacks.
"You call me as much as you can" she hums as we turn into the airport and my nerves kick up a gear.
mum is like my sister; we are close and tell each other everything. she and my dad had that happy marriage that only so few ever seem to find. but he died last year from a heart attack while watching football. he was Forty-Four.
"You know I will mum, stop worrying, I'll be fine" I say with a grin as she leans over and strokes my long blonde hair.
it's been this long for as long as I can remember. sitting just past my butt. I have light blue eyes and a small scar above my right eyebrow. Danny Fletcher threw a rock at me in pre-school.
my teeth are straight, and my nose is small.
"I'll miss you, is it so terrible of me to worry that you won't miss me, that you'll find friends, or a boyfriend and want to stay out there" she asks as she parks the car and turns it off.
it's not like she will be alone. my mum is popular, she has friends, a life, a job. I know for a fact Mr. Jensen from next door will look out for her.
"Even if those things happen, I won't stay mum, you, are my home and I'm coming back."
she looks at me and then smiles. with a nod she climbs out of the car, and I follow suit. we grab my large suitcase and my duffle bag and set off for terminal Three. I can't believe this is happening, after months of planning and anguish over whether or not I could do it.
the airport is noisy, and we find the check in desk easily. "Get your passport ready" mum mumbles as we shuffle into the cue, and I do as I'm told. everyone around me looks calm, some on their phones, some just standing still while others are with partners or friends.
once I'm checked in mum walks me to security and this is where we say goodbye for the next Twelve months. "God, I'm going to miss you, and now I'm going to cry" she sniffles and brings me close to her body. her familiar perfume, Red Door lingers under my nose.
"I'm going to miss you too, but please don't worry about me, I'm a big girl" I smile, and she holds my face.
tears fall down her cheeks and I pull her in for another hug. after I few minutes I step back away from her.
"I'll call as soon as I land ok" I say picking up my backpack that I dropped by my feet.
"Ok, please do and know that I'm proud of you Meredith, so proud" she says still holding my hands. her hands are warm and comforting but she really doesn't need to worry about me.
"I love you sweety" she adds before kissing my cheek and pointing me in the direction I need to go.
"I love you too" I say over my shoulder as I walk away.
she stays where she is until I'm through security and with one more wave I disappear from her sight. now I just need to find my gate and sit and wait. with so many people around me it would be easy to become overwhelmed, but I've looked into this airport, and I already know which way I'm headed.
my phone sends me an alert and I look down to see mum has already text me and I smile. she tells me she loves me and that she's now back at the car. I reply and tell her I'm fine, that I love her too and to drive safe. I grab a drink from one of the little shops and scoff at the price of it.
I find a seat and look up to see I have Two hours to wait and decide to pull out my kindle and read some more of my book. I'm an avid reader, always looking for my next juicy read. my current book is about Two brothers who fall in love with the same girl. in the end I hope she doesn't have to choose because they are both equally delicious.
don't get me wrong I wouldn't know what to do in that situation, I'm a virgin and proud. most of my friends lost their V card long ago and spend most of their weekends finding their next fix. my friend Misha is the only one who has had a steady boyfriend for the last Six months.
"Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 289B to Burbank Pasadena" I don't hear the rest as I rise and make my way to the gate. I didn't realize I had been reading for so long and the time just flew.
No pun intended.
"Ticket please" the friendly looking woman in a neat blue uniform asks as I step up to the line. she looks at the ticket and back to me.
"First class, Miss. Jones. welcome. please head on through" she hands me back my ticket and I make my way down towards the plane.
another lady shows me to my seat, and I freeze when I see what awaits me. this can't be real. big comfy seat, my own section that cuts off from the rest of the plane. large TV, my own window and what the fuck. "I get my own little mini bar" I squeal as I sit down and get a feel for the space.
after another Thirty minutes the plane is ready to taxi onto the runway. my bag is stowed safely, and I've got a glass of orange juice in my hand. I watch out the window and look over to where we parked but in a parking lot full to the brim, I know I wouldn't see mums little Red Ford.
I relax back as the plane picks up speed and we fly up into the air. my lungs dip and my stomach flips but I'm eager to get there and meet Mr. and Mrs. Richmond. but I'm more eager to meet their daughters. Ivy and Lily, both cute as hell. I've seen the pictures.
I pull down my backpack once the seatbelt sign is off and rummage through until I find the folder of information I was given. my personal planner and a list of activities the girls will attend under my watch. I also sit with them through meals and put them to bed. God knows where the parents are when I'm doing all this.
I put it all away and relax back in my seat. I must fall asleep at some point because after another hour we are offered dinner and its bloody beautiful. the steak is perfect, and the vegetables are soft. the silver cutlery shines, and my bread roll is fresh. I sip my drink and cheers to myself.
America, here I come.
