While I’m sleeping comfortably in bed, I hear knocks on my bedroom door. I lift my face from my pillow and roll over on my back, groaning.
"Oh my goodness. You guys never let me sleep,” I say with a yawn mixed in.
The door opens and Kenya comes in. She extends her hand forward with a phone in it.
"I’m sorry to wake you,” she says in a whispering voice. "Your mom wants to talk to you,”
I grab the phone, clear my throat, and put it to my ear.
“Hello,”
"Hi, honey. So, I guess you’re catching a ride to school with Maria, right?"
"School..?” I snap alert.
I glance at Kenya and she begins to ponder, but I think of a lie before her.
"Uh, um, yes, I’m catching a ride with Athena, I mean Maria.”
"Okay, I’ll pick you up at 4:30. Maybe you can tell me all about your awesome sleep-over when we meet up.”
"Um, okay,” I say with uncertainty.
"Have a nice day at school. I'll see you later. I love you,” she says and then kisses me through the phone.
"Love you too, mom.”
I press end on the phone and then I let out a long sigh.
"She thinks I'm going to school. What should I do?"
Kenya walks back and forth for a moment with her fingers against her lips.
"Don’t go to school until later on. She'll pick you up and take you home. But, you can't stay the night.”
"What about tomorrow?"
She paces back and forth again.
"Just tell her you don't want to go to school anymore.”
“Then she’ll definitely suspect something,” I reply.
“Be convincing,”
"Okay, but what about home? I don't want to draw attention to her.”
“Just stick to the plan and everything will be okay.”
“Okay, just stick to the plan,” I agree with her.
"You may get some more rest if you choose too.”
She turns and walks out of the room. I collapse backwards onto my pillow and then release a long moan.