Dipped In Gold: Wattys2015

Prologue

Kiesh Autumn McBedet

I was born on a cold day, the coldest day of the year as told by the older folks. January 10, 1999. The final year of the century, the end of the 90s. The "last of the good times".

My mother always told me the day I was born I had my parents wrapped around my finger. That the world was lucky to have me, destined to have me one way or another even. When I was first born my mom, Hayden, was only sixteen and my dad, Jacob, was only seventeen. They were two young people trying to do grown things.

My mom had been raised in a strict, yet loving, family. With my grandmother, Gina, being a full-time registered nurse and my grandfather, Aiden, owning his own deli she was well taken care of. But, when Aiden passed away when my mom turned twelve, Gina fell behind on bills and had to give away the only home they'd ever known. She and Hayden ended up moving to a small apartment in inner-city Atlanta. Where she met my dad, Jacob.

My dad on the other hand came from a completely different background. He was a rough city boy, who ran the streets until the streetlights came on. He was raised by a single mother, my grandmother Jeyda, who worked as a waitress. Long nights at a 24-hour diner posed a problem when it came to Jeyda being home. She had a growing son to take care of, and it seemed as if the bills grew with Jacob.

Late nights turned to early mornings as Jacob waited for his mother to come home most nights. Most nights, she didn't. But, right across the hall, there was Hayden. The 5'6 petite neighbor that Jacob had been eyeing since she moved in, and she had been eyeing him too. One thing led to another, and Jacob finally worked up the opportunity to ask Hayden out. A year of sneaking around eventually led to the conception of me.

With the way they had grown up, they saw fit to vow to cater to me and my needs as best, as they could. They knew how it felt to be alone, to have a parent absent, or to not feel seen. So, I was deemed chosen, the one to make everything right. When Jeyda and Gina found out about the baby they were everything but happy finding out their children had been sneaking around right under their nose. Jeyda decided she couldn't deal with two children in the house and demanded that my mother get an abortion. Saying, Hayden had seduced her son and was trying to trap him with a baby because of his promising future. In the end, she told him to choose between living with his mother or being a father. He chose his family, the family he built, and took the money he saved up from dealing to get an apartment for them. Gina was a bit more understanding and just wanted the best for them and for me.

My mother went off to be a general practitioner and my father a criminal justice lawyer. They became an unbreakable parenting duo, who's main focus was building a better future and life for me. I was never denied anything I asked for no matter how outlandish the request seemed.

I wore designers people had never even heard of before. I had shoes before they were even released and had the newest phone as soon as it dropped. My hair was always laid and my nails always in premium condition. The cheerleading captain, office aide, a star track runner, and a straight-A student all four years. Regina George if she was black and had the aura I do.

My parents were sure to give me everything I could possibly want and need. My requests were fulfilled before I even had the chance to ask. My parents hired a maid years ago to clean up after me and tend to my needs. Mary was there to iron my clothes, wash and fold my clothes, and even on some occasions shave my legs.

Now, at the tender age of eighteen nothing has changed. My parents still adhere to my every demand and they make sure to keep me comfortable. With the help of scholarships and my parent's generosity, I was able to get into Spelman. It was everything I wanted in a school. An all-girls HBCU, which meant my stunting didn't just have to stop because highschool did. I wasn't due to leave for college until the end of the summer in August. I was determined to spend my last summer home relaxing, and spending as much money as I could since my parents made a point to say my budget would get tighter once I got to campus.

I laid my head on my D&G pillowcase and let out a low groan. My head was pounding, and my parents decided today was the day that the lawn would get mowed. I held my hand to my forehead as the smell of fresh grass came through my room. My room was in the back of the house so the backyard was right outside my window and I kept my patio doors open sometimes to catch the night breeze. I absolutely hated the smell of fresh-cut grass. Whenever I smell it, it feels as if I can't breathe anymore. I hated nature as a whole, but the grass was near the top of my list.

I sat up abruptly making my head hurt even worse. I slid my small feet into my Hello Kitty slippers and stomped downstairs. I walked past, Mary, and marched to the backdoor and flung the door open. The gust of wind made my hair blow back making me a sight to see I'm sure. Hell on wheels as people used to say in school.

"Good morning, Miss. Kiesh" Mary greeted me as I ignored her presence. I wasn't in the mood for the morning, good or not.

"Hey!" I yelled over the growling lawnmower. My dad shut off the mower and turned to me. My mom looked at me as well in confusion. My dad rested his fist on his hips, I guess waiting for me to say something. His eyebrows furrowed together as sweat trickled down his forehead.

"I have a raging headache and that fucking lawnmower isn't doing anything but making it worse! There are other days of the week when you can do this bullshit" I yelled in rage. They were usually more respectful of me, and my sleep but today seemed to be different for some reason.

"Good morning to you too, Keish. Sweetheart the lawn needs to be mowed; the realtor comes for the appraisal tomorrow" My mom stated. My parents were considering selling the house since I would be away at college, but I don't understand why we couldn't just keep the same house we'd always had. Our three-story, four-bedroom home had been keeping us happy for the past few years, yet here they are trying to sell it.

"What the hell does that have to do with me? I could give a fuck less, do that shit on your own time. I don't see why we have to sell the house anyway! At the moment, while I'm home, it's my time" My mom sighed tiredly before looking at my dad. He leaned against the lawnmower with a small smirk on his face. My dad usually let my mother discipline me, which was hardly ever, so whenever we got into our spats, he tended to stay out of it.

"Just do it later Jacob" He nodded and began putting the lawnmower to the side. I smiled defiantly and waltzed back to my room. I slipped out of my slippers and took off my small red shorts.

I threw them next to my slippers and laid in my bed. Time for some well-needed rest.