Watson 1

Monet Watson

Spurlock

Comp 1 12:00pm

August 24th, 2022

“A cold day in February on the 2nd, Monday to be exact?”

“Yes,” after three generations of strong males embrace. Finally, Enid Oklahoma’s Hospital

rang out with the cry of a female infant as the population rose one more number welcoming into

the world Danielle Arita. Racing to the cradle with eyes of wonder stood three little boys all

excited to get a glimpse of the baby sister they had heard about for nine whole months. “Hello,

Danielle, I am Desmond, I am Dexter, and I am Darrel. Each brother laid a kiss upon their little

sister’s cheek, squirming around the tiny infant searches for two familiar voices she has heard for

nine months straight but cannot see to find them again? One voice, a melodic sound soothing and

soft, another tough and heroic, a person she would become known, to always keep her safe.

“Dena she is beautiful” … “is that my father’? “I know Damion. “That is my mother!

Years passed on and on as many Februarys had gone by. Birthday candles blown out

along with the kid toys. “I can still remember the day I traded in barbie dolls for soccer cleats”.

Sitting around the house reading, nestled into the aroma of literature, a passion that brought me

comfort, when a loud blaring flared down the street, my father was smiling ear to ear excited to

see his princess after a long day of work. Holding a picture of a pair of pink and black shoes with

little nobs on the bottom my father could not hold his excitement, “Danielle these are soccer

cleats,” my father smiled at me explaining how he had thought about my interest in soccer all

day, after work he raced to the first sports store and found the pretty pink shoes. In my body, I

had begun to have the sense of an athlete with a competitive nature; it was time to compete.
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2021 and The Back-to-School commercials blare on the television, just like a new school

semester my home was a whole new school experience. Quiet filled the house more being the

only kid left in the family home everyone had grown up and gone away except me. Breathing

deep breaths in and out, a small prayer came across my lips granting me a safe and successful

day when a snicker is heard behind me. “It’s weird that you do that”? Damion, my eldest brother,

stated shaking his head in denial, feeling guilt in my stomach and shame in my heart how could

Damion not pray when God had always been in our home? A loving hand touches my shoulder

patting it gently, this gentle pat was one known to me since birth; She was here! “Damion leave

your sister alone and let her pray for her first day of school.” Endless love, the very word to

express the emotions moving through me for my mother, she had always been an angel looking

out for me, soon the tables would turn. Walking into the last year of my childhood;

announcements are called for the school activities, patiently waiting to sign up for soccer for the

last time, excitement filled my face, but my heart didn't express the same. Puzzled and

complexed advice was needed by someone should prayer work again? No, for Damion laughed,

and my friends wouldn't understand. Let down and alone trying to remember the very two people

who could help me solve the very problem, my parents. Snuggled up in their arms showing great

support of my decision of wanting to expand my horizon and face new challenges and new

journeys. Looking deep into mine and my father’s eyes began the news of a new journey our

family would go through together for my mother was expecting my little brother Drew.

Seasons started to change as my mother’s belly began to swell, getting ready for the new

arrival made my head begin to spin as changes started to begin at home and my home away from

home, as my mother is whisked away to Oklahoma City’s Hospital to deliver the last generation

of the Arita family when tragedy found a way to seep into what should have been celebration;

Drew had become sick and so had my mother. Spiraling wasn’t the word to describe the tunnel
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my father had sunken into walking around like a ghost trying to find his human body again; each

day packing my bags for school, watching the man sink into a deep depression my mind began to

wonder what it must be like to live in this spiraling circle for the spiraling was beginning to

happen to me sinking slowly into its despair. Visiting day brought immense joy listening to my

mother tell me all the fun things the nurses would do to help Drew and her, making me want to

become a nurse to save lives as well especially the little babies; the visits would come to end and

the reality of living with my roommate instead of my father wishing so more for the interaction

to come back again as his little princess. He had to listen this time with no fear inside my heart,

bowing my head and closing my eyes I prayed to God again no matter the laughter or snickers it

was time for Mom and Drew to come home and hopefully he would hear, till the day my prayer

was heard. On Sept. 11th Drew will be celebrating his 1st birthday, safe and at home along with

my mother both in good health at first, I resented talking to God again for he was letting me

down with all the laughter's and mockery but in the end, he brought my angels home for me to

care for them each and every day.

“That’s it”

“Amazing”

Smiling Danielle Arita and I shook hands, walking out of our twelve o’clock Comp class

with the lights turning off automatically behind us. Leaving my new companion behind I turned

into the UC common’s room when an impression came to my mind, here was an eighteen-year-

old living with her parent but during a tough time looks as if she is living alone when many

eighteen-year-olds couldn't handle the pressure living on their own, having had the luxury of

living the experience I wasn't ready and was mentally immature. Yet she raised herself like an

adult; sitting with Danielle was like sitting with another adult at only a child age to me at twenty-

six, I should see a child but instead God has already made her a woman. I genuinely believe for
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myself and the situations I go through prayer is something on the last of my list for punishment is

something I think God has in store for me but after a story as that God is here to heal and save

me from tragedies and I just like Danielle will never face hardship without prayer.