As I drove to school that Monday in my new 2000 Grand Prix I began to think. Nothing in particular, just everything that was going on. I’d gotten bad news from my dad last night. He had been in Orlando for the last month with his job. We’d talked on the phone for a long time. He told me that he’d met the perfect woman. Her name was Denise and she was “very nice”. The bad news? Just wait, I’m getting there. I hated when my dad dated. I know I sound selfish, but so what? I am.

My mom left 11 years ago when I was only 7. I guess the pressure of raising a family was too much so she bailed. I don’t know exactly what my dad wanted me to say about his new love interest. Congraduations? Once he finds out that she’s nothing like mom she’ll be gone and another one will be in her place. But I’d never heard my dad talk about a woman like that before. He sounded like one of my friends, bragging about their new boyfriend and all of his “perfect features.” You know what? I don’t care. I’ll meet this perfect Denise, put on another “I’m-so-glad-my-dad-finally-found-someone-like-you face” and hide my true feelings. The ones that wanted to scream at her for trying to take my dad away. I guess the thought of my dad loving someone besides me scared me, but I’d never tell anyone. I guess I’m just not the kind that shows their emotions. In fact, I don’t think anyone has ever seen me cry. Well, maybe my mom. But that doesn’t count, it was over a decade ago when I was little.

Any ways, back to my dad. I know I should be happy for him, but how can I? My dad isn’t exactly the perfect father, but he tries his best. He bought me this car for my birthday last week, but he didn’t even come home. I know he had to work, but still. Ouch. My head hurt from thinking. I put my new Mariah CD in and sang along to “X-Girlfriend”. Yeah I know what your thinking. Me a Mariah fan? Ha! But she does have a pretty voice, and all of her songs seemed to find a way to relate to me. What can I say? They’re catchy! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song of hers I didn’t like. Ok wait, why am I talking about Mariah? I’ll get back to the bad news my dad put on me. The worst part is that he wants to move in with her. All the way from Ft. Lauderdale to Orlando. What was he thinking? How serious is this relationship that I don’t even have a clue on what is going on? God! I think it’s about time my dad clues me in on his life.

Well, I was given a choice. Choice 1- Move with my Dad. He says I can stay with them until I’m ready for my own place. Sounds good and all but how am I supposed to just leave all my friends and childhood behind? That brings me to choice 2. Stay. I could stay behind, get a job and a place. A job? Hell no! What was he thinking? Me, Destiny Williams get a job? No way! And I wasn’t ready to be on my own yet. But just maybe in Orlando I could get my break! I’ve always wanted to be a singer. I’ve taken a few lessons and been told that my voice is beautiful, but nothing happened. Maybe Orlando is like Atlantic City, “where all your dreams come true.” Ok, so maybe I have seen “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” too many times, but come on, it’s a good movie.

I made up my mind. I was going to move to Orlando, but not until I graduated. I only had two more weeks of school left. That would give us enough time to pack and everything. I bet your wondering why I didn’t throw a fit and tell him that I didn’t want to move. The answer is that I’ll go along with just about anything, I don’t really care. I had a good feeling about this. For the first time in all of my life I walked into school that morning with a smile on my face.