Prompt: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
When I thought about this prompt, I thought I was going to talk about activities I did as a child. I never thought that this prompt would lead me where I am about to go so bare with me.
I have never lived with my parents. My aunt raised me and four of my other siblings. My mom came back into my life when I was about 10 years old. It was everything that me and my older siblings ever wanted. After some time, my mom asked me about meeting my dad and I figured I dindn’t have anything to lose. I remember going to this random building in North Philly and not really knowing what to expect. He was a cook or something there and he kept offering me lasagna. I didn’t know what that was so I kept saying “no.” I remember our generic conversation and him fumbling over my name calling me Jasmine and Yasmine not Yasmein (Yas-mean).
After that first encounter, we began talking on the phone every night after his shift. I could always tell when he was about to hang up. He would say “boy oh boy” and it drove me insane. We also began going out. One time me, him and my older sister were supposed to go to the circus, but we were running late so we opted to go to a nearby carnival. I really don’t remember that day too much or even getting on rides, but some how I know that I enjoyed myself.
One day, we were supposed to do something. I can’t remember what it was, but he never called or showed up. I didn’t know why and it didn’t make sense because for the most part, he was pretty good about keeping me informed. I later learned that he was arrested. It hurt so bad.
As I write this, I don’t really know why it made me so sad. He had only been in my life a couple of months and even then, I was unsure where it would go. I remember just moping around the house like a sad puppy. My mom, aunt or siblings didn’t really know what to tell me. I was so sad that I carved the word “DAD” into one of my dresser drawers.
We began writing each other, but lost contact.
It’s weird because I haven’t given much thought to him not being in my life. I got used to not having him around. But right now, in this moment, I hope that he is okay.
