BY KIYAN HARRIS
Saturday afternoon, the sun shining high in the sky, birds are chirping, and the wind is blowing just the right amount. I walk into my place of security, my paradise, my safe haven; Barnes and Noble.
I was on the prowl for something new to read, having become bored with the confines of my home and the distraction of my phone. I needed something that would keep me occupied longer than a movie, but also something that my mom would be happy to buy me. Something that made her feel like she wasn't spoiling me (of course she does any way, but hey, I'm not complaining. I get stuff, she feels good about parenting. It's a win-win scenario!). We strolled into Barnes and I contemplated whether I should beg for Starbucks before or after I start to look around. I decided on before -- that way I'd have a better chance of her taking me to Chipotle on the way home.
Ten minutes, one Venti white chocolate mocha, and a burnt tongue later, I was casually browsing the collections of pleather-backed notebooks, when I felt hot breath on the back of my neck
"Yes, mother?" I said, sass falling off my words in bulk.
"I thought you came here for a book?" Her levels of sassiness challenged my own.
Time to be wheedling. "I am, but can't I look?" She didn't respond, but the purse of her lips spoke more than words ever could.
"Okay, I'm going." And we went all the way to the second floor.
We were in the science fiction section, and sure enough, she started looking over my shoulder again. I ignored her.
Hmmm..."Ender's Game" was a good movie... The book is probably better. The book is always better... Plus, it's a series. I'll think about it.
She was still there. Finally I had enough."Are you gonna breath down my neck the whole time we're here?"
"What if I was looking at the books?"
"Are you?"
She answered by sticking her tongue out at me, then taking a seat in a plush leather arm chair.
I stood in the fantasy section, looking for anything that grabbed my attention. Fantasy has never really been my thing, and nothing catches my eye, so I move on. Teen Fiction is in front of me, and Paranormal Teen Fiction is behind me. I started switching between the two, picking and choosing eligible candidates. Read it, loved it; read it, loved it; read it, hated it; haven't read, don't want to; looks stupid; what is that even supposed to be....
I glanced at my mom, who was without a doubt working on her 10,000th level of Candy Crush. (Seriously she's addicted. In Need Of An Intervention addicted.)
I could read Will Grayson Will Grayson, but Amber said she would let me borrow her copy... They have Perks of Being a Wallflower! But I don't really feel like crying, so... I could pick up that book with the toxic symbol on it, the one that's always on the 'If you like The Hunger Games' table... The Compound has a sequel? And a sequel to the sequel?? My mom stared at me. I should just grab something. Oh my god, she's getting up. I start to walk away.
"Kiyan?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you ready?"
"Almost."
"Well you need to-"
"Okay." I cut her off, grabbing Ender's Game off the shelf and speed-walking to the escalator.
"Don't walk away from me, Kiyan!"
"I thought we were leaving."
"We are."
"Okay then."
"Speaking of okay..."
"What, Kiyan?"
"Can we get Chipotle?"
"Kiyan!"
"What??"
Saturday afternoon, the sun shining high in the sky, birds are chirping, and the wind is blowing just the right amount. I walk into my place of security, my paradise, my safe haven; Barnes and Noble.
I was on the prowl for something new to read, having become bored with the confines of my home and the distraction of my phone. I needed something that would keep me occupied longer than a movie, but also something that my mom would be happy to buy me. Something that made her feel like she wasn't spoiling me (of course she does any way, but hey, I'm not complaining. I get stuff, she feels good about parenting. It's a win-win scenario!). We strolled into Barnes and I contemplated whether I should beg for Starbucks before or after I start to look around. I decided on before -- that way I'd have a better chance of her taking me to Chipotle on the way home.
Ten minutes, one Venti white chocolate mocha, and a burnt tongue later, I was casually browsing the collections of pleather-backed notebooks, when I felt hot breath on the back of my neck
"Yes, mother?" I said, sass falling off my words in bulk.
"I thought you came here for a book?" Her levels of sassiness challenged my own.
Time to be wheedling. "I am, but can't I look?" She didn't respond, but the purse of her lips spoke more than words ever could.
"Okay, I'm going." And we went all the way to the second floor.
We were in the science fiction section, and sure enough, she started looking over my shoulder again. I ignored her.
Hmmm..."Ender's Game" was a good movie... The book is probably better. The book is always better... Plus, it's a series. I'll think about it.
She was still there. Finally I had enough."Are you gonna breath down my neck the whole time we're here?"
"What if I was looking at the books?"
"Are you?"
She answered by sticking her tongue out at me, then taking a seat in a plush leather arm chair.
I stood in the fantasy section, looking for anything that grabbed my attention. Fantasy has never really been my thing, and nothing catches my eye, so I move on. Teen Fiction is in front of me, and Paranormal Teen Fiction is behind me. I started switching between the two, picking and choosing eligible candidates. Read it, loved it; read it, loved it; read it, hated it; haven't read, don't want to; looks stupid; what is that even supposed to be....
I glanced at my mom, who was without a doubt working on her 10,000th level of Candy Crush. (Seriously she's addicted. In Need Of An Intervention addicted.)
I could read Will Grayson Will Grayson, but Amber said she would let me borrow her copy... They have Perks of Being a Wallflower! But I don't really feel like crying, so... I could pick up that book with the toxic symbol on it, the one that's always on the 'If you like The Hunger Games' table... The Compound has a sequel? And a sequel to the sequel?? My mom stared at me. I should just grab something. Oh my god, she's getting up. I start to walk away.
"Kiyan?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you ready?"
"Almost."
"Well you need to-"
"Okay." I cut her off, grabbing Ender's Game off the shelf and speed-walking to the escalator.
"Don't walk away from me, Kiyan!"
"I thought we were leaving."
"We are."
"Okay then."
"Speaking of okay..."
"What, Kiyan?"
"Can we get Chipotle?"
"Kiyan!"
"What??"