Personal Narrative: The Washington Parish Activity Center

It was just like any other day of my life. My mother had conned me into coming to help her out at her job, the Washington Parish Activity Center. Of course I did not want to go down to that old, creepy, cold building after hours. It was a Friday night, and those torturous finals had finally came to an end. Spending the first night of that long, difficult semester at that place was not my plans. Sleeping, eating, and watching television was the kind of night this college student had in mind, but mother had other boring plans for her child. Hearing my mother’s nagging voice was not an option. If I did not come, she would have been complaining from here all the way to China. During that long conversation, she used the famous mother’s line, “I

birth your big water head, so that means I am the mother and you are the child.” A twenty two year old college student was still getting that speech. Those irritating words was floating through the phone in one ear and out the other one. She was sounding like Charlie Brown’s mother. I forced myself into my silver 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, which I named Mally, and drove down those curvy dark country roads where trees surrounded the road. Looking from side-to-side as Mally sped down the road like she was on a racetrack making sure that Bambi did not jump out and cause a wreck.
Mally pulled into the dark parking lot bumping “Ayo” by Chris Brown and Tyga to the max. Mother met me at the door covered in flour, chocolate, and other delicious sweet toppings. This cold, quiet, and small kitchen was waiting for us to enter. We started the tasks that was as hand. Laughter, Singing, and love filled the quiet kitchen quick. Behind her back, the long brown fingers attached to my hand would find their way to my watery mouth and feed it chocolate and lemon cake batter. Her soul filled with laughter because memories of the past of a mother and a daughter in the kitchen during the holidays flashed through her mind.
After everything was finished, we rolled out and went to McDonalds. There we was in the drive-through discussing how eventually Mally would have to be put to rest and get a new vehicle. The smell of big mac, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and fries was floating throughout the car. We was just cruising through this small town getting ready to head home not knowing what was waiting for us a few blocks ahead. Passing by Dollar General the sight of one vehicle was going through a stop sign. Behind that car was another car waiting to cross to the other side.
“Asia, you sure got the righter way,” she said in a shaky voice.
“Yes mother. I have the righter way,” I explained to her. “That car is going to have to wait until I pass.”
“Okay, child if you say so.”
Right as those words was rolling of her tongue the unthinkable happened.

Here comes the other car zooming across the street like he in the Fast and Furious. I see him, and I know there is nothing that can be done to prevent this. I turn my wheel to try my best to avoid the hit, but that plan was unsuccessful. Boom, the cars hit. Glass cracking and flying in and outside of the car. The sound of tires skiing across the payment being heard from blocks away. Drinks and food splashing all over us and the car. The car looked like a cafeteria after a food fight. The other car sliding across the pavement, and my car just sitting in the middle of the road. Just stuck there cannot move. There we was laid out in the car, soaking wet, and freezing. Tears rolling down both of our faces. Thinking to ourselves did this just really happen. All of sudden this young white male high schooler jumps out the car yelling, “Oh shit! Oh Shit! I done killed somebody.” Pacing back and forth from his car to our car like a nervous kid getting his ACT

scores.
“Mommy I am sorry,” I muttered. “I tried my best to avoid it.”
“Asia, calm down. It is okay,” she muttered back in a low voice.
My body trembling from my head to my toes.

The tears kept rolling like a broken faucet. Trying to get out the car, but I cannot because the door is bent and will not open. Not knowing what to do was making this pounding headache worst. Police officers asking a million questions. Only thing running through this head was what just happened. Flashbacks kept replaying over and over again. The fact that my mother’s and I lives could have been taken in that short period of time. If I would not have turn the wheel when I did, that car would have hit my mother straight on instead of the front. The thought of just losing my mother was something I could not bear at the moment. A life without my mother was a life that I was not prepared for. Walking away with no injuries and our lives was a blessing. Coming that close to death changed me for the better. They always say enjoy life every day, and now I understand why because life can been taken in one second. Life is a precious gift that we have here on Earth. Cherishing time with family and friends is important, and to never take life and the little things for

granted.