Chapters 36-40

**Chapter 36**

An hour later, the limo pulled to a stop and the driver climbed out. He opened the door and held it as the two families climbed out. After they were all out of the limo, the driver shut the door and went to open the trunk. He opened the trunk and started to pull out the luggage that was there with the help of Harold Jr. After a few minutes the luggage was all out of the trunk and the driver slammed the trunk shut. Everyone grabbed their own luggage and headed into the airport. They headed over to the ticket counter with their tickets. Brian and Jackie were together since they were the only two heading back to the Kentucky right away. Harold Jr., Harold III, Brianna, Annaliese (Brianna’s adoptive mother), and Jeffery (Brianna’s adoptive dad). When next was called, Harold Jr., Harold III, Brianna, Annaliese, and Jeffery all walked up together as a group. They showed their ID’s and checked in their luggage. They were told what gate their flight was leaving from and they were done. Jackie and Brian happened to be done at the same time that they were. They headed the gate for the flight that went into O’Hare Airport in Chicago, since it was the first of the two flights. They took seats and waited until they were able to check in, which would be in a few minutes because the flight was only about an hour and fifteen minutes away from departure time.

The boarding call finally started and I hugged and kissed my mother Jackie and my brother Brian good-bye before heading to board the plane. I looked back one last time and waved to them before we all climbed onto the plane. My father Harold Jr., my brother Harold III and I sat together in one section and Annaliese and Jeffery sat across from us. We put our carry-ons where they belonged and buckled our seat belts in anticipation for takeoff. People continued to come on until everyone was on and seated. The stewardesses went through the normal preflight procedure. Before long, I felt the plane pulling away from the gate and taxing down the runway, gaining speed as it went. A minute later, the plane lifted off from the runway and climbed high into the sky before leveling off. As we sat there, I pulled out my book from my pack to read it during the flight. I couldn’t wait to get back to my house for the last time to pack up my things to move everything down to Kentucky to my true home. I wondered what the house would be like in Kentucky. I thought about asking my brother and father, but they were in the midst of a discussion so I decided not to bother them. I went back to my book and got very caught up in it, that I didn’t realize how quickly the time passed. Before I knew it, it was time for the plane to land, so I put my book away in my bag before the plane started its decent into O’Hare Airport. The plane slowly touched down on the runway and taxied to the gate. It pulled up to the gate and stopped and we were allowed to get off of the plane. I grabbed my bag that was under the seat and strapped it onto me as Annaliese handed me my backpack that had been stored in the over head compartment. I slipped that on and then we all proceeded to walked off of the plane.

We had gotten our luggage pretty quickly and now we were waiting for the bus to get here , so that we could go back to Michigan City and the Holiday Inn where we had left our car. A few minutes later, the bus pulled up and we all walked out. “Where are you five headed?” the bus driver asked. “Michigan City,” Annaliese stated. The driver nodded and put our suitcases into one of the under the bus compartments. We then proceeded to climb on the bus and find seats. A few minutes later, after more people had climbed on, the bus driver got on and started it up. The bus pulled away from the curb and started down the road. I knew this bus ride would be very long and boring, so I pulled out my book to read and pulled out my CD player and my CDs to listen to as well because I needed some enjoyment. I popped in the newer Brian McKnight CD because I loved the CD, especially the song “Back At One.” Anytime I listen to this song, it makes me think about my Justin. What a special guy he really is and I am really lucky to have him. I couldn’t have wished for anyone better than him because he is perfect in every way. I just hope that he can learn to like my brother, my cousin, and their friends more than he does now. I continued to listen to my cd and dived back into my book to pass the time.

An hour and a half later, the bus pulled to a stop in the Holiday Inn parking lot. I put my book, my cd player, and my cds in my big Jansport backpack. I stood up and carefully strapped on my one strapped backpack so that the backpack part was infront and then slipped my Jansport on my back. The driver got off to unload the luggage that was in the storage compartments as the passengers got off as well. Jeffery went to get the van as the rest of us waited for our luggage to be unloaded from the compartment. Just as we had gotten all of our luggage, Jeffery pulled up with the van. We lugged the luggage over to the van and put it all in the trunk with ease. After all of the luggage was put in the trunk, we all climbed into the van and got seated. After we were all in, Jeffery started up the van and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards the house, which was probably only 10 to 15 minutes away. Jeffery took the back way the entire way back to the house, so we only had to go through one stoplight and the rest was all stop signs. In no time at all, we had reached the house and Jeffery had pulled into the driveway. After the car had stopped, we unloaded all of our luggage and brought it into the house. When we entered the house, our dogs came up and warily sniffed Harold Jr. And Harold III because they were new to them. I placed my luggage in my bedroom, while Jeffery and Annaliese took their things into the master bedroom and Harold Jr. And Harold III took their things downstairs. I overheard Annaliese mention something about going and getting boxes and a permanent marker tomorrow and the day after if need be and Jeffery mentioned something about taking Harold Jr. To rent a u-haul truck once we figured out how much stuff I was taking with me. “Annaliese I am calling Justin,” I said to my mother as I picked up the main line, since my line doesn’t have long distance capabilities. I dialed the familiar number and after one ring, someone picked up the phone and said, “Hello.” “Hey J, its me.” I said into the phone. “Brianna, my sweetheart.” He said. “I am home in Indiana right now, so that I can pack up my things and move to Lexington.” I stated to my boyfriend. “OK, cool. How long do you imagine that it will take?” he asked. We assume anywhere between five and seven days at least, if not more.” I replied. We talked until Justin seemed to be getting very sleepy, so we said our good-byes and hung up. I flipped on the tv in my room as I changed into my pajamas. “Hi, this is John Norris with an Mtv News Brief. Yesterday evening, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit died. He succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the crash at 10:05 p.m. at Lexington Memorial Hospital. In Lieu of flowers, the family of Fred Durst asks that you make a contribution to a fund in his name. That is the news for now. More news at 10 to the hour, every hour.” After that had ended, I flipped off the tv and got into bed.

When I woke up the next morning, I found tons of boxes sitting in the living room. “Brianna, when you are ready to start packing, just ask and I will help you,” Annaliese stated. “Ok, Annaliese,” I stated. I couldn’t bring myself to call her mom anymore and I had grown used to calling her by her first name and she didn’t seem to mind. I went into the kitchen and grabbed some breakfast. I ate my breakfast while reading the paper. As I finished eating, the phone rang. I heard Annaliese pick up the phone and say hello. A minute later, Annaliese called to me and told that the phone was for me. I picked up the phone that was near to me and said, “hello.” “Hey Brianna, its Nadine,” the person on the other end said to me. “What’s up Nadine?” I asked my friend. “Oh not much, just called to see if you were home and if you wanted to go and do something.” Nadine replied. “Well, as you can see I am home, but I can’t go and do anything because I have to pack. Packing is probably going to take a bit of time, so maybe we can do something the day before I leave.” I responded. “Ok, that sounds good to me.” Nadine said. “Would you like me to come over and help you pack?” “Nah, that is ok Nadine, Annaliese said she would help me.” I responded. “Are you sure?” Nadine asked. “Well, let me ask Annaliese,” I responded before I cupped my hand over the receiver. “Hey Annaliese can Nadine come over and help me pack?” I asked. “Sure, Brianna, I mean, this may be one of the last times you ever see her.” Annaliese responded. I uncovered the receiver before I spoke. “Nadine, Annaliese said that was ok for you to come over and help me pack.” I stated to my friend. “Cool, I will be over in a few minutes,” Nadine responded before we said our good-byes and hung up the phone. I hurried and got dressed, since I knew it wouldn’t take long for Nadine to get her. I threw on a bikini top with a pair of short shorts and a wifebeater over the bikini top. I ran a brush through my hair before pulling it up into a high ponytail. I finished just as the doorbell rang. I ran to the door and answered it. Sure enough, it was Nadine. “Hey Nadine,” I said as I pulled open the door to let my best friend in. “Hey Brianna, how are you chica?” she asked. Just as Nadine and I headed to my room to work on packing, someone came up the stairs. I took a look and saw my brother Harold coming up. “Hey Harold,” I said to my brother as he reached the top of the stairs. “Hey Brianna,” he said, “who is this young lady with you?” “Harold, this is my best friend Nadine. Nadine this is my older brother Harold,” I said to introduce them. After I had introduced them, Nadine and I went into my room. “Brianna, I can’t believe how much Harold looks like Brian.” Nadine said to me. “I know what you mean, I couldn’t believe it at first either, but oh well.” I stated just as Annaliese walked in the room with boxes so that we could get started on the packing.

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Brianna's Story Index
Chapters 31-35