Calah
Quirky, different, and off-putting are the three main things I hear about my personality. I grew up as the only child to two super neurotic parents. I wasn’t allowed to watch modern television or go to school when I was young, mother kept me in her office and “home schooled” me.
I learned how to talk and socialize while watching period dramas with my mother. When you’re a child you’re wistfully unaware of just how strange you are; sometimes I wish it was still like that. I don’t think I realized how unorthodox my upbringing was until I attended college. I had a really hard time adjusting and even sought out the help of a therapist. She thought I was on the autism spectrum and after countless tests and doctor’s appointments I found out I’m not, I’m just… different.
The only real good friend I’ve ever had is Rhea Lawson. She lived down the street from me and invited me to play at her house when we were kids. My mom allowed it because she could see us playing through the window. No TV and no video games were allowed but we played tag, caught butterflies, and colored with sidewalk chalk.
Rhea understands me because she is an outcast in her own way. She is the youngest of three kids and her older siblings have always doted on her. Of course, she is gorgeous and she knows how to talk to people, but she has struggled with her heritage because her mother is middle eastern and married a blonde haired, blue-eyed, white man. That used to be a much bigger deal than it is now but she seems to be finding her way in life.
It was fun to be around her and her siblings but I don’t think I ever created a lasting relationship with anyone but Rhea. Her older sister Priya was always nice to me but she was exactly the kind of girl that hated me in high school. She was on the cheer squad, bubbly and energetic while I was the quiet, weird girl with her nose stuck in a book.
After college, I came to work for the family business, Levine Souvenirs. I’ve always loved what my parents do; they put a lot of emphasis on family and creating memories and it is reflected in all of our company policies. When they told me to hire an executive assistant I knew that the only person I wanted to work with was Rhea. She had a degree in business so after I argued for a fair salary for her, she came to work with me.
Last year I was promoted and now I am just one step below my parents. Rhea got promoted with me because I refused to work with anyone else and she really deserved it. Now, this morning my parents have called me into another meeting and I can only imagine what this is about. I try to tell myself they’re my parents and I shouldn’t be scared or intimidated but I am. My rigid upbringing has made them expect way too much out of me. They tried to mold me into something that I can never be, it’s just not achievable.
“Calah, are you okay?” Rhea asks, looking up at me from her desk chair, her light brown eyes look warm and comforting.
“Oh, just peachy my dear, I’m a bit lost in thought,” I fib.
“It’s time to leave for your meeting,” she reminds me with a smile, “Want me to come with you to take notes?”
“No, it’s alright, I’m going on a mission to stand up to them.”
“Well, good luck, you know I’m here for you,” she smiles, Rhea is adorable, she’s so petite and bubbly that she instantly makes me feel better.
“Thank you, Rhea.”
I took a deep breath and walked down the long hallway to my parent’s office. Sure, it’s cute that they are still in love and they share an office but I can’t help feeling like they’ve saved all the sweetness for each other and I get nothing but tough love. When I creek the big wooden door open my mother hops to her feet and comes over to hug me.
“Mother, we see each other every day,” I protest.
“Just give your mother a hug, it doesn’t cost anything,” my father chides.
I wrap my arms around her and plaster on a smile before I sit down in the seat across from my father’s desk, my mother joins me. I already feel like I'm about to lose control and they haven't even started to tell me what's going on yet. Tensions between my parents and I have been threatening to boil over ever since I decided to move into my own place last year.
“What did you want to meet about today?” I ask, I’m ready to get this ball rolling, the longer I think about it the more likely I am to go insane.
“Your mother and I are leaving the country for a while, we have an opportunity we cannot pass up,” Father explains.
“What? Where?” I gasp, the words launch out and I know that I'm not being very professional but I can't help it, I'm actually shocked.
“We’re going to Spain, we were able to secure a meeting with a family that owns a group of luxury resorts,” Father continues, he looks happy, the lines next to his eyes crinkle up when he smiles.
“Won’t going international be a huge undertaking?” I ask, I know that they know what they are doing for the most part but I can’t help worrying that I am going to be the one left here holding the bag.
“That’s why we’re going to Spain dear and we need to stay until the deal is done,” my mother adds with a smile as smooth as silk, it sort of makes my skin crawl.
"What if I go to Spain? I’ll close the deal," I say; I don't know where it came from but it's out now.
"Calah, you're not ready for that, we can't trust your judgement in a foreign country!" my mother reprimands, she looks like a cat that is ready to pounce.
"I can do it, I gave up my childhood and any semblance of a normal upbringing so I could do this right?" I give her a flippant smile, I know I'm being a sarcastic shit, but the thing is, I don't care.
"Calah Elise!" Father yells in his standard "dad voice", I guess that my tone didn't slip past him, but there is no turning back now.
Burn it all down, time to scorched earth this meeting stat, "I’m going to Spain or I’m leaving the company," I announce.
"What are you talking about dear?" Mother's mouth gapes open; she went from cat to goldfish in twenty seconds flat.
"Please let me know your decision by the end of the day. Good day."
I stand up and walk out of the office, I kind of want to channel my inner Gene Wilder and say, "I said good day sir!" before I slam the door but ultimately I decide against it.
