“Let’s skip the pleasantries shall we? We both know we’re not here for small talk.”

She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze

He continued “You want money, I want…”

I looked up from my book. The paragraph I’d read reminded me oddly of a childhood memory.

Hold up. You thought this would be taking a different direction didn’t you.

Well it’s not. I’m here to tell you about the time I saved my family from total distruction—Monetary destruction that is—When I was just seven years old.

It all started when I was born. Well, technically it started when my parents met. My mom was an immigrant from Honduras. My dad on the other hand was born down in some trailer park down in Texas. They met and quickly fell in love in high school.

And me? I was born in a white castle. Well close enough. I was born in a WhiteCastle.

Let’s get straight to the point. It was the year I started second grade, we lived in a trailer. Not a regular mobile home, but a motor home. My parents, me, and my four and two year old sisters.

For reference, here’s my family tree

Dad: Huckston

Mami: Valeria

Me: Josafinah

My 4 yr old sister: Luzabelle

My 2 yr old sister Rozaleigh

One evening as I sat at the table doing my homework, I overhead my parents talking in their room which was only a few feet away. Dad had lost his job. We’d probably lose our sma lot, and maybe even our camper, if he couldn’t find money to pay the bills, best outcome would be to move back to Texas. What do you mean we’d have to move back till Texas? I liked it here in Oklahoma. I knew we weren’t rich, but we’d gotten along.

But now Mami was having to buy less food, and Dad looked stressed every night at dinner, so I came up with a plan.

Mr Blaine wasn’t expecting the knock on his door that afternoon. I’d slipped past his receptionist, and interrupted him during his lunch.

He equally as much didn’t expect to see a little girl in pigtails walk in and place a folder on his desk. After all, Mr Blaine was the biggest businessman in our small city.

“How do you do?” I said climbing up into the big leather chair in front of his desk “My name is Josefinah Marisol Ray Tucker, but I go by Josie Ray.”

“Nice to meet you Josie Ray.” Mr Blaine said, looking around for an adult to explain things

“Let’s skip the pleasantries shall we.” I said seriously “You and I both know we’re not here for small talk.”

“I do?” Harrison Blaine asked

I nodded and pointed to the envelope I’d placed on his desk “I’ve got a proposition for you.” She said

“And what is it?” He slid the folder open and looked inside

I will give you, one very special teddy bear, my Halloween candy, my Abuelas necklace, free admission to my Tio’s restaurant in Texas, and I will sweep your floors for free if you give my dad a job.

Mr Blaine looked up at her quizzically “why do you want me to give your dad a job?”

“So we don’t have to lose our house.” I replied simply

“Lose your house?”

The conversation that followed was long and serious, and then we came to a resolution. Mr Blaine would find a job for my dad. And he wouldn’t take my teddy bear, or my necklace for payment. Instead, I would create artwork for his buisness. And send it to him every week.

I skipped out of that office with the biggest grin on my face, and several confused employees outside.

Sure enough, several days later, my dad was hired. And I worked hard every week to make the best picture for his buisness before sending the best one In.

At the end of the month, I received a check in the mail. I was surprised, my parents were even more surprised.

But it was a check addressed to me. Pay five dollars to the order of Josefinah Luna Ray Tucker. For, physical design job.

I’ll skip the rest of the story to wrap things up here, but let’s just say, i now want to go to collage for art and graphic design. And probably minor in buisness. And to think this dream started all those years back when I was a bold, outspoken, second grader.

Peace out

Josie Ray.

(Didn’t really proof read.)