And just like that

“Wake up girl it’s your birthday” Riley tells herself as she rolls over and ignores her alarm for the third time

She hasn’t been this excited, well she actually doesn’t remember , But today is the big day (her parents were letting her her stay home from school, so they could go to the zoo)“Not today guys , it’s my day” Riley says to herself as she hear her parents arguing.

As she starts walking downstairs the yelling gets louder. “ didn’t I say get out of my face ?” “Shut up”

This time out loud “Stop guys , it’s my day remember?”

“I’m sorry baby , you’re going to have to catch the bus.”

“But I ..” Riley began . “Not today” her father chimed .

Now hurry and eat your breakfast.

As if things couldn’t even worse , mom gets a phone call.

“Shut up!”.......”Get out of my face”

“Hello, yes this is she.” “No!, that can’t be” immediately mom burst into tears , and throws down her phone . Shaking , tears in hers eyes , then she finally yells out . My mama is dead ! And just like that my life changed

My granny has always been my refuge. Whenever my parents would fight . I knew I could rely on her to take me To the park (even at 12years old ) . Or her convincing me to go shopping with her , because I would have more fun (which I always did )

Her grandmother was like another mother for Riley. She stayed with her every weekend and went to visit for about 3-4 hours after school . So hearing that her grandmother passed was extremely unsettling. Especially on day like today . Because nobody celebrated a birthday like her grandmother did.

Still shocked at the news that her favorite person is no longer here. Riley begins walking to her bus stop “I didn’t even get say bye “ being the only thing that crossed her mind . While at the bus stop , she began thinking about how fun it would’ve been to go to the zoo. Even though she was 13 years old now . The thought of seeing her parents not arguing put the biggest smile on her face, and it was working until she received a text from mom : I’m sorry about your birthday, I love you baby”

And just like that all the emotions came flowing back in . One moment she was waiting for her bus the next she found herself walking to her grandmother house . It was like an outter body experience she could stop herself, but she kept walking with tears running down her face . But she knew she had to make to her grandmother house . She just had no idea why.

But she knew she couldn’t stop . “I miss you granny” Riley was confused she has never experienced death in her family before. “Granny I need you !” She began screaming to the sky .

“Booom ushguxk” very loud thunder and lighti

Begin to form but only in one spot “swoosh” a lighting bolt felt out of the sky . Curious. Riley went to check it out. She figured whatever it was it couldn’t make her day any worse . So she begans walking as she gets to closer the glowing lighting spot on the ground. Her heart began to beat faster than usain bolt , But that didn’t stop her . She finally reaches it . She couldn’t believe what she saw .

It was a little black book , but nothing was written on any of the pages but just as soon as she picked it up. A piece of paper fell out “POETRY CONTEST , WINNER GETS $20,000” “very funny granny” Riley tells to the sky . Riley always to be a writer , she just never believed in herself, But her grandmother did.

She put the journal in her bag , and continued walking toward her grandmother house. “I don’t understand granny” Riley crying to the sky . She finally gets to her grandmother house . She made it all the way and still couldn’t make it in (as if she could , it’s not the same anymore) so she pulled out the black book . And began to write. She was writing about the hurt she ever expected, She wrote about her her hurt , she wrote about being alone. The contest caught her eye again. She thought to herself (maybe it’s not the worse thing ) “13 years old to apply” was the only requirement to apply . So she began to write . She never pictured herself being a poet . Her grandmother used to tell her she was the story teller she had ever heard . So she began writing, She glanced at the paper again “All entries must be turned in by Oct.19” Riley grew frustrated. “You’re not making this any easier “ yelling to the sky again. When she realized today is October.19 . She looked down at the paper again “oh” Riley sighs in relief once she noticed the admission office was Berry pizza palace . Ironically enough, Her parents where supposed to take her there today . ( which was just two blocks away ) who am I kidding “they couldn’t stop arguing if they wanted to” Riley thought to herself. So she began her walk .

On her way Riley became very discouraged . She realized she didn’t have money “ hopefully they will let me sit in the back to write” Riley thought to herself.

As she arrives to to the front she becomes extremely nervous she’s never considered herself a shy person, but for some reason her hands could not stop sweating . She opens the door .

Everyone: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY!!”

Flattered, but really more confused because she didn’t know any of them. “Thank you” Riley said with a puzzled look on her face.

“Riley” she heard a voice yelling at her .

“Riley, it’s me” said the manager. After noticing how confused she was. He began to laugh “ what am I saying, the last time you saw me your were barely learning how to walk” Confused Riley “we met before?”

“Of course, look at this picture.” He pointed to the wall . Where he , grandma, and Riley were eating pizza.

Cheryl(Riley’s grandmother) bought you at least 3 times a week when you were younger. “speaking of which,where is that beautiful sunshine? She made me promise to make this day extra special for you”

Riley burst out crying , with tears in her eyes she looks to the man and says “my grandmother died this morning , I’m sorry for coming . I can leave now”

“Nonsense , a promise is a promise” he took her to a booth , and bought out three of Riley’s favorite pizzas. Your grandmother didn’t know which you would like . So we did all three before getting to excited she remember she doesn’t have any money .

“Um sir” she tried to whisper “i don’t have money” with a simple smile he said “it’s all taken care” . “Thank you so much sir” Riley said with uncontrollable tears. “Thank your grandmother”

Her grandmother was no longer with her but that stop her from making Riley’s birthday absolutely amazing: as she was eating the whole reason she went to berry pizza palace popped out at her , it was the flyer .

“Oh yea the contest” Riley almost forgot the only reason she went to Berry pizza palace. She ran to the manager and showed him the paper “POETRY CONTEST,WINNER GETS $20,000”

I was starting to think you would never ask .

Cherly never stop talking about how great of writer you are . Just make sure you have it by 5pm . Looks at his clock “which is 3 hours from now” “you can do it kid , I believe in you”

It took her the whole 3 hours to come with anything, but she did it ...

“Money has never motivated me , I move with the sway of trees , But even the humblest bone in my body knows that $20,000 is more than just a nightmare. Because I get scared every time I go to sleep . In fear of having the same dream , But I gotta make it. So let’s turn every anxious night into more than just a fantasy $20,000. Am I so naive to believe money can change everything around me , or smart enough to realize my surroundings can’t hinder me . $20,000.they wouldn’t fight anymore. “Mama , we made it !” It’s not everything But 20,000 can act as a depressant . I can hear it now , all the future yelling being silenced . And all arguments get put on pause , but press play , because daddy we made it . Thank you granny $20,000 isn’t everything, But it’s gonna take me iight than drugs , well at least that’s what I heard . So thank you granny . You see money has never motivated me. So thank you granny for allowing me to see , because I was blind to the path you wanted me to lead . I’m at the finish line , and I can’t hear you cheers . If a ticket to heaven cost $20,000 I would go broke before the money reaches my hand . So thank you ! you see money never motivated me, But you did .”

A day goes by . Riley has been trying to tell her parents about this amazing things that occurred to her the day before, but of course they couldn’t stop fighting long enough to listen, until mom goes to check the mail . “You’re the winner!….$20,000” ...and just like that it life was changed forever.