“I hope so,” I replied as the sound of the doorbell caught my attention.
I took my time walking to the door as though it was going to change the outcome of who was on the other side. But as soon as I slid it open, I was reminded that my hopes were just a waste of time.
“Well, hello,” Aunie said, a huge grin plastered across her face. “Where’s my niece?”
“She’s in her room organizing her dolls.”
“I’ll go get her,” my mother said before making her way to the back.
Strolling further into my apartment, Aunie glanced around the room like some kind of inspector. “This is a nice place. It seems a little hazardous for a young child, but I guess she’ll be okay.”
“Hazardous? What are you talking about?”
“Exposed brick? Hardwood floors?” she blurted. “Dakota could bump her head at any moment and land right in the hospital with a concussion.”
Unable to hold back my laughter, I looked at her like she was crazy. “Are you serious?”
“I’m very serious. You have to be careful when you’re raising young children. Anything could happen.”
“Yeah, that could also happen in a place with just regular walls and carpet.”
“It’s a lot less likely.”
Frowning, I shook my head. “Must you always be so damn difficult?”
She opened her mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by her teenage son who’d just walked through the front door. “Here you go.” He tossed her a colorful unicorn.
“Is that for me?” Dakota shouted as she raced into the living room.
“Of course, it is. Come give Titi Aunie a hug.”
Wasting no time, Dakota jumped into her arms.
Allowing them to talk, I gave my attention to Aunie’s son. “So, how’s it been going? You only have one more year before you graduate high school, right?”
“Yep, and I can’t wait.”
“I bet,” I replied. “Any plans for what you want to do after you graduate?”
I made it a point not to ask him what college he was going to. That was something that I hated more than anything. I was a firm believer in the idea that there was more to life after high school besides going to a four-year institution.
“He’s going to college,” Aunie butted in. “More than likely it will be LSU.”
“Nah, Ma. I told you I didn’t want to go to LSU. I’m thinking about going to Baylor. I’ve heard great things about their nursing program.”
She groaned. “I thought we already decided on this nursing thing.”
“No,youmade a decision. I just left the conversation alone.”
“Son, why be a nurse when you could be a doctor?”
“But I’m interested in being a nurse. There aren’t a lot of male nurses in the medical field.”
“Of course not. Because most of the men are smart enough to go after the real money and become doctors.”
“Registered nurses make good money too,” I chimed in. “Especially, if they decide to specialize in something.”
“Mmhmm, well they still don’t make as much as a doctor. At the end of the day, I’ve raised my son to be the best of the best, so that’s what he’s going to do.”
