KAPPA IV Memoir - Mr. Almanzar

My African family

By: Sharai

             My mom’s only sibling, my aunt Mary, married an African man. They are my favorite aunt and uncle. I remember being 5 yrs old when they took me to this place with them. They talked to this lady and signed papers the whole time.

               Five years later, my aunt said to me in the most exciting voice, “your cousins are coming to America .I am going to adopt them.” A few hours later she asked me to go  the store with her. It was dark. It took me all my power to come out and just ask why they were coming. I finally came out,  “Why  are they coming?”  She told me the whole sad story.  My uncle had 5 kids. Then the oldest died giving birth to her youngest child, her only daughter. So they thought they should bring the boys. I started to have second thoughts about these boys. But I still would not be the star. I would no longer get special attention from my family. As she opened the door I felt rage pumping through my veins. I was jealous, but that’s not me. I’m not the jealous type.

              A few days later my mom got a phone call on the bus they arrived she said. Oh god the never ending horror movie begins, I thought to myself. I went to my aunties house and they were there. .I talked to them and they were so nice and friendly. I was so upset that I was not the star. All bad feelings came back to me when all my family saw them. “Oooooooh. They are so cute!” And this, and that and the other. I told my aunt about how I was bothered about the attention they were getting. She said it is normal to feel that way. She felt that way when my mom was born.

Jealousy is a normal feeling. But I learned to put those bad feelings aside and give people a chance. You might miss out on some great things by being jealous. I’m glad my jealousy did not ruin this great family event.