I'm going to be listening to Christmas music all day." Xochitl groaned to herself while switching the radio back to her Bluetooth and driving back home after two hours in Stonewood Mall. It was two days after Thanksgiving, and Xochitl knew that she shouldn't have been surprised. However, she held some hope that the stores would wait until early December to begin decorating for Christmas.
The world didn't revolve around her; businesses and society loved Christmas.
She stopped at a red light, almost making it home, but then her phone rang, and while looking at the caller ID, an annoyed groan escaped her lips. Xochitl didn't want to answer her phone, but she knew that there would be no end to the calls if she didn't. Using her Bluetooth connection, Xochitl answered, "Hola, Mama (Hello, Mom)."
"Hola, mija (Hello, daughter). I'm surprised you haven't called me."
Xochitl immediately noticed her mother's sarcasm and her displeasure. The relationship between her and her mother had been tense for the last couple of months. "I was going to call you, Mama. Though you know what happened the last time."
Her mother was momentarily silent but eventually let out an annoyed sigh. "I don't understand why you are doing this."
The red light turned green, and Xochitl continued driving, trying to find the right words to tell her mother. "Mama, this was my decision and you need to respect it. Remember, I'm over thirty and you have to get used to it."
"Eres terca como tu Padre (You're stubborn like your Dad). I don't understand why you would go out of state to volunteer, especially when Christmas is coming. It's a tradition that the entire family come together and celebrate."
Xochitl knew that her mother was trying to make her feel guilty for not wanting to celebrate Christmas. It had always been that way, but she knew her mother well. Christmas and other holidays were for her mother and other female members of the family to gossip and find out about her personal life, especially since what happened last year.
Her boyfriend left her, and from what she saw online, he was getting married to another woman. Xochitl was shocked and hurt since she and her ex had been together for eight years. He never gave any indication that he wanted to marry her, nor did he suggest that there was anything wrong in the relationship. The more Xochitl thought about it, the more she realized that her ex-boyfriend had done little to make the relationship work. Xochitl would always ask him to help her around the house, to take her out, and ask him when they were going to get married. He would always give her excuses. She was afraid to leave him because she feared being alone, and she had always wanted a family. His breaking up with her gave her the indication that he either fell out of love with her or used her as a safety net.
"I know it's difficult to understand, Mama. I wanted to do something else with my life. I always work, go home, and go out to similar places. I wanted to make a positive impact with my life. Also, volunteering would look good in my resume."
"Yeah, but all the way to New Mexico? You never been there and-"
"I have traveled alone before."
"Yeah but a week at most. You said that you will have to volunteer for the entire year. That's way too long! If you wanted to volunteer, you could have closer."
Xochitl drove to a road that led to an apartment complex where she parked her car inside the garage. She undid the Bluetooth and put the phone on speaker. "I know, but I didn't want to. Look, I just arrived home from the mall, and in two days I am going to go to New Mexico. What's done is done, and nothing can be changed. I know you're not okay with it and that's fine, but I'm going either way. You're going to have to accept it." Before her mother could answer, Xochitl hung up the phone. She gave out a long sigh while massaging her head. "Ugh, she never understands whatever I do. This volunteer experience will give me the chance to be away from her and my family."
The young woman got her purse and everything she bought from the mall, climbed upstairs to the second level, where her apartment was. The sound of her keys was heard on the other side of her door. Xochitl knew what, no, who it was that was in her apartment. She took a deep breath when unlocking and opening a door.
Suddenly, a strong force got to her, almost making Xochitl take a few steps back. "Woah, girl, easy! It's nice to see you too, Creampuff!"
Creampuff was her white Samoyed dog.
"BARK! BARK! BARK!" Creampuff barked with joy when seeing her owner. "I MISSED YOU! I MISSED YOU, HUMAN! YOU WERE GONE! YOU LEFT ME ALONE! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!?" she thought.
"Okay, girl, let's go inside. Mommy needs to prepare us for our trip to New Mexico!" Xochitl and Creampuff entered the apartment, and Xochitl was relieved to see that her apartment wasn't trashed. "I see that you've been a good girl for not trashing the apartment. I brought you treats!"
Creampuff wagged her tail when hearing the word 'treats.' She was excited. "I've been a good girl, human! You're lucky that I didn't pee on the floor this time since you left me!" Creampuff watched as Xochitl put the bags down, but noticed the sadness in her owner's eyes. She also felt that Xochitl was sad, and the dog was saddened. Creampuff knew that her owner was sad about the breakup with her ex, whom she called the 'attention thief'. The dog did her best to cheer her owner, but then for a couple of months, Xochitl has been busy with her laptop and has been smiling since. The word 'New Mexico' came out a lot, and Creampuff didn't know what New Mexico was, but it brought her human happiness.
Xochitl took out the treats and showed them to Creampuff. "My Mom and everyone think that I'm crazy for doing this. Heck, I think I am crazy, but I am tired. I need to be away from my everyday life. You're coming with me girl, let's have a a great time in New Mexico and help those kids!"
Creampuff was given a treat, and she savored it. She barked. "Yeah, lets go to this New Mexico and give me all the attention I want!"
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