"Untitled" by Evanne T

            Flashback all the way to 2012. I’m 13 years old finishing a tournament in Arizona.  I pack all of my luggage and shove it the van with Nae’s luggage (my partner in crime). she’s only 13 years old too.  We are traveling across country to Atlanta GA. while we are waiting to load the vans my parents come up to tell us to be safe and kick butt in Georgia.  As we drive to the airport my head dropped and terror fills my body. I have never been this far away from my parents.  When we get to the airport and I get my ticket, check in my bags and then TSA takes my carry on totally apart.  They took everything, my gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and body wash.  You name it, they took it! I’m now full  every emotion possible.  Who would take all of the necessary items from an innocent girl wanting to be clean and have silky hair? The total cost was approximately $70.00. After 30 minutes I finally make it to the gate and get on the plane. Then it hits me, I am going to be over 2,500 miles away from my parents.  Nae realizing I’m having an internal panic attack and tries to make me understand that we have each other and we are practically adults taking care of ourselves.  She then says “we go where we want, when we want” At least that’s how we thought is would be. Until I  found out that the basketball camp took up our whole day.  By the third day I had my routine down pack.

In my 13 year old head, I am grown taking care of everything that my parents would have taking care of.  After that trip it became easier and easier to travel without my parents.  They trusted me to be smart, safe and of course kick butt on the court!

            Flash all the way forward to the present.  I’m basically and adult. In less than 3 months I’ll be on my own 7 hours away from home, at least for the next 4 years.  I expect my parents will want to spend more time with me, but at the same time give me more freedom.  Day to day it changes. I’m either their baby girl, a not so young adult, or a prisoner of the house. My mother wants to do everything with me. From going to the mall to brushing our teeth together in the morning. Other days they’ll both say “Get out of my face” and I take that as a way to go hang out with my friends. Then other days, when I’m on house arrest and cleaning all day or i stay in my cell also known as my room. I think my parents have officially lost their minds and forgot that I'm not a kid anymore. My mother tried to put a tracking app on my phone. I can not figure out what would make her do this in my last couple of months at home. If I am able to cross the country at thirteen by myself without a tracker, I can drive around the Southern California without one. Granted i do come home late sometimes but everyone does that here and there. But i always inform both of my parents where i am going and who I am with. Having a tracker is almost equivalent to being on parole with an ankle monitor. Just to reiterate I have been across the country numerous times by myself and all of sudden now is the time to get the tracker.  Neither of my parents have really said more than a few words on the subject which is fine with me. I have been brushing it off and explaining to both my parents why it's such a weird idea. I would get it, but knowing my parents they would use it for evil. There is no reason to track me if I tell them all the information the tracker would provide. It's been about a week or so of me avoiding getting this app. I'm going to try and avoid it as long as I can. I will do what it takes to keep this lil freedom I don't really have. I could give a million and one reason why i don't need it or the extreme and just pass out whenever the word tracker is mentioned.  I'm 18 and seen as an adult I will not get this tracking app if it's the last thing I do. Can someone please tell my mom the tracker is a bad idea for the reason explained above. I am an adult but its her world and i'm living in it and I would love to continue  living.