Kiesha closed her locker with a sigh. It was the last day of school, and the summer loomed before her. Her policy of keeping to herself made school easier, but it made the summers a little lonely. Kiesha was not a shy girl, but she was never quite sure if people liked her for who she was - or because her father had a well-paying job. It certainly wasn't her grades for which she was liked. She was just an average student with no chance of getting on the honor roll but at no risk of failing either.

Having gathered up the last of her possessions, she traipsed out the door to her mother's waiting car. Malina Rogers always insisted on picking her daughter up from school.

"I never rode the bus as a kid," she would always say. "I won't put you through that, love."

Kiesha's mood lifted, and a definite spring came into her step when she saw the familiar SUV in the parking lot. She tossed her backpack into the backseat and settled into the front passenger seat.

"Would you like to drive?" her mother asked. Kiesha had gotten her driver's license at sixteen, like all the other kids at her school, but had never really enjoyed getting behind the wheel of a car. Her mother worried about this lack of interest in driving but was gentle anytime she gave Kiesha a little nudge into the world of motor vehicles.

"Nah," Kiesha replied. "I'm not up for it right now."

"Are you okay, honey?"

"Just tired. Last day of school and all," Kiesha said.

Her mom started the car and began the drive home. They chatted easily about memories of the past school year, a common occurrence on the last day of school. Malina was always interested in Kiesha's life. Sometimes it made Kiesha regret being an only child. She felt that her mother's love was made for more than just one kid.

"Home, sweet home!" Kiesha exclaimed when they walked into the house, collapsing melodramatically on the couch.

"Just don't spend all summer there," her mom admonished with a smile.

"I won't," Kiesha laughed, sinking as low into the cushions as she could. "Maybe just the rest of today."

Kiesha's father, Charles, arrived home at the same time he always did - five minutes to six. After kissing his wife, he turned his attention to his daughter.

"Hey, there, Kiesha! It looks like you survived another school year. Ready for summer?"

"Totally!" Kiesha exclaimed.

"Right now," her mother interjected, "she's ready to eat dinner, but you are not. We'll talk at the table."

Ten minutes later, everyone was sitting down to a scrumptious meal, lovingly prepared by the matriarch. The well-rounded table conversation included everyone. They discussed Kiesha's last day of school, her dad's day at work, and the friend her mom had seen at the grocery store. Dinner conversations always included every member of the small family. It had been that way since Kiesha could talk.

Kiesha could not imagine life being any different than it was now, but she had no clue that things were about to change dramatically.