Jungle Adventures: Returning Home

Avirelle always thought her graduation would be the best moment of her life, but it wasn’t. In reality, it was depressing. She had her diploma, but she wouldn’t be able to use it…at least not the way in which she had intended.

And she hated that leaving her friends. She wished that she could figure out a better solution than going home to Windenburg, but she couldn’t.

She had a nice home there. Nicer than she had ever expected (or wanted) even if it was really small. She’d always seen herself living out of a suitcase, traveling all over the world, and living in tents and camp houses like she had in Selvadorada, but that was not to be her life…at least not yet.

At the moment, her life was grading homework, trying to get enough rest, and just waiting until the baby came.

It was a girl, and Avirelle named her Annessa. Annessa’s darker skin tone reminded Avi of Zaiden, but her light greenish-blue eye color came from Avi, herself. She got her dark black peach-fuzz hair from both of her parents.

“She’s just a tiny thing,” Avi’s dad cooed when he first met his grandchild. He was much more thrilled to be a grandfather than Avi’s mom was to be a grandmother.

“Want to hold her?” Avirelle asked her dad. He agreed and then spent a good bit of time cuddling Annessa. Then the baby got fussy and Avirelle figured she needed feeding.

“We’ll just head home then,” Avirelle’s mom said. “You’ll want to put her down for a nap soon.”

“You don’t have to leave, Mom.”

“It’s ok. We’ll see you both another time.”

Honestly, Avirelle hadn’t expected much from her parents. They weren’t the most kid-friendly people. And it wasn’t like she, herself, was that close to them.

Her mom’s lack of enthusiasm wasn’t surprising and Avirelle resigned herself to the fact that her parents would never let her leave the baby in their care while she went on archaeological digs. This was pretty much confirmed when her dad came over one evening alone.

“You know your mother. She never really knew how to deal with babies. She likes kids when they are older and can hold a conversation.”

“I know dad.”

“So how is teaching going?” Avirelle was working on grading papers.

“It’s going. I don’t hate teaching history, but I just wish I was doing more.”

“What’s wrong with teaching? It’s a good, steady job.”

“I know, but it isn’t what I wanted to do with my life.”

“I know Sweetie, but this is what you are doing. You have to make the most of it.”

“I still want to pursue my passion. I loved archaeology. There has to be some way I can make it work.”

“Are you still considering getting your doctoral degree? Won’t that be really hard while you are working and taking care of a baby?”

“I know, I know, but I can’t just give it up.”

“Just think about Annessa.”

“I am, Dad.”

But it was really hard to give up entirely. Caring for her daughter was never-ending and often exhausting. Laundry, potty training, making sure Annessa had enough to eat, that she was entertained and happy. These things took a lot of time.

Somehow, though, Avi managed to get work online getting her degree.

Eventually, she gave up teaching at the high school and started teaching Intro to Archaeology and the History of Ancient Cultures at the Windenburg Community College. Teaching still wasn’t what she really wanted to be doing, but at least she was teaching subjects she had a passion for.

And it would only be a matter of time before she could resume her real career. She was waiting for Annessa to get old enough to travel. It wouldn’t be easy having a child with her on her travels, but then nothing about being a single mother had ever been easy, had it?

---

Author’s Note:

I absolutely hate doing this sort of condensed, narrative-focused writing. I think it’s boring to write and I imagine it’s boring to read. But when I made the decision to go with this story-line, I knew I’d have to play through the pregnancy, baby, and toddler phases. I didn’t want to draw it out and make everyone suffer through the “action” of Avirelle being a single mother. I hope that showing the images was enough.

More travels abroad next chapter.

Pages: 1 2 3