Page 8
Story: Happy Ending
I know she means well, but in my opinion, she’s only setting us up for disappointment and failure. However, at the end of the day, I know what she really needs is her daughter’s support—for us to be a team—so that is exactly what I plan to give her.
I head back downstairs and prepare my bag for my first day back at school. I wonder who I’ll run into that I’ve met before, and if they’ll have to pretend to remember me like Drew did. I could tell she was hiding it, but I knew she didn’t remember me from Elementary school, and to be honest, I don’t blame her. I was a reserved kid, and I still am in a way.
I remember very little of her, just that our parents were friends and we would play Barbies together while they sat around the table after dinner and talked. I particularly remember this one Barbie castle she had. I was so jealous of it. It was massive, and it quickly became all my little juvenile heart ever wanted.
I remember putting it on my Christmas list that year, only to be disappointed when all that was under the tree was a Barbie dog that walked around all stiff-legged and pooped little brown plastic pellets everywhere.
Money was tight back then, and that’s all my parents could afford for Christmas that year. I was so mad at them, but lookingback, I’m grateful that they at least cared enough to spend their last pennies on a Barbie brand toy. I wish I had never taken that for granted.
Now, my father’s gone, and my mother is silently struggling, only keeping a brave face on for my sake.
******
Monday comes around faster than I expected, and the crisp air has turned muggy and uncomfortably warm for October. The bipolar weather is definitely among the few things I did not miss about Georgia. The leaves have barely turned color, and the trees are still full and green. If you didn’t have easy access to a calendar or a phone, you’d be utterly surprised when someone tells you it’s actually fall and supposedly turning winter soon. The only characteristic fall thing right now is the rainy weather. I guess this will just be one of the many things I will have to readapt to.
As I walk into my first class, I scan the room for familiar faces. It’s hard to gauge whether a face is familiar in the way that I’ve known that person before or in the way that all American teenagers have the same comfortable yet slumpy look to them, not even considering the fact that I haven’t seen these people since the second grade. Finally, my eyes land on a familiar face.
It’s Drew.
She’s sitting alone, so I slowly walk in her direction. “Hey.” I offer her an awkward smile.
“Laine! I didn’t know you were in AP Environmental
Science?”
“Yeah, you know, I’m just a really big tree hugger.”
This makes her laugh.
I don’t think I’ve heard a laugh quite like hers before.
It’s the perfect mix of bellow and class, like she’s at a fancy
Gatsby party but can’t control her enjoyment.
I like it.
“Well, I’m no tree hugger. Just a senior in need of a
fourth science credit.” She responds, still smiling. I return a chuckle, but it’s nowhere near as jubilant as
hers.
Just then, a middle-aged man in a striped button-down
shirt, dress pants, and a cheap-looking toupee for hair
walks in.
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you around.”
Without thinking, I turn to take a seat a few rows
behind Drew, ignoring the open seat right next to her.
Why? Why did I do that? Now I’m stuck in this seat for
the rest of class, and potentially the rest of the year. I turn
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71