My name is Craig Tucker and I go to South Park Elementary. Almost every day I get sent to Principal Victoria for flipping people off. I really couldn't care less.
…I wonder if I should also mention that I have a new friend. Her name is Carolina West.
She wears a bright orange hat with no puffball on top, and had bangs sticking out from underneath the cap. She wore a blue jacket, a red scarf that trailed on the ground behind her, and jeans. Her hair was black like mine, and she also likes to flip people off a lot, just like me.
I guess she's my girlfriend. She kissed me. It was really, really awkward…but it was kind of nice.
I like her a lot.
But girlfriend is weird. Fourth grade girlfriends are stupid.
So we've accepted that we are really, really good friends.
Maybe best friends.
Today was like any other day. I walked to the bus top, spotted Caroline already there, stood next to her, flipped off the bus driver for some reason, and then sat. Went to class, went to the office, went back to the class, went back to the office, and then outside for the buses and went home. But something was different today. When I went to get the door after I heard someone knocking, it wasn't the usual four who want my money. It was Carolina.
"Hi Carolina."
"Hi Craig."
"…"
"…"
"Do you want to come in?" I asked.
"Oh. Okay sure."
She hopped in through the door and I shut it behind her.
Sitting on the couch, we stared blankly at an equally blank t.v., until suddenly a bunch of rustling and scratching sounded from upstairs. Jumping off from the couch, I hopped upstairs and Carolina followed me.
"What's the noise?"
"My gerbils."
"Gerbils…?" She peered in from behind me, and saw the large cage, and a rather large hamster looking thing with round, black eyes.
"That's my pet gerbil."
"Oh. They're very cute."
I stared at her. Nobody ever said my gerbils were cute, especially after the Pandemic…
Quickly leaning in close, I kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks. I think you're cuter than my gerbils though."
She turned red, and I thought she was going to flip me off and then dash out of the room, but suddenly, she pecked me on the cheek with very, very soft lips.
"Thanks."