Steven was excited. It was his first day of school. Ever. He had been homeschooled up until now and he begged for his mother to let him attend Diamond High. It was the only high school in their town. Not too far away, and not very big either. Not to mention his mother was the school nurse. After weeks of begging and begging Steven's mother finally said she'd think about it. As night fell Steven crept to his parent's bedroom door and carefully put his ear against the door.
"Rose we can't keep him home forever. He's got to get out and be with others his age, make some friends ya know. He's a growing boy. We knew this day would come," Steven's father said.
"I know Greg but I worry," said Rose. "What if he isn't ready? What if he doesn't make friends or even worse he's bullied or teased or just ignored? It could crush him."
"And what if he makes lots of friends and has a great time?" Greg said. "He really wants this Rose. Can we really take away his chance at a real life? That would crush him too."
Rose sighed. Greg was right. As much as she wanted to protect him she had to let Steven live his life. "Alright," said Rose. "I'll enroll him for the next school year."
"YYYYAAAYYY," a voice yelled from outside Rose and Greg's room. Steven threw open the door to his parent's room and ran inside tackling his parents. With stars in his eyes he looked at his mother and said "do you really mean it?"
Rose giggled and looked over at Greg saying "yes Steven I mean it."
"Oh man this gonna be so much fun," Steven exclaimed, now running around in the living room. "I'm gonna make friends, and go to parties and eat cafeteria food and," he said drawing out the and as he ran to his room, "I can finally use my cheeseburger backpack," he said revealing the backpack he had gotten, hoping his wish came true. He began running in circles laughing, holding the bag up high.
"That's right buddy," Greg said. "You're going to high school."
Rose giggled again at her son's excitement. "But remember Steven you aren't going to school just for fun. You have to keep your grades up or I'll be forced to pull you out." Steven stopped running and stared into nothing a look of determination forming on his face. He then looked back up at his mother now sure of himself.
"I can do it mom," Steven said. That had been a month ago. And now the day had finally come. Steven couldn't even sleep the night before and so had just lay in bed shaking with excitement. As soon as his alarm went off he hit the snooze button and leaped out of bed. He quickly ran to the bathroom to shower and get ready. He put on his clothes and ran to the kitchen where his mother stood making him breakfast. Or more like stooped making breakfast, as his mother was 8 ft. tall. She had to bend over slightly to properly use the stove. She wore black slacks and a white t-shirt covered by an apron. On the counter sat a lab coat completing her nurses uniform. Steven ran and jumped up to his mother's shoulder.
"Watcha makin mom?" Steven asked hanging from his mom.
Rose giggled and made Steven a plate. "I am making you pancakes," she said. As she carried Steven and the pancakes to the table him still hanging from her shoulder, she asked "Are you ready for your first day at a new school?"
"You bet I am," Steven said dropping from his mom's shoulder onto a chair and shoving pancakes in his mouth.
"Well you'd better hurry up and finish otherwise we'll both be late for our first day," rose said exchanging her apron for her lab coat.
"Got it mom," Steven said shoving the rest of his pancakes into his mouth and grabbing his bag.
"Alright then let's go," Rose said ushering Steven out of the house and into her black Suburban. Steven sat in the front seat practically bouncing with energy.
"Play one of Dads songs mom," Steven said. Rose nodded her agreement and at a red light pulled a CD from a case. She put the disk marked Mr. Universe in the CD player and the first song came on. They didn't have far to go however and had pulled up to the school just as the first song 'Like a Comet' had ended. From the looks of it they got there pretty early. They both got out of the car and Rose went over the list of things Steven needed.
"Got you notebooks and pencils?" Rose asked.
"Check," Steven confirmed.
"Got your calculator and ruler?"
"Check."
"Got your locker combination?"
"Check."
"Ok, that's everything then Steven. Except for your schedule which I have right here," Rose said handing Steven his schedule.
"Wow thanks mom. And actually you forgot something," Steven said.
"And what's that?" Rose said.
"HUGS!" Steven said running at his mom with open arms.
Rose giggled and scooped up her son for a big bear hug. She squeezed him tight before putting back down. "Now run along to your first class," Rose said making a shooing motion with her hand. Steven smiled and nodded before running off to begin his first day at Diamond High.