Clara
One summer morning, my mother decided it would be a good time to talk to me. The words that came out of her mouth changed my life. "There will be a new kid at school this year."
I barely looked up from my book, Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, and my cheese bagel. "So?" I asked, not really caring that it sounded a bit rude, "There's always new kids."
My mom sighed, "The kid, August Pullman, was born a bit different than everyone else."
"How different?" I asked, because 'born a bit different' covered a wide range of possibilities.
"His face is, um, a bit," I had known my mom long enough to know that she was searching for a nice way of saying whatever she was searching for.
"Mom," I said, getting a bit impatient, "Please just say it."
"Deformed," She finished.
"What does it have to do with me?" I couldn't be bothered to find a nicer way to ask.
"Mr. Tushman wants four kids to give him a tour of the school. He specifically asked for you." I immediately understood what she was saying. I was homeschooled until fourth grade, last year, when I finally went to public school, Beecher Prep School. I knew a bit about being stared at, but it had to be much worse when your face was deformed.
On my sixth birthday, I fell off a wall. I broke my arm and had to get surgery. It left a scar on my left arm that was supposed to fade over time. The first week at school, I got quite a few stares. I think after that week, everyone got used to it.
"Who else is giving the tour?" If the other kids were nice, I would go as well. But then again, if the other kids were mean, I would also go. August's first impression of public school shouldn't be of the mean kids.
"Julian Albans, Charlotte Cody, and Jack Will." That decided it; I had to go. Julian was the worst sort of kid; polite to adults, but a terror to kids. Charlotte was nice, but liked talking about herself. Jack was in my friends circle, one of the first kids to be nice to me when I first went to school, but he was a bit on the quiet side. He wouldn't stand up to Julian when 'accidently' did something. That left me.
"Okay," I said. I could tell my mom was surprised by my answer. She was probably expecting more to convince me. "When is it?"
"Tomorrow." Well then, I thought some advance notice would have been nice.
XxXxXxX
Who goes to school in the summer? Even if it is just to give a tour? The next day I was at school at 8:00 am. I saw Jack and his mom pull up in the parking lot as my mom and I walked toward the school.
"Hi Jack!" I called, waving.
He waved back and made his way over to me, "Hey Clara." He said when he got close enough.
"So," He whispered in my ear, "Have you seen what this kid looks like?"
I slapped his arm lightly, "Don't be rude!" I whisper-yelled back.
"Is that a new shirt?" He asked. The shirt in question was a dark gray shirt that said 'Sparkle' in big letters. My normal style was mid-calf jeans with a plain T-shirt. I didn't realize that boys noticed that kind of thing. I thought only girls noticed.
"Yep," I said in my normal sarcastic way, "How did you guess?" By that time we had walked into the school. We saw Julian and Charlotte outside of Mr. Tushman's office.
My mom kissed my forehead and left. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Jack's mom kissed Jack's cheek. He made a disgusted face at me. I smiled and stuck my tongue out at him.
"Are you two done flirting yet?" Charlotte asked.
I choked on air, "Excuse me?" I manage to cough out, "Flirting?" I had long since decided that ten was way too young to date, or even flirt. Charlotte just smiled. I started planning to get her back. It was obvious that Julian liked her, but she either didn't notice or didn't like him back. I guessed the second one.
I smiled, finding a way to get back at her for a few moments, "How are you and Julian?" I asked.
It was her turn to choke. Julian turned bright red while Jack and I just laughed.
Mr. Tushman walked out of his office. We all scrambled to rearrange our expressions. "Please," He said, "Come in and meet Auggie."
XxXxXxX
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