Since then, Marylyn had been taking Shelly to work with her and Shelly always was good, so her mother wouldn't lose her job. This went on for another few years before Shelly was old enough to attend elementary school.
Her mother drove her up to school, but Shelly didn't want to go inside.
"No!" Shelly pouted "I don't want to go to school!"
"Baby, everyone has to go to school" said Marylyn "Even you"
"But I want to stay home with you, mama" Shelly pouted.
"Sorry, honey." Marilyn said. "Mommy's got to go to work, and Mr. Smith has already pointed out that you're old enough to attend school alone and you know how I can't leave you at home alone."
"Fine" Shelly pouted.
Marilyn and Shelly got off the car after it pulled into a parking spot, with the former kissing the latter on the forehead.
"Take care of yourself, honey." Marilyn kissed Shelly.
"Bye momma" Shelly said as she kissed her mother's lips.
They hugged for what seemed like hours before separating, with Shelly entering the school.
She walked around the hallway, all nervous. She didn't know where the kindergarten class was and was scared. This was a whole new world to her filled with strangers.
"Excuse me" someone tapped on her shoulder "Are you new here?"
Shelly jumped when she felt someone tapped her shoulder before turning and looked.
It was a blonde girl about her age. She was smiling right at Shelly.
"Hi" said the little girl "Are you new here? So am I"
"Uh...hi" Shelly smiled awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you" the blonde girl shook Shelly's hand "My name is Bubbles! What's yours?"
"Uh...Shelly" Shelly answered.
"Nice to meet you, Shelly" Bubble smiled "It's a nice name, too"
"Thanks" said Shelly "So what class are you going to? I'm going to Ms. Nichols' kindergarten class"
"So am I" Bubbles said "What do you say we go together? I hope we get there before the bell rings"
"Uh...sure" Shelly said.
As Bubbles and Shelly walked throughout the hallway, they passed some signs and Bubbles was staring at them.
"Uh, Shelly" said Bubbles.
"Yes, Bubbles" Shelly replied.
"What does that sign on the room say?" Bubbles asked as she pointed to the sign she was looking at.
Shelly looked towards the sign.
"Well, what does it say, Shelly?" Bubbles asked as she looked at the sign.
"Room 110" Shelly answered.
"Is that where our class is?" asked Bubbles.
"Yeah" said Shelly "I think so"
The two girls then entered the classroom together.
The classroom was filled with kids that appeared to be the same age as them.
They took a seat down at an empty table together.
The teacher walked over to the two girls.
"Ms. Shelly Sanders and Ms. Bubbles Jackman, I presume?" She asked the girls.
"Yes, ma'am" they both nodded.
"Ah, you girls came to the right classroom." The teacher smiled. "By the way, I'm Mrs. Francine Welker and I'll be your kindergarten teacher for the school year."
"Okay" they said together.
Mrs. Welker smiled as she made her way to the front of the classroom to get the class' attention.
"Welcome to kindergarten, newcomers" she said "My name is Mrs. Welker and would like to get to know you children well"
Taking a look at the clock, she then continued. "Now, I want you all to gather around me in a circle and we're going to play a game."
"Oh boy" Bubbles exclaimed "I like playing games!"
"We're going to play a game called 'Duck, Duck, Goose'" said Mrs. Welker "When I tap you're head and say you're the goose, you're going to tell us a bit about yourself"
"Sounds like fun" a boy smiled.
"Good, now let's play" said Mrs. Welker.
She then proceeded to tap the students, saying "Duck" as she went, before saying "Goose" as she tapped on Shelly's head.
"Hey!" Shelly exclaimed "Why did you do that?"
"Sorry, Shelly" Mrs. Welker smiled "I just happened to have picked you randomly. Don't be shy. Tell the class a little about yourself."
Shelly looked nervous and shy, but she decided to talk.
"My name is Shelly" she said nervously "And I like the color red and I live with my mama, and...that's it"
"Very good" Mrs. Welker smiled as everyone clapped their hands. "Now you can sit outside the circle, Shelly"
Shelly smiled and sat down outside the circle as the class continued with the game.
Finally, the game ended when Mrs. Welker tapped on Bubbles' head.
"Goose" she said "Now finally, tell us about yourself, little girl"
Bubbles nodded as she stood up.
"Hi" she perked up "My name is Bubbles and I love dress-up and pretend and dancing and playing with my toys and jumping on my bed and…"
"Okay Bubbles" said Mrs. Welker "I think that's enough. Please take your seat"
"Okay" Bubbles said as she skipped to her seat.
The game then continues as Bubbles joined Shelly.
"Isn't this fun, Shelly?" she asked her new friend.
"I guess" said Shelly.
The two girls watched the game proceeding as Mrs. Welker picked a boy.
"Goose" She says to the boy, who stood up to introduce himself.
"Huh?" asked the boy.
"You're a goose, little boy" said Mrs. Welker "Tell us about yourself"
"Sure." The boy nodded as he stood up and cleared his throat. "My name is Biff Burton. I live with my parents and I want to play guitar when I grew older."
"That's wonderful, Biff" said Mrs. Welker "Now go take a seat"
"Yes, Mrs. Welker" Biff walked over to where Shelly and Bubbles were sitting.
"Enjoying the game?" Bubbles asked Biff as he took a seat.
"I guess" said Biff "My name is Biff"
"Hi, I'm Bubbles" Bubbles said cheerfully.
"Hey" Biff smiled at a shy, looking Shelly.
"Uh...hi" Shelly said "I'm Shelly."
"Nice to meet you Shelly" Biff held out his hand "I'm Biff"
Shelly shook it just as Mrs. Welker said "Goose" while patting another boy.
"Your turn" She smiled. "Tell us a little about yourself."
"Who, me?" asked the boy.
"Sure" said Mrs. Welker "You are the last one"
"Okay then" said the boy "My name is Clem and I've always wanted to play the trumpet and I have a large nose, and...that's pretty much it"
There were a few giggles as Mrs. Welker nodded and told Clem to return to his seat.
He walked over to the table where Shelly and her friends were sitting.
"Hiya guys" he said to the others "My name's Clem. What are your names?"
"My name's Bubbles" Bubbles offered her hand.
"And I'm Biff." Biff added.
"Nice to meet you, Buff and Bibbles" said Clem "I mean, Biff and Bubbles"
"Nice to meet you, Clem" Bubbles smiled "And this is Shelly, my bestest friend ever"
"Nice to meet you, Shelly" Clem waved to Shelly.
"Uh...likewise" Shelly nodded.
"So, what do you guys like to do?" asked Clem.
The other three kids looked at each other.
"I like playing the guitar" said Biff "I've been taking lessons"
"I've always wanted to learn to play a keyboard" Bubbles said "And I love to play dress up and pretend and have slumber parties and play with my dollies"
"My pop plays the trumpet" Clem added "What about you, Shelly? Do you like music?"
"Hmmm..." Shelly thought. "I don't really listen to music very often at home, nor does my parents play any instruments."
"Oh" Biff said.
"Can we come to your house and play?" asked Bubbles.
"My house, uh, isn't exactly the best place to play." Shelly replied. "It's small."
"Really?" Biff asked, concerned "What's wrong with it?"
"What about you guys' place?" Shelly quickly asked. "I'm sure you guys don't mind visitors, and besides, my place is far away from school."
"Well my house is three blocks away from school" said Biff "Maybe we could go to my house and play"
"Sure" Bubbles nodded. "That'll work."
Clem nodded in agreement.
"Yeah" Shelly nodded nervously "That sounds like fun"
Eventually, school ended and the parents have arrived to pick their kids up.
"Shelly, where's your mommy?" asked Bubbles "I would really like to meet her"
"Uh...she'll be here" Shelly gulped.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Marilyn arrived, having had just finished her work a few minutes ago.
"Shelly! Baby!" she walked over to her daughter.
"Mama" Shelly ran over to her mother and hugged her "I missed you so much"
"I missed you too, baby girl" Marylyn smiled.
"So I'm guessing that Mr. Smith was relieved that I wasn't at the diner today?" Shelly asked her mother.
"He sure was" Marylyn nodded "And who's your little friend, dear?"
"This is my new friend, Bubbles" Shelly introduced Bubbles.
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am" Bubbles shook Marylyn's hand.
"Nice to meet you too, Bubbles" Marylyn smiled.
"I just wanted to ask you if it would be okay for me to come over to your house to play" Bubbles told Marylyn "Shelly's my new best friend and I want to go to her house and play toys with her"
"Sorry, Bubbles" Marilyn said with a sad smile. "Our house isn't big enough for us to house visitors, and Shelly doesn't have many toys at home."
"Oh" Bubbles said "Well, can Shelly come over to my house sometimes?"
"Sure" Marilyn smiled. "I'm sure Shelly doesn't have any problems hanging out with friends, right dear?"
Shelly looked over at Bubbles, who was smiling widely at her and batting her eyelashes. Then, she looked at her mother, who smiled approvingly.
"Yes." She nodded.
"Hooray!" Bubbles hugged Shelly "When can you come over?"
"I believe I can come over now." Shelly replied as she looked at her mother, who nodded "As long as your parents are okay with it"
"Don't worry" Bubbles smiled "My mommy and daddy would love to have you come over"
"Sure" Shelly nodded. "Then, let's wait for your parents to come over to pick you up."
"Have fun, baby" said Marilyn "Okay?"
"Bye mama" Shelly planted a kiss on her mother's lips "I love you"
"Love you too." Marilyn smiled just as Bubble's parents arrived.
"Hello, dear" Her father said to her. "Had fun at school?"
"I sure did daddy" Bubbles smiled and turned to Shelly "I made a new best friend today! This is Shelly, my bestest friend in the whole world!"
"Hi there" Her father smiled as he looked at Marilyn and Shelly.
Shelly quickly hid behind Bubbles, looking shy and nervous.
"It's okay, baby." Marilyn smiled at her daughter.
"Uh...hi" Shelly said shyly as she emerged from hiding and went to shake Bubbles' father's offered hand.
"Hello, Shelly" said the man "I'm Bubbles' father, Mr. Jackson. Pleased to meet you"
"Likewise, sir" Shelly nodded as she shook his hand.
"So, are you ready to come over to our house for a play date?" asked Mr. Jackson.
"Sure" Shelly nodded.
"That's swell" Bubbles ran up and hugged Shelly "We're going to have so much fun!"
Shelly nodded as she joined Bubbles and her parents to their car after waving goodbye to Marilyn.
Author's Note:
It looks like Shelly has found four good friends, but one in particular likes her most. If only she could tell Bubbles about her problems. Stay tuned for new developments.
