At the end of the day, as we were leaving the classroom, Mrs Collins called me back. She was shuffling a pile of jotters on her desk, acting casual, even though I could tell she was uneasy. Clearing her throat, her eyes met mine.
"Skipping isn't everyone's cup of tea, Cassie"
"Yes, Mrs Collins"
"You don't have to do it if it makes you feel uncomfortable"
"Don't I?"
"No, you don't"
She had that same look on her face that she sometimes had when I had to sit down halfway through athletics, or stop playing basketball because I had overstretched and torn my clothes right down the middle, because they were too small for me, Ewan said nasty things about me ion front of everyone, which was almost every single hour of the day but mostly in PE lesson. He did it even though she always told him off. You see, I don't think he minded about being asked to leave the class and stand in the corridor. In fact I think he liked it. His mates thought it was a right laugh.
"I'm not sure about it" I admitted.
"I know Cassie"
"It sounds like a good idea to get us all exercising and everything" I said quietly. I was having trouble deciding whether to say what was really on my mind "And I do want to help raise money..."
Mrs Collins nodded "Everyone can benefit from their heart pumping a bit faster" she said.
The only way my foster dads heart went faster when he was hitting me in my chest and stomach, you see he was clever that way; he always hit me in places that wouldn't show even with my clothes that were to small for me. Mrs Collins smile made me feel happier. I knew she hoped I'd give it a go.
We agreed that I'd think about it. I suppose she just wanted to let me know it was ok if I decided that the challenge would be to hard, hard meaning no support from my foster parents or any money for that matter. It was nice of her to speak to me about it. Actually, Mrs Collins was always encouraging me to believe in myself, too. She was one of the best teachers in the whole world. I walked towards the door, and then paused.
My foster mum once told me that you shouldn't talk about personal things. Maybe she said that because she knows how much I hated my life with her and her husband right now and how much I would get embarrassed when the kids asked me how it felt to have no family.
"I'm worried that no-one in my house will want to skip. That I'll be the only one without someone skipping with me" I blurted out, there it was out now.
"Oh I see" She said.
But did she? I blushed. Awkward about the truth. I felt like I was betraying my foster parents, although I didn't quite understand why. It shouldn't be an issue, should it? I just wish we could do more together, like swimming or cycling, actually forget that idea my foster parents didn't own a bike or would allow me to get one for that matter.
"Mrs Collins walked across to me and laid her hand gently on my shoulder.
"Cassie, you needn't worry. I need a skipping partner, so why don't we promise to skip together – if you decide to do the challenge?" She gave me a wide smile.
All I could manage was, "Maybe" but inside I felt more hopeful.
Csicsicsicsicsicsicsicsi
I was right. Nobody wanted to get involved, and they didn't even seem to care that I might need help to find sponsors. The whole dinner table fell silent, so in frustration I blurted out,
"Every two minutes someone has a heart attack"
"Don't say things like that Cassie" My Foster mum said.
"But its true" I ventured, wanting to share what I'd learned at school that day. We could all do with getting a bit healthier and closer, I reckoned.
"What's this skipping challenge in aid of?" Dad said "They're always getting the kids to raise money for something. If it's not one thing, it's another" He added, before I could answer.
"Feeling deflated, I pushed the Fish and Chips around my plate. What was the point? We just weren't the sort of 'Family' that did sports or anything 'Family orientated. Yes my Foster Mum did buy an exercise bike once and she said she would use it, I'm sure if anything came of that, is the bike collecting dust somewhere?
My older 'Brother' my foster parents own son Ken didn't make me feel much better about myself, either.
"You can't skip to save yourself, you can't do anything you're worthless" A chip hit me square in the forehead. He stuck is tongue out at me.
"Hey!" I wailed.
My foster told him to cut it out and eat his dinner without any more fuss, I just stood up from the table, my food forgotten grabbed my coat and walked out the front door and around to the back garden and to the shed, I believed I saw a skipping rope in there one day. Searching for a few moments I eventually came across it – bright pink with glittery, plastic handles that had tinsel stuff coming out the end. A bit babyish but I couldn't care less; I walked back around to the front of the house and started jumping up and down on the spot.
I started to jump slowly at first – once, twice, three times. It was harder than I thought. I stopped. If I was going to do this skipping challenge, I'd have to get a rhythm. Lifting up the rope over my head again, I jumped and counted at the same time. One, two, three...four and five...all the way to ten! Wow I could skip!
"Your very good" A tall Brunette voice called from the right side of me "Carry on"
And I did another ten jumps. Then, out of breath, I stopped and turned to the women to my right and smiled at her.
"Thanks for the encouragement" I said "I haven't seen you around before"
"Oh right, well my name is Sara Grissom and me and my husband have just moved in" Sara said "What's your name?"
"Oh my name is Cassandra Grant, but you can call me Cassie" I reply sighing silently had I found the right women to be my mother?
"Mom, where's my TV?" A young brunette girl enquired from the removal truck parked at the side of the road "Mom?"
"Yasmin I don't know" Sara replied rolling her eyes "Come introduce yourself to the neighbours"
Yasmin wandered away from the truck and briskly over to Sara and me, I stood smiling nervously. Yasmin stuck out her hand and shook it vigorously.
"Hi my name is Yasmin Cloe Grissom" Yasmin said happily "How old are you? What's your name?"
"Hi Yasmin, my name is Cassandra, but please call me Cassie and I'm ten years old" I reply scuffing my already battered shoe on the floor.
"We are the same age" Yasmin squealed before waving and going back to the truck.
"Sorry about Yas, she loves her TV" Sara explains I nod "Want to come over and play with Yas?"
"I would love too, but my foster parents would be against it" I replied slapping my forehead, oh dear I said it again "Never mind"
I walk back over to my skipping rope and pick it up, waving to Sara and Yasmin I walk back up to the front door of the house and back into to reality, the hell hole that I had to call home, hopefully for not much longer, I had a good gut feeling about the Grissom's and I hoped my gut feeling was correct.
TBC
I have noticed this hasn't received any reviews as yet, something wrong? Please review not begging; slightly just want to know what you all think so far, was the introduction of the Grissom's ok, was it poor? Press the button and leave that review, thanks.