Normal POV
The next morning after they eat breakfast, Traci and Antonio walk into the living room. Traci's mom and Wyatt greet them. Traci is carrying her guitar case. Antonio is carrying his backpack on his right shoulder. Traci asks her mom if she could walk with Antonio to school.
"Yes, you can, sweetie. Be sure to come right back afterward." Roslyn answers.
"I will, mom," Traci says.
"Well, you two better get going. I don't think you want Antonio to be late, do you." Wyatt says.
Traci and Antonio leave the room and head off to school. While they are walking through town, they pass a pawn shop. Traci stops in her track when she sees a Ruby and glass sliver heart necklace in the window. Antonio stopped when he didn't see his girlfriend next to him. He turns around to see Tracy standing in front of the shop window.
"Traci, what's up?" he asks.
"Nothing Tony, I was just thinking about what I'm going to do for my mom for her birthday next week," Traci answers.
"Weren't you going to give her that painting you made?" he asks.
'I was, but I'll never be able to finish it now." she answers.
"You can decide what you're going to do later. I still have to go to school remember," he says.
"Right, let's go." she says.
Traci turns to her left and walks back to him. He turns back around, and they continue their walk to school. They get to school twenty minutes later. Troy and the others walk up to them.
Antonio's POV
I noticed that Traci didn't have her backpack today. She was carrying a guitar case. I asked her why she didn't have her backpack.
"I've got a mild concussion," Traci answers.
"Why can't you go to school?" I ask.
"Because, Jake, she needs to rest her brain," Noah answers.
"Noah's right. I hope you guys can handle things without me." Traci says.
"We'll be fine," Troy says.
We talk for a few more minutes than the warning bell rings. We say good-bye to Traci and head to class.
Traci's POV
I was walking back home. I stop in front of the pawn shop again. I notice the price tag under the necklace it says $227. I remembered how mom liked this necklace. I decided that I should buy it for her. The only problem was getting the money to pay for it.
Well, I have a few options to get the money. One, I could sell my guitar. Two I could use the credit card, my uncle, George gave me. My last option would be to head to the park to sing a few songs, and pray that people here are incredibly generous.
I decide to choose option three. Before I head to the park, I call my mom. I notice the voice on the other end wasn't my mom's.
"Wyatt, where is my mom," I ask.
"She went to the store with Ji to get some things for dinner tonight," Wyatt answers.
"Ok, can you tell my mom that I'm going to the park?" I say.
"Sure thing Tracy, but why are you heading to the park?" Wyatt says.
"It's a secret," I answer.
We hang up and put my phone away. I walk to the park. I enter the park and find an empty bench. I set my guitar on it. I open it up and take out my guitar. I put it on my right shoulder, place the case in front of the bench. I take the 'tips please' sign out of the case and put it in front of it. I sit down on the bench.
I knew that my left wrist was still weak. When I play right-handed, it doesn't sound as good as when I play left-handed. I decide to play left-handed even though I know my wrist will hurt like crazy afterward, but I don't care this was for my mom. A few seconds later I start to play "Made in the USA" by Demi Lovato. I start to sing a few seconds later.
Normal POV
Back at school the teenager's walks into Mr. Burley's science class. Antonio sits down at his desk. He overhears Katina Duncan and Derrick Gray talking about what happened in the cafeteria yesterday.
"I can't believe that Traci girl stood up to Johnny," Katina says.
"Yes, I know I can't believe it either. Traci has more courage than the other kids who Johnny picked on." Derrick says.
"Yeah, she a hero I heard that Johnny got suspended," Katina says.
Antonio wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. He just takes his home out of his book bag and sets it on the desk. After the bell rings again, Mr. Burley collects last night's homework. Today the class learned about genetics.
Meanwhile at the Shiba house. Traci walks into the kitchen to find an empty jar to hold all the money she made. She found a jar with flip top lid and heads to her room. She sets her guitar case and the jar on the desk. She opens the jar, takes the money out of her purse, and puts it in the jar. Then she makes a tally chart to keep track of how much more money she needs to get the necklace and tapes it to the bottom of the lid. Then she closes the jar. She opens the guitar case and angles the jar between the side of the case and the guitar. Then she closes it and heads back into the kitchen to get an ice pack for her wrist.
Back at school Antonio kept hearing other students keep calling Traci a hero. Antonio heads to English. Today the teacher tells the class they are going to write a paper about one of the best times of the lives. The paper will be due on next Thursday, and they are going read them to the class. Antonio knew what he was going to write about the day he met Traci. The class starts to write their papers. When class is over Antonio has written five paragraphs. When the bell rings, Antonio heads back home to tell Traci about school today.
Back at the Shiba house, Traci is putting the ice pack back in the freezer. She turns around and sees Wyatt.
"Traci, I was walking through town and saw this lovely necklace in a pawn shop," Wyatt says.
"Really, just curious how much was this necklace?" Traci asks.
"$227," Wyatt answers.
That's the same necklace I want to get mom for her birthday. Traci thought.
Wyatt notices the look of shock on her face. He realizes that is the surprise Traci was referring to on the phone earlier. He walks over to her. Tracy sees a strange look in his eyes.
"You know what the surprise is, don't you?" Traci asks.
"Yes, you plan to buy that necklace for your mom for her birthday." Wyatt answers.
Traci tells him not to mention this to her mom. He tells her that his lips are sealed. She gives him a thank you hug. He hugs her back. Traci starts to feel something that she never felt before. The hug is gentle but firm. She wonders if this is what a father's hug is supposed to feel like as Wyatt lets her go. He sees tears rolling down Traci's cheeks.
"Traci, why are you crying?" Wyatt asks.
"Honestly I don't know. I know this is random. Do you have any kids?" Traci answers.
"I do. I have a daughter, and her name is Maureen. She is a ten years older than you. Why do you ask?" Wyatt answers.
"Your hug it felt so - fatherly." Traci answers.
"Your mom did mention a bit about how your father treated you. Did you father ever hug you when you were little?" Wyatt asks.
"No, anytime I tried to he would push me away." Traci answers.
Wyatt didn't know what to say. He pulls her into another hug. Traci continues to cry into his chest. He rubs soothing circles on Traci's back to comfort her down. A few minutes later Roslyn and Ji walk into the room. They see Traci crying into Wyatt's chest.
"Why is she crying?" Ji asks.
"I have a pretty good idea," Roslyn says.
Roslyn tells Ji that she'll put the groceries away. He hands her the rest of the bag and leaves. She sets the bags on the counter and walks over to them. Traci looks over at her mom. She wipes the tear from her daughter's eyes.
"I know I told you that I was going to wait until you were better to talk about the divorce. I think you should hear it now." Roslyn says.
They sit down at the table. Roslyn sees Wyatt is about to leave to give them some privacy."Wyatt, you can stay." Wyatt nods and sits down as well.
"Mom, did I do something wrong to make dad treat me the way he did?" Traci asks.
"No sweetie. I thought your father would be a great dad to our child no matter if it were a boy or a girl. I was wrong. After you were born, I found out that your father only wanted a son. He would never be happy having a daughter to look after." Roslyn answers.
"It that why he refused to be at any of the important milestones in my life," Traci asks.
"Yes, sweetie, I'm sorry; I thought I could change his mind if I kept reminding him how much you needed him in your life," Roslyn says.
"It's ok mom. Is that why you filed for the divorce?" Traci asks.
"No honey, the real reason was that I needed to get you out of that hurtful house environment your father created." Roslyn answers.
"I understand now that you did it because you loved me and wanted me to have a better life away from him," Traci says.
Roslyn smiles at her daughter's last statement. "Sweetie, even though her father wasn't happy that I gave birth to you. I'm glad that I did. Traci, you're exactly the kind of daughter I've dreamed of having. Traci, you're kind to others, helpful, and never afraid to show the world who you are."
"I learned all those things from you because you were such a great mom," Traci says.
Roslyn gets out of her chair and gives Traci a big hug. A few seconds later Wyatt notices that Traci's face is starting to turn white. "Roslyn you need to let Traci go before she suffocates."
Roslyn lets her daughter go. " Sorry Sweetie, Antonio will be coming home soon." Traci smiles and leaves the room. Wyatt gets up from his chairs and helps Roslyn put the groceries away.
Traci's POV
I'm happy that mom told me that is wasn't my fault that she and my father split. I sit down on the bench on the porch to wait for Antonio to come home. A few minutes later I see him walks through the front gate. I get up and run over to him. He gives me a hug.
"How was school?" I ask.
"It was good. A few of the students were talking about what happened in the cafeteria yesterday." He answers.
"Great. What kind of mean things did they say about me?" I ask.
"They didn't say anything bad angel. They called you a hero for standing up to Johnny." He says.
I couldn't believe that I'm called a hero just for standing up to a bully. I tell him that after he puts his things away. We can head to the cemetery to visit my Aunt's grave.