Chapter 4 - The Letter
Adam walked into English class late with Charlie. They had been talking with their biology teacher about a question on the assignment. The biology teacher, Mr. Thomason, is close to the most longwinded teacher in Eden Hall.
Adam gave Ms. Nixon their hall pass as Charlie worked his way back to his seat. Adam made sure that she remembered to cross their names off the attendance slip for being tardy. Ms. Nixon doesn't always remember everything so students make sure that things go their way around her.
As Adam walked by Tiny gave him a smile and a wink. He wondered if Fulton had talked to her or something. He took his seat behind Julie. Adam tried to concentrate on the lecture that Ms. Nixon was giving about the book that they were going to start reading as a class.
All Adam could think about was Tiny. What a perfect name for her! Tiny fits her physical appearance perfectly. So petite. From a distance she looked like a life size doll.
After Ms. Nixon finished talking to them about the book she gave them a "journal" assignment to do. Each person in the class was to write at least a one-page paper on what they planned to accomplish this year.
Ms. Nixon is a very eccentric teacher. She has students do things that they wouldn't normally do. Whenever there are journal entries or private reading times she tells the students to move freely and to ask help for others in the class when needed.
Most students just breeze through that class by talking to their friends. The journal entries are pretty much crap assignments. People get together in groups of about five people or more and write everything word for word together and hand in identical papers. The only difference is the names.
Adam liked to put thought into his work to had in. He stayed in his little corner. The rest of the Ducks formed their little circle with everyone but him writing the exact same paper to hand in for the exact same grade.
As he was looking out the window he was brought back to reality as someone sat in the desk in front of his. At first he thought that the person was Julie since she sat there.
There in the desk in front of him was Allison "Tiny" Young. Her blonde hair was hanging down around her shoulders. She looked so pure and innocent with her hair like that.
The angel spoke to Adam. She said, "Last night I found out your name from Fulton 'cause I was to embarrassed to ask you."
She paused and then with a panicky look on her face she said, "It's not like I'm stalking you or anything. Just read this."
With that Allison threw a letter from her pocket down on Adam's desk and went back to her desk to write the paper.
Adam had remained pretty much speechless when she was talking to him. His curiosity got the best of him as he looked at the neatly folded piece of notebook paper lying on his disk.
He looked to see who was around him. There was no one since everyone was talking, daydreaming, or working. No one would notice the letter.
Adam figured that's why she gave it to him then. As his hands slowly began unfolding the piece of paper he thought that the letter was probably going to tell him to stop staring at her or something.
He looked down at the words on the piece to paper without reading a word. Adam slowly took a breath and let it out. The boy couldn't help checking one more time around him. He began to read.
This is how the letter went:
Dear Adam Banks,
I got your name from Fulton Reed so I'm not like following you or anything. My name is Allison Young, but you can call me "Tiny" whenever. I just started here at Eden Hall (my God how stupid can I be. Like you DON'T already know this). Anyway I've been noticing you around. I heard that you were a hockey player from some people, one of the best on the team. Well, maybe you want crossover a little and get together sometime. If you want to do that meet at the basketball court tomorrow night at 8 PM for a little one on one situation.
Tiny
Adam was held speechless by the words in front of him. SHE wanted to meet him. No possible way this could happen to Adam. The girl of his dreams wanted to get to know him. He just sighed and decided to write his English paper now so he didn't have to do it later.
After reading the letter Adam knew exactly what was going into this journal assignment. He quickly was able to make his pencil write the full-page assignment and then some in just a short amount of time.
After they were done with the journal assignment they were supposed to read their own books. Adam tried to concentrate on his book, but the thought of the letter in his pocket just distracted him even more than when he thought she never knew he existed.
At lunch Adam thought about Tiny like he always did. This time however was slightly different from the other times. He was actually going to talk to her. Adam was actually going to spend time with her outside of his little daydreams.
What if she didn't like him after talking and stuff? That was the biggest question on Adam's mind. He just sat there poking his cheesy mixed vegetables with his fork around on the medium sized square on the tray.
Why was he stressing himself out like this? Why was she even remotely interested in him? Why was he eating this garbage that the lunch ladies won't eat themselves? These were just a few of the questions rolling around in Adam's mixed up head. He was coming up with questions while trying to come up with answers and it wasn't working out well for him.
The other Ducks had sat around him at their table. Adam finally looked up from his tray and looked around the table.
Everyone was staring right at him.
Now Adam was not only overwhelmed and self-confused he was also embarrassed.
The other Ducks just burst out laughing when Adam realized what had been going on. Adam started laughing too.
On the way to biology Adam went to talk to Fulton at his desk before class started.
Adam started rambling, "Fulton, I really don't know about this whole basketball thing. What if I make a complete fool of myself? What if I do something stupid? What if I…"
Adam stopped when Fulton gave him this look. Fulton looked like he was going to kill Adam if he didn't shut up. Fulton just calmly told Adam, "Shut up, go there, do your thing, and be fine with losing to a girl. Now how do you do this problem?"
With that Fulton took out homework which he had forgotten to finish after working with Adam last. Then the bell rang and Adam took his seat.
He couldn't wait until tomorrow night.
