CLAUDIA:
I pawed through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit to wear. Why is that all the winter clothes go on sale while it's still too hot to wear them? My new blue jeans and sparkle sweater would have to wait. I stuck my head out the window, and glanced around. It was a sunny day, and it was warm, around 70, but not so hot that I'd boil in jeans. I decided on a pair of denim Capri's, and a lacy blue camisole shirt, with a plain blue camisole underneath. I finished the outfit off with my black chunky sole sandals.
No, I was not heading off to a fashion show. I was on my way to my first day of high school. I was feeling both excited and nervous. I had only been side SHS a few times- for orientation, and some of Janine's awards ceremonies.
As I finished putting on my silver hoop earrings and glanced at the clock, it realized it was 7:32. I had promised Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey and Dawn that I would meet them at school by 7:45. I grabbed my brand new messenger bag and headed downstairs.
I found my parents and my older sister, Janine, sitting at the breakfast table devouring eggs, pancakes and bacon.
"Well Claudia," said my father finishing a gulp of his coffee, "This is it. The big day! Congratulations!"
My mother smiled at me. "You look very nice, Claudia. We're so proud of you."
Now I don't know about most families, but I'm guessing you're probably wondering why everyone was congratulating me about going off to high school. Well see, the thing is, I almost DIDN'T make it to SHS. I don't like to admit it, but I'm a terrible student. I failed science at the end of 8th grade, and had to take summer school in order to officially graduate. It was a close call, but I passed science with a C+, and the rest is history.
"Are you ready to go, Claudia?" asked Janine. Janine is 17, and starting her senior year at SHS. She's not a bad sister, but it's really hard sometimes because Janine is so smart. She's a genius actually, and she gets really high grades and takes all kinds of advanced classes. It's hard to see my parents expecting me to live up to what Janine has accomplished.
I grabbed a pancake off the table, and started to eat it. "Uh huh," I mumbled between mouthfuls. My dad gave me a disapproving frown. He hates it when I run late, and also when I don't eat a full breakfast. I washed the pancake down with a sip of milk, and followed Janine out her car. The ride to SHS from our house is pretty short, and Janine tried to keep the conversation light and pleasant (she has a tendency to ramble and be not so pleasant sometimes). As we pulled into the parking lot, SHS seemed huge. Huger than I'd remembered it. There were cars (and kids) everyone. A lot of the kids (Seniors, probably) seemed to drive (mostly used, beat up cars) and some of them were even smoking. A big change from SMS.
Janine smiled at me. "I know it looks scary," she said "But if I can survive here, so you can you. You're a strong person, Claudia." It made me feel a lot better to hear someone say that, especially since that person was Janine.
I entered the front hallway and saw Stacey and Kristy standing there. "Hi!" I called to them and waved. Janine gave me a quick hug goodbye, reminded me to meet her in the parking lot at 3:00, and was off.
"Oh my gosh," said Stacey "I had the hardest time deciding what to wear this morning!" She looked frazzled. Not that she looked BAD, her outfit and makeup looked great. But Stacey looked nervous.
"Me too!" I said giggling.
Kristy shrugged. "I never have problems in that department." That's because Kristy wears practically the same thing everyday- casual clothes. Today she was wearing a (newer looking) pair of boot cut blue jeans, a gray T-Shirt that read "GAP ATHLETIC" and her lucky Collie baseball cap.
"Where are Dawn and Mary Anne?" I asked
"Mary Anne called me this morning, and said they'd be running late. Sharon had to take her car into the shop, so Mary Anne's dad was dropping her off at work, then bringing them here. They said not to wait if they were late."
Just then the first bell rang. It was 7:55, which meant we had five minutes to get to homeroom. I pulled the postcard SHS had sent me over the summer out of my bag. 'Room 220- Mr. Garry'. That was my homeroom.
I looked hesitantly at my friends. "Well, I guess I better go find room 220."
Stacey looked sad, and a little scared. "Okay, my homeroom is 108, so I think it's somewhere around here. I'll look for you later, and we'll compare schedules." She gave me another quick hug, and headed off in the direction of room 108.
Kristy glanced at her own card. "Mine homeroom is 216, so I'll walk with you. They're probably near each other." Kristy and I traveled upstairs, and found rooms 216 and 220.
Kristy turned to me. "Claud, I'm scared." I found this odd for two reasons: 1) Kristy Thomas is never scared of anything, especially something as stupid as school. 2) Even if she were scared, Kristy rarely confides anything in me. However, I was beginning to see a new side of Kristy- a side that felt small and powerless.
I gave Kristy one of those hugs that was becoming so popular, and told her, "It'll be okay. Meet me out here after homeroom." Kristy smiled, took a deep breath and entered her homeroom.
I entered mine, and found Mr. Garry waiting near the door. He asked me my name, I gave it to him, and he handed me a schedule. He told me to look it over, and have a seat until it was time to begin. He seemed pretty friendly which was good. I checked my schedule and found this:
1: Remedial English- Mrs. Brown 2: Remedial Biology- Mr. Hafkey 3: Freshman PE- Ms. Lang 4: Remedial World History- Mr. McClure 5: Lunch 6: Art 1 7: Basic Algebra- Mr. Garry 8: Resource Study Hall- TBA
I sighed. The only good part of my schedule was my art class.
I pawed through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit to wear. Why is that all the winter clothes go on sale while it's still too hot to wear them? My new blue jeans and sparkle sweater would have to wait. I stuck my head out the window, and glanced around. It was a sunny day, and it was warm, around 70, but not so hot that I'd boil in jeans. I decided on a pair of denim Capri's, and a lacy blue camisole shirt, with a plain blue camisole underneath. I finished the outfit off with my black chunky sole sandals.
No, I was not heading off to a fashion show. I was on my way to my first day of high school. I was feeling both excited and nervous. I had only been side SHS a few times- for orientation, and some of Janine's awards ceremonies.
As I finished putting on my silver hoop earrings and glanced at the clock, it realized it was 7:32. I had promised Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey and Dawn that I would meet them at school by 7:45. I grabbed my brand new messenger bag and headed downstairs.
I found my parents and my older sister, Janine, sitting at the breakfast table devouring eggs, pancakes and bacon.
"Well Claudia," said my father finishing a gulp of his coffee, "This is it. The big day! Congratulations!"
My mother smiled at me. "You look very nice, Claudia. We're so proud of you."
Now I don't know about most families, but I'm guessing you're probably wondering why everyone was congratulating me about going off to high school. Well see, the thing is, I almost DIDN'T make it to SHS. I don't like to admit it, but I'm a terrible student. I failed science at the end of 8th grade, and had to take summer school in order to officially graduate. It was a close call, but I passed science with a C+, and the rest is history.
"Are you ready to go, Claudia?" asked Janine. Janine is 17, and starting her senior year at SHS. She's not a bad sister, but it's really hard sometimes because Janine is so smart. She's a genius actually, and she gets really high grades and takes all kinds of advanced classes. It's hard to see my parents expecting me to live up to what Janine has accomplished.
I grabbed a pancake off the table, and started to eat it. "Uh huh," I mumbled between mouthfuls. My dad gave me a disapproving frown. He hates it when I run late, and also when I don't eat a full breakfast. I washed the pancake down with a sip of milk, and followed Janine out her car. The ride to SHS from our house is pretty short, and Janine tried to keep the conversation light and pleasant (she has a tendency to ramble and be not so pleasant sometimes). As we pulled into the parking lot, SHS seemed huge. Huger than I'd remembered it. There were cars (and kids) everyone. A lot of the kids (Seniors, probably) seemed to drive (mostly used, beat up cars) and some of them were even smoking. A big change from SMS.
Janine smiled at me. "I know it looks scary," she said "But if I can survive here, so you can you. You're a strong person, Claudia." It made me feel a lot better to hear someone say that, especially since that person was Janine.
I entered the front hallway and saw Stacey and Kristy standing there. "Hi!" I called to them and waved. Janine gave me a quick hug goodbye, reminded me to meet her in the parking lot at 3:00, and was off.
"Oh my gosh," said Stacey "I had the hardest time deciding what to wear this morning!" She looked frazzled. Not that she looked BAD, her outfit and makeup looked great. But Stacey looked nervous.
"Me too!" I said giggling.
Kristy shrugged. "I never have problems in that department." That's because Kristy wears practically the same thing everyday- casual clothes. Today she was wearing a (newer looking) pair of boot cut blue jeans, a gray T-Shirt that read "GAP ATHLETIC" and her lucky Collie baseball cap.
"Where are Dawn and Mary Anne?" I asked
"Mary Anne called me this morning, and said they'd be running late. Sharon had to take her car into the shop, so Mary Anne's dad was dropping her off at work, then bringing them here. They said not to wait if they were late."
Just then the first bell rang. It was 7:55, which meant we had five minutes to get to homeroom. I pulled the postcard SHS had sent me over the summer out of my bag. 'Room 220- Mr. Garry'. That was my homeroom.
I looked hesitantly at my friends. "Well, I guess I better go find room 220."
Stacey looked sad, and a little scared. "Okay, my homeroom is 108, so I think it's somewhere around here. I'll look for you later, and we'll compare schedules." She gave me another quick hug, and headed off in the direction of room 108.
Kristy glanced at her own card. "Mine homeroom is 216, so I'll walk with you. They're probably near each other." Kristy and I traveled upstairs, and found rooms 216 and 220.
Kristy turned to me. "Claud, I'm scared." I found this odd for two reasons: 1) Kristy Thomas is never scared of anything, especially something as stupid as school. 2) Even if she were scared, Kristy rarely confides anything in me. However, I was beginning to see a new side of Kristy- a side that felt small and powerless.
I gave Kristy one of those hugs that was becoming so popular, and told her, "It'll be okay. Meet me out here after homeroom." Kristy smiled, took a deep breath and entered her homeroom.
I entered mine, and found Mr. Garry waiting near the door. He asked me my name, I gave it to him, and he handed me a schedule. He told me to look it over, and have a seat until it was time to begin. He seemed pretty friendly which was good. I checked my schedule and found this:
1: Remedial English- Mrs. Brown 2: Remedial Biology- Mr. Hafkey 3: Freshman PE- Ms. Lang 4: Remedial World History- Mr. McClure 5: Lunch 6: Art 1 7: Basic Algebra- Mr. Garry 8: Resource Study Hall- TBA
I sighed. The only good part of my schedule was my art class.