"Time to get up, sweetheart," Julia said. She was gently shaking her daughter, Rinoa. Rinoa's dark hair concealed her pale face. She pulled the blanket over her head. "Rinoa, come on. It's your first day of school, you don't want to be late do you?" She didn't answer. She was in third grade now and summer was officially over. She hated school because she didn't exactly have any friends. Nobody played with her during recess. Her mother, Julia, picked her up out of bed. She pulled Rinoa's pajamas off and replaced it with Rinoa's favorite blue dress. "Come on honey, Let's get you something to eat."
"Don't wanna eat," Rinoa mumbled. She figured if she didn't eat, she wouldn't have to go to school. She crossed her arms and turned her back to her mother. Julia sighed putting her hands on her hips. "You know I hate school," Rinoa said. "Why are you making me go?"
"Because it's a new year. Things can change, sweetheart." Rinoa didn't try to argue. Instead she sat down at the table and ate her breakfast. She never told her mom about her friend problems. She was ashamed of it. Julia gave Rinoa her lunchbox and walked her outside. Rinoa tried to stop her mom from pushing her on the bus. She was unsuccessful. Everyone on the bus just stared at her. As she found her seat, she could feel their eyes burning into her back. The older kids were in the back, so as you came toward the front, the kids sitting down got younger. Rinoa sunk in the plastic seat and stared out the window. The school wasn't that far away but her mom said she was too young to walk. It'd be a lot better than riding the bus. A few others were picked up before they reached the school.
Rinoa made sure she was the last one off. They had recess first. That didn't thrill her. One of the ladies outside helped her hang her backpack up on the fence after putting her lunchbox in it. Rinoa stood there, looking at her surroundings. The tar was slightly sloped down to the pit of rocks where the equipment was. There wasn't much to the equipment. Small staircases lead up to the mesh walkways that came to an end at various slides and ladders. Of course there was a swing set, different size monkey bars, and a field as big as the rock pit.
Everyone had someone to play with but Rinoa. She sighed and made her way to a tree in the field. She watched the others play as the depressing thoughts started sinking in. She hated being alone. For some reason, no one wanted to be around her. Maybe they noticed something about her that she couldn't see in herself. Maybe they all got together and decided they were going to stay away from her. Why would they do that though? WHEN would they have done that? She figured they all probably had a meeting when she was sleeping and discussed it. This thought made her want to cry. Why did everyone hate her so?
The high-pitched sound of a whistle screamed in the air, getting all the children's attention. Rinoa slowly walked toward the brick building. She couldn't quite reach her backpack from atop the fence. All the adults were too busy to help her. She jumped and struck at it until it finally fell down. Something gently touched her back. "Hurry up now, recess is over," an older lady grumbled. Rinoa's eyes narrowed but she said nothing. Someone directed her to her classroom where she was told to sit in a desk. She chose one in the back corner. When all the kids were seated, the teacher came to the front of the room. The teacher had light brown hair about shoulder length; she wore a long purple and plain dress.
"Welcome children," the teacher said. "I'd like to get to know all of you but first you're going to have to get your lockers. Take a piece of paper like this one and write your name on it so you can put it on your lockers." Rinoa waited until everyone had gotten theirs before she picked one for herself. She wrote her name on the rectangle paper and stuck it on the only locker left. The locker was unnecessarily big being as she only had a backpack and her lunchbox. Did they really need all that space for two things (three including a jacket for winter)? Back in the classroom the teacher introduced herself, "My name is Ms. Lawson. Now, I'd like to go around the room, have you tell the class your name and say something about yourself." Each kid gave an answer.
"My name is Selphie," a girl sitting next to Rinoa said. "And ummm, I'm new to this school."
"Well I hope you like it here, Selphie. Okay, how about you?"
Rinoa hesitated so long that everyone turned to look at her. Finally she stammered, "I- I- My name's Rinoa. My, uh, my favorite color is blue." Some kids laughed and she felt stupid. What else was she supposed to say? There was nothing that interesting about her. They didn't do much work but of what they did, it was all pretty basic. Rinoa was pretty bored with it. There was no challenge at all so she didn't pay attention. She couldn't if she wanted t anyway because she was distracted. That girl, Selphie, kept glancing at her and it made Rinoa paranoid. What did she want?
When it was time for lunch, Rinoa ducked in the bathroom. In one of the stalls she looked herself over to see if there was anything wrong with her. She found nothing. A lot of kids were in line to get the food made by the school. Luckily, she brought her own lunch but getting through everyone to get to a table wasn't easy. A fifth grader shoved her out of the way. Rinoa sucked back her tears as she sat at a table. She ended up sitting on the edge all alone. Everyone else sat with their friends, talking and eating their lunch. No one wanted to sit by her. Just as Rinoa thought this, Selphie sat down next to her. "Hi," Selphie said cheerfully. "Can I sit here?"
"I guess so," Rinoa said quietly. "You already sat down anyway."
"So what do you got for lunch?"
"I don't know. Uh, a peanut butter sandwich, blue kool-aid, and some chips."
"Is it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?"
"No, it's regular."
"Ew, I can't eat mine without jelly or honey."
Rinoa said, "Oh." Selphie kept blabbing on about various things as they ate.
After some silence, Selphie asked, "Do you have any friends?"
"No. Do you?"
"Nope! Hey, are you done now? We can go outside and play if you are." Selphie dumped her tray while Rinoa shoved her lunchbox in her locker. They raced each other to the swings. "Get on," Selphie said. "I'll push you." She climbed on the rubber seat and Selphie gave it a few pushes before taking the swing next to Rinoa. When they were done swinging, they ran to the monkey bars and went down the slides. For once, Rinoa was actually having fun. Someone actually wanted to play with her. So were they friends? Did she have a friend now? The thought made her smile like she hadn't in a long time.
After recess, they all went back to class. Ms. Lawson gave the class an activity that required the students to have partners. Selphie immediately jumped to Rinoa. They got to make stuff out of clay. Ms. Lawson said they'd start working again tomorrow. Selphie told Rinoa they should make people out of clay that they could play with later. "Maybe you can come over tomorrow after school," Selphie suggested. "Then we can make a village for our people. I have some stuff we can use."
"Okay," Rinoa said. "I'll ask my mom when I get home."
"Good. Hey, Rinoa, how do you make a hat out of clay? Trevor needs it."
"Who's Trevor?"
"My guy I made. Don't tell but I named him after someone I liked at my other school." She couldn't believe how casually Selphie had said this. Rinoa would've been embarrassed.
"Oh. Well, maybe the teacher can help you." When school was over, Rinoa ran to catch the bus. Too bad for her Selphie didn't ride the same one. She ducked into a front seat and stared out the window as the others filed on. She was anxious; not only to get off the bus but also to ask if she could go to Selphie's after school the next day. Her mom would probably say okay. As soon as the bus stopped, she was at its doors, waiting to be freed. Julia was in the kitchen fixing dinner early. Some of the maids were helping her. She heard the front door open and close.
"Rinoa dear, is that you?" she called.
Rinoa said, "Yes. Hey mom? Can I go to Selphie's house after school tomorrow?"
"Who's Selphie?"
"My friend from school." She felt weird saying the unfamiliar word.
"That's fine but make sure her mother calls me when you're ready to come home."
"Okay mom. Where's daddy?"
"He's in his office talking to some men. It's a business meeting. Do you want to help me?"
"Uh, sure." She stood on the stool by the sink next to her mother. During supper, her father was still in a meeting so they ate without him. Julia put Rinoa to bed at eight and kissed her goodnight. "Night mommy."
"Sleep good, sweetie," Julia whispered. It took a while for Rinoa to fall asleep. She was excited to go to Selphie's. She finally had a friend. Someone she could talk to and play with.
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Beside the fact that she was a little tired, school went by really slow. Rinoa was becoming impatient by the time lunch came around. Selphie had been just as excited. She kept going on and on about the things they were going to do. It made Rinoa wonder if Selphie had any friends at her old school or if she'd been alone too. Of course, she didn't ask. At precisely three o' clock, the final bell rang. The wait was over. Rinoa followed Selphie to her bus. They rushed into the front seat like it was going to leave without them. The younger kids were screaming and jumping around. Rinoa noticed a kindergartener in a seat belt. "That's Devon," Selphie whispered. "Someone told me there was something wrong with him so he has to be seat belted. I heard he's autistic."
Rinoa said, "What's that mean?" Selphie shrugged. Selphie jumped up as soon as the bus reached her house. She raced Rinoa down the driveway. Selphie's light yellow house was only one story but it was nice. It looked like something out of a magazine or TV show. A small flower garden grew around the front of the house. Selphie's mom was sitting on the couch when they came inside.
"Mom, I'm home. I brought a friend with me too." She grabbed Rinoa's hand. "Come on." They went around the couch to the front where Selphie's mom could see them. Her mom had brown hair and green eyes like Selphie but their facial features were slightly different. "This is Rinoa." Rinoa gave a little wave.
"Hello Rinoa," Selphie's mom said. Rinoa noticed how tired she looked, like she'd been up all night. "Help yourselves to the snacks in the cupboard, you know where they are Selphie." As they walked to the kitchen, Rinoa noticed there was no one else in the house.
"Where is everyone?" Rinoa asked.
"Rick is off with his son in town," Selphie answered.
"Who's Rick?"
"He's my mom's boyfriend. I don't like him very much and he doesn't like me. Want some orange juice?"
"Okay." Selphie got the carton of orange juice out before climbing on the counter for a few cups. They sat at the table eating crackers, drinking juice and talking. When they finished, they went outside.
Selphie said, "Oh wait. I have to go get something from my room. I'll be right back." She ran off and came back a few minutes later with a box. Inside it was a small dollhouse about two feet high. "Did you bring the clay people we made yesterday?" Rinoa nodded and dug them out of her backpack. "Okay, you have to show me who's who."
Rinoa put a clay man with a black slab of clay on his head for hair, a red shirt, and blue pants. "This is, uh, my daddy," she said. She set down next to other a girl figure with brown clay hair and a red dress. "That's my mommy, and this is me." Finally she revealed a figure shorter than the rest that resembled herself in a blue dress. "That's all. What about yours?"
"Okay I already showed you Trevor, right?" Rinoa nodded. "And I made me." She set one down that was a girl in a yellow dress.
"You only made two?"
"Yeah. We can all live in this house together." Rinoa and Selphie played together for hours until Julia came. Before Rinoa left, Selphie gave her a bracelet from twisted hemp. "I have one just like it," Selphie said, holding up her wrist so Rinoa could see the identical rope hanging from it. "We can use them as friendship bracelets." Rinoa smiled as she put it on.