All too soon the bell rang and they headed back into class. DJ had to admit she was a little nervous about presenting her assignment but she wasn't about to
protest.
"All right class, have a seat and get out your essays. We'll go around the room and read them. Better yet, I'm going to have you come up to the front of the
room one by one so that we can see you and hear you read your essays about your family."
Another collective groan caused Mrs. Cornell to clap her hands to get the class' attention. "Listen, I know you're not happy about this assignment, but it's either
this or we can write an essay on the history of San Francisco, as found in our textbooks. It's your choice."
The class quieted down.
"All right, who wants to start?"
Kimmy, of course raised her hand and proudly walked to the front of the room to read her essay. She talked about her brother and sisters and how DJ was like a
sister to her as well. DJ wanted to smile, but she was so nervous that her stomach was tied in knots.
One by one the class went around the room reading their essays and finally Mrs. Cornell looked at DJ. "Well, it seems you're our last presentation."
"I-I guess I am." DJ said. She rose from her desk and walked to the front of the room. With each passing second it was getting harder and harder to hold her
paper steady.
"Hi…" She said, feeling completely ridiculous. No one else said hi before reading their essays. "I'm DJ Tanner. Kimmy, who is my best friend, is like a sister to
me, but actually I have two sisters of my own. I'm the oldest, followed by Stephanie, who's five and goes to this school. Michelle is still a baby, but she'll go to
this school too when she's old enough. Um… anyway, my family changed recently, so now it's me, my dad, my Uncle Jessie, Joey, Stephanie and Michelle. We all
live in a house on Girard Street."
"What the heck is a Joey?" A familiar voice in the back yelled. "A kangaroo?" The remark was followed by laughing throughout the whole class.
Mrs. Cornell clapped her hands. "That's enough Robert! I'm sorry, DJ. Please, go on."
"Well, that was really it. My Uncle Jessie is a musician, Joey is a comedian and you all probably know that my dad is a sports caster on TV."
"You're famous, DJ!" Mrs. Cornell said with a smile.
"I guess."
"You didn't tell us what a Joey was!" Robert yelled. "How can you have that many people living in one house?"
"Robert!" Mrs. Cornell yelled. "One more remark and you will get a failing grade on this assignment as well as a note home to your parents and a trip to Principal
Larabee's office!"
"It's okay, Mrs. Cornell." DJ said. "I know it's weird. But the truth is…" She felt tears start to rise in her throat, thinking about everything that had happened in
the past three months; losing her mom, her grandmother leaving, and Uncle Jessie and Joey moving in, while DJ moved in with Stephanie. But she wouldn't cry.
She couldn't. Fifth graders didn't cry. Only little kids did.
She dared to look at Robert, who had a smirk on his face and she wanted to hit him, even though hitting anyone was wrong. His family was perfect. He had a
mother, a father and even a dog. He didn't have to share a room with anyone and his grandparents sent him presents all year long.
"DJ, I'm sorry to rush you but we don't have much time. We need to get started on History soon." Mrs. Cornell said gently.
"I-I know. I'm sorry." DJ stammered. She took a deep breath and couldn't look at anyone, not even Kimmy who knew her life story better than DJ did.
"I lost my mom in a car accident three months ago. My grandma came to stay with us but then she had to leave, so my Uncle Jessie and my dad's friend Joey
moved in with us." When DJ looked at the faces of her classmates, she wanted to climb out of the window. Why was she such a ditz? What was she thinking,
telling everyone about her mom?
"I'm very sorry to hear that DJ." Mrs. Cornell said. "Your essay was very nice. It sounds like you have a wonderful family."
"Thank you." DJ murmured.
"You can go back to your seat."
DJ did as instructed but she stole a glance at Robert who was smirking at her. Normally she just ignored him, but today he was making her very uncomfortable.
She was barely able to concentrate the rest of the day and everyone laughed at her when she recited the state capitol of Washington as Milwaukee.
Finally the bell rang to go home and she gratefully gathered her books to leave. As always Kimmy told her she'd wait for her by their lockers. DJ tried to catch up
but was stopped by Mrs. Cornell, who wanted to know why DJ wasn't paying attention.
"I'm sorry." DJ admitted. "I guess I was just thinking about something else."
Usually Mrs. Cornell was sympathetic, but now she was wearing a frown. "Well, I expect you to pay attention in class, all right? I know we've had a busy day but
we have a test coming up next week on the State Capitols and major cities, and I expect you to know them."
"Yes, Mrs. Cornell."
"All right. Have a good rest of the day."
"Thank you." DJ mumbled as she scooted out of the room.
At her locker, she barely spoke to Kimmy who fortunately was going on and on about a new girl in school who was wearing the raddest outfit Kimmy had ever
seen. "We should go to the mall this weekend and see if we can find one for ourselves."
"Yeah, that'd be great." DJ mumbled.
Kimmy put her hand on DJ's shoulder and looked at her. "Deej, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." DJ lied. "Come on, let's go. I want to get home in time to listen to the Madonna marathon on the radio.
"Oh yeah, that's gonna be radical! I'll be over later."
"Okay."
"Can you wait for a second? I have to make a stop before we leave. I shouldn't have drunk all of that water earlier."
DJ was grateful for the laughter as she watched Kimmy run for the Girl's room. "Sure."
She found herself alone in the hallway and was grateful for the silence. Unfortunately the silence didn't last long.
