When I arrived to the school-house on that cool November day a tall, lanky boy was sitting in my seat.
"Hey!" he stood and stuck his hand out to me. "My name is Alex Smith. I'm new here."
I ignore his hand and take my seat. "This is my seat Alex." I busy myself with unpacking my books. I get this trait from my Daddy I know, this mistrust of new people. Momma said she wishes I could be friendlier to the new folks in our little settlement, but it's just not in my nature. I guess it's the Dixon in me.
"What's your name?" he asks me unperturbed. He has wavy blonde hair, fair skin and pretty blue eyes. He's cute, but I still don't trust him. He talks in a clipped voice. He doesn't drawl out his vowels like my family does. He's not from around here. Daddy would call him a 'Yankee'.
"That seat's taken too." I don't bother to make eye contact, preferring to look over my homework from the night before, anything to get this uncomfortable feeling from rising in my chest.
"That's a weird name." he chuckles. "I've never heard the name 'That seat's taken too.' He flashes me a toothy smile and I huff then, feeling annoyed at his smart ass and the effect it's having on me.
"My name is Dixie Dixon. This seat is taken. You'll have to sit somewhere else." I look him square in the eyes, daring him to say something else smart.
"Dixie Dixon? That's….." Alex looks at me with a look of amusement at my name, but then seeing my glare drops the smirk.
"That's what?" I narrow my eyes even further. Momma says when I do that I look like my Daddy. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
"Uhm…" he stammers. "That's an interesting name…. nice to meet ya, see you around." He walks toward a seat in the middle of the classroom and flashes me a smile so wide and handsome I feel myself get hot all over.
"Stupid name." I mumble to myself.
After school AK and I walk home. AK was staying with us again. Her Daddy went off in search of more lumber. They tried to keep the trees around us dense. It was a natural barrier, even though the walker population had grown thinner in the passing years. Uncle Rick didn't really have to go, but I have found that he gets real antsy this time a year. This meant that from November until March we end up with AK practically living at our house. It doesn't seem to bother AK much. I think she's learned to accept it.
"What's wrong with you Dix?" AK asks me. She can always tell when I'm mad or annoyed. I have 'tells' just like Daddy does. More of that Dixon blood shining through.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just that new kid…Alex? He's annoying. He made fun of my name." I wrinkle my nose up at the memory of his smirk when I finally gave in and told the asshole my name.
"Oh, he seemed nice enough. I think that you are just imagining things Dixie." HA! AK could talk. Of course she has an awful Dixon name too, but of course hers was just a nick name. Judith was her real name, and most people didn't know what AK stood for. I shrugged off her comment, more annoyed than ever.
When I walked in our house, I slammed my books on the table and stomped up the stairs, anger and embarrassment overtaking me. Momma would say its hormones. Even though I haven't had my 'woman time' yet, it would be here soon. My legs and underarms have been hairy for a while now and I had to start wearing a bra this year, much to my Daddy's heartbreak.
"Dixie Ann Dixon!" My mother stuck her head in my room. She was 'whisper yelling' as Daddy called it. "What's with the stomping and slamming? I'm watching Sarah for Beth and Carl, and you could have woken her up young lady!"
I seriously hate it when I make my Momma mad. I am hopelessly devoted to my parents and when I disappoint her, I tend to cry. I don't have a rebellious bone in my body.
I tear up and say I'm sorry, then, before I can help it, the tears start to roll down my face with wild abandonment.
"What's wrong baby?" Momma comes in and sinks down on my bed, her arms going around my shoulders.
"Momma?" I whisper. "Why…..Momma, this boy, he's new and he's…..c…cute." I stammer "He made fun of my name I think." I sighed. Why was I being such a crybaby?
"Oh honey." Momma pressed a kiss to the side of my wet cheek. "Maybe it's time you heard the story behind you name." Momma spoke softly into my ear.
"What story?" I asked softly.
"Do you remember your Uncle Merle?" Momma began.
