Chapter 2:

It had been three days in this new place and I still ain't got no friends!

Mom and Dad told me to be patient, that there were plenty of kids in our new neighborhood. Or maybe I would meet some friends once school started next week. Either way, I was growing impatient. Of course, Brian already started making new friends. All he had to do was stand outside, bounce a basketball around and a few kids came over. They asked him to play and didn't even invite me. Why do eleven-year-old kids always seem have it so easy?

I sat outside by myself, watching kids play. Nobody asked me once to join in, so I went back in the house.

Man, I hate this place!

A few minutes later, our doorbell rang. My mom went to answer it, running her fingers through her hair before opening the door as she always did. "Hello. My name is Cissy Houston and this is my daughter Whitney. We just wanted to welcome you and your family into the neighborhood," said a nice looking lady. She held a plate of cookies out. "This is just a little something to hopefully help the unpacking go easier." The girl looked to be my age and seemed to be hiding behind her mother. She finally peeked out to look at us like she was shy or something. "Oh my goodness, thank you so much! You shouldn't have went through all of this trouble," my mother told her as she took the plate and shook the lady's hand. "My name is Darlene Thompson. My husband Carl is at his new job; we just moved here from Chicago. Please come in and excuse the mess as we still haven't quite settled in yet."

After they came in, my mother introduced me and Lydia and told them that Brian was outside playing. "Oh yes, I think my son Michael was telling us that he met a new friend that was right next door." Cissy Houston said. "Yes, Brian was telling us the exact same thing!" mom said laughing. "Well my husband John and I are always having kids come over to swim in our backyard. So your kids are welcome to come when we do so." Cissy Houston said. "That's very kind of you all, isn't it Calvin?" my mom asked as she put her arm around me. "Yes maim, thank you." I made myself say. My parents didn't play when it came to manners, so I knew I had to be polite. Cissy turned to her daughter and pulled her next to her. "Nippy, where are your manners? You didn't even say hello." The girl gave a small smile and said "Good Afternoon". She was a very nice looking kid, I had to admit (because girls have cooties). She had two big curly pigtails, a plaid-looking dress with stockings and sparkly brown eyes that looked like almonds or something. Her skin reminded me of a smooth graham cracker, which was different from my skin which looked like a smooth Hershey bar.

"Calvin, put these up in the kitchen. We can't wait to eat them," mom told me with a smile on her face. My mom and Cissy Houston started talking and mom took her to show off the rest of the house. My little sister ran in behind them, probably being nosy as usual. I looked at the girl, not sure what to say. "Uh… you wanna come in the kitchen?" She humped her shoulders up and down, said sure and followed me. "So…. Are these cookies good?" I asked. "Yeah, they're my favorite," the girl said eyeing the plate. "Mommy wouldn't let me have any this time. Said that they were for y'all." I grabbed a couple of cups and poured some milk in them. "Let's have some; I'm sure my mom won't mind." My mom was always harping about good hospitality, or whatever. And I agree…especially if cookies are involved.

"So is your name Whitney, or Nippy?" I asked between bites of the delicious cookie. "Because your mom called you both." "My real name is Whitney Elizabeth, but my family calls me Nippy most of the time." She said. "Oh" I said trying not to laugh at her funny nickname. "Why do they call you Nippy?" "I don't know," she said. "My dad said he got it from this person in a comic that kept getting into stuff he had no business getting into. And that's what my family says I do sometimes."

"Do you have a nickname?" I shook my head no. "Not really. I'm just known as Calvin. My whole name is Calvin Darnell Thompson." I stuck my chest out. "Oh I see" Whitney said like she was in deep thought about what I just told her. "So do you like it here?" "Not really," I told her. "I mean, I like our new house and stuff, but I miss my friends back in Chicago." "Yeah, I saw you sitting outside earlier. I wanted to say something to you, but I didn't know if you wanted to talk to anybody." "Really?" I asked, kind of embarrassed. "I probably looked like a dope because no one wanted to play with me."

"Everybody is pretty nice here, but I know how you feel though. You should come over to swim tomorrow. A lot of my brother's friends come and we play games like Marco Polo. Plus, I'll bet my daddy is gonna grill up some hot doggies like he always does!" "Oooohh Yum! I love hot dogs. Okay, I'm sure my mom will let me." I told her.

We soon found out that we had some things in common. We both just turned 9 years old. Our birthdays were both in August (hers was August 9th and mines was August 7th). Both of our families had two boys and one girl. We both liked Math, English and Science and we both liked "The Brady Bunch", Cartoons and The Jackson Five (she kept saying that she was gonna marry Michael). She also told me that her mom was a famous backup singer and sang for people like Elvis and her Godmother Aretha Franklin. I didn't believe her at first, but she said she would show me pictures and play records one day, so I thought that was cool. She also said that I could maybe one day meet her cousin Dionne Warwick, the famous singer. She told me that she loved to sing, and wanted to be like her mom and cousin, in case she didn't get to become a teacher or a veterinarian. I told her I didn't know what I really wanted to be when I grew up, but I liked helping people and learning about the body, so I probably would be a doctor. She told me how much she liked being with her big brothers and I told her that although my little sister annoyed me sometimes, I loved her. I also told her that I admired Brian's sport skills, but I didn't want to let him know that.

This Whitney kid wasn't so bad at all. I never had a girl for a friend, but I think she can be the exception because she was interesting and I felt like I could just say whatever I thought to her. Besides she likes boy stuff, like riding bikes, running races and playing sports.

When dad came home and we had dinner that night, my mom kept talking about how nice Mrs. Houston and her family were. My dad was especially interested in hearing how Cissy sang backup for all of those famous singers. He said he would invite Mr. Houston over for a beer soon enough.

I guess living here may not be so bad after all. Maybe.