Chapter 19

March 29, 1996.

The next day, Pippa arrived at Summer Bay High to enrol Kerri in Year 10.

"What do you think of Summer Bay so far?" Pippa asked Kerri as they waited for Donald.

"It's alright." Kerri replied. "I just hope that I stay long enough to make friends."

"Didn't you stay at your previous high schools long?"

"Oh, I kept moving from different foster home after another." Kerri said sadly.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy staying at my house." Pippa said. "I enjoy being a mum to you kids."

Kerri smiled at her just as Donald came out of his office.

"Come in, Pippa." Donald said.

They went inside and sat down across from Donald.

"I take it you will be in Year 10, young lady." Donald said to Kerri.

"Yes." Kerri said sweetly.

"Have you got any school reports from your previous school?" Donald asked.

"I have a few." Kerri replied before handing over some papers to Donald.

As Donald went through some of Kerri's reports, Pippa could tell that she was nervous.

"Are you nervous, sweetheart?" Pippa asked her.

"A bit." Kerri responded.

"Well, Kerri. I hope you enjoy being in our support class." Donald told her.

Kerri looked shocked. In the seven high schools that she went to, she was always in the mainstream class. Now, they want her to go backwards and be in the support class?

"But I've always been in mainstream." Kerri piped up.

"Kerri, with your mild intellectual disability I feel that you should be in a support class." Donald said firmly.

"But..."

"Donald, I believe that she could start off in support and eventually go into mainstream." Pippa said.

"We'll see." Donald said. "Kerri, you start on Monday."

Once they left Donald's office, Kerri was feeling humiliated.

"Support?!" Kerri growled. "What a joke!"

"It won't be so bad, sweetheart." Pippa said gently. "You'll eventually get integrated into mainstream."

However, Kerri didn't look so sure. She sulked all the way home.

Later, Stephanie and Tiegan went to the Bayside Diner on their lunch break.

"How long was Kerri at your old foster home for?" Tiegan asked.

"For about three months." Stephanie replied. "But one day, she got asked to leave."

"How come?"

"My old foster parents caught her smoking marijuana." Stephanie replied.

"No way!" Tiegan said, looking shocked.

"But when Kerri did live there, her and I got on like a house on fire." Stephanie said.

Tiegan sipped her strawberry milkshake before asking, "Was this last year or something?"

"Two years ago." Stephanie responded.

"I'm surprised she still remembers you." Tiegan said.

"I get recognised a lot." Stephanie laughed.

"Do you know Dani Sutherland?" Tiegan asked her.

"Rhys and Shelley Sutherland's oldest daughter?"

Tiegan looked shocked. "You know her parents too?"

"I know the whole family." Stephanie responded.

"Me too!" Tiegan said. "I'm good friends with Dani, Jade and Kirsty."

"Same." Stephanie said.

"I just wish Corey and Louis were still here." Tiegan said sadly.

"Me too." Stephanie said choking up.

"It would've been nice to spend more time with them." Tiegan said.

"I agree."

"I'm sorry I brought it up." Tiegan said.

"Don't be." Stephanie said. "We needed to open up about losing our friends."

Tiegan gave Stephanie a hug.

That afternoon, Kerri was watching TV looking very down.

"Where's Pippa?" Jack asked as he walked through the door.

"She went out." Kerri replied miserably.

"What's up with you?"

"I've been put into the support unit at school."

"What's wrong with that?" Jack asked her.

"I've been in a mainstream class throughout high school." Kerri replied. "Now, the old-fogy of a principal wants me to go in the support class!"

"Why would Fisher put you in support?"

"Because I have a mild intellectual disability!" Kerri blurted out. "I don't understand this!"

"It won't be so bad." Jack told her. "If anyone picks on you, tell me and I'll sort them out."

"Oh thanks, Jack." Kerri said, smiling. "You are just too sweet."

"No worries." Jack said.

"Close your eyes for a second." Kerri told him.

Jack closed his eyes and then all of a sudden, Kerri started kissing him!

"What was that for?" Jack asked, looking shocked.

Kerri let out a huge smile. "I think you're super cute, Jack Wilson."

"Pippa will freak if she knew." Jack said.

"She doesn't have to know anything." Kerri said. "It'll be our little secret."

Kerri threw her arms around Jack before kissing him again.

NEXT TIME...
- Kerri rebels against being in the support class, while she continues flirting with Jack
- Stephanie is told that her old foster family want her to return
- Tiegan has another row with Sonia Hammond