More little sister fics! I just finished rereading all 122 books so these are winding down. Well I wasn't sure which school Karen would go to since Kelsey isn't really defined and Stoneybrook Academy goes only up to the 5th grade. I'd imagine that this might be an actual decision she might have to make if the characters aged. Happy reading!
In the second grade Karen's best friends with Nancy Dawes and Hannie Papadakis. Her best enemy was Pamela Harding. Her boyfriend was Ricky Torres (they got married on the playground). In the third grade Karen's best friends were still Nancy and Hannie. Her best enemy was still Pamela. Ricky Torres wasn't her boyfriend anymore though.
In the fourth grade Karen's best friend was still Nancy. But only kind of friends with Hannie. She was the first to drift away from their friend group. While they weren't the best of friends, they still played together from time to time. Her new friend at school was Mollie Foley.
It was the end of the fifth grade now as Stoneybrook Academy released its students for the summer. Next to her was Mollie Foley and Christina Osbourne. Christina was friendly with her ever since their time in the hospital at the same time in second grade. Nancy is somewhere but she doesn't think much about it. The feeling was odd, as she never thought that she'd outgrow Nancy like Hannie had done to them.
She glanced over at Hannie as walking out of the school with some girls she'd only seen around before. As she walked by and Hannie waved to her, Karen heard them talking about joining the swim team at Kelsey Middle School. She spotted Nancy across the school lawn with Bobby Gianelli of all people along with a larger group of kids. She edged closer and felt her heart sink a little as she heard them talk about clubs at Stoneybrook Middle School.
Even though she wasn't close with either of them, something in her twinged that she'd never see all three of them at the same school again. It was going to happen eventually, she supposed. Pamela had dumped Jannie and Leslie as soon as she got popular and Leslie left Jannie awhile ago.
Karen was deep in her thoughts that the bus ride seemed to go by quickly. Since she was going to her moms house, she had turned back every so often to see Nancy and Bobby sitting together. It was weird to see them so close since Bobby was so anti-girls and Nancy didn't like that he used to be a bully. When did that change?
The bus bounced as they came to a stop sign to let them off. Karen found Andrew talking to Alicia and a boy named Owen, before heading home. She was suddenly envious of her brother who just had Ms. Colman. She missed second grade and didn't want to go to middle school. They filed out and then the bus drove down to the next street.
The station wagon drove up and pulled into the house a little down the street. The doors slammed closed as the Barton kids looked pretty excited about something.
"Guys," yelled Meghan Barton waving to the kids in the neighborhood, capturing their attention. Karen, Andrew, Alicia, Bobby, Nancy, Kathryn, Willie, and Owen all stopped. Since they lived on this street, they could only be the person Meghan called to. "Guess what? We're moving!"
A little surprised she stopped in her tracks. She remembered when the Bartons moved to their neighborhood way back in the second grade.
"Where are you moving to?" asked Kathryn Barnes curious to know if they were going far.
"We're going to," started Meghan before everyone caught up, "Levittown."
Oh that was like forty-five minutes away. Suddenly it just hit her that life was going to be changing quickly in the next month or so.
Karen only watched as everyone left to go home or to a friends house. Andrew had permission to go play with Owen after school. Alicia and Kathryn went to the Gianelli house to play snail on their driveway. Willie joined Andrew and Owen after running home really quick to make sure it was okay. Bobby and Nancy were kicking a ball with Danny as Bobby tried to teach him the finer points of soccer.
Slowly she walked home hoping someone would stop her before glumly sitting down at the kitchen table, cutting herself a piece of left over chocolate cake from the night before.
"Are you alright Karen?" asked Seth as she looked up to see him. He was home early today.
"Um, fine I guess," she said, "last day of school blues I guess. With middle school next year and the decision."
Right that decision, she thought, avoiding that problem. She could remember her parents (together in agreement for once) telling her that there is no private middle school in Stoneybrook, unless she wanted to attend Stoneybrook Day. That Stoneybrook Middle School (SMS) is part of the district where mom lives and Kelsey Middle School (KMS) is within the district of her dads. That she could choose and discuss with her friends.
Her friends all had the confines of one house and one district that they lived in unless a parent wanted to pay fees. Pamela Harding was going to SMS, Hannie was going to KMS, Natalie Springer to SMS, and so forth.
"Whatever you decide we'll support you," said Seth reassuringly. "If you want to talk let me know."
Karen grinned as she nodded. She may not have Hannie and Nancy anymore, or even Christina and Mollie, but she could always someone to talk to.
"Which do you think I should choose?" asked Karen gazing up at her step father hoping for a solution.
"Honestly I don't mind either way. I'd say SMS because I always remember how much you adored and wanted to be like Kristy and that's where she went. You'll know some familiar faces like Margo Pike and the bus service comes over here unlike Kelsey buses. But Kelsey is a fresh start for you since you've never been there before. Plus your own valet service to and from school. "
Seth didn't have to try too hard to convince her. His tone was light and wasn't pushy like some of her friends were. No wonder it was easier to talk to him then it was to her own mom sometimes.
"And despite your deadline, I get the feeling that you'll make the right decision."
"Thanks Seth, I really appreciate that. I have a lot to think about," said Karen putting her plate in the dishwasher. She grinned at him and then headed up to her room.
