For the Best

Here is chapters 3 and 4 of my short story, Accept, written by eleven-year-old me. If you haven't read the first two chapters, head over to this blog post: Bus Rides and Big Changes. Enjoy!

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Chapter #3 The Horrible Truth

Soon the bus pulled into the school’s grounds. As soon as the doors opened, students filed out and spread out across the yard. Highschool students went left, elementary kids right, and us middle schoolers strait ahead. I lost Mary and Cassandra as I hurried to my homeroom, but I saw them sitting at their desks once I arrived, and I rushed to do the same.

Our first class was Language Arts. Next was Social Studies, and last Math. Ms. Browning, a tall, lean lady in her mid 20’s led the class. I zoned out thinking about random stuff like kingdom seekers, Mary, when or if I’d be late for basketball.

I was interrupted when Ms. Browning called my name.

“Eliza, do you, have it?” she asked sternly.

I looked franticly around, then saw Jane trying to tell me something in sign language. Your math test. She spelled out.

“Oh, yes,” I said to Ms. Browning, and handed her a piece of paper. Ms. Browning looked surprised but went to the front of the class.

“Thank you, Eliza,” she said as she went.

The class ended and I was caught in the swarm of kids heading for the door, when Ms. Browning called me.

“Looks like someone’s in trouble,” said Darren, an annoying boy who couldn’t stop pestering me.

I glared at his back, then went over to Ms. B’s desk. Mary gestured that she’d wait for me, then left.

Soon it was just me and Ms. B.

“Eliza Rose,” she started, using my full first name. I knew something was wrong by the way her voice sounded and that she said my full name.

“Your math test from a month ago was not… well…. The greatest,” she said quietly and slowly. “Your mark was 34%. The test two months ago was 42%. Before that 51%. As you can see, it’s getting worse,” Ms. B shuffled a few papers on her desk. I held my breath, the quietness of the classroom seemed deafening. Even with the known bad news coming, I longed for her to speak. After ten full seconds she finally broke the uncomfortable silence. “I’ve talked to your parents, and they’ve agreed. We’ve arranged for a tutor, Leah.” I started at Ms. B with wide eyes.

“I, I, please. I’ll study harder and-” I burst out, but Ms. B interrupted saying, “You said that last time, and it hasn’t gotten any better. You’ll meet Leah tomorrow after school in the library. You will see her every Tuesday and Friday, starting next week. Conversation over.” “But I-” I protested once more. With that, she stood up abruptly and nodded to the door. I angrily flounced out of the room, backpack on one shoulder.

“This is for your own good, Eliza. We’re just trying to help you,” Ms. B called after me. I nodded then, left.

Deep in my heart I knew she wanted the best for me. She was a good teacher, and I liked her most of the time. Now I wished I had not been so disagreeable. More importantly, why couldn’t I have just one more chance?

But deep down I knew. This was best for me, if I liked it or not.

Chapter #4 Together

I met Mary at lunch, and she asked what the meeting with Ms. B was all about. I hesitated, then told her it was nothing. I was embarrassed, so I decided to tell her later, at my house. Too many ears around here.

We phoned her mom, and her mom said yes. I called my mom next, and it was confirmed. Mary was coming with us to Kingdom Seekers. The bell rang and on to the next class.

The rest of the day went on in a blur. After school, basketball was hard to enjoy because this one might be the last time. At least I got two three pointers in a practice game. Soon I met Mary on the bus after school. I sat beside her and her little friend Ari, in the usual spot.

I didn’t know what to do about having a tutor. It would be a big embarrassment, plus I had a lot going on. This meant I had to cancel after school basketball. On Tuesdays and Fridays I’d have to hurry after my session in the library if I wanted to make it to piano lessons, Rock Climbing, and Kingdom Seekers. Why did my parents have to do this?

I was interrupted when Mary said, “What is the matter, Liza?”

“I’ll, I, well…” I didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll tell you when we get to my house.

“Um. Ok,” she said, confused.

“Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. Jane is coming with us as well to K.S,” I said, changing the subject.

“Cool. Fort time!” she said, grinning.

The bus stopped and Robin, Charlie, Mary, Emily, Tyler, Jane, and I got off.

Jane and Tyler are our cousins. Jane and I are quite close and the same age. She has orange, red hair that is a little below her shoulders in length. Her smile is usually small, and she has a shy personality. Well, except when she, Mary, and I are hanging out together. Then she’s rather bubbly. Her face is narrow like Tyler's, and she has a birth mark on her cheek. One eye is green, and the other is blue.

Jane, Mary, and I started chatting and by the time we got home, we almost ran out of things to talk about. Getting a snack from our snack cupboard, Mary whispered into my ear, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Let’s go down to the fort,” I whispered back.

Jane, Mary, and I have a fort downstairs. There’s this one room that is pretty much completely un-used, so we took a corner by the wall and built a fort. We have a flashlight hanging from the top of the fort and there are two reading lamps in there, as well. Two bean bags and a bunch of pillows are scattered on the floor and there are lots of notebooks in a stack, and papers and poster hang on the walls. Sometimes we let Emily in, too.

I grabbed Jane’s arm and the three of us snuck around the corner, and down the stairs. “Why do you want us down at the fort?” Jane half whispered as we went down the stairs. “Um, well, I want to tell you guys something,” I responded.

“Uh, ok,” Jane said slowly.

Strange enough, us three seem to know when the others want us to just be silent.