2 I'm Wohwy I push the words out on a rush of air Mrs. Nash bunches up her eyebrows and flicks her fingers through her short spiky hair taking forever to scan the class list before she looks back up She says Oh Rory Here you are Rory Mitchell Someone whispers The already warm room suddenly seems ten degrees hotter Well Rory she says emphasizing the two r's as if that will help me say them better what did you do for fun this summer My mind starts to buzz like an amplifier set at max sound I was hoping to skip this part As nervous as I've been about starting a new school I figured that by sixth grade the teachers would have knocked this question off their playlists I pretend to clear my throat and the cough comes out as a dry little squeak The clock ticks Say something Say something Just go with your gut That's what my guitar teacher at music and arts camp always said when we were improvising But I can't I have to carefully choose what I say next I force my brain to work scanning for r's and skipping any idea that has one riding my bike running my first 5K going to Rhode Island Come on Something without an r Kids shift in their seats and the whispers spread Let's give Rory our full attention please says Mrs. Nash Not helpful I went to the beach I manage to blurt out Mrs. Nash looks as relieved as I am when I'm done and Melanie Franklin whose desk is next to mine stands up to take her turn We've been in the same class since third grade and her hairstyle has never changed Two long straight braids every day
She won our school spelling bee in fourth and fifth grade The girl is a human spell-check I detest this she whispers as we pass in the aisle Up at the front she tugs on her braids and her words rush together The only time she doesn't look completely tortured is when she tells us that today is her birthday I nod at her when she sits down and she rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out to the side I settle into my chair and push my damp sweaty hair up off my forehead From the safety of my seat I survey the room again There are a ton of people I don't recognize now that we're all mixed together for middle school I see only four other kids from my elementary school five if you count me but I'm trying not to be seen Just then the door creaks open and Brent Milliken walks in Sorry he mumbles Locker I tense when he comes down my row but he walks right by me like I'm invisible He heads over to a chair next to a kid who didn't go to our old school He looks kind of familiar though Saved you a spot bro the guy says picking up a folder he'd put on the seat His wide head is plopped right on top of massive shoulders stuffed into a green hoodie and his hair is buzzed on the sides with a fuzzy yellow strip in the middle He reminds me of a Minecraft cornstalk They bump fists I try to hide my surprise by focusing on the Welcome to Language Arts handout in front of me In the margin I draw a bass clef staff and start filling in a low steady beat thwamm thwamm thwamm Everything okay back there Rory asks Mrs. Nash I look down at my clenched left fist and realize I'm pounding the desk 3
4 I nod and turn my paper over When the introductions start up again I draw another music staff treble clef this time Then I fill in six simple notes I glance up occasionally Kids parade to the front of the room in new sneakers and stiff first day clothes The room smells like clean laundry Most girls are wearing boots and sweaters even though the real fall weather won't start for a while It's like watching a back-to-school episode of the Fashion Network show Who What When WEAR Why that Mom pretends not to be obsessed with We're coming to you live from Kensington Middle School in Lakeville Connecticut Or should I say Perfectville Bob Hahaha Look at these wonderful students in the exact right clothes And listen to their impeccable speech Not one of them has any problem saying their own name Well almost none of them Cut to close up of my mouth Back to you in the studio Bob At least my turn is over and I have lunch with Jett and Tyson to look forward to After today maybe I won't be so freaked out about meeting new people At least that's what I tell myself The problem is I don't really believe it I'm supposed to go with my gut right Well mine is seriously considering asking to be homeschooled When the bell rings I tear off part of my paper and hand it to Melanie What's this Pointing to each quarter note I hum hap-py birth-day to you Thank you she says covering her smile with her hand You have extremely advanced doodling skills
That's me I bow and wave for her to go first out the door I smile all the way to my next class happy there's something I can do right 5
