Sunlight
2013
The following is a work of fiction.
I sat in the kitchen chair with my knees pressed against the sliding glass door. The rays of the sunshine streaming through the window danced on the floor, belying the freezing temperatures outside. I leaned forward resting my head against the glass and closed my eyes. The sunshine was refreshing, warm even. I glanced down at the dirty track where the door slid back and forth and watched while a spider spun a web, the tiny gossamer strands sparkling in the light.
I closed my eyes once more and pretended the world around me was silent. The spider and I were all that was left in the world. Most importantly, there was no school.
I counted my breaths, my small undeveloped chest heaving gently. Junior high was no laughing matter and today I didn’t want to go. I didn’t measure up to all of those pretty girls the guys were always ogling. I was plain and odd and clumsy. Oh so clumsy. Just yesterday, I tripped as I walked over to the tray return in the lunch room and sent my food flying all over the most popular girl in school.
She yelled, “What is WRONG with you?!?” I think there was cursing that followed, but the blood pounding in my ears drowned her out. I stood stock still as she ran off, then quickly gathered the contents of my tray and put it in the tray return.
I found the nearest bathroom and cried my poorly applied eye-liner off. The bell rung and I tried to pull myself together, my consolation being that English was next and also my favorite class. My teacher seemed to have an affinity for me and I used that to my advantage as I wandered in five minutes late.
He glanced up at me, looking through the glasses on the tip of his nose. The gray hair at his temples made me think he was easily as old as my Dad. I never wanted to be that old, but I also didn’t want to be in 7th grade anymore.
“Sorry, I’m late,” I mumbled. He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as I took my seat. I doodled on my notebook through his lecture, then slipped out quietly. I was easy to ignore when I wasn’t dumping a tray full of food on the popular girl.
I decided to just survive the day and kept my head down as I made my way through the hallway to my locker. Just as I rounded the corner, I ran head-on into Miss Popular surrounded by her posse.
I gasped, then mumbled, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I began backing away, but one of her friends piped up loud enough for the entire school to hear, “Is THAT the girl who dumped her tray on you?” Disdain was written all over their faces.
“It was me and I’m so, so, so sorry.” I said. And then, I put my foot right in my mouth. “At least the colors kind of match your shirt so it’s not too noticeable.” I blushed ten shades of red as the sentence left my mouth. What was WRONG with me?!?
I spun on my heel and left the gaggle of girls bewildered and promised myself that I would never open my big mouth again.
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Junior high is such a hard time for girls. And I’m sure boys too.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Gossip {Creative Writing}
Ahhhh, Jr. High…it may be fiction but it could just as easily be real…loved it!
Oh, junior high and high school both bring back horrible memories for me! I was such an ugly duckling.
Amanda´s last [type] ..The Gallery
So awkward and sad! Poor girl. I doubt she’ll ever be forgiven for that. Nice piece!
cait´s last [type] ..From the Bookshelf {The Second Mrs. Gioconda}
Ew grade school. I had a girl gunning to beat the snot out of me because I almost knocked over her soda can that was hiding in plain sight in the middle of the walkway. Four years of “You’re lucky you don’t hang around after school, cuz I’ll gut you.” All for an almost event that I would have happily replaced had I actually knocked over her soda.
And that was just her. There were others in the school gunning for me as well. I’m surprised I ended up with two dates to the prom my senior year. (Don’t ask, it wasn’t my idea.) Popular I was, but only as a punching bag.
Sooooo yeah, I’m not scarred or holding grudges or anything.
This was a brilliant post. Everyone has something to identify with in your MC. Well done!
shelton keys dunning´s last [type] ..Week 3: WoE Gossamer & Affinity Challenge
This could have been a page out of my junior high diary. What a miserable time of life. My son will start middle school next year and I worry SO much about him.
Victoria KP´s last [type] ..Affinity
Seriously, is there anything more awkward than junior high? I used to think it was just me, but teaching middle school made me realize how absolutely painful it is for all but a handful of people.
angela´s last [type] ..Dropping the Veil
Oh, middle school is so appalling. I even remember myself as appalling at that age, and I was very well-intentioned!
Annabelle´s last [type] ..Fraternity
I recall those days of feeling plain and klutzy and not knowing how to speak…
You capture it all so well, it doesn’t feel fictional, though I’m glad it is.
Write on Edge´s last [type] ..The Write at the Merge Wrap Up, Week 3
Saying all the wrong things. I remember those days well. (I haven’t actually fully outgrown those days even though junior high is lost behind me)
Tracie´s last [type] ..Knowing And Understanding Your Worth