"First day of fifth grade! We finally get to see everyone again!" My friend Josie beamed. She always enjoys things that everyone else dreads. "We even have time to snag some school breakfast!"
"Eh..." I respond.
"WAIT..." Josie froze for a second.
"What?"
"Vidia..." Josie pointed to one of the lunch benches. "Is that... PAISLEY!?" she pointed to our other friend, Paisley.
Paisley looked unlike herself from the last time I saw her. The color was drained out of her skin, her face was filled with horror, and she was biting her nails.
"PAISLEY!" We both came running towards her.
"JOSIE! VIDIA!" Paisley said, calming down.
"Did your dad give you summer homework!?" Josie asked, sitting next to her on the bench. "SEE, VIDIA, I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD HAVE HID HER IN THE GIRLS' TOILETS!"
"No, worse!" Paisley shook her head. "Austin's back!"
Josie and I looked at each other with the same, panicked look.
If you don't know, Austin is this super annoying kid who likes to pester and bully girls. We hated him in third grade, which was when I first came to Linden Elementary school. Thankfully, he left in fourth grade, but this year, he's back.
"And he's in my class!" Paisley added on.
"Which class?" I asked.
"Ms. Pierce's class." Paisley responded.
"I'm in Ms. Pierce's class too!" Josie squealed.
"Oh, darn, i'm in Mrs. Sanders's class!" I sighed.
"Excuse me, where's Mrs. Sanders' class?" I overheard Mateo Cho asked.
"Vidia, go follow him! He's in your class!" Josie commanded. "Paisley and I are 'gonna finish breakfast."
"Bye!" I waved to Josie and Paisley was they waved back.
***
As I followed Mateo to the gate where we were supposed to line up, I realized even though I was tall for my age, these kids lining up were much taller. And I didn't know half of my new classmates, even though I knew everyone in my grade.
As the bell rang, being the caboose, I followed everyone to a place i've known existed for the past two years, but i've never been to before. I looked at the sign on the door before I entered. "Room 9: Mrs. Sanders's sixth grade class."
Just then, a lady with red hair and flannel jacket, who appeared to be Mrs. Sanders opened the door.
"Uhm, excuse me, this is a sixth grade class." I asked as I pointed to the sign.
"This is a combo-class." Mrs. Sanders responded. I didn't know what she was talking about, but I still walked to an empty desk with no partner. All the other desks were full.
"If you're wondering," Mrs. Sanders announced. "Half the room are sixth graders, and half the room are fifth graders. The desks should be full, right?"
Mateo raised his hand and pointed at the empty chair next to me.
"Is Claudia here?" Mrs. Sanders asked. "The fifth grader, Claudia?"
We all looked around.
"Well, when she does come, she's sitting right there!" Mrs. Sanders pointed to the empty desk next to mine.
Oh, no. Clumsy Claudia is going to be my partner! The girl that can't pick up a pencil without poking her eye! Everyone here gets to sit with their best friend while I get to sit with Clumsy Claudia!
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.