Chapter Five - Claudia
This one's 1,215 words.
I am so fucking behind.
But I have a NaNo shirt now!
Also, I have three more chapters outlined. Jessi, Stacey, and Dawn. I promise.
And now, the newest installment.
Chapter Five - Claudia
I'll admit it. I, Claudia Kishi, like the Short Takes classes.
I now waht you're going to say. You, Claudia? You hate shcool! You love art! Not shcool!
But Short Takes classes are'not like shcool. Like wen we worked at the mall. Or wen we had the babys.
And now, wen were learning about dys disk jugeing other peeple.
I do luv Short Takes.
I just wish we colud all bee in one class.
And mabye that the class was not about race...
"What class are we in? What class are we in?" Kristy shouted back at me.
Kids turned to stare, but I didn't blush. I barely even blinked. You know you've been friends with Kristy Thomas for too long when...
"We haven't looked!" Stacey called. "We were waiting for you!"
Abby and Kristy exchanged a glance which clearly implied their doubts about the rest of us and our sanity. "Well, then let's go!" shouted Abby finally, and she began a light jog to get into SMS and see the list.
Of course, a light jog for Abby and Kristy leaves the rest of us winded and gasping for air.
A large crowd had already gathered, and they swarmed. Abby yelled "Cover me! I'm going in!" She ducked under arms, through small groups of friends, to the bulletin board where the list was posted. Kristy was right behind her.
Stacey and I talked to Trevor Sandbourne and Emily Bernstein, and tried to pretend we weren't any part of the insanity.
"Okay!" Kristy yelled after a few minutes. "We've got it!"
People turned to stare. Cokie Mason, who's incredibly snotty, whispered what was definitely a nasty comment to her best friend, Grace Blume. I knew Kristy was being a little obnoxious, but I still leveled a special glare at Cokie and her minion.
Kristy held a piece of paper with everyone's classes on it. We all crowded around my locker, which is right by the bulletin board. Kristy paused dramatically.
"Kristy!" Jessi said. "Stop being so dramatic! Just talk!"
Most of us laughed, but Mal still looked kind of nauseated. Jessi put an arm around her supportively.
"Okay, okay," Kristy said. "Let's see."
"Am I alone?" Mal interrupted nervously.
"Nope," Kristy said. You're with Abby."
"Oh, good." Mal breathed a sigh of relief and, at Abby's prompting, high-fived her.
"Stace, you're with Logan," Kristy continued. "Mary Anne and Claud, you guys are together." (Mary Anne and I grinned at each other.) "And Jessi, you're with me."
"Cool!" Jessi said with a smile.
I think we were all just really glad that none of us were alone in our Short Takes class.
The warning bell rang, and everyone started breaking up to go to their lockers. "See you at lunch!" we all called to each other, or, "See you after school!" to Mal and Jessi.
I think I stayed awake in all my morning classes. I can't be sure. None of my teachers had to wake me or anything, but I definitely wasn't paying attention. I spent most of my time thinking about our new Short Takes.
I haven't really ever faced discrimination based on my race - not ever. We had one client who didn't like me because of my heritage, but overall, Stoneybrook is really accepting.
But this was going to be a class about stereotypes. A class about being different. And in that class, everyone would notice that I'm not like them. Being Japanese-American is very important to me; I really do care about my cultural history. But I did NOT want to be the Japanese Girl in my class. I don't know too many Asian kids at Stoneybrook Middle School at all, so there was a pretty good chance I'd be the only one. I'd be representing Asian-Americans everywhere.
I didn't know if I could handle that responsibility.
At lunch, everyone was buzzing about their Short Takes class. Abby had found out that Alan Gray was going to be in her and Mal's class, and was trying to figure out how to guarantee that he wouldn't bother Mallory. Kristy found out that she and Jessi would be in Short Takes with Mr. Redmont, who had felt that our fearless leader needed to exercise decorum in seventh grade and as such did not have the best of relationships with her, and was freaking out. Stacey was worrying about Robert, her ex-boyfriend, who was also in the class, and whether Logan would want to talk to her or Robert and what she'd do otherwise. (Luckily, Emily was in her class too, so Stacey was a little bit placated.)
Mary Anne looked at me. "What's wrong, Claud?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said.
"Claudia," she prompted gently. "I can see it in your face."
Now everyone else turned. "What's wrong, Claud?" Abby pressed.
"Did you fail that math test?" Stacey asked me.
Actually, I'd gotten a seventy-four, and my math teacher, Mr. Zorzi, said I was doing a really good job this time around. "No," I said.
"Did Cokie do something to you?" Kristy asked, her hands tightening into fists.
"No!" I exclaimed, frustrated. Then I calmed down. "No. Nothing like that. I'm- everything's fine. I'm just a little tired."
Abby and Kristy accepted that, and got into a discussion about football that I didn't understand. I would have been okay with that. But Stacey is my best friend, and Mary Anne is more perceptive than anyone else, ever. They kept badgering me. "Claud," Stacey said patiently, "we're not trying to bug you. We just..."
"Stace, I'm fine," I insisted. She looked at me like she didn't believe me, but she shrugged, and let it go.
Mary Anne gave me a long, probing look, but then she saved me. "Hey, Abby, ready for your job today?"
Mary Anne always knows everyone's schedules.
Abby rolled her eyes dramatically. "At this rate, I think we need at least four sitters for the Pikes'. And possibly an armed guard."
"Don't forget a Kid Kit," teased Stacey.
"And a bone for Pow!" Kristy chimed in. (Pow is the Pikes' dog.)
I didn't talk much, but luckily, I don't think anyone noticed. They were wrapped up in their discussion of the Pikes, and then of whether or not Mary Anne's dad's friend would call the BSC, and if he would, what would he say, and why did her dad's friend not want her to call us? It was a pretty interesting discussion, but it just couldn't hold my focus.
When we were allowed to leave lunch, Mary Anne hung back from tossing her tray to talk to me. "It's about the Short Takes thing, isn't it?" she asked.
I nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry," Mary Anne said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
I did. But not right then. Not in the middle of the cafeteria when anyone could see me. Not if maybe, just maybe, I might start to cry.
"No thanks," I said. "But thank you."
Mary Anne nodded. "So I'll see you at the meeting tonight?"
"Yeah," I said. "Definitely."
I stood up to toss my garbage, and walked away as though nothing were really wrong.
But all that I wanted was for Short Takes to be over now, before it had even started.
I am so fucking behind.
But I have a NaNo shirt now!
Also, I have three more chapters outlined. Jessi, Stacey, and Dawn. I promise.
And now, the newest installment.
Chapter Five - Claudia
I'll admit it. I, Claudia Kishi, like the Short Takes classes.
I now waht you're going to say. You, Claudia? You hate shcool! You love art! Not shcool!
But Short Takes classes are'not like shcool. Like wen we worked at the mall. Or wen we had the babys.
And now, wen were learning about dys disk jugeing other peeple.
I do luv Short Takes.
I just wish we colud all bee in one class.
And mabye that the class was not about race...
"What class are we in? What class are we in?" Kristy shouted back at me.
Kids turned to stare, but I didn't blush. I barely even blinked. You know you've been friends with Kristy Thomas for too long when...
"We haven't looked!" Stacey called. "We were waiting for you!"
Abby and Kristy exchanged a glance which clearly implied their doubts about the rest of us and our sanity. "Well, then let's go!" shouted Abby finally, and she began a light jog to get into SMS and see the list.
Of course, a light jog for Abby and Kristy leaves the rest of us winded and gasping for air.
A large crowd had already gathered, and they swarmed. Abby yelled "Cover me! I'm going in!" She ducked under arms, through small groups of friends, to the bulletin board where the list was posted. Kristy was right behind her.
Stacey and I talked to Trevor Sandbourne and Emily Bernstein, and tried to pretend we weren't any part of the insanity.
"Okay!" Kristy yelled after a few minutes. "We've got it!"
People turned to stare. Cokie Mason, who's incredibly snotty, whispered what was definitely a nasty comment to her best friend, Grace Blume. I knew Kristy was being a little obnoxious, but I still leveled a special glare at Cokie and her minion.
Kristy held a piece of paper with everyone's classes on it. We all crowded around my locker, which is right by the bulletin board. Kristy paused dramatically.
"Kristy!" Jessi said. "Stop being so dramatic! Just talk!"
Most of us laughed, but Mal still looked kind of nauseated. Jessi put an arm around her supportively.
"Okay, okay," Kristy said. "Let's see."
"Am I alone?" Mal interrupted nervously.
"Nope," Kristy said. You're with Abby."
"Oh, good." Mal breathed a sigh of relief and, at Abby's prompting, high-fived her.
"Stace, you're with Logan," Kristy continued. "Mary Anne and Claud, you guys are together." (Mary Anne and I grinned at each other.) "And Jessi, you're with me."
"Cool!" Jessi said with a smile.
I think we were all just really glad that none of us were alone in our Short Takes class.
The warning bell rang, and everyone started breaking up to go to their lockers. "See you at lunch!" we all called to each other, or, "See you after school!" to Mal and Jessi.
I think I stayed awake in all my morning classes. I can't be sure. None of my teachers had to wake me or anything, but I definitely wasn't paying attention. I spent most of my time thinking about our new Short Takes.
I haven't really ever faced discrimination based on my race - not ever. We had one client who didn't like me because of my heritage, but overall, Stoneybrook is really accepting.
But this was going to be a class about stereotypes. A class about being different. And in that class, everyone would notice that I'm not like them. Being Japanese-American is very important to me; I really do care about my cultural history. But I did NOT want to be the Japanese Girl in my class. I don't know too many Asian kids at Stoneybrook Middle School at all, so there was a pretty good chance I'd be the only one. I'd be representing Asian-Americans everywhere.
I didn't know if I could handle that responsibility.
At lunch, everyone was buzzing about their Short Takes class. Abby had found out that Alan Gray was going to be in her and Mal's class, and was trying to figure out how to guarantee that he wouldn't bother Mallory. Kristy found out that she and Jessi would be in Short Takes with Mr. Redmont, who had felt that our fearless leader needed to exercise decorum in seventh grade and as such did not have the best of relationships with her, and was freaking out. Stacey was worrying about Robert, her ex-boyfriend, who was also in the class, and whether Logan would want to talk to her or Robert and what she'd do otherwise. (Luckily, Emily was in her class too, so Stacey was a little bit placated.)
Mary Anne looked at me. "What's wrong, Claud?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said.
"Claudia," she prompted gently. "I can see it in your face."
Now everyone else turned. "What's wrong, Claud?" Abby pressed.
"Did you fail that math test?" Stacey asked me.
Actually, I'd gotten a seventy-four, and my math teacher, Mr. Zorzi, said I was doing a really good job this time around. "No," I said.
"Did Cokie do something to you?" Kristy asked, her hands tightening into fists.
"No!" I exclaimed, frustrated. Then I calmed down. "No. Nothing like that. I'm- everything's fine. I'm just a little tired."
Abby and Kristy accepted that, and got into a discussion about football that I didn't understand. I would have been okay with that. But Stacey is my best friend, and Mary Anne is more perceptive than anyone else, ever. They kept badgering me. "Claud," Stacey said patiently, "we're not trying to bug you. We just..."
"Stace, I'm fine," I insisted. She looked at me like she didn't believe me, but she shrugged, and let it go.
Mary Anne gave me a long, probing look, but then she saved me. "Hey, Abby, ready for your job today?"
Mary Anne always knows everyone's schedules.
Abby rolled her eyes dramatically. "At this rate, I think we need at least four sitters for the Pikes'. And possibly an armed guard."
"Don't forget a Kid Kit," teased Stacey.
"And a bone for Pow!" Kristy chimed in. (Pow is the Pikes' dog.)
I didn't talk much, but luckily, I don't think anyone noticed. They were wrapped up in their discussion of the Pikes, and then of whether or not Mary Anne's dad's friend would call the BSC, and if he would, what would he say, and why did her dad's friend not want her to call us? It was a pretty interesting discussion, but it just couldn't hold my focus.
When we were allowed to leave lunch, Mary Anne hung back from tossing her tray to talk to me. "It's about the Short Takes thing, isn't it?" she asked.
I nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry," Mary Anne said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
I did. But not right then. Not in the middle of the cafeteria when anyone could see me. Not if maybe, just maybe, I might start to cry.
"No thanks," I said. "But thank you."
Mary Anne nodded. "So I'll see you at the meeting tonight?"
"Yeah," I said. "Definitely."
I stood up to toss my garbage, and walked away as though nothing were really wrong.
But all that I wanted was for Short Takes to be over now, before it had even started.