A Change Could Do You Good
A Change Could Do You Good
Chapter 11
By Sarah Donnen
School started for me the Monday after I moved. It was right before Christmas vacation and everyone was buzzing around like bees. I went from class to class, practically ignoring everybody. I thought it was strange that I didn't see Nick there, I was sure I would because he was my age and everything, not to mention that the school was pretty small, but I shrugged it off and went about my day. I made a few friends the first day, a few more the second, and by the end of the week, I felt like I knew the whole school. I told you I couldn't help but have friends, and this seemed like the school to have as many as possible. I had friends, no enemies, yet. I thought I'd have enemies, and before I knew it, too. It was something I didn't like having, but I knew there had to be another Candy and another Lila around here, these people couldn't all be this nice. No way, doesn't seem right.
The week flew by, followed by the next week, and then there was Christmas vacation. I always laughed at myself, I wore shorts to school everyday and had a great tan. I kept teasing Sarah about it too, whenever I talked to her. She felt jealous, she loved the sun just as much as I did and she loved being tan. I told her once that I wouldn't be surprised if we compared each other and she would be as white as a sheet while I would look like a black shirt. Vacation came too quick for me, and I was almost lonesome for school to return, so I wouldn't be bored. A lot of my newfound friends went away for the vacation, while I was stuck home. Mom was out a lot, getting new assignments, spending more time at her office than at home, but she said that she was making a lot of money. Much more than we'd ever had. She told me that Christmas was going to be the best one we've ever had.
I woke up Christmas morning to the smell of Cheerios. I don't know why, but whenever my mom makes banana bread, it smells like Cheerios. Not that I mind, I love both. I ran downstairs and grabbed the plate off of the counter as my mom sat it down.
"Merry Christmas, Aly! Here's your first surprise of the day, your banana bread for breakfast," she said, smiling at me.
I, being the little pig I am when it comes to banana bread, smiled with my mouth full. "Thank you, Mommy," I said.
My mom laughed and ruffled my bed hair. "You're welcome, baby, come and open your presents!" She exclaimed, leading me to the living room. We'd had a tree put up a few days before and decorated it that night. It looked beautiful, the lights were sparkling and the presents underneath were all shining with their different colored wrapping paper.
"Mom! You didn't have to get me this much!" I exclaimed, sitting on the floor in front of the tree.
She smiled and sat down next to me. "I told you, this is going to be the best Christmas ever for you. I spared no expense getting everything you would need for the next year and I don't regret it. Don't worry, I spoiled myself too," she said.
"I sure hope so, otherwise, I'd feel awfully bad about having this much stuff!" I said, smiling at her. I gave her a big hug, she was the best mom I could ever ask for.
After we'd opened all of our presents, the phone rang. I looked at my mom strangely, and she just gestured to the phone. I picked it up and it was Sarah. I was so happy to hear from her, I missed her so much. We ended up talking for the next three and a half hours, but our parents didn't mind. They said it was our Christmas present from the both of them. I talked to Sarah's entire family, even Derek. Oh, I missed him a lot, too. He was joking around with me when Sarah grabbed the phone out of his hands, saying we only had about an hour and a half left.
I laughed and we talked until our time was up. We said goodbye and I immediately started to cry, I missed everyone back in Jersey so much, I couldn't stand being away from them. My mom promised that I could go see them in the summer, maybe around my birthday, and I accepted that. Then she said I had to go get dressed, we were going to the Carter's later for Christmas dinner. I dragged myself and most of my presents upstairs, dreading the time I'd have to go and face Nick again.
