The Days After

Home

For the first 15 minutes, Grace completely zoned out on the bus ride home. She didn't say anything to anyone while she stared loosely at the passing scenery. She was tired, exhausted even, from this particularly odd first day back. The problem was that she couldn't stop replaying the conversations and various interactions she had over the day. Some moments, like seeing the gang, made her smile, while others, like the chat with Principal Cardin, made her insides shiver. Grace's emotions fluctuated, and it was safe to say that she was rattled. At 13 years old, you're expected to be annoyed by parental controls and that awkward growth stage that takes place in middle school, not some kind of schoolwide conspiracy theory.

Grace closed her eyes and attempted to exhale the day away.

"I look forward to having more of our chats."

Grace's heart began to quicken its pace, and her eyes opened with a force that seemed excessive. When the sun hit her eyes, they appeared hazel, as opposed to their everyday shade of dark brown. When Grace looked around for the first time, the bus was in chaos, per usual. Obnoxious laughter, loud voices, and an occasional reprimand from the bus driver, but there was something new today.

Grace saw pointer fingers aimed her way, followed by whispers and snickers. Annoying though it was, it didn't goat Grace into responding, and she continued her vow of silence all the way to the stop in her neighborhood. As she exited the bus, the driver looked into the rearview, and concern spread across his face.

"Hey there, you alright?" he asked
Grace looked up. "Yea, just a long first day."
"I can understand that. You wearing blue, so you musta' started eighth grade today?"
"Yea, I did."
"Well, you don't get to do that every day!"

Grace forced a grin on her face, and he continued

"And you won't get to do it no more!"

Now, Grace was starting to feel uncomfortable again, and she wanted, no, needed to get off the bus.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow," Grace said, going down the bus stairs.

Grace hit the sidewalk before the bus driver spoke again.

"I hope so!"

Then he closed the door and sped off. Grace stood there, trying to process that conversation.

"What did he mean? I hope so?" she thought.

The other three kids that had gotten off the bus before Grace were already on their way home when she decided it might be a good idea for her to head home too. As she made her journey home, she found herself consumed again with thoughts of the day.

"What is about today?"
"Is there something in the water?"
"Did I not get the memo to be odd all day?"

As she turned the corner into her yard, she was still deep in thought right up until she reached the doorstep, and then the door burst open.

"Well, hello, monkey! My favorite daughter!"
Grace smiled. "I'm your only daughter, mom!"
"And that's why you're my favorite! Now get on in this house and tell me bout your first day!"
"umm...How much time you got?"

Grace's mom looked at her wrist and appeared to be calculating some mental math.

"Mom, you're not wearing a watch."
"Oh, you're right! That's because I give all my time to you!"

She kissed Grace on the forehead and waved her inside. Grace put one foot over the threshold, then stopped, turned, and tilted her head to the side. She was listening for a specific sound, and when she didn't hear it, she listened for any sound. She realized the only sounds she could hear were their voices and her internal thoughts. No wind, no lawnmowers, no laughter. The silence was deafening. She looked over at the birdcage in the front yard, and then Grace looked at her mom.