The Card Carriers

     "You do know that's where the populars sit?" A girl with white hair set in a braid said to Stephan, a new kid, who was heading towards a lively table in the middle of the cafeteria.

     "No, I did not.  Thanks for telling me that before I made the mistake of sitting there," Stephan said.  He was a tall, skinny kid with light brown hair.   

     "You're welcome to sit at the table I sit at.  The populars might judge us, but we don't judge other people." The girl said and started leading Stephan to a table at a far corner.

     "Thanks, my name is Stephan.  What's your name?" Stephan asked.

     "My name is Julie." She said, sitting down and motioning for Stephan to sit down beside her.

     "Who's this, Julie?" A boy with pale blue hair in a mohawk asked.

     "This is Stephan.  Stephan, this is Roy, Beth, Mable, and Tyler." Julie said, pointing from the pale blue hair kid, to a girl with a light orange colored hair in a bun, to a girl with blond hair with lime green stripes going through it in a pixie cut, to a boy with violet colored hair in a crew cut.

     "So how old are you?" Mable asked.

     "I'm seventeen," Stephan answered.

     "We're all seventeen at this table it seems." Roy said.

     "Yep, so what brings you to Maplewood High School?" Julie asked.

     "My mom had to transfer for her job." Stephan said.

     "That's mostly how kids move to Maplewood.  Their parents get a transfer." Tyler said.

     "Stephan, let me see you're schedule," Beth said, and Stephan handed Beth his schedule.

     "It seems we're in all your afternoon classes, even your elective, which is P.E.," Beth said and handed the schedule back.

     "I'm actually in all of his classes.  He just didn't notice me sitting in the back row with him because he was very nervous in all the classes earlier." Julie said.

     "You are?" Stephan said.

     "Most of the populars are too." Julie said, nodding her head towards the popular table.

     "So what are you guys?" Stephan asked.

     "I guess we would call ourselves outcasts," Roy said.

     "That would be an appropriate term, yes." Julie said, nodding her head.

     "I like that term," Stephan said.

     "As do we," Julie said.

     "I think I'm going to like you guys." Stephan said.

     "Good," Tyler said.

     "So what's our next class?" Stephan asked.

     "History," Beth answered.

     "History class is always boring to me," Stephan said.

     "Not at this school," Julie said laughing.

     "What do you mean?" Stephan asked, but they wouldn't tell him anything else.

*****

     "Now I see what you mean," Stephan whispered to Julie as a female teacher dressed as an ancient Greek came in.

     "That's Mrs. Williams.  She's about everyone's favorite teacher." Julie whispered back.

     "Today, we are going out to content in our own version of the Olympics," Mrs. Williams said.