I ignored the disapproving glares of my fellow students and sat at the desk with my name.
The class wasn't too large, about 15 students at most.
I traced my fingers across my name tag. It was a brilliant and elagent script. I was pulled into by the strange formation of the words. The R reminded me of a animal
without it head. The u was a swing hanging in a tree. The b was a was a tire swing. The y was a jungle vine. Only I could see it though.
"Miss Relevart?"
I looked up to see the teacher, Ms.Robinson starting at me. She was a tall, slender, African American women with long slightly curly hair. Her glasses where black frams.
"Y-Yes ma'm?"
"It's your turn to introduce yourself to the class. Please try not to space out."
"My name is Ruby Relevart."
"Ok Ruby. Tell us about yourself."
" I like books and I play the piano."
" Thats great Ruby I enjoy books as well"
I sat back down and waited for class too really start.
"Teacher's pet"
"Stop"
"Just like always"
"Go away"
"What makes her so special"
"Leave me alone"
"Ruby? Is something wrong?" Ms. Robinson asked.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No but you've been tooned out for the longest. It's lunch time. Everyone is gone."
"Oh, alright."
I grabbed my lunch box and went to the cafeteria.
I took a detour through the media center and said hi to the librarian.
_____________________________________
It took some time to push the heavy double doors and find my classes table.
I pulled out a chair near a group of girls.
"Sorry this chair is being saved for a friend. You can understand."
"Oh, alright."
I chose a next to a few guys.
"Hey you can't sit there."
"Sorry."
I tried so many places and eventually I couldn't sit anywhere. I had to use the empty table next door used for kids who get separated for misbehaving.
I had to eat alone of course.
___________________________________
"Class, I hope your ready for recess."
Everyone cheered and lined up.
I walked outside last wandering where to go.
I was tired and didn't want to play. My favorite spot was open like always. The playground had 3 different parts to it. Everyone used the first two but the the 3rd was mine.
It was a tall yellow jungle gym with a high slide. It was simple. No one used it because is wasn't as flashy or colorful as the others. It worked well for me because I was left alone. I used it when I needed to brood.
I sat on my slide and stared into the sky dreaming about nothing important.
"Ruby. Are you alright?"
Ms. Robinson was standing next to the slide. I turned around and saw another teacher took her place.
"Yes Ms.Robinson."
"Come down here."
I slide down the slide and sat at the bottom
"You've been wondering around all day, it's concerning. Don't you want to play with the other kids?"
"Yes, but I'm tried."
"From what?"
"Life, it stresses one out."
"I think your too young to know what stress is."
"You may be right but what else is there to call it. My stress and your's are not the same. Saying your life is harder is a strange way of making me feel better. It doesn't work no matter how you cut it. Its selfish when adults say there life is harder, because life is hard. Life is a game of dice some rolls are luckier then others but the odds are always against you."
I stared at the sky once more ignoring the woman.
"A child shouldn't talk like that. Who told you that?"
"Are you going off the bases that because of my age I merly repeat what I'm told? I have a brain Ms.Robinson, I use it and refuse to let others fill it with nonsense. Everything I say is my own, are you really going to punish me for that."
"I think you need to look at life differently. Your too young to think as you do, enjoy being a kid."
"If being a kid means I have to be like everyone else I don't want too. I want friends but I won't change my ideals to do so. Besides I enjoy my life. I can see,feel and touch beyond."
"Beyond?"
"What others don't see."
"Do you like to be alone?"
"No, but I'll make friends soon."
"I see as long as your not sad."
And with that she left. Some part of me wanted to believe she understood what I meant but the other didn't care. To her it might just be a cry for help and nothing more.
I hummed a song and made shapes out of the clouds.
'This is a new start for me, I deserve a break. Don't I?
