Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 12

Tuesday.

Why in the world would they have us have a Tuesday off, but not a Monday? It makes no sense to me. We go to school 1 day, have a break, go to school for 3 days. Not that I am complaining to have a day off, just complaining to have only Tuesday off, why not Monday, too?

I don't let myself continue to think of those kinds of pointless things, instead I grab a random book off the shelf, and head out to the bench under the old oak tree. Turtle is on the wood brick next to the bench, so I lift him up. He's so cute. I realize it's probably stupid to think a turtle could be a friend, but turtle really is a great companion. He can't run away, and he doesn't make a mess, Mom thinks I should let him go, because I am too attacked. She's in town, so I don't have to worry about her thoughts against him.

I can't stop looking at the wood. I can't stop thinking about the boy in the shed, and how he stood up for me. How he helped me when I fell off the swing. Mom says that those who help you always want something from you, but I don't think so. What could I give him? When I offered him help, he rejected it and said he'd be fine. Would he do that if he wanted something from me? And, what in the world could I give him? I am unpopular, I'm not pretty, I don't make money.

Mom gets home about an hour later, and we go inside to make lunch. I convinced Mom to have a picnic with me in the meadow. She agreed, because It's a beautiful day. I am cutting up the fruit for the fruit salad, while Mom makes the sandwiches. Mom has homemade soft pretzels in the oven, so we are waiting for them before we can leave. I grab the picnic basket out of the closet, and place the 4 sandwiches Mom made, along with the tub of fruit in, while Mom wraps the pretzels. Then, she puts them in.

We head to the meadow, and out to a small picnic table Mom told me Dad built. I wish I knew more about Dad, but Mom doesn't like to talk about him. Sometimes I really do wonder, why?

"How's your sandwich?" Mom asks

"Fine, but you added too much tomato."

"I only put one slice, though."

"Exactly," Mom must have forgotten I absolutely despise tomato on sandwiches. They taste wrong with the meat and cheese, "Everything else tastes great," Mom laughs at that.

"How's school?"

How's school? 'Well, I have no friends, I am bullied, and all the teachers think I should be more like that brat who shows off way too much skin everyone calls Sara Jane', "Great," I lie

Sara doesn't meet what her name means. There are actually 2 meanings for the name Sara. In Indian, it's soul and in Hebrew, it's Princess. I guess she might meet Princess, being as she acts like a snobby, skimpy princess 99.9% of the time.

I am still staring at the wood. I can't stop staring at it, and thinking of the swing, and the shed next to it.