I Feel Alone

Chapter four: 2015

Late January...
The Theodore family were preparing their children for another new school year. A few days before school, they went around to their grandparents house. "I am going to be in grade three this year, Aunty Tia!" Rosa stood up tall, swishing her brown ponytail over her shoulder. "I will be in grade one!" Mila exclaimed, circling around her older sister. "Me... kindy!" Lulu giggled. Rosa raced over and picked up her little brother, carrying him over to where aunty Tia and her nanny sat talking together. "Riley is lucky! He gets to stay home." Rosa said. "You're all going to do amazing this year!" Aunty Tia hugged the children. "You're growing up very fast." Nanny added. "Yes." Rosa smiled.

*******

Grade three for Rosa was one of her most tough years during primary school. The main reason was she had been bullied a few times by a girl in her class. The first few days of grade three flew by. Sierra was a girl Rosa didn't like and she was very nervous around her. She'd often push Rosa out of lines or tease her by calling her names. Rosa hated it. She hated the fact she couldn't really stand up for herself. But there were a lot of positive things that happened during the year. Rosa made two new friends called Sally and Maddison. They were twins with dark mocha coloured hair and brown eyes. They were really kind and sweet. Sheila, Rosa's friend in prep, introduced Rosa to the twins. One day at first break, Rosa ran outside to the bag rack and started digging through her backpack. "What are you looking for, Rosa?" Sally asked. "I brought my Beanie Boos to school today!" She answered. Finally, she found three and the girls ran down the pathway together. With Sheila and Maddison, the four girls loved throwing their toys in the air and catching them. Often, the toys big sparkly eyes got scratched from hitting the roof. Rosa loved playing with her friends. Sometimes she'd wonder about Charlie and Hallie. They'd left the school this year and wouldn't be coming back. Rosa didn't know what class Bria was in. She felt sad about it a lot.

*******

"Let's eat outside the hall today." Sheila said, taking hold of Rosa's hand. "Okay!" Rosa exclaimed. The four girls sat down together at their usual place in front of the school hall, and opened their lunch boxes. "Sheila, you have your Dora lunchbox again!" Maddison laughed. Rosa and Sally began poking at a mark on Dora's face. Sheila giggled and joined in. "Do you have those yummy biscuits again Rosa?" She asked. "Oh yes! Would you like them?" Rosa handed them to Sheila who thanked her. Alyssa loved baking cakes and biscuits at home. She had this one recipe called coffee sugar crystal biscuits. They weren't Rosa's favourite cookies in the world, but Sheila loved them. The girls loved to trade food. "Here, Rosa. You can have my barbecue shapes." Sheila said, through a mouthful of biscuit. As the girls ate, they watched some older children play cricket inside the hall. Suddenly, the ball came flying out and hit Rosa in the face. She screamed loudly. "OWW!" She wailed, and started to cry. "Omg, are you okay, Rosa?" Sheila asked anxiously. Rosa kept sobbing as she clutched her face. "It hurts!" She rubbed her nose. The teacher on duty, Mr Dart, came running over followed by a few kids. "Is she okay?" He asked Sally, who shrugged worriedly. "Maybe we should call an ambulance." Mr Dart suggested. Rosa howled louder. "Please, no, I'm fine!" She cried. Mr Dart advised Maddison to take Rosa up to the office to get some ice for her nose. A few minutes later, the girls were at the office in the first aid room. A teacher looked at Rosa's nose. "That looks a bit swollen and red. How hard did the ball hit you, sweetie?" She asked. "I don't know." Rosa replied. She was handed a bag of ice which she placed on her nose. "Just take it easy today, okay?" Rosa nodded. "I can't believe that happened." Sally said, as the girls left the office to go back to lunch. "I know!" Maddison replied. "It was a bit scary." Sheila added. "Yup." Rosa winced, clutching the ice to her face.

*******

One awkward moment of the year was a birthday party. At school one day, Rosa was approached by her friend Leah and was handed an invitation to her eighth birthday party. "I'd love to come, Leah!" Rosa hugged her friend. The day of the party arrived, and Rosa brought her swimsuit. When she arrived at Leah's house, she felt a squirming sensation in her stomach. Rosa bit her lip until she tasted metallic blood. "Are you all right, sweetheart?" Alyssa asked, as Rosa climbed out of the car. "I don't know if I wanna go." She mumbled. "Aw, you'll be okay. Let's go and give Leah her present at least." Alyssa walked with her daughter up to the front door and rang the bell. The door was answered by Leah. "Hi Rosa!" She cried. Leah wore a strand of daisies in her dark brown hair and a sparkly star patterned swimsuit with a skirt over the top. "Mum's cooked pizza!" She pulled Rosa by her hands into the house. Rosa was sweating profusely and her knees wobbled as she walked. There were lots of girls in the backyard squealing and splashing around in the pool. Rosa's stomach clenched. She felt as if her legs were made of wood, she could barely move them. Her body began to shank with nerves and then tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Rosa?" Leah walked over to her friend. "Are you okay?" Rosa opened her mouth, but then burst into tears. Rosa couldn't remember what happened after that. Alyssa told her that when she came to pick her up, she was sitting on a deck chair eating a slice of pizza with some of her friends and looking very miserable and ashamed. Rosa raced to her bedroom and flung herself on her bed. I wish I didn't ruin Leah's party like that. But I couldn't stand the crowd of people or that awful noise. I had to leave. What was going on with her?

*******

One month later, it was Rosa's birthday. "I'm so excited for my party, Mummy!" She cried. Rosa was turning nine years old. Unfortunately, she was suffering from a cold at the moment. "Yes, I hope you will be better by the time of your party." Alyssa replied. "I think she will." Samuel grinned. Riley toddled over to Rosa on his chubby legs. "Rosa, birfday!" He cried gleefully. "Yes Riley! Birthday." She corrected, scooping him up onto her lap for a cuddle. A few days before Rosa's birthday, she came down with a cold. "Ah.. CHOO!" Rosa sneezed into a tissue and wiped her nose. "Mummy, I hate being sick!" She snuffled. "Poor darling. I'm sure you'll be better soon in time for your party." Alyssa comforted. "I hope so." Rosa answered, sadly staring at the box of tissues sitting next to her.

*******

The day of Rosa's birthday arrived. The party was later that afternoon so they had plenty of time to prepare. Unfortunately, the birthday girl woke up not feeling very well. She ate birthday pancakes with syrup and strawberries and opened her presents. Later that afternoon, after their relatives dropped round, she got dressed. Rosa wore a navy satin dress with sequins and beads with a denim jacket and grey tights underneath. Alyssa took photos of Rosa. She looked very sick with her red eyes and nose. "We're not cancelling the party, Mummy!" Rosa cried. "No, no, of course not, sweetheart." Alyssa said hesitantly. Then there was tapping at the door. "My friends are here!" Rosa squealed happily, running down the hallway in her stockinged feet. Soon the living room was full of Rosa's friends. Maddison, Sally, Sheila and Leah were all at her party. Rosa was having an amazing time so far. She'd received Smiggle stationery gifts and toys. "Okay, Rosa would you like to put on the movie now?" Alyssa asked. Her friends were staying to eat pizza and watch a movie. Rosa had chosen Rio. One of her favourites. "Okay, Mummy!" Rosa giggled. She sat down on the couch, surrounded by her friends and played the movie. A few minutes later, the pizza arrived. The girls sat on the living room floor eating pizza off paper plates and drinking soft drink and juice. "Hawaiian is my favourite pizza." Rosa took a bite of a piece. "Meat lovers is so yummy." Sheila grinned at her friend. Overall, the party was a great success. When her friends left, Rosa was advised by her parents to go and get changed and then get into bed. Reluctantly, Rosa carried her gift bag to her room and she changed into her pyjamas. Mila was already in bed, reading a book. "Bed time girls." Samuel and Alyssa came in to say goodnight. "Goodnight Mummy and Daddy.Thanks for my party." Rosa hugged her mum tightly. "Goodnight, darling. I'm glad you enjoyed the party." Alyssa whispered. "We love you Rosa. Sleep well!" Then they went to say goodnight to Mila. Rosa lay there in the dark quietly, thinking about her party.

*******

The main reason Rosa liked about school, was spending time with her group of friends. One day, Sheila brought a toy green rubber lizard to school. "This is Lizzie!" Sheila introduced the lizard to Rosa. "Nice to meet you Lizzie. Do you have a place to live?" She asked. "Sheila! We should make Lizzie an upside down pool and a cardboard house!" She exclaimed. "Great idea!" Sheila cried. The two girls began cutting out paper, colouring with pens and gluing cardboard. Rosa clicked the turquoise blue pen lid on. "There. Lizzie has a beautiful house." She declared. Sheila had come up with the genius idea to glue Lizzie's pool underneath the table. Rosa had cut out tissue paper to make a blanket for Lizzie's bed. Their teacher, Mrs De Marsh, had complimented their work. "That looks lovely, girls!" She smiled. "Rosa did most of the work." Sheila grinned at her friend. "You definitely are a creative girl, Rosa." Mrs De Marsh winked at her. Rosa loved Mrs De Marsh. She quickly shot up to the top of Rosa's list of favourite teachers for this year.