Ninjago: Rise of the Serpentine (Next Generation)

That One Kid

"Your dad seriously let you go?" Miss Grindle asked from her position on one of the chairs on the front porch. Amelia had asked her to come early and pick her up from her house to drive her to the city. Miss Grindle had to have asked that question a million times. But Amelia still loved the answer.

"Yeah! Can you believe it?" she responded never losing her enthusiasm even though she'd said it a million times more. "I'm just worried about how I'm supposed to act. I've never really been around kids my age."

Miss Grindle smiled a smile that all old lady's have. She pulled Amelia into a side hug and said, "All you have to do is chill."

"But how?! I've never been around so many kids! What if I do something really embarrassing?"

Miss Grindle tightened her hold on Amelia. "Don't worry. Just lay low and don't make a show. Make a few of the unpopular type of friends."

Amelia made a confused face. "How do I know if they're popular or not?" she asked.

Miss Grindle laughed. "Oh, you'll know."

Just then, Cole walked in from the front door. They both looked up, Amelia with a worried expression.

"You haven't changed your mind have you?" Amelia asked, worried for a moment.

Cole chuckled. "No, though I want to." Then added quickly, seeing Amelia's worried face "but I won't."

Amelia sighed with relief.

"But I need to talk to you. Alone."

Amelia was suddenly tight again. Cole signaled her to follow him into the house. She did. When they were both in the house, Cole put a strong hand on her shoulder.

"Listen, like Miss Grindle said, a lower profile, the better," he said looking her in the eyes.

Amelia shifted, a little uncomfortable. "Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

Cole shook his head. "One more thing. Don't use your real surname. From now on, go by Amelia Chumsworth."

Amelia made a funny face. "Chumsworth?" she questioned.

"Just go with it," Cole said. "And have fun."

He embraced her in a hug and when he finally let her go, she told him, "I'll miss you."

"Me too," Cole said. 

Amelia was starting toward the door when Cole grabbed her arm to stop her. "And Amelia?"

Amelia turne. "Yes, dad?"

"Please come back."

Amelia nodded, forcing down tears as she walked out the door to Miss Grindle.

"Ready to go?" asked the old lady.

Amelia nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Miss Grindle and Amelia walked to the car in which Miss Grindle drove - a small, green mini-van. Amelia was about to hop in when Miss Grindle stopped her. 

"Are you forgetting something," she asked knowingly.

Amelia ran through everything she needed in her brain. Then her eyes widened in realization.

"I'll be right back," she said as she raced back to the house. Amelia slammed open the screen door to the front porch then did the same thing to the front door. She raced to her closet, getting a strange look from Cole as she passed him. When got to her room (the closet) she saw the precious thing she's nearly forgotten. Her backpack.

She grabbed it and raced all the way back out the front door and porch and into Miss Grindle's car. She opened the front door and this time, hopped in without a problem. She sat back in the seat, breathing hard.