Harriet O'Neill, first day of after school choir.

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Chapter 1:

Harriet O'Neill knew she was doomed after signing her name on the after-school choir sheet.


True, her mom did force her to, in hopes of Harriet making friends. Her mom - the kindest woman in the world who always tried to do what was best for her family - didn't know that every time Harriet opened her mouth to make friends something just happened to go wrong. Just her luck.


And so, to make her mom satisfied Harriet showed up early one Monday morning, and sang 'Happy Birthday', to no one in particular for her voicing lesson so she would be placed in "voice sections" Ms. Roundtree had worded it for next week's first practice.


And now here she was, Harriet O'Neill standing three feet away from the choir room door brain aching from trying to find an excuse to just skip the practice that Wednesday or every Wednesday if possible.


Taking a shaky breath, Harriet stepped forward... no wait she stepped backwards. Why am I walking backwards? Harriet thought; if she kept going, she would be in front of Mr. Gilred's science class or bump into the water fountain just left of his class. She just couldn't get her legs to work the way she wished!


Upon hearing the voices approach from the 6th-grade hallway, Harriet starts to panic! If classmates saw her like this, they would certainly never be friends with her thinking she was a crazy girl!


After a desperate struggle with her limbs, Harriet finally planted her feet into place with a bit too much force that made her topple backward onto her behind. "Bah!!!"


"Adam, Oliver is a very good guy. I know he doesn't have the same feeling for me, but a girl can dream." The sound of a female's voice arrived.


"Ha! Sure... I am sorry Macy, it's never fun when crushes aren't returned." The voice, maybe belonging to Adam, replied.


"You got that right, it's never easy, and it..." Macy, - a gorgeous blond with crystal blue eyes, who looked to be a few years older than Harriet - said as she turned toward the choir room and spotted Harriet who was still sprawled on the floor. "... Umm, hi?" Waving her hand slightly in confusion.


To her left Harriet guessed was Adam, who looked more concerned than confused. He was about the same height as Macy, with blondish-brown hair and eyes brown with a tint of emerald. Round glasses like Harry Potter's sat on his face. He was quite handsome; God was being extra generous when he made him.


"Are you okay?" He exclaimed as he hurried over to Harriet as she tried to pick herself up. How could this get more embarrassing?


"Yes!" She practically yelled at him after he grabbed her arm to pull her to her feet. "I-I mean I'm fine. Thank you." She smiled, "Carry along, please." Gesturing with her arms toward the choir room.


"Oooookay, well take care then," Adam replied, walking to the choir room and disappearing inside.


Letting out a sigh of relief, Harriet pressed her back against the locker behind her and thought. Just thought. About her mom. About the few friends with whom she shared zero classes. About her mom, again, and how she will be so curious as to know how the practice had gone once she picks her up at 4:30. Harriet could lie, or at least try to, but no, Harriet couldn't lie to save her life. She can't even keep secrets locked inside her. It is one of her many, many flaws.


Squeezing her eyes shut, Harriet sighed, I can do this, she thought, I can make friends, I can make my family happy, and I can make God happy. I can do this.


Her legs, finally deciding to work, carried her to the door of the choir room. Not making eye contact with anyone in the room, she marched to the far-right corner of the room, isolating herself from everyone in that room, and prayed. Prayed she could live through this, prayed she would make at least one friend, and prayed she would not make a fool of herself like she always seemed to do. It was just her luck that a friendly-looking girl came and sat beside her and started up a conversation.

Thank you, Lord.

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