Letters

A Question

I woke up Thursday morning, and for the first time that week, I wasn't dreading something. I rolled out of bed groggily, and was in the shower when an idea occurred to me. I would ask Katherine to go to the ALS support group meeting with me! She was easy to talk to, and even if she didn't totally understand why I wanted to be there, she wouldn't judge. And after last night, she was currently my one and only best friend.

I got out of the shower, threw on some clothes, and headed downstairs to the kitchen. My mom was there when I got there, and I knew she was worried about me. Last night after coming in the house, I told both she and my dad that it didn't matter and that I didn't care that I was adopted, but they couldn't tell what had caused my change of heart. I think they were still worried I was going to have another mental breakdown.

"Hey sweetheart," she said when I came into the kitchen, looking up from where she was making her coffee. "How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty good," I responded, pouring myself a bowl of cereal and gulping it down. Taking a shower had made me later than usual.

"You seem in a good mood this morning," she commented cautiously. I sighed.

"Mom, I really am okay with the adoption stuff, if that's what you're worried about." I finished the last couple bites of cereal and put my empty bowl in the sink. My mom took a sip of her coffee.

"That's not what I meant," she said. "You just seem happier than usual." I smiled and shrugged, picking up my back pack.

"Well, I don't know why you think that, but thanks." I kissed her on the cheek and headed for the door. "See you after school!"

School went by relatively fast and I spent most of the day planning how I was going to ask Katherine if she could come with me on Friday. By now I was at the place where seeing Mia and Bryce hardly bothered me any more. I still wasn't on great terms with them, but I tolerated them, and even talked to Nathan a slight bit more than usual. Karen was a whole other story. She was right out ignoring Mia, and I almost felt sorry for her, because Mia didn't care in the least. She still had a boyfriend, her girlfriends, and a respectable reputation. It was Karen who had lost everything in the blink of an eye.

Finally school and football practice was over. I took another shower when I came home, then sat at my desk chair, staring out the window. Katherine lived next door, all I would have to do is walk a couple paces, knock on her door and ask if I could come in. But what if she wasn't home? What if they were eating dinner? I decided the best course of action was to ask Sadie for her number first, then text and ask if I could come over.

I got up and down the hallway to where Sadie was bent over her desk, doing homework. Her soccer practice had been canceled because of the rain that had been pouring out of the skies all day.

"Hey Sadie?" I asked pushing the door open. She looked up from her homework, puzzled. We were the kind of siblings that hung out very often.

"Yeah?" she responded. I swallowed. How was I going to phrase this?

"Do you have Katherine's number?" She looked at me in astonishment.

"Katherine, like our next door neighbor?" I nodded, leaning against the door.

"Yeah." Her face only got more amazed.

"What do you need her number for?" For a second I contemplated telling her that it was none of her business, but I decided against it. That would only make me seem more suspicious, and her more likely to tell Mom and Dad. The less people I had to explain things to, the better.

"School," I said simply, trying to keep my face expressionless. She studied me for a minute, then seemed to accept my answer.

"Of course I have it." She pulled out her phone and looked at me. "Do you want it now?"