Lions, Tigers, and Bears

The Joke Explained

It was finally Friday afternoon.  I had few things for homework this weekend, but nothing I couldn't manage.  I hadn't seen Nora in a few days and I was hoping she was okay.  I sat outside of the school with Brendon as I waited for my ride to pick me up.

"So tomorrow Ryan and I will pick you up.  Not sure what we're going to do yet but it's Saturday, we'll find something to do." He said to me.

"Okay, and you have my address?" 

"In my phone.  You live pretty close to here, why don't you walk home?"

"My parents won't let me do that yet." I said with a small laugh. 

"There she is." Brendon said all of a sudden.  I looked to see where he was looking, my eyes landing on Nora, who was quickly walking to the parking lot.

"NORA!" I yelled while waving my arms in the air.  Brendon quickly smoothed down his hair and cleared his throat.  Nora looked at me and waved a little bit.  I motioned her to come my way, which she eventually did.

"Hey June..." She said coming closer.

"I haven't seen you around!" I said going up closer to her.  She looked down at her feet.

"Is everything okay?" I asked her.

"I don't know, I heard what you said about me." She said with water in her eyes.

"Okay?" I said shrugging.  I don't see how she should be upset that I called her nice and talented.

"So why are you talking to me?" She said sniffling.

"Because we're friends? I'm confused." I said.

"I thought I was an emo freak who drew weird doodles."

"I would never say that about you!" I said taken back.  She looked at me for a bit.

"Really?"

"Of course, I was just telling Brendon how great I thought you were." I said motioning to Brendon.  He looked up and waved slightly before rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I'm so stupid, I actually believed Angie... She told me you thought I was weird and that someone pretty like you wouldn't talk to someone like me... Now that i'm saying it out loud, that doesn't sound like something you'd say." She said laughing a bit.  

"Angie said that to you?" I asked, my temper rising.  She nodded.  Why was Angie trying to ruin my friendship with Nora? It's not like i'm stealing Nora from Angie.  It's not hurting her in anyway.  

"Well what are you doing tomorrow?" I asked her.  Brendon heard me because he looked up at us.

"Nothing, why?"

"Do you want to hang out with Brendon and I tomorrow?" I asked pointing to him again.  She looked at him, he gave her a weak smile.

"Okay!  Just text me." She said giving me her number.  She quickly left and I sat down by Brendon again.

"You're going to have to talk to her tomorrow." I said.

"I'm shy!" Brendon replied blushing.  Soon Thomas came to pick me up and bring me home.

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Saturday morning I woke up early like I usually do, this time with no animals to feed, no physical labor to do.  I dreamed of this time when I was on the farm, able to just wake up and stay in bed for hours.  But now I miss it.  Now I just feel bored.  I quietly stepped out of bed to clean up my room.  It took only a few minutes because the room was clean to begin with, so I decided to shower after that.  I changed into a simple baby blue dress that I got last year on my 16th birthday.  The sleeves cut off at my elbows, and since the end of the dress was above my knees, I donned a pair of black tights to wear.  I headed downstairs for breakfast.