The Secret

Cool Kids

I pull Nan up into the helicopter, relieved as can be. The chopper takes us up and over our flaming house and we go to our closest relative's house.

The next day...
I run out of my bed, dark tired eyes and smelly breath. I make my way to the bathroom as quick as I can. I flip my hair upside down and slick it back into a high ponytail. Then I clean my teeth, a very fast two minutes. It's fancy dress day at school today and I slip on my blue sparkly mini skirt and black tank top. I jump in my white ballet flats and get my fancy Melbourne Cup hat out of my closet. I charge to the door and try to open it. Ugh. I forgot it was broken. "Mom!" She clunks down the stairs, no foot on the ground at the same time. "I thought you had already left! It's 9:02!" I take a deep breath in. Hopefully Ms. Yosemite, my history teacher and homeroom teacher won't be that mad with me. My teacher is very strict. She sticks to old school methods, like the cane. I really think that she should be fired, but she scares even the headmaster. While I am thinking of all this, Mom has opened the door of Aunt Penelope's home and ushering me out. We are staying with my Aunt on my dad's side until our house has been repaired from the fire damage.

Are you wondering what happened to my dad? Well... My parents got a divorce quite some time ago. When my dad got a new girlfriend, he moved all the way to Paris to live the life of his dreams. He had said before my parents divorced that me and him will go all over the world. To Paris, to England, to Australia, to Scotland. All over the place. Instead, he has broken his promise. He's doing that with Gloria, his new wife instead. I've never heard from him since the split, and I cry myself to sleep sometimes. I'm jealous of Gloria. That snotty, snobby lady. Not a lady even. More like a pig.

I have to walk to school, since I missed the bus. I meet the school in less than ten minutes. It's already recess. I walk to reception, my head down. The shiny, new sliding doors open and I sit down in the comfortable, modern green chairs of the lobby. I wait forever, fiddling with the ribbon in my hair, thinking about everything that happened the day before. That was the most interesting and scary experience of my life, the fire. I've never been in a fire, ever. What if I had a dog, would they have died? OMG. MY FISH. I HAVE FISH. They're probably in fishy heaven. I miss my pets. Dad took Zappy, my dog with him. I'm furious with dad. He hates me now.

The man at the counter calls me up. His low voice and dark green eyes set the mood to be gray and bad. "Name?" The man mutters. "Um... Kayley Yogurt." I hear almost silent snickers from some Ninth Graders behind me. What do they know... I mope through the brick, old corridor. I trip on something. My hand starts to bleed where I broke my fall. Never mind that. I hear murmurs from inside the walls. I lean up against the light, creamy color wood walls. I place my ear right on the surface. I have no idea what it is. It sounds like a ghost, but it's loud. It sounds like it's after me. I hear grunts and snorts. I shake my head and keep walking. I don't know much about guppies, let alone ghosts. I reach my destination , with a wood door and a carving in it that says 'Historical Studies'.

Ms. Yosemite gives me a glare as I open the squeaky door. Every pair of eyes in the room are set on me. I hear silent whispering coming from the other side of the room. It has to be Paula and Leslie. The only part of their quiet conversation I hear is, "Aww... All sad because her cruddy house was set on fire by us." IT WAS THEM!!! I have to tell the principal! They'll get expelled, I wish. Surely the teacher won't be mad at me. There was a fire in my house the other night, come on. I really hope she doesn't respond with the cane. "Take your seat." She says, sternly. "We are learning about 18th century fashion," Ms. Yosemite continues. She pins a old painting up on the blackboard. The people in the smudged picture are wearing white wigs, poofy dresses and fancy hats. "Why are we learning about this, Albert?" Albert is the type of guy who doesn't really pay attention in class, but somehow always gets the answers correct. "Because it is fancy dress day, Ms. Yosemite." He says with his big, posh British mouth. "Correct!" No surprise.

At lunch I run until my legs are numb, all the way across campus to the principal's office. I stop, puffed out, feeling like a dog, panting and sweating under my arms. The door is right in front of me. It has a gold plate that says, 'Principal McArthy'. This door is much quieter than the squeaky, unpleasant classroom doors. I open it in pride, seeing that I'm about to get two snobs expelled. The police will get what they want, and they'll be sent all the way to Africa! The thought of those troublemakers in Africa as punishment seems funny to me. Those poor kids in that continent will have to put up with them! No L & P! (That's what they call themselves, I know, it's so stupid!)

Mr. McArthy tells me to come in. "Excuse me, may I please talk to you?" He nods and pats a seat in front of him. "What seems to be the matter?" I take a deep breath. "Paula and Leslie set my house on fire. Not kidding. I heard them whispering about it in Historical Studies." He notes that down. It appears he believes me, and I was sure he wasn't going to. His blonde hair waves backwards in the flowing air. "Mmm... I'll call them in. You stay here."

The secretary says into the loud speaker, "Leslie, Paula. To the office in an instant." I bet their confused. I bet they think their going home, for a netball game or something. They walk in and Leslie gives me a stare.