Jane Austen Lied

Nick

The car fell silent with a big storm cloud overhead. It looked like tornado weather was coming. Their shocked expressions were stained on the faces of the children. Esse had just made a friend only a few months ago and now she would have to start over as the New Girl. Blyss, Henry, and Lance had no problem making friends since they were naturally likable. Esse however was not. The one person she had met was thanks to her older brother. It was hard enough that Esse was a grade behind and Annie would be going to High School, but this was a different school district. Their father broke the silence. "It won't be forever," he started. "We just need a little bit of time to save up before sending you back. You all will be going to the Festus schools for the first half of the year. By then, your mother and I will have enough saved up to send you back to private school. Lance will go to St. Pius X, and the rest of you back to Our Lady." Esse felt tears running down her cheeks. It took all year to get everyone to tolerate her and now it was all in ruins. The 8th-grade year was when everyone truly bonded with the class and made their transition from kids to adults. She would be the odd one out again, and boy did it take a lot of time for people to want her to sit with them at lunch. They didn't even call her by name until recently. The family stopped at Dierbergs to get something from the Deli to eat. Chicken tenders, potatoes, vegetables, and macaroni with cheese. The conversation continued with gloom following the family indoors. "There's something else we have to discuss," their father said. "As you know, we would like you all to be able to continue your education in college. The issue is that we are having trouble trying to afford your current school tuition. Since St. Pius X is also a private school it's going to be tough. We'll need you to get jobs to help us pay for your school."

"Your dad and I have been in debt since we got married," their mother said. "We're not blaming anyone but ourselves for not saving properly and starting a little later. As much as we hoped to, we can't afford to send the lot of you to college. It would mean a lot to us if you all got jobs when you're of age to help us afford a good education for you all."

"Does this mean we can't afford St. Pius?" Lance asked.

"Only barely sweetie," said Aurora.

"It's because of my sweet sixteen isn't it?" Esse asked.

"No, of course not! Your grandparents wanted to pitch in and that helped a lot." James said. "We've been saving since before we moved in for it. We do have to budget a bit, but it's nothing we can't do."

"I'll be sixteen in September, I can start working soon," Lance said. "I don't mind if it'll help you guys out."

"Me too." Said Esse.

The younger two were silent. They still had a few years before entering high school and didn't have much to say in the matter. Henry wasn't concerned in the slightest since he was the youngest. He had lots of room between then and the problem might have resolved itself by then. Blyss always had everything paid for whether by their parents or their grandparents since she was the baby before Henry was adopted. There was a chance that Lance and Esse would be paying for her as well. That was how things went in their family. For now, their main concern was Lance's graduation from junior high. There was a volleyball tournament and concert before the graduation ceremony. These events were strictly for the junior high students and they needed to participate. They spent the last two weeks in the gym practicing for it. The frightening thing about it was the shift from her classmates. They were prim and sophisticated at first, but on the court, they were like gladiators. Just the week before, one of her classmates spiked the ball so hard it hit the floor, bounced off, and hit one of her classmates in the crotch. He had to sit out for two days since it hit him that hard. Normally girls would call the guys babies, but it was no mistake how bruised he must have been from the impact. Esse shockingly didn't have to hit the ball all but one time and her team took care of the rest. Lance poked fun at her for standing like a dead fish. He had no reason to say such things since he was as good at sports as she was, and she was terrible. Despite his many efforts to spike and serve, he failed and often got hit in the face as she did. For the concert, they were issued songs to sing and had a performance with instruments. Henry was in band and played the french horn while the rest of them were in the bell choir per grade. That also meant they had to sing songs. This made Esse especially nervous since she didn't do well in crowds. The top songs were Beautiful Soul by Jesse Mc Cartney, Unpretty Cover by GLEE. The 7th and 8th graders also sang Sing! by My Chemical Romance. The concert was also to help fund donations for the 8th-grade graduation party. It was a huge success as expected and Lance became increasingly popular for having the best voice in his class. Her brother graduated from the 8th grade with a ceremonial Mass held for them and a blessing from the entire school. Everyone lined up in the halls from every grade and sang a song as the graduating class exited the school as students for the last time. Everyone was there including the parish pastor, the cafeteria staff and custodians, parents of the graduating students, and even their distant relatives. Their hands were extended out forming a tunnel of arms as each student passed through. Boys and girls with teary eyes, trying to choke back the sadness from leaving. Most of them attended Our Lady since Kindergarten, even before then with daycare that was held at the school. Esse could feel how heartbroken they were to be leaving what could be considered their home. The song went like this;