The world isn't so bad; if you don't think about it.

Know me as I am.

     Gracey Jade Rose. The name she was given on the day she was born. The day that had been spent tucked close to a mother that was there. That held her with gentle strokes to soft,  cry-flushed cheeks instead of bruises.

   Her eyes green as meadow grass that had been bright full of bubbly laughter, swollen shut from the first punch on the second grade playground.

Her eyes, the green of them and her dark freckles that covered her cheeks and nose matched her fathers. At least that's what mama said.

  Her red hair had been her trademark in the third grade all the way up to sixth grade; which she was in now. It went right past her shoulders to her lower back and it would fluff and frizz up when she'd run home on cool or hot days from school.

Running made her feel better.

Like she could out run the teasing. The paper balls thrown at her or loosing her lunch to Ben again. It always gave her enough peace to come home with a smile for her mama.  It wasn't so bad. She didn't need friends.

They don't know her and she didn't want them to.

       But she won't let them make her mama upset. So she came in with a heavy bag and mind that shouldn't be as clouded as hers was at her age.

       She'd tell her mama about her homework and how she did in classes that day. She'd lie a lot to mama about her 'friends'...but it was for mama. She also tallied about the two new kids that came in from Detroit to her  hometown of Bagley, Minnesota. Her mama loved to hear about new people. So did Gracey.
      
       It meant new starts and possible friends,  she was more than happy to tell her mother all about them. Jevon Parker Lewis and Haley Ann Jenkins.

   "Haley Ann loved Math class; we have that class together. She's already learning 9th grade math! Can you believe that mama?" Gracey asked in awe, her green eyes sparked with a light she held  close to her heart at all times. Wonder of a child and her imagination, her mother knew that look well. The woman smiling as she fixed super for Gracey.
Her Maiden name was Eleanor Kenny. Gracey had her dads last name, but since he 'disappeared' before she was born, mama used her name before she met dad.
     
      The woman's eyes were an ice blue, they could be soft as cotton or cold as a blizzard, but Gracey loved her mothers eyes. She loved how they brightened when she'd tell her about school. She also loved mama's short hair. Not a short long hair where it goes past your ears. The short hair that had just enough to run your hands through it and see your fingers be wrapped up in little brown curls. Her mama was pale as a fishy, probably why Gracey was so pale too.
    
       "Did you get to meet the new kids then?" Eleanor asked Gracey, who was humming as she did her homework. "Well, no..." Gracey but her bottom lip, her cheeks flushing slightly. "They had a lot to do since they're staring in the middle of the year, you know?" Gracey squirmed in her seat. "Though, Jevon looked nice. I dunno about Hayley though." She mumbled off, earning a perked brow from her mother. "And whys that?" Her mother prodded, the 10 year old girl looked up to her mama. ".......she liked to interrupt Mrs. Denny- you remember Mrs. Denny right mama? My art teacher. Me and Hayley have that class together too-- Anyways! she kept interrupting Mrs. Denny because she didn't like our assignment." She babbled, "and Mrs. Denny told her to be quiet but she didn't so she got sent to the hall." Her green eyes flashed with the memory, but she looked back to her homework. ".....Mrs. Denny seemed sad after Hayley left, so I drew her a bunny." She smiled to herself.

     "That was very kind of you, Gracey." Her mother praised, making a warm feeling spread from her chest to her cheeks."thank you mama..." she said softly as she finished her last problem. Closing her book she pushed the work aside and leaned closer tot he stover over the marble counter.  "What are you making..." Gracey asked taking in the spices sweet smell that stung her nose a bit. She could see it was maybe a toco of some sort. With the browned tortilla and cheese leaking out the sides.

      "Steak and cheese quesadillas with hot sauce." Her mother replied, "mmmmm!!!" Gracey hummed happily, her mouth watering at the thought of the yummy taste. Her green eyes going to her bag with her smashed sandwich inside. Her stomach rumbled as she turned back to her mother. "I can't wait..." She whispered, eyeing the meal like it's dance right out of the skillet to her. Her mother looking at her with amusement, she spoke up.
"Why don't we make cookies tonight and you can take them to school to give them to the new children, sound fun?" She chuckled softly, but it made Gracey's eyes brighten and a small smile coming to chapped red lips. "Perfect.....I just hope they like me." She said quietly, making her mother frown. "Why on earth would they not like you?"

       "Because not everyone gets to know a someone before they decide they like them or not." She mumbled as she sat down on a chair that scooted under the counter. Laying her chin on the back of her hands with her palms pressed to the cool surface. "I want them to know me as I am, you know mama?" She asked, "not....um." She sat up at the odd look from her mother. "Never mind, lets make cookies like you said." She smiled, so forced it hurt her a little as she jumped down. "I'm gonna put away my school things." She said softly as she put all her books and papers in her bag. "Now wait a moment young lady...."
but Gracey was already up the stairs, leaving Eleanor to sigh to herself. "That girl." She muttered as she continued to make dinner.