The Help (MB)

Chapter 7

*Penny's POV*

We sat at the kitchen table, just enjoying he silence. Not too long after that, Mr. Johnson entered the kitchen, humming under his breath. He saw us sitting at the table, and raised his eyebrows. "Back so early?" he asked Kenya, and she nodded. He looked down. "How did it go?" he asked, looking at her. "Mama's dead." I blurted, looking at him with teary eyes. His face dropped and he scrunched his eyebrows, looking at us. "Died? What do you mean? I thought they just told you guys that she was doing better.." We all shrugged, and I looked down, wiping m tears.

"Well, what are you going to do now?" he asked, looking at us. I looked to Kenya, and she shrugged, looking down. "We have nowhere to go.." she mumbled. Mr. Johnson smiled, looking at us. "Well, I would be delighted to take you guys under my wing. You are such a pleasure to have around." He looked at us, and my face lit up. "Thank you, sir! But, do we still have to work? You know, since were no longer trying to get the money to Mama and such.." "Yes, we're still working. I wouldn't feel right just coming here and staying with no pay." "Oh, nonsense. You guys are welcome to stay, you've been through so much already. I'm willing to let you stay for free." All of our faces lit up, and we hugged him. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" we all said, and he chuckled. "No problem. School stars soon, and I'll have you all enrolled. We can all go school shopping next week." He smiled.

That was one of the worst, and one of the best days of my life. Of course, I miss Mama with all my might, but she's in heaven right now, and in good hands. Even though Mr. Johnson told us not to work any longer when we're staying here,we still help out a lot. Kenya still cooks breakfast every morning,but instead of cleaning up after her and sweeping,we sit at the table now and eat with them. We're growing closer and closer by the day,and everything's getting alot better.

Two weeks after that,we we're boarding our different school buses,going to school. Mr. Johnson spoiled me and my sisters,and we had tons of new outfits,even some designer clothes. I was still nervous about going to a new school and all,but Craig told me not to worry,because he'd introduce me to his friends. Kenya,Chres,Peyton,Ray,and Jacob were all at the high school together. Amaya and Jacob was in middle school,completing their last year,and Craig and I was starting our first year in middle school. I was able to skip a grade,due to the homeschooling and all.

Craig and I both walked into our school,and I felt butterflies in my stomach as we walked to the office to receive our schedules. This middle school was uniquely set up like a high school, so we could get used to the way we switch classes and stuff. When we got our schedules, we stood in the hallway, looking at one another's paper. "Aw man..." We said in unison. We only had one class together,and that was sixth period math. I groaned. "It's okay,Penny. You'll make plenty of friends." Craig said,smiling. "Yea,whatever. I don't know anyone here!" I said,frowning. "Turn that frown upside down before your face gets infected." Craig said,giggling. I stood there,a confused look on my face. "What?" I asked,laughing. "See? It worked." He laughed some more. "Don't make me laugh,Im mad." I said,and walked off,waving. "See you at lunch!" He called after me,and I nodded. "See ya!" I turned,bumping into someone. "Oh! I'm so sorr-" "It's fine. I was texting,sorry." She looked up,smiling at me. "I'm Morgan." She said,waving. She had bright hazel eyes and dimples,with light brown hair. She was just a bit taller than me,but seemed like a friendly person. I smiled. "I'm Penny." I said,waving. "What class you headed to?" She asked,looking at me. "Miss Amos." I said,glancing at my schedule. "Me too. Heads up,you're going the wrong way,its,this way." She said,laughing,and I chuckled. "Sorry,I'm-" "New here? I know. I've never seen you around." She giggled as we entered the classroom. She sat over by the window,patting the desk in front of her for me to sit in.

"Oh yea. This lady teaching this class is nuts. She bucks her eyes all the time like a freaking maniac. I heard she's pregnant again,like she is almost every year. I'm surprised she hasn't ran out of eggs yet. She has to be at least forty!" She said,and I laughed,looking at the lady in the front of the room. "Yea," I responded,looking at the lady,"she does look kind of nuts." I giggled.

After that class,I had two more classes with Morgan,then it was lunch time. The bell rang,and we stood up,walking to the lunch room. There were kids everywhere,and the lines were very long! Good thing Morgan and I both bought our own lunches. I looked around for Craig,like I said I would,and I spotted him across the lunch room with a group of guys. He caught my eye, and I started to wave,and he did that same,smiling. His friends looked over to where I was,then his whole table bursted in laughter, looking directly at me. My smile dropped,and I sat back down, my face turning red.

"Don't worry. Old friend,huh? They always move on." Morgan said,opening her bag of chips and looking in the direction of Craig and his friends. "Middle School changes people.." She mumbled,and I peeled my orange,starting to eat it. "Where are you from,anyway?" Morgan asked,looking at me. "Downtown." I said,nodding,"It's nothing like this place.." I said,looking around. "Yea,I heard it's pretty bad down there." She said,looking at me. I nodded slowly,and watched as another girl with big brown eyes and short,curly black hair approached us. She smiled at Morgan,throwing up her hands. Morgan did the same,standing up.

"Ayeeeee." They hugged. "I ain't heard from you all summer. I started to think you was dead or some shit." The girl laughed,looking at Morgan. "Nope. My momma took my phone over the summer so I could 'learn to take on responsibility'". Morgan rolled her eyes. "I texted you this morning though." She looked at the girl,then at me.

"Oh yea,Penny,this is my friend Tiara. Tiara,this is Penny. She's new here." Morgan said as Tiara sat down. "Hey!" She waved,smiling,and I did the same. "Your hair is so pretty! Who did it?" She asked,playing with my Senegalese twists. I thanked her and answered,"My sister." "Ooh girl,you gonna have to hook me up one day. I hate dealing with my hair!" She laughed,and I chuckled. "Absolutely." We ate lunch,talking and they told me a few things I needed to know,whether it were about teachers,students,events,and so on.

When we left lunch,I had one class with Tiara and then it was the last period of the day. I walked into the room,spotting Craig by the window,talking to one of the boys from his table earlier. My cheeks burned red,and I turned the other way,sitting as far away as I could. He tried catching my eye,but I just kept acting as if I were writing in my notebook,and I completely ignored everything around me. Other than that strange incident at the lunch room,my day wasn't so bad.

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