Be who we are

1. Let's Play Hooky

Ring, Ring.

The nicely folded pile of clothes in my hands slipped from my fingers and settled on the floor while I leapt across my bedroom; I grabbed for my phone as it continued to ring on my bedside table. The rest of my family was most likely still waking up, and the last thing I needed were grumpy younger siblings and peeved-off parents. I landed stretched out on my bed, finally able to grab a hold of the blue plastic receiver on the fifth ring. Before I could question who was calling so early, a voice said,

" You usually pick up on the seventh ring. I'm impressed, Rae." The person who the voice belonged to was clearly smirking and I'd already known who it was the moment he'd spoken the first word. It was my life long best friend and the notorious Ferris Bueller.

" Why are you calling me at six in the morning Ferris? You know how my family is in the morning! Do you need a ride to school or something? 'Cause I'll probably let you stand on the street corner because you're already making me late," I told him in a quiet and tired voice, curling my finger into the phone wire. Ferris chuckled and I could hear music playing softly in the background.

" Oh, Rae... sweet, dear, Rae. Have you looked outside today? You obviously haven't. So, go to the window, go on, do it." Sighing, I rolled my eyes and didn't move an inch. " I don't hear movement..." His voice had turned sing-songy.

" Screw you, Bueller..." I gathered up what strength I had that morning and made myself stand and shuffle to the window. Holding the phone receiver between my shoulder and my cheek, I tugged my curtains open, squinting in the sudden sunlight. After being momentarily blinded, I blinked to clear my vision and peered outside into my yard.

" Now do you see what I mean?" Ferris' voice inquired.

And, honestly, I did see what he meant. The sunlight was warm on my face and was glinting off the dewy grass below; the perfect amount of clouds lazily crept across the sheet of blue sky, allowing pleasant spots of shade to pass over every now and again. Birds chirped cheerfully and squirrels scuttled into the branches of trees. Sighing, I leaned against my windowpane and felt something wither inside of me-of course the perfect day was a school day.

" Yeah. Yeah, I do. But what does this excruciatingly nice weather have to do with why you called me?" I asked as I bent down to pick up my pile of dropped clothes. Ferris' voice chuckled in my ear from across the line and I could hear him tap on what was presumably his window.

" Everything, Raelyn. Everything. I'm taking the day off. I thought you might like to join me."

I froze half way to my bed. It was for this exact reason Ferris was notorious. He could fake illness the way a Broadway singer could belt out a song. He'd take days off every here and there just because he could and because he wanted to. Needless to say, the principle, Rooney, had it out for him. But Ferris had some how managed to rope me into his little day-off schemes a few times before and, to my amazement, didn't get us caught. Most kids would worry about their parents finding out about their hooky days, and I understood that fear. While most of the days off Ferris dragged me off were fun, my parents wouldn't have taken too kindly to finding out I was skipping school. They were workaholics, but they weren't stupid.

" You aren't serious are you?" I asked. My fingers curled into the sweater in my hands, which was far too thick for how warm it probably was.

" Serious as a heart attack. Besides, I called you Raelyn, that usually means business, right?" Ferris scoffed as if I were the insane one. It was true though; everyone I knew, besides teachers maybe, called me Rae, and only said my full name, Raelyn, should I get in trouble or if the situation was serious. " So. The day off. How 'bout it?"