Anomalous

1-I Knew I'd Need My Baseball Bat

warning! warning! warning! this book is old. i was 13 when i wrote this. it is incredibly cringey at times. please keep that in mind. read at your own risk.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines ordinary as "with no special or distinctive features; normal."

I'd say that defines me pretty well.

Autumn Carter: the 16 year old, dark skin, dark haired girl who just kind of blends into the background.

I have one friend, who isn't even really a friend. Our parents are friends, and they kinda try and force a relationship that isn't there.

This "friend" sits with me on the bus, which is what she's doing today.

"So...how were your classes?" She asks.

"Fine, didn't get much homework, which is cool. You?"

"It was fine," She answers.

I tap my fingers against my backpack, trying to think of something to say.

Luckily, the next stop is mine. I say goodbye, and walk up my driveway.

I'm the first one home, and upon entering the house, the Jaws theme song starts playing from my phone. I set that as the ringtone for my mom, because she never calls with good news.

"Hello?"

"Autumn. Your teacher called today. Would you like to know what she said? THAT YOU GOT INTO ANOTHER FIGHT!" She practically screams into the phone.

I wince.

"I'm sorry mom, but I'm just not happy at sc-"

"I don't care what the reason is, just don't let it happen again!" My mom warns, before hanging up the phone.

I sigh, and drop my backpack next to the stove.

I make my way to my room.

My phone pings, and a text from my mom shows up.

I didn't want to have to resort to this, but I think this is how you'll be spending your summer.

Underneath is a link. I click on it, and it takes me to some cheesy camp website.

I notice that the website says that the camp is "for correcting the behaviour of juvenile delinquents!"

I'm not a delinquent! I've never broken the law, I'm just not happy at school, and for me, that translates to fighting.

I read the website a little more. The camp seems like an awful boot camp, but I know better than to fight my mom on this.

I sigh again, and put down my phone. I sit in the quiet for a moment, thinking about this camp thing.

A sound catches my attention, and I snap my head up. I definitely hear whispering.

It sounds like more than two people, and these people are in my house.

I grab the wooden baseball bat from under my bed.

I knew I would need it one day.

I creep out into the hall, and after a few minutes of listening, I decide the people are in the living room.

I lean my back against the wall and slide towards the doorway.

I close my eyes, and breathe in deeply. Just as I'm preparing to step out and face the intruders, one of them pops out in the doorway.

I squeak, he's almost 5 inches taller than me, and looks a lot stronger too.

My palms start sweating, and I slide them up the bat.