Alone Together

Chapter One

     As I swing my legs back and forth on the swing, I rise higher above the ground; I feel as if I could fly before I swung back to the ground, then backwards, then all over again. The bright sun is covered by the gray fluffy clouds, and the wind is cold yet relaxing. I wonder if I could really fly if I jump off the swings. I brace myself to jump off, and I do. I am above the swing set, above the ground, flying.
     But as I embrace the sky, it falls further from me, and we drift away then I fall in a large pile of leaves. Another attempt to reach the beautiful blue sky, but a force always pulls me back, never wanting to let go. I guess that is why everything in my room is on the floor, the force.
     There were no kids running around the playground, since school has ended for the day, only to return Thursday morning, then end again in the afternoon. My dad still hasn't picked me up, he's usually late since our house is 13 blocks away.
     Later, a truck approaches, and my dad's tired but happy face smiles at me. He pulls up near the curb, and I open the door and hop in the car.
     "Hey, Tay! How was school?" he asks excitingly.
     "It was okay daddy, I just didn't eat lunch cause the cheeseburgers were too greasy." I reply.
     "I didn't know an ten-year-old would be this picky about grease. Anyways, you want Chinese food for lunch instead?"
     "Yes please!" I smiled.
     "Okay then," he turns the stick shift to drive, and drives to a Chinese restaurant. "How are your friends?"
     I hated when he asked this question. My daddy doesn't know I don't have friends, so I make friends up so he doesn't worry about me.  For some reason, people tend to talk to others and like them but not others, and I'm one of the people no one talks to, except the teacher. I tell him Lilith was sick, and Jason went home early for a funeral. I wonder what my dad would do if he knew I had no friends.