Finding Out
Delilah
“Hurry up Lilah!” Jonas yelled at me from the top of the hill. “I’m coming, this hill is too steep.” I called back, trudging up the hill slowly.
I’ve been friends with Jonas since we were 5, since he came up to me that winter morning when I was alone in the park. He just parted with his friends and came up to me. I still remember his first words. “What’s wrong?” Of course, me being only 5, I didn’t think much of it when he asked me that. I guess I just looked sad to him. “Nothing” I replied to him. Ever since that day, we have been inseparable.
“Maybe you’re just too slow!” He shot back. I stuck my tongue out at him. He just laughed.
“C’mon. I’ll race you back home. You may be strong enough to run up that hill but I’ll still always be faster than you.” I took off running.
I heard footsteps getting louder behind me and Jonas appeared beside me. “You thought you were faster, huh.” He smirked at me.
“Well you suddenly got fit over the summer. Puberty’s finally hit you.” I retorted. He just laughed at me and passed me.
I pushed myself harder and took off after him. He’s actually faster than before. In grade 8, he was the slowest boy in the class, while I was one of the fastest. We had a race once, before the summer. I beat Jonas by a mile. I’m guessing he was humiliated being beaten by a girl because he’s obviously been working out this summer.
I see Jonas as I’m catching up to him. Closer, closer, and then I pass him. I run as fast as my legs can take me, as see my house. I reach my arm out and touched the fence. I kneel over, trying to catch my breath, as I look back from where I just ran. Jonas is nowhere in sight. I was able to catch my breath just as Jonas ran up to me, panting hard from running.
“I declare a rematch! That was so not fair!” Jonas protested.
“How so? Still jealous that a girl can still beat you in running? Either way, there is no way I’m going all the way back to the hill just for a rematch.” I shot back.
“Maybe, but I’m still stronger than you.”
“Well you’re a boy; you’re supposed to be strong. Be worried if you weren’t.”
We bickered back and forth like that for a while before my mom called for me.
“Delilah! Come in for a second. We must discuss some things with you.” She called out to me looking genuinely worried.
I turned back to Jonas as we muttered our goodbyes and walked up to my front door, greeting my mom in the process.
I walked into the only room we had and suddenly stop as I saw my whole family crowed around the table, including my little sister who was seven. I knew it was a big deal when I saw her. It’s always a big deal if my little sister ever gets out of the little corner she always plays in.
Talia’s seven years old, but she acts like she’s four. You would think a seven year old would grow out of dolls and make believe parties and childish things like that. Not my sister. She has her own little corner where she likes to call her “safe spot.” She does everything in there. And by everything, I mean everything. She would eat, play, do homework, sleep, and sometimes just sit and think in there. The only time you wouldn’t see her in her own little corner was at school and when she’s going to the washroom. She has a doll she had since she was two and she still brings it everywhere she goes. Yes, even to the washroom. The funny thing was, if you see her at school, you would think she was any other ordinary seven year old, but I can assure you she is far from it.
