Adapting and Conquering (The story of Bertha's rise and fall)

Chapter Nineteen

I ran home, not wanting to stay at school for another second. I shook the doorknob but it was locked, and I forgot my key inside. Crap. Mom and Dad (I haven't mentioned him at all during this story, but yes, I have a dad. He just works a lot.) were at work, and Billy was at school.

I sat on the front porch and cried for what seemed like hours.

I heard the creak of the neighbor's front door open, but I didn't bother to look up. Then I sensed a person sitting down next to me, and I glanced up into the eyes of the old lady, who I thought I killed on Monday.

"Would you like to come in? The air's a bit crisp out here." She said kindly.

I knew about stranger danger, but this lady was so sweet. "Uh... Sure." I replied. She led me into her house. She had a cozy old house. She had at least 5 cats, and her house smelled sweet, kind of like honey-baked graham crackers.

"Sit." she commanded, ushering me to the table. She took a whistling kettle off the stove and poured two mugs of tea. She slid one to me across the table, and sat down on the other end from where I was sitting. "I'm Meredith." she said warmly, smiling at me. She was a short Filipino woman, with eyes that always seemed to be smiling, and hair as white as snow.

"Hi. I'm Bertha." I said, my crying reduced to barely audible sniffles.

"I know. I saw you peeking in my house the other day." She smiled and winked.

"I'm so sorry! I was so scared I hurt you when you fell over!"

"It's okay. Luckily, my grandson was just in the other room."

"I'm glad you're okay. I'm terribly sorry." I was surprised on how comfortable I was around Meredith. She was extremely easy to talk to.

"I heard you crying just now. Would you like to talk about it?"

So I poured out the whole story for her, starting with the day I walked with Jacob to Spanish, Ending with my conversation with Paul. When I finished, she looked at me for a moment and said "How do you feel about you? About the new Bertha?"

"I thought I liked myself... but it seems like a lot more trouble to be the new Bertha. The only problem is I wasn't happy as the old Bertha! I really like Jacob!"

"Ah." She said. "I see. I think you should take these traits from the New Bethany that everyone likes and use them instead. New Bethany will be nice, she will be a go-getter, she will happy and inspiring."

"Meredith, that's genius!" I exclaimed. She smiled. I could've kissed her! This tea was making me really happy. "Wait! Does this tea have drugs in it?!?"

"No." She laughed. "You see, don't go around spreading this news, but I'm a sorceress. Back in the day, I used to have an apothecary with my sisters in the Philippines. Spirit-lifting potions were my specialty." She winked.

I laughed. "Thank you."

"You had better go back to school. I think you have someone to meet up with."

"That's right! School ends in 15 minutes! Thank you Meredith, but I have to go! I'll visit you again, sometime soon!"

"It would be my pleasure to have you again." She replied. "Have fun with your friend."

She sent me off with a bundle of cookies and a thermos of tea. I strolled back to school, eating my cookies, sipping my tea, and feeling happier than I had been in a long time.

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One last chapter before I go to bed :)