Lilly In The Storm

Chapter Four

       A couple of weeks have gone by in school and my problems with social situations have improved more and more each day. Lately, I've been breaking out of my shell and talking more with people at recess and during free time in class. It is a breath of fresh air to have a greater comfort in new people. I've met three new friends two girls, Fiona and Gracie, then a boy named Gabe. They are kind to me unlike the people at my old school back in Milwaukee. Sometimes the extent of their friendliness catches me off guard, could they be leading me on just to break me down one day? Whether or not my suspicions are true, my new friends are a great addition to my growing circle of support.

       Fiona and Gracie, I met together. They've been in the same class for the year like Hannah and I have. They are in Mr. Grant's class next door. We met them while we were playing tag on the blacktop. They joined our game and we got along well with each other. Fiona was also a bit shy. She also lets me try all the different snacks from the Philippines where her family is from. Gracie is the louder of the two. She is outgoing and wears big rimmed glasses. Her hair is curly and light brown. Although the two of them are quite different from each other, they fit together like two peas in a pod.

       Finally, there is Gabe, he is the perfect medium of extrovert and introvert. He isn't terrified of people, but he can be a little skittish when it comes to people he doesn't know. That's probably why Hannah and I didn't notice him at first, it just so happens that he's been in our class all year. He is a chubbier kid with dark brown hair and light skin. We met him when he was on the monkey bars and I knocked him over when I ran under them. Hannah, Gabe and I all laughed at the mishap and decided to spend the rest of recess seeing who could hang from the monkey bars the longest.

       I get up Monday morning, looking forward to seeing my friends. I brush my teeth and hair then head downstairs for breakfast. After that I walk out the door to hop in the car. I used to be nervous about school but finally I feel like I'm improving on my socialization. As anxious as being around people can make me, there is a certain comfort to be had when meeting new people to guide you through something as huge as moving to a brand new school. They've made the transition not only bearable, but fun.

       When I got to school I immediately went to the tree my friends and I always meet at. The idea started with Hannah and me. We both got bored of sitting on the bench but I still wasn't ready to be around all the people on the playground in the morning. So, we decided on the huge oak tree behind the playground. Eventually it also became our recess tradition. We would collect pine cones, draw in the dirt, and even climb the tree when the teachers aren't looking. Once we met Fiona, Gracie, and Gabe they started meeting us there too so we wouldn't have to find everyone in the chaos that is the playground.

       I was the first to arrive so I patiently waited for the rest. Usually Hannah comes before me, but it doesn't bother me when I am the first. I love my friends dearly, however I cherish the time to myself before it is time to converse with people. The moment only lasts about five minutes until Hannah's mom finally pulls up in the parking lot. Everyone else arrives soon after. We greet each other as we all begin to pile beneath our tree, waiting for the recess monitor to blow the whistle. The sound of the small metal instrument pierces through the air of the playground, indicating that it is time for us to find our lines then head inside. The lines go by classroom so Fiona and Gracie weren't in my line, but I still have Hannah and Gabe.

       Our line walks into the school then into our classroom. I sit with Hannah and the other kids at our table. Mrs. Wallis walks in and begins passing out a packet to each person in the class. She hands one to me and I read the title. "Experimenting on Plants".

       Mrs. Wallis then walks to the front of the class and clears her throat. "Okay class this is the project I was telling you all about. What you all are going to do is make a group of two to four people and think of an experiment idea. The only regulation is to stay on the topic of plants. Whether it is the growth of plants or the lifespan or something completely random. When you are done choosing your question for your experiment, go to Mrs. Parker who has seeds for different plant types you can choose from. I suggest looking at the plant list on page two before choosing an experiment idea." She stops explaining and everyone starts forming groups.