Path-to-Freedom (version 1)

(12)

It hurts to breathe, it hurts to do anything. But surprisingly, I've had worse.

I coughed and saw blood, not bothered by that, I quickly finished yesterday's Baked Ziti. What I've also learned is that if I ever got a bad beating, sometimes food would help quelch the pain in my stomach.

Due to the pain, I quickly fell asleep and sadly awoke the same way. But today was different.

Today was a Monday so I had to get up earlier.

Normally six year olds would be in kindergarten but since I already knew everything in Pre-K, they had tested me early and I passed with flying colors.

They tested me for Kindergarten early too and I also passed then I did that for first grade, second, third, fourth, and fifth. Long story short, I'm already in middle school at the age of 6.

I guess I was really smart since I was always praised by others.

I'm hoping to skip 7th grade and just move onto 8th grade since middle schoolers are really immature and ignorant.

It's not that I have a problem with them and no one had a problem with me but they're just too childish for their age.

I quickly got ready and went upstairs to wait for Tony to drop me off.

I went to Ridgenworth middle school. I'm currently taking Algebra 1, English 1, Biology, English 2, World History, French 2 and Geometry.

They had asked if I wanted any extracurriculars but Tony declined. I would have declined too but I don't speak in class.

I just go, do my work and go home, then repeat. I have a 4.0 GPA but I want to make it higher so I'll be sure to email the counselor at school during lunch.

It was nearing the end of school, two weeks left to be precise and I went through school with ease.

No one really picked on me, more like they protected me and looked out for me since I was younger than them by a few years. I have acquaintances that call themselves my friends, everyone calls me their little sister at school. It's nice sometimes but it also gets frustrating at times since everyone wants to know if I'm ok all the time. I'm thankful for their care, but sometimes it feels as if I'm being smothered from all directions but I just plaster a fake smile and go on with my day.

When Tony drops me off, I go straight to the library and email the counselor to see if it would be possible for me to skip more grades. She responded immediately and said that she'll talk to the principal and if he thinks that I can, then she'll give me the tests for this year early and next year and so on until I fail one. I emailed back thanking her and went to read some books.

I just finished the AP calculus textbook and tested myself, passing with flying colors. Two days ago, I passed chemistry and physics. And the week before, I passed french 3 and 4 and US government and American history. I basically study many text books and then later test myself on them. If I fail, I read the whole text book again and then test myself again until I pass.

When the bell rang I went to class and sat in the classroom, listening but not caring. I already knew all of this.

When lunch came around, my name was called over the intercom and I was told to go to the counselors office. When I reached, Tony was already in there, sitting with a visitors sticker on his shirt.

I sat on the chair beside him and Mrs.Gooding started explaining everything that would be happening. "Tomorrow, she'll also be excused from all of her classes and she won't have homework for that day." She spoke finishing.

Tomorrow when I come in, I'll have to come straight to this office to take the tests and then we'll go on from there.

If I pass all of the tests, then she'll give me the SATs. And if I pass that, then I'll graduate middle and high school that day.

"Thank you ma'am." Tony said, shaking her hand.

She gave a polite smile and shook his hand. "No problem, you have a really talented daughter. If she passes, then she just may be one of the youngest high school graduates at this school and next. You should be very proud."

He turned to give me a malicious smile and turned back to her. "I am." He said, his smile changing to polite for her.

"Ok well, you may go now and Ashley can go back to the rest of her lunch before it ends." She said standing up and coming to stand behind my chair, scooting it out from under the table.

"See you tomorrow Ashley." She spoke letting me go.

For the rest of lunch, I went to the library and checked out an SAT preparation book.

The library lady gave me a knowing smile and checked it out.

After it was checked out. I went to my reading spot and got started.

I'm a really fast reader so when the bell rang five minutes later, I was already halfway done.

I put the book in my backpack and went to class.

When school ended, I went to the front to wait for Tony to come get me.

I saw his car and hurried to the backseat to buckle into my car seat.