Despite All Obstacles Part II

Study Buddies

BARBARA'S STORY

I'm back in the library with Patt. Day A was a long day, especially U.S. Government, a class that makes you want to snooze. Lunch A was lonely, but Lunch B won't be anymore, since Patt and I have the same lunch on Day B's. Right now, I finally get to meet Patt's friends.

"Barbara, this is China, also known as Shortcake," Patt introduces me to China, who's actually Chinese. She shyly smiles and waves. I shyly smile back.

"This is Ryan, as bro," Patt re-introduces me to Ryan.

Ryan nods. "We've met."

"Ryan and Shortcake, this is Barbara. And this is the whole gang," Patt closes the introduction.

"I'm actually from China. I was born in Beijing. Then, my family moved here to L.A., two years ago. I live in East Hollywood. I've met these two last year in junior high," China tells me.

"I'm from Inglewood, in South L.A. I'm new here. I think I sat next to you in music, yesterday," I mention to her.

"Oh, yeah." She remembers and giggles. Awww, she's so cute and short, I just wanna cup her cheeks like gramma. I see why they call her Shortcake.

"I didn't know you were in our music class," Ryan says. How couldn't you? I'm still new until the school gets familiar with me.

"Yeah, I am. I mentioned I sing," I remind him.

He looks up to remember and remembers. "Ooooh. Now, I know. Do you sing in the choir?"

"Yes, I do. I also dance."

"Cool. That's what's up. You should sing for us some time, whenever you're comfortable."

Shortcake gasps. "You should join the school choir. They're like the gospel glee club. I sing there every Thursday night. Practice starts on the first day of November."

That's not a bad idea. "Know what? I should. What time?"

"Like 6:30 to 8:30. We're singing Silent Night at the winter concert that's coming up before winter break." She seems excited to tell me. I'm excited that she invites me to join her in choir.

"Okay. I'll have to let momma know about this." I love singing. I have found my voice since momma forced me to do something outside the apartment when I was still in summer camp.

"You should also join our orchestra," Ryan suggests. I didn't know what an orchestra was until season three of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

"Oh. I don't know. I don- I don't play an instrument," I nervously tell them, but I don't wanna say no.

"You don't really have to, Barbara. You can sing a song for us," Patt encourages me to still join them in orchestra. Patt is such a nice guy.

"Okay. What day and time is the orchestra?" I ask.

"Usually, it's the day before winter break, like on the school calendar, the day should be December 20th." Patt looks at his Day A/B Schedule Map to see what's our last day here in 2012 in his binder.

"Wait. Isn't winter day supposed to be the end of the world?" Ryan mentions a rumor about Doomsday coming this year.

"Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen," Patt disagrees with the rumor.

"And how do you know, Patt?" Ryan asks, a little scared about the rumor.

"Because it was supposed to be the end of the world years ago, and we're still here."