|
"C'mon, Honey. Please get ready to go," Rodney's mom looked
understandably tired. Rodney knew the last few weeks had been hectic,
the move had taken up alot of his parent's energy. "I don't
wanna go to school," he said as he grabbed the red jacket laying
atop his bed. Although he truly didn't want to go to school, he knew
his argument to be a failing one, so he saw no reason to abide to his
mother's wishes. He slipped on the jacket, it's silky interior
warming him up as he pulled on his shoes. He strolled into the
bathroom to check his hair one more time. Today would be his first
day of school in his new home town of Deerfield, and he wanted to
look his best. He combed back his slick black hair and looked down in
the mirror at the red and white jacket he wore. It had emblazoned
over the heart the cursive W of his old school, Windam Middle. He
smiled as he remembered his old days as a Windam Wrangler, and the
time they made it all the way to the district championships. They
lost, of course, but Rodney had had the time of his life just making
it all the way there. Rodney still had a smile on his face as he
swung his backpack unto his shoulders and asked his mom, "Are YOU
ready?". She only smiled back at him as they both walked to the car.
Rodney wasn't sure what to think about driving to school, since as
long as he could remember he had been taking the bus. He figured it
wouldn't be long till they found a bus-stop close to the house, they
were only driving because it was his first day. Rodney frowned as he
thought about his friends back at Windam. How would he ever make
friends at this new school? It would be different now, meeting people
in the 9th grade would probably be alot harder than it was when he
started at Windam. Everybody already had companions, meaning he would
be behind. His mother was looking warmly at him, and she offered to
buy him a chocolate milk to "cheer him up". Although he
doubted a beverage could ease him of his worries, he gladly excepted anyway.
His mom pulled the car over at a place called "Lil' Guy", a
convenience store who's logo is a little man wearing a gas pump
attendant's uniform. Rodney, not wanting to be late for school,
rushed inside and grabbed a chocolate milk in the fridge on the
back-right side of the store. His mom was in the store soon after
him, waiting at the cash register. Rodney handed his milk to the
sleepy woman at the counter. She scanned the price and handed the
milk back, and he thanked her as he started out again. However,
before they could leave, "Allison", as he noted by her name
tag, said to his mother "He reminds me alot of my own son".
That caught Rodney's attention. "Does your son go to Deerfield
High too?" he asked. She then went on to say that she meant when
he was Rodney's age, and that he was now grown up and living in
Chicago with his new wife. Rodney's mom and the store clerk chatted
for a moment, until Rodney warned his mother they had to get going.
Although he thought it was a shame to cut into someone's story, he
didn't want to be late for his first class.
It was 8:56 as they pulled into the drop-off area of Deerfield High,
"Home of the Stampede", as written on the sign out front,
including a little icon of a D with dust trails behind it. Rodney had
chosen to ignore the banner underneath it which said "Go
Stamps" in blue and white, the school colors, as he disliked the
nickname. Rodney kissed his mom on the cheek and said goodbye as he
jumped out of the car, expecting the bell to ring any minute. He
pondered what members of "The Stampede" called themselves
as he jogged to his first class, Social Studies with Ms Hawken. He
reached his classroom before the second bell and took a seat in the
back. "Good to see you made it Mr...?" The older woman
directing the class said as he set down his bookbag.
"Redford", Rodney said, finishing her statement. As the
teacher took attendance, a slight, brown-haired kid sitting next to
him leaned over and said " My name is Dylan. I'm new here. Do
you know where building "B" is?" Rodney smiled and
handed him the map he had picked up from the administration building
when he first signed up for schooling here. I guess this makes me a
"Stampeder", he thought with a smile. |
