She wasn’t home. Where was she? Where could she be? She left her lucky charm. It was a picture of her family back in India. Now they were in Europe. “Mom!” The little girl screamed. She started to breathe heavily. She ran upstairs to find…”Dad? Why…are there…Cops hear? And why is mom not here either.” He didn’t speak. She waited for a response but all she heard was him sniffing. She opened her eyes wide. Waiting. “Dad?” He finally spoke the words all kids wish to never hear…”Your mother is…dead all of a sudden everything got blurry and……Clouds, white chairs stuffed to the ground, and dad? We were on the plane! It was a dream! Or was it just a memory. Then I heard a loud noise, “Everyone, we will be arriving at the destination in two hours…America! America? Ugh! I said in my head growly. Why couldn’t this be a dream?! We were moving from Poland where my dad grew up and was born. He was sleeping tiny snores coming out. But I wasn’t born in Poland, I was born in France. That’s where my mom was on a college trip. She was nineteen. My dad and his friends went there for a couple days and well they met. They had me nine years later. I had spent half of my life there. Then we moved to Poland and they had my brother Alex. He’s seven. We both have the same letter at the start of our name because mom and dad said that that would keep us chained. I know it’s pretty stupid but i like it. I was chained to my mom but she’s not here so I have my brother. My name is Ari and I know most people would say it’s a boy’s name but i like it. And anyway if Ari is considered a boy name then I’m glad I don’t have a girl name like Abigail or Nancy or Chloe. And then I pressed my fingers against the cold window next to me, light shining in. I squinted to see if we were going to even see the slightest glimpse of my new home but no we were still in the middle of nowhere. This reminded me of the time we were flying to India with my mom when I was four years old. I was bored to death. I mean how many times can you watch the wizard of Oz yeah we get it there is an evil person and they have done some horrible things there’s the yellow brick road yatah yatah oh wow a happy ending that’s new. It always ends like that and I hate it! I fiddle my thumbs for the rest of the ride thinking about what America would be like and how excited I would be to have my first Hamburger in America. “One hour and thirty minutes…one hour…thirty minutes… WE ARE HERE!” I flinch. Dad is unloading the bags from the top and he looks tired. I yawn at the sight of that. I unwrap my jacket from my waist and put it on. It’s cold. “Dad?” I ask. “Yeah?” He says. Not looking up at me. “What time is it?” He looks at his watch and shakes his head. “ I don’t know. He says but they said we would probably arrive at 11:00 pm.” I was so excited we would be living in New York! And since i had just turned fourteen i could finally get to go wherever I wanted! Everyone stuck on the plane and finally we came out. I bit my under lip tight from the cold. It reminded me of a time about a year ago when it was moms anniversary of when she died and the weather was so cold with my black short dress with buttons but when i thought of times me and her had together I felt warmer but when dad called me the cold bit back and then i knew i really had to let go of her.
Chapter two
AMERICA
We had arrived at the place we would be staying in New York. A three bedroom with a kitchen and a bathroom. It was nice, just a normal apartment. Tomorrow was my first day at Beverly high.
It turned out that waking up was a nightmare unfortunately. It seemed as though my bad mood was flooding my room. My room looked grey and dull. I slowly got dressed. I put on a green sweater with a hood and grey sweats. I hoped my dad was still asleep or forgot but that never happens to my dad. Ever. He had called me three times before I finally came out. Everything was so bright now. I closed one eye tight and looked at my dad who was in the kitchen. I looked at the clock in the kitchen with hope, hoping I would be at least five minutes late. But no, I still had twenty five minutes till it would start. “Hi sweetie you feelin good?” Said my dad pouring me tea. I slumped down in a chair “No.” I said. “ Come on, it will be fun and I put your favorite lunch in your lunch box.” “Dad! High schoolers don’t have lunch boxes fourth graders don’t even have lunch boxes! You could have just put it in a container.” I said in a very loud voice. The room filled with silence. I looked at my lap twisting my fingers and looked up. My dad’s face looked disappointed, he was disappointed at himself. I looked at the clock and couldn’t believe what I said and the fact that it came out of my own mouth “Oh my gosh, I am going to be late for school!”
I waved goodbye as my dad waved a big hand and a smile with my brother sitting in his arms. When I stared at the bus for the first time I felt as though a rush of bad feelings twisted in my stomach. I breathed in slightly and took a step feeling brave but I knew on the outside I still looked like the five year old I was at times. “Miss, are you gonna get in the bus?!” Said the bus driver. I flinched as she snapped me back into the present. I started to sprint high knees up the stairs. I moved slowly looking at the people left and right of the bus. Finally I got the courage to sit next to a boy (what I expected was a boy) with bubble gum in his mouth with an old computer on his lap which looked like a hand me down. He was wearing a matching sweater and sweats which looked very comfortable. I plopped down and he didn’t notice and it was better for me if no one did. I didn’t bother to see if my dad was still waving as the bus charged away. I picked out one of my three books in my backpack happily reading and The bus came to a stop as I felt a lump in my chest and tried to swallow my anxiety. I grabbed my backpack and tried not to touch anyone. I quickly raced out. I followed kids into the school until we made it to a graffiti walled courtyard with a basketball court. Everyone grabbed a seat on benches that were all over. I looked for a spot where no one was but I couldn’t find one. And there I was looking like an outsider staring at the benches with no clue. All of a sudden a tall woman walked with short hair and bangs. As she walked in I ran to a bench. “ Hello Juniors, I am Ms.Connell. Her voice was sweet she had blond hair. And I am your history teacher. She continued. Some of you might know the school because of siblings or you took a tour this Summer and if you didn’t i will assign someone to help you. And if you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask. Now follow me. The kids rose and I got squished between them . I ran forward to the front. We followed her to what looked like a front desk. A man with curly hair who sat behind a peach long desk motioned for us to form a line as he gave everyone their schedules. I was the last to get mine. “Thank you.” I said shyly. Following Ms.Connell. It felt like forever till we made it to a dark long classroom (which was poorly designed ) having four rows of desks and about ten desks going back! I sighed . There was a white board and blue chairs. It was bland, nothing special about it. Everyone had a piece of paper with your name on it. Slowly finding my name when I found mine I dropped my backpack slowly. I was in the third row with two people sitting next to me. Ariana and Jacob it read. Those were the people who were sitting next to me. A girl with brown hair walked in as she gave the room a big sip of confidence. She wasn’t tall nor short; she was averaged. She was perfect. She slumped down into her chair as tucked her pink backpack underneath her desk and started to pick her nails. I did a quick wave. “What?” She said. Her voice was deep and tough but at the same time it reminded me of daisies and angel’s. “Nothing”. I said fast. Then someone in matching clothes walked in. The boy on the bus! His name was Jacob? With no care in the world he sat down and put his arms around his head and slumped down.
Chapter three
Friends
People say it’s hard for some and not for some. But it wasn’t necessarily hard for me but it takes courage and braveness to say…”Hi” i said to Ariana at break. She looked like she was very popular. “Um hi?” She said back. I couldn’t blame her for saying hi like a question she hardly knew me! She sat on a bench with me and took something out of her backpack. It was a lunch box. I brought out mine. “Oh. She said in awe. You still use a lunch box too.” I felt my face burn, I looked down at my lunch box. “Um yeah.” I felt my voice crack. “What’s your name? Sorry I didn’t get a chance to look in class.” “Well it’s Ari.” I said looking down worried what her reaction would. “Short for Ariana?!” She squealed in the highest voice She had ever heard. “Um well…no.” Ariana cheeks got red. She looked disappointed. She always looked disappointed. Maybe just because the outside was perfect maybe the inside wasn’t. “My mom died when I was eight.” I blurted out. “What?” Her head moved so fast I thought her neck would fall off. “My mom died when I wa— “I heard.” She said in a slow and calm voice. It took her a second before she said “My parents divorced when I was three. I hardly remember her.” she said. “Who?” I probably shouldn’t have asked that but she still answered. “My mom. She said looking down. She left when they got divorced. So I just live with my dad.” I didn’t move a muscle. The bell ringed harder then she had ever heard.
Lost and Caught
Chapter four
“That’s him.” She was pointing at the kid she had seen earlier. “Jacob.” Ari whispered. “He should have been in the second year but he had to stay cause well he wasn’t smart enough I guess. Ariana shrugged. My sister was with him last year and said he never spoke a word. Can’t imagine a life like that.” said Ariana. It was true the more you got to know her the more she talked. She watched him disappear into a building. Ari started walking toward the building with no control over her body running. Ariana was chasing after her. They both looked into the building. He was being held by them… they both pressed there backs against the outside breathing hard.
Clueless
“What are we going to do!” Shrieked Ariana. “I don’t know.” They hadn’t looked in once but Ari had had enough. She walked in bravely. Ariana peeked. It was a card…. with numbers? Ariana walked in looking from side to side. Ari picked up the card, 1359 it read. One three five nine? Ariana grabbed the card. “Haha!” She said. “Why are you laughing?!” “Oh because there is no need to be worried.” “Why?” “Well…my dad owns this place. Oh no. They must have him then!” Ari looked to the side room one it read. 1359… room one! “Ariana! It’s here! They opened a door towns office to find- “Dave!” Ariana screamed. She Started untying the wrap covering his mouth. “He works here.” I ask. Ariana nods. Ari sees another room with the number three on it. They untie her. “Where’s a room with five on it.” “On the second floor.” They run up. The stairs finding Jacob stuck to a chair. There is a card saying these two cups contain the same pill, if this boy takes the wrong one he dies. “I know this one!” Says Ariana. It’s not about the pill it’s about the water, it’s poisonous. They ripped the tape off his face and slowly put the pill in his mouth. He is alive! They unwrap him.“I think the next thing is on the ninth floor!” “Maybe” I wonder. Jacob doesn’t speak but he follows. We race up and I’m breathing hard. How could it be this easy. When we get there someone’s tied up in the chair strangling to get out. “Dad!” She tries to race up but someone in a black suit grabs and cuffs her mouth. Her screams muffle. Jacob pulled against the person in a black jumpsuit with a mask. Ari went from they back and kicked them hard. They fell to the ground and Ariana broke free. The ran forward and Ariana fear sly unwrapped her dad fearsomely. When she was all done stared at him and walked back to ari . “Thanks.” Ariana gave her a hug and held on. She heard her sniff she went to her dad and hugged him.
Packing up
Ariana and her dad walked home Ari waved to Jacob but all he did was stare. Ari shrugged and started to walk but Ariana tapped her gently. Ari spun around. “There’s a cool protest tomorrow right here you could join me.” “Um sure.” A protest? For what? Ariana answered my question without even hearing me. “It is for BLM.” I nod. “I can’t wait!”
The Protest
- It was a cold day when she looked out the window. She vividly remembered that day. She walked past the parking lot and the factory until she got there. Two little kids were pointing at her and laughing. And that got on her nerves so she just rolled her eyes and unfortunately the saw. They looked mad so Ari ran to the front. And did a steady stop right at the front. She sighed, how could she be intimidated by twelve year olds. “Miss!” Said a man in dirty clothes and a hat on his head. “Yes!” “Would you like to hold the flag.” “Really?” “Yes really!” He put the flag in front of her. Left KA then right hand. The pole was cold all of a sudden everyone started walking in front of her. She held the sign proud. She looked brave. She was happy. And now she knew she looked like the fourteen year old she was.
THE END
About the Author.
Ella Shaul was born in CA San Francisco, her favorite things to do are reading, hanging out with friends and learning new things. She especially likes school cause it’s all her favorite things together! She likes to play basketball and volleyball. She has one older brother, one mom and one dad.