Bits and Pieces Chapter 6

Chapter 6: United Freaks

                "So, why did you come to me with this?" My therapist asked, sitting across from me in her spinning seat. She had her hands placed on her mahogany desk. 

"Here's the thing, I didn't come to you. My mom forced me to come here. If it were my choice, I would never come here. But, obviously it is not my choice," I said.

"Well then, why did your mom bring you here?"

"You don't understand do you? Yeah, neither does my mom." I laughed and smiled. "So, my friend is dying and my other friend died. Oh yeah, and like half of all the kids at my school are going to die so I can't really make friends or express any emotion to anyone. But, I just can't do that. I can't....can't.....can't...can't, I can't do this!" I rushed out of the room like I had during the interview earlier that day. 

"Whoa, why are you crying?" My mom asked when I my wet face landed in her lap. I collapsed onto the ground and wept. "Everything is going to be alright." Mom started to stroke my head. This did not make me feel better. I started to hyper-ventilate. 

On the way home, I sat in silence. Most everyone else in the car was silent except for Evelyn. She would occasionally snicker at something she read on her phone. I shook my head and finally said,

"Why do I have to go here?" I asked. I didn't know why I went here. No one understood me.

'They understand you," my mom said. I snickered.

"Sure they do," I said, half-truthfully. If they understood me, they could actually make me feel better. I can't even believe my own mother doesn't understand me. I can't hold on or care about anyone. Everything always ends up in some sort or giant explosion the splatters depression all over me. And, I can't even love my best friend.

"We're home," Mom said, interrupting my thoughts. I walked in the house and dropped my bag on the floor by the coat rack. I went into the kitchen to get a snack. I pulled open the freezer and got some peanut butter. Why my mom puts peanut butter in the fridge, I don't know. I got some crackers to dip in the peanut butter and went into the living room. I sat on the couch and opened up my phone. I noticed I had a message from an unknown number I clicked on the message and listened to it. 

"Hello Piper. This Sydney's mom. I uh...I have some bad news. I'm sorry that I have to say this, but Sydney went in a comma. She uh... collapsed during 5th period, and she was taken away in an ambulance. We are at Children’s (referring to the hospital right by our school) if you would like to come and see her. I uh, hope to see you here. We are on the 3rd floor in room 347. We will be waiting for you. (crying) I have to go." I dropped my phone, letting the dead static hang around as I ran to go get my mom. She was in her bathroom and already had changed into her PJ's. 

"Ma, I uh, Syd com-c-c-com," I tried to tell her that I needed to see Sydney, but my mouth was broken. My brain couldn't function. I just stood, there, making a fool of myself and stuttering. For once, Evelyn actually saved me. 

"Mom, I, well I shouldn't have done this but I looked on Piper's phone. And, I listened to a message from Sydney's parents. And, we need to get to Children's right now." Then Evelyn pulled Mom aside and, I assume, told Mom about everything that happened. I grabbed PJ's and a toothbrush; I assumed that I would be spending the night with Sydney. 

When I got to the hospital, I shuddered. The smell of latex gloves and medicine reminded me of that one time that I had to go to a metal institution. I had also been to this hospital many times since I went to visit Sydney every time she was here. I looked around, seeing the overly happy rainbows and other childish decorations. I heard screams in the back and crying from a devastated parent. My mom rushed off to the car, whispering something in Evelyn's ear.

"Mom said that she was just called to work for an immediate dispatch or something. So, we have to stay here with Sydney's parents," said Evelyn, pulling out her phone. "Go visit your friend." So I walked up to receptionist desk and asked if I could go see Sydney. 

"Do you have a guardian with you?" She asked in a sweet southern voice. She had wrinkles all over her face and her hands were slightly shaking. I could tell she was here to cheer up the kids. I nodded towards Evelyn and she gave me the go ahead signal. I grabbed Evelyn's wrist without time to explain. 

“Where are we going?” Evelyn asked as we got onto the elevator. When she realized that I was holding her wrist, she pulled it away.

“We’re going to see Sydney,” I said, smiling. Then the elevator beeped and the doors open. The place was decorated so it looked happy and cheerful. But from all the crying, the smell of pee, and all the strange beeping. Besides that, the level of the hospital Sydney was on was devastatingly glum.

I walked over to room 347 and found Sydney. She had a mask on her face and a bandage around her small bald head. I slowly walked over, reaching for her hand. I just stood there, clutching Sydney’s hand and looking at her pale, bruised face.

“What happened to her?” I asked when I had sat down. I was still holding her hand.

“Well, she took quite a tumble and hit her head. That’s why it’s bandaged. Why is in the comma and fell in the first place, we don’t know,” said her mom. I nodded. I just sat on the edge of her bed and smiled down at her. Even though Sydney couldn’t speak or hear what I was saying, I leaned in to whisper to her.

“Hey, I came. I will stay as long as you need me. My mom might not want that, but I will. I’ll be there all the time, no matter what. So, just remember that our star won’t go out and don’t forget to be awesome.” Then I place my hand on her head. Just then, a nurse rushed in.

“We have to take her,” she said, walking towards Sydney. They strapped her to a rolling table and put a pillow under her head. I got up and walked with the nurse. “Where are you going?” She asked.

“I’m coming with you, I promised Sydney,” I said, grabbing her hand.

“No, you’re not,” the nurse said, starting to walk faster. But, I kept walking with them. “Well, sweetie, you can’t. You can stand outside the door and watch.”

“But I promised her that I would stay, no matter what. If this is the no matter what then so be it. But I am going to stay with her!” I protested.

“Keep your voice down,” she said. I quieted down. “Maybe if your guardian can come in and watch, you can stand in the room where I stand. Actually, no, not going to happen. Sorry, rules are rules.” She smirked and ran off with Sydney. But I raced to her. They had already gone into the room and shut the door. But I opened it and went into the X-ray room.

“Sorry, you can’t be in here,” said another doctor, coming to the door.

“But, you didn’t open the blinds. If I can’t be in there with my best friend, can I at least watch through the window?” I asked, staring at the very handsome doctor.

“Well, that I can do. I thought since you were with Janet she would open the blinds for you.” After the man went into the room and locked the door, he opened the blinds for me. (I had assumed that the rude nurse was Janet.) Not that I didn’t trust the doctors, I just promised Sydney that I would watch her. I saw the doctors place her onto another table. Before the started the machine, they took off her bandage and put on a new one. She had a pretty nasty gash on her forehead, but I didn’t turn away. Then she placed the weird contraption over Sydney and started the machine. The doctors went into a small cove-like hiding spot inside the room and watched the machine. The male doctor looked over at me and gave me the thumbs up. I smiled back and saw Janet role her eyes.

After what seemed like forever, which was an hour, Sydney was done. She hadn’t woken up, but she laid peacefully on the table. The doctors came out of their spot and pulled Sydney out of the machine. They took her off and put her back on the rolling table. Then Janet came out and went down the hallway. She came back, wheeling a wheelchair. Then they doctors strapped Sydney in and brought her out of the room.

“So, how was it from you view?” Asked the male doctor.

“Pretty good,” I said. Then I tried to reach for the handle. But Janet’s hand slammed on the handle and her grip tightened. It was like she was purposely making me mad. But I took the other handle and swept the chair away from her.

“Thank you very much,” I said as I steered the wheel chair to Sydney’s room.

“Well, you have to leave for testing that I have to do on her.”

“But, can’t I just stay, for this tiny little test?” I asked. I made the sad puppy-dog face and thought about how Sydney would respond.

“I….fine,” said Janet.

“First, can I have a moment with her?” Sydney’s parents stepped out of the room, but Janet just stood there. I tilted my head and she left. She crossed her arms and turned around angrily. I scooted the chair closer to me and I sat down on Sydney’s bed.

“So, how was it in that weird, scanny machine?” I asked. I didn’t really know how to fraise my sentence. “Well, now that nurse is going to do some tests. I will be here and I don’t have to stand outside and watch. I would have gotten in that machine with you if I could have, but no. They don’t let people do that, sorry. So, you know the deal. Don’t forget to be awesome and all that junk.” Then I hugged Sydney’s limp body and opened the door. Then everyone came in and the nurse hooked Sydney up to a machine.

“So, how was watching Sydney getting a CT scan?” Sydney’s mom asked when she sat down.

“Pretty good, I just wish I could have been closer to her,” I said. Then the nurse lifted Sydney from her chair and placed her on the bed. Then, for the next 5 minutes, the nurse hovered over Sydney and did all the “tests” she said she was going to do.

“Done,” said Janet, lifting her hands away and stepping back from Sydney, as if to reveal an amazing masterpiece. I went over to Sydney and sat on the bed next to her. I pulled to covers over her and felt her hand. It wasn’t warm, it was as cold as a stone at the bottom of a pond. I laid next to her and fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was dark out. I woke up and sat up.

“Hey,” said Evelyn. She was sitting next to me and still looking at her phone.

“It’s around dinner time, so you can go down to the cafeteria for food,” said Sydney’s father. So I got up, stretching my arms up to the ceiling. Then I walked out of the room and went over to the elevator. I pushed the buttons for floor 1, and waited. A girl in black shorts and a green shirt that read “Wolverines Basketball” wheeled herself over. (I may have forgotten to mention she was in a wheelchair). She pushed the same down arrow I had pushed and we waited. I snuck a look at her in the silver reflection on the elevator door. Then, she did the same to me. The door opened and we both entered.

“Are you going to the cafeteria?” The girl asked as we waited to go down.

“Yeah, you?” I responded.

“Yep.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah.”

“Dinner, dinner, cool, cool.” Then the elevator dinged.

“Saved by the bell,” I said under my breath. Then we both went the same way and headed to the cafeteria. I got in line, as did the cool.

“So, why are you here?” I asked the girl as we awkwardly waited in line.

“Oh, well, thanks for not making any assumptions. Though, I am here because I can’t walk. I usually can deal with my RA, but it got worse. Yeah, I failed to mention that I have RA and that’s why I’m here,” she said, then wheeling over to the trays as the line sluggishly moved. “How about you?”

“My friend is in a coma right now, and I’m staying with her.” I grabbed a tray and tried to get a heap of salad. Then Evelyn walked behind me and said, “What is up?”

“If that’s your friend, it doesn’t look like she’s in a comma,” said the girl, getting a fried chicken leg.

“No, it’s not. This is my sister, Evelyn.”

“Ah, I see. Lucy Hall,” said the girl, holding out her hand. Evelyn shook it, hesitantly, and proceeded to getting pasta salad. “So, who are you?”

“Me,” I said. I paused for moment, not knowing at the time that I seemed incredibly strange thinking about what my own name is. “Piper.”

“Cool Piper,” Lucy said. Then she scooped up some mashed potatoes and proceeded to the drink machine. I got a slice of pizza and headed to the pizza. While I went to the drink machine, Evelyn got yelled at the rest of the line for not moving. As usual, she had stopped to text or look at social media. She finally realized what she was doing, and came over to where I was.

“Your sister seems pretty oblivious to the world around her,” said Lucy, filling her cup with Mountain Dew.

“That’s just how teens are,” I said, getting some Fanta. Lucy wheeled herself to a table and I followed. Evelyn had stopped, again, and was on her phone.  I and Lucy laughed as we watched Evelyn spilled the tea she had once been filling her cup with.

“So, who are the wolverines?” I asked, gnawing at my slice of pizza.

“Oh, you mean “Wolverines Basketball,” said Lucy. I nodded. “My basketball team. I also play track and Lacrosse.”

“Are any of your teammates here?” I asked, trying to soak my lettuce leaves in the Caesar dressing.

“Nah, they don’t even know about my RA. I don’t tell anyone unless they ask, and they don’t ask since I don’t tell. My friend, Riley, knows. But, he knows because we met at a hospital and I was in a wheelchair then. It just seemed important to tell him, since he is my only friend who has seen me in a wheelchair. Just, I am really surprised with how daring I am being right now. I don’t really open up like this.” Then Lucy looked down and pecked at her chicken leg.

“Me and you both. I can’t make friends, either. They all die.”

“That sounds like so much fun,” said Lucy.

“Yep, sure is,” I said. I looked down at my salad. I really didn’t like to talk about it, but I felt like I had to own up and tell something private about me to Lucy. Then came the awkward silence when everyone is comprehending something weird and astonishing that someone says and no body speaks.

“So, I’m going to go back to my room,” Lucy said, picking up her tray. She wheeled herself over to the trashcan and dumped her trash in the trash can. She brought her tray and dishes to the counter and wheeled towards the elevator. I thought about getting up, but another friendship wasn’t worth my heartbreak. I dumped my trash, put away my tray, and went over to Evelyn. She was still standing by the drink machine on her phone.

“I’m going to go look at the store and stuff,” I said, trying to peer at what Evelyn was doing on her phone.

“Sit with…. With…. Sorry, can you sit with me, gotta supervise you,” Evelyn said, picking up her tray and walking over to a table. She quickly ate her pasta and put away her tray.

“Can we get going to the store?” I asked.

“ Yeah, yeah, if you can find it,” she said. Evelyn stopped by the trashcan to text again. So I pulled Evelyn over to the store and we looked at all the stuff. There was popcorn, cups, mugs, shirts, bobble heads, stuffed animals, flowers, cards, pens, jewelry, and posters. It wasn't much, but I never really knew that this hospital had a store. I guess I did, just never went.

“Can I have like $15 to buy some flowers and candy for Sydney?” I asked. Evelyn handed me a twenty and I went over to the candy section. I looked at the candy, trying to find Sydney’s favorite candy, tropical Skittles. I kept looking, but to no avail. So I went to the flowers and picked out the tulips. There were red, orange, and pink. Then I brought the flowers to the counter and asked for tropical Skittles.

“Do you have any tropical Skittles,” I asked the girl at the counter.

“If you don’t see them in the candy section, we don’t have them.” The girl didn't look up from her magazine. She pointed to the candy and didn't pay attention to me. I back to the candy and got the regular Skittles. I got the Skittles and bought them. Then me and Evelyn went back to Sydney's room and stayed there for the rest of the night. 

Bits and Pieces Chapter 5

Chapter 5: In Sickness and In Health

*Note* I know that the font sizes and styles change throughout the chapter. This happens when I transfer my writing from Word to Wattpad. I would change it, but Wattpad enables me to change font sizes and styles. Sorry about that!

After the fire, school returned to normal. I had more episodes of depression, but it was not all that bad, yet. Since the Day of Blazes and Broken Hearts (that’s what I’m calling it), Iris never talked to me. Sydney continued to admire Flo’s awesomeness. I went to the therapist’s on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Everything seemed to return to normal.

“Hey, where’s Sydney?” Flo asked me one day.

“I don’t know. I’ll text her,” I said, pulling out my phone.

Where R U? I texted her. I waited for her response. She finally replied Uh…….. Can we talk over the phone or video chat after school? I texted back Sure

When I got home, I immediately went to the computer and video called Sydney. She picked up after a few rings.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“Well,” she said, sniffling. She wiped her face with her hands. Sydney looked away and placed her hand on the side of her face, placing her elbow on a tray below her. She blinked slowly, three times.

“What is it,” I asked. I could feel the fear and panic welling up inside of me. Sydney to a big gulp, then look into my eyes. She said two words,

“It moved.”

“What moved?”

“The cancer.”

“Oh, where did it move?” Sydney crossed her arms and turned away. Tears ran down her face like ribbons on a present. She put her face on her arm. I heard muffled cries as Sydney’s body moved up and down frantically. Still, I waited. I knew that sometimes you needed to cry. But I didn’t ask her why she was crying, or anything for that matter. It was strange for Sydney to cry. She was very strong when it came to talking about her cancer. Something had flipped in Sydney’s mind.

                After Sydney’s episode, we decided to do friendship vows.

                “I, Piper Blackwood, take you, Sydney Panetta to be my best friend, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part,” I said, smiling at Sydney.

                “I, Sydney Panetta, take you, Piper Blackburn to be my best friend, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.” Then we smiled. I had not planned to do friendship vows, but I felt that it was important that Sydney and I had a good connection.

“So, why are you in the hospital?” I asked.

                “I passed out. I don’t remember much. What I do remember is gone with the wind,” Sydney said.

                “It must be pretty bad,” I said.

                “Yeah, it is. They have me on all sorts of medication. Taking oral chemo, have an IV in my arm, and the worst part is the G-tube.”

                “G-tube?”

                “This thing,” Sydney said, lifting up her hospital gown. “Humbug.”

                “It’s going to be okay. Look, I know it’s going to be okay.”

                “You’re not the one dying here! I’m never going to be loved, I’m never gonna leave a mark, I have no meaning. Just pull the plug. Why are they even keeping me alive? I do nothing for the world. Why can’t I just stop making the world worse?

                “Look, you are loved. I love you, indefinitely. You want to know why they’re keeping you alive. They’re keeping you alive for me. I want you to be here so that my horrible qualities will deflect off of you and I can know them. I need someone to help me realize the real Piper. I know cancer sucks. I can absolutely assure you that it sucks. But, just know that this is for me. I know you don’t want to suffer; I don’t want you to suffer either. Just, suffer with me. “

                “I don’t know who long I will be able to. But, having hope is half the gas you need for the trip.”

                “There you go. Maybe strange, confusing metaphors can help with the pain. Sometimes the things that don’t make sense can be medicine.”

                “Uh, sure. Whatever. Just not medicine that will make me live like you. I want to be a bird, free to be whom I want to be and go where I want. Instead, I am confined to this hospital gown and bed.”

                “There’s no one holding you back from expressing yourself except you.”

                “Cancer is holding me back, my parents are holding me back, doctors are holding me back, but I am not.”

                “Oh yes you are,” I said, shaking my finger at Sydney. “You are letting those people and things hold you back. If you look past them, tell them that this is your time, you can soar high above the clouds. You can travel the galaxy in the blink of an eye. You can… Where’d you go?” The screen was pitch black. The house was completely dark. There was only the sound of the tree branch tap-tap-tapping at the window. It was eerie with the mist outside creeping at my door. I shot up from my chair, pushing it back. The chair hit the ground with a thud.

“Mom, where are you,” I said as my voice quivered. I took deep breaths in through my nose. “MOM!!!”

“Why are you screaming?” Evelyn asked, suddenly appearing at the bottom of the stairs. “Don’t you remember? Mom is working late. Now, go do something while I fix the power.” Evelyn headed into the garage. I plopped onto the couch and texted Sydney.

“Where were u?” Sydney texted.

“The power went out. It still is.” I texted back.

“Wanna get together some time?”

“Sure, when?”

“I’m going to be in the hospital this whole week. But, if everything goes well, I can get out next Friday.”

“C u then?”

“Sounds good”

“The power just came back on. Wanna vid chat?”

“Gotta do something with the G tube. To graphic, and just, not really a good time to vid chat.”

“Oh, well TTYL”

“K DFTBA”

“OSWGO”

“Hey, pizza’s here!” Yelled Evelyn from the front room.

“Bring it here!” I said. Then I rolled around on the ground and waited for Evelyn to come with the food. I stuffed the pizza in my mouth, then finally got up to get more.

When I sat back down on the couch, I rolled onto my back. I couldn’t help thinking about what would happen if Sydney was gone. Our conversation had sparked a side of Sydney I had never seen. Her crying and screams were almost as bad as the first time she was told she had cancer. I curled up into a ball and cried. In the back of my mind, I remembered that I had not taken my medicine this morning.

By the time I was woke up again, Mom and Jerry were home. They were screaming at each other from the kitchen. I felt like seeing what all the commotion was; instead I just listened.

“Why didn’t you do it then?” Mom screamed.

“I thought Evelyn could do it,” said Jerry.

“Did you ask her?”

“No.”

“Don’t you know how important this project is? You know, Evelyn called me and asked me how to turn the power back on!!!! You should have been here to help with that!” Mom started to pace back and forth. Her fisted were clenched as tight as babies swaddled in blankets.

“I wanted to give her responsibility.”

“You don’t care about my children. You’re a stupid, rotten, ugly, thief trying to steal me away from my children. You provide nothing to this family, nothing!”

“Oh, and what does Evelyn bring? Yeah, what about Piper? All she does is sit around and be a messed-up, wonky little brat.”

“You don’t care about my children. Okay, gets me mad. But, okay. But when you insult them, when you insult my everything, you have crossed the line. Get out of my house and never come back!!!!! Pack up your things and leave right now!” I heard stomping and then Mom sat on the couch next to me.

“I heard about Sydney. I’m sorry. Did you hear us?” Mom asked.

“Every bit,” I said, head still buried in the couch. “Am I messed up?”

“No, sweetie. He is just a big, fat, lying, conniving, devilish bastard.” Then, Jerry came thundering down the stairs and stood in front of Mom.

“You are the worst person I have ever met,” Jerry said, staring at Mom. Then he threw his bags down the stairs and left. I was still on the couch, being moppy and not a big help to anyone. I guess I really do bore people, since Mom left to go do something in the house. I kept crying, then fell asleep. I was nestled in a warm pillow filled with tears. I just didn’t want another friendship like the one with Alex. (But being all messed up, all friendships result in madness and end in tragedy.

The next day, I woke up with a prodding pain on my side. It felt like someone was tweezing my insides. But, I got up anyway. I had a big report due today and was not (correction) could not miss school today. I texted Sydney that I was nervous and then she texted back

“More nervous than me? No way!!”

So after that, I was intrigued with the situation she was going through. All throughout the morning, I would text her then wait for a response. When I got off the bus at school, I was surprised to see who was waiting at the door for me.

“I got released early!” Sydney said, running towards me. I wrapped her in a bear hug. Her body and shrunk and she was wearing a knit beanie to cover her head.

“Bloop bloop boop,” Flo said, cartwheeling over to where we were. She bopped Sydney on the nose and said “So, I have a question. How many craters are blue in Tennessee’s farm of watermelon if the purple dinosaur in the washing machine started to spin around?”

“Uh, I don’t know how to respond to that,” Sydney said, looking for my approval. I shrugged, for I didn’t want to deal with odd balls right now. I took Sydney’s hand and swept her inside the school. We snuck into the girl’s room, undetected.

“So, what’s going on with you? We only ever go into the bathroom when the conversation is very important and private. “

“Yeah, it kind of is. So, last night, Jerry got kicked out by Mom. And she was yelling at him and he said some pretty mean things. Now Jerry, presumably, is on the streets, and we, are free of all his stupid mischief. So, Mom filed for a court date and things might get super bad super-fast.”

“Man, that was a mouthful. That does sound like it’s gonna get super bad super-fast. But, I will be by your side, through sickness and health. Now, we don’t have much time to talk. We have to get to class.”

“Right,” I said. I dodged the other people in the bathroom and raced to get to class. I didn’t pay much attention. All that was on my mind was escalating fear and Jerry fighting back. During art, I was jittery.  I couldn’t make a straight line or shade anything correctly. My hands shook at the thought of having to testify against Jerry. Even though I didn’t like him, I was afraid of anger welling up inside of him. I don’t exactly know why he would go to court, but I guess that Jerry was scaring me.

I sat down at lunch, waiting for Sydney to finish buying her lunch. She slid her tray next to me and plopped down. I sighed, mushing my face in my ham and Swiss sandwich.

“Okay, maybe it’s just me, but you seem real glum. Well, more glum than usual,” Sydney said, putting a hand on my back.

“It’s just you,” I mumbled.

“Oh, I have to go. Some people asked to interview me for the school newspaper.” Sydney rushed off, taking her tray with her. I rolled over, keeping my head on the table, but facing the ceiling. I placed my hand over my silver heart locket, and dreamed of a world better than this. (Just to clarify, that would be any other world or reality, mostly)

I turned to the side and heard a thwup thwup thwup sound. Flo was dancing next to me. She waved her arms wildly then told me that some people wanted me in Miss Dodd’s room. I got up, grabbing my lunch and heading to her room.

“Ah, our next victim,” she said as I walked in her room. There were a few people standing around a bench with high-tech cameras perched on their shoulders. Around the bench, there were lights that someone was tinkering with. Miss Dodd was sitting on her desk, looking at a paper list. There was someone with a clipboard standing near the people with the cameras. There were people sitting at computers off the side of the bench.

“Do you know why you’re here?” The boy with the clipboard asked.

“No,” I said, still oblivious to the fact that Sydney was there, too.

“We are with the newspaper. Your friend here was being interviewed for a video that we will put on the newspaper website. Your friend, Sydney, suggested that we interview Piper Blackwood. I assume you are Piper Blackwood, because Sydney told us you are her friend. So, if you are Piper Blackwood, then stay.”

“I am. Now, why the heck should I care about this?”

“You’re being interviewed. This could give you advantages in Miss Dodd’s class. Now sit down on the bench with your friend and let’s begin.” So I did what he told me. I sat down on the bench where Sydney soon joined me. We fixed our hair and messed with our clothes. (Well, Sydney did) Then the boy with the clipboard counted down, the lights flashed, and the cameras started to film.

“So ladies, what do you think about the school?” The boy asked.

“Uh, this school depresses me. I am surrounded by a bunch of saddening people how only cause me glum and I refuse to except any support that anyone here, with the exception of Sydney, will give me. I think that this interview is dumb and that this school is wasting my life. Good day!” I rushed from the bench and stormed out of the room.

“I better go get her. And, if you want to interview me more, that you better find another solution to you problem.” Sydney, raced toward me, getting winded and slumping down in the doorway of the classroom.

“Girls,” Miss Dodd said, getting up from her desk. “If you really do feel this way, then please, do not talk to me about the newspaper or the newspaper website.” I took Sydney’s arm and led her back to the cafeteria. We sat down where we had been before and listened to piano. The music was beautiful and mesmerizing. I looked around to see where the music was coming from. Then I saw a person sitting at a piano in the back of the cafeteria that I had never seen before. Once I saw the wonderful pianist, I knew who it was. Even from behind, her curly locks gave away her identity. As Flo bobbed her head to the music, I finally realized what was so awesome about her and why Sydney admired about her.