Sticks and Stones
Maria Griffin — Grade 7
They wanted me ! I was in Ms . Jones ’ s office . She was my guidance counselor , and had been keeping close tabs on me ever since my dad left . I had pretended to do the whole grieving act , with the fake tears , anger , guilt , the whole deal . Yet she seemed to know that I was faking . The truth is I haven ’ t really had time to feel anything . Once he left , my mom fell apart . She stopped going to work , so we lost our house . We moved to a shabby apartment on Essex Street , and it became my responsibility to pay the bills . I lost all my friends except for Matt and Cody , who really had no aim in life . They just wanted to stay in Bangor for the rest of their life .
With me , however , I had been wanting to be an surgeon for as long as I can remember . It had seemed like just a naïve hope , something to get me through the day , until now . Ms . Jones had just told me the news that had been my last hope to get out of this pointless excuse for a life . Amherst accepted my application ! I could finally get out of this prison and go out into the real world , the ‘ American Dream ’, as they call it . I ’ m not normally this excited . Usually I spend my days counting down the hours until the sun sets and I get to go to sleep , hoping I don ’ t wake up in the morning . The guilt of leaving for college is always weighing me down . Don ’ t get the wrong impression , I ’ m not guilty for leaving my mom in this ridiculous town , she did this to herself . No , I ’ m guilty for leaving my brother , John . We have been tight for as long as I can remember . He was my moral compass . I was his rock , the foundation of his whole life . I am the only person truly that cares about him , in exception for his turtle Marcus . Without me paying for his school supplies , food , etc . I honestly don ’ t know what will happen to him . I know it ’ s selfish , but I have to go . Better I leave for college and give him hope for the future than off myself now and completely break him .
I look up at Ms . Jones , who is staring at me intently . “ Nice to see you smile again ,” she says . I then realize the wide grin spreading across my face and immediately try to conceal it , failing miserably . At that moment , my smile dissipates for real , as I realize that it ’ s too good to be true . “ What ’ s the catch ?” I ask her . She gives me a look of pity . I hate when people do that . “ You ’ ve had way too many absences . I ’ m afraid that if you receive one more , you ’ re going to have to repeat senior year .” My heart stops and I feel my defensive rage flare as my face burns scarlet . “ I was working ! How dare you say that to me !”
She looks somber as she rubs her chin and looks at me . “ I do know that , but unfortunately it ’ s no excuse according to the school , even if you do have straight A ’ s . I am SO sorry .” I can tell she means it . I stand up and stumble out of office . I can ’ t let her see me cry .
The bus stops 1 / 2 a mile from my house . I get up from my seat at the back and walk past the empty seats . There is gum all over them . I don ’ t make eye contact with the bus driver , and when she says goodbye I pretend not to notice . I hop down the steps onto the pothole covered blacktop . I hear the bus start up and sputter away . They really needed to get new ones . They break down almost every month and look like they were built in the 60s .
I was not looking forward to confronting my mother , but I had to . If I wanted to get out of this garbage town , then Amherst was my only way out . In order to achieve this scholarship , I would need to quit both my jobs . My mom would need to get one . She used to be a teacher , but got fired when she was .
I look around suddenly as I hear some trash cans being knocked over . Standing there are Matt and Cody , grins spread across their acne coated faces . I swear loudly and ask what they are doing . Matt replies , say-