the first time . Not being used to cramming around so many others in a small space that jarred as it bumped down the road was bad enough ; but , also knowing the destination is a gigantic building where you will be shoved into a room full of unknown children and a foreign adult who had the authority to give rules and instruction made the task even more unbearable and frightening .
“ What if no one likes me ?” The words came out so quietly that Lynn almost missed it . She loosened one of her arms and looked quizzically at her sister .
“ Well - ” Lynn said with confidence - “ that ’ s a silly question .” Jupiter simply shrugged her shoulders . Contemplating her options , Lynn lifted her sister so they could look each other in the eyes . “ What did I tell you last night ?”
Jupiter glanced down and her nose scrunched as she recounted the conversation they had in their shared bedroom after the lights had been turned out . She looked back into Lynn ’ s hazel eyes before answering . “ You said that everyone will be as nervous as me .”
Jupiter looked at her sister with eager , but still glistening eyes , and Lynn nodded for encouragement . “ What else ?”
Sniffling , Jupiter ran the backside of her hand against her eyes to dry them . “ Find someone who I want to be friends with and ask them .” Lynn smiled . “ Exactly .” “ But what if they say no ?” Jupiter ’ s eyes began to brim with a fresh set of tears as she imagined that possibility .
“ If they say no then that ’ s okay . There will be a lot of people in your class , and I promise you that your best friend is waiting for you in there . You are going to have a lot of fun at school .” Jupiter nodded . “ I hope you are right .” “ You know I am .” Lunn laughed as she nudged
Jupiter . At that moment , the bus let out a sigh as the tires slowed to a stop and its body sank towards the ground , letting itself recuperate at the end of the journey . With a groan , the front door folded open to allow a flood of brisk air to penetrate the warm haven of the bus . Conversation had stopped as students rushed to gather their backpacks and lunch totes , eager to descended the bus ’ s stairs and rush into the school building away from the cold .
Instead of reaching for her backpack - the one she had been so excited for last week at the store during the annual new year of school shopping extravaganza their mother took them on which had her favorite character from her favorite show on it : Bingo from Bluey .
“ Jupiter , it ’ s okay . I know you ’ ve got this . You ’ re my brave little sister after all .” Lynn pulled her purple backpack , worn from several years of use , over one shoulder and stood up while extending one open hand to her sister . “ I ’ ll walk you to class so you don ’ t get lost , okay ?”
Gathering all of her courage , Jupiter rose from her seat , and slipped Bingo on her shoulders . Lynn , following behind her , guided Jupiter into the isle with the other and toward the front of the school bus , staying directly behind her . Lynn noticed her sister fiddling with her dress as they stepped down the stairs and onto the pavement leading into the building . Before Lynn could completely leave the yellow tin Twinkie , Jupiter had wrapped a tiny hand into hers and squeezed with a grip that shouldn ’ t have been possible . Lynn gave the hand a loving squeeze in return and began walking inside . Forced to follow or let go , Jupiter stayed a reluctant one step behind .
The hallway felt monstrous as Jupiter followed her sister . Not only could she not see over the wave of older students bobbing excitedly as they reunited with friends after a summer apart , but the magnitude of chatter rose to a volume Jupiter wasn ’ t accustomed to and it frightened her . She didn ’ t know where to walk without being in a persons ’ way or what voices to listen to and which to ignore . Teachers were working to direct students best they could , but even their authoritative voices weren ’ t decipherable against the students .
Lynn walked with confidence down the chaotic hall , pausing only to allow someone to jet in front of them or to give a quick hello . Never loosening her grip , Jupiter remained tethered to her sister , fearful that if their fingers were no longer entwined , she would be lost in the sea of people forever . It seemed like an eternity that Jupiter let her sister lead her , but eventually they waded out from the sea of students , and turned down a new hallway .
“ This is your hallway ,” said Lynn . “ We are almost to your classroom .”
Butterflies that had started to sleep were reawakened with a larger ferocity than before . No longer focused on surviving the cacophony , Jupiter ’ s sole attention was now refocused on the simple fact she was about to be thrown into an unknown situation . Both her mother and sister had tried to explain the excitement that came with being old enough to go to school , like playing with new friends at recess ; however , Jupiter remained skeptical .
How was she supposed to trust an adult she had never met before ? What if she didn ’ t get along with any of the other kids and wasn ’ t able to make a friend ?
AUGUST 2024 MoultrieScene 37