Story

New To California.

I was in class, waiting for the bell to ring, it had been a laborious stressful morning, and I was ready for this day to be over. I was sitting next to a bunch of girls, talking about whatever they were talking about. I tried to listen, but I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about. Not only that, but I was just learning English at the time. I was so exhausted and miserable while I was in class. Waiting and waiting for the teacher to say something or even start the class, but instead, she was on her computer silently, I sat there listening to the conversation of all of the girls around me. Thinking to myself… I wish there was someone like me who can speak the language that I speak, so I don’t have to worry about what other people are trying to say. Or even someone who can just talk to me.

The bell finally rang. I was so glad all the girls around me stopped talking. I really wanted to shout… “OMG THEY FINALLY STOPPED GIGGLING, TALKING, AND THANK YOU BELL. YOU ARE AWESOME SOMETIMES!” I didn’t shout it though, but inside me, I really wanted to. I just didn’t want to look like a fool of myself; while everyone was around me. It was now time for the Science lab.

“MT-W; Is our new student here at Orinda Intermediate School. Let’s welcome her, and be nice.” When she called my name I was really embarrassed, and I looked, so miserable, as if I had never slept. I almost had a heart attack. “Today we are doing a partner lab, study buddy! Find your partner while I talk with your new classmate and just follow the interactions; I give you for today! M, will you please come to my desk after I take my attendance?” I just nod my head without saying a word. She looked at me as if I was a wall; as if she was talking to herself. When I was walking over to her desk, everyone stared at me. Except the one guy behind me. He was to focus on what he was doing. I tried to not look back, but it was hard not too. While I was walking by her desk I looked so belligerent as if I wanted to just punch someone. (Sometimes when I was in one of my classes; I really didn’t have any clue what was going on.) After she talked to me, she let me do other things; While the others were working in their science lab. I was really glad she didn’t make me have a partner. While I was working, there was something on the iPad that my teacher handed me. It has English vocabulary words and some other things in there. I had a 5-page worksheet for her. Which I thought to myself was strange because it’s a lab class. I went to her table. “Mrs. Wolf, why do I have this little iPad thing?” I asked, In my low shy voice. “Well, those are for you to translate from Tagalog to English; so you can understand what is said in the packets. Write down your answer in English in the packets. Does that make sense?” I didn’t realize it was for that. “Yes, Ma’am!” I answered back in a proud manner. When I came back all the guys in the back were talking really deep. Everyone else was talking. I was like…here we go again. Like seriously, every class I go to, so far are all the same; there is no quiet. Everyone has something to talk about. Except the guy behind me. He was so quiet, and I was very glad he wasn’t bothering me anyway. It looked like him, and his partner were done doing their assigned Science lab. He was working on math. While I was working on my English slash Tagalog packets. I was on my 5 page of 2 more questions to go. I was on number 17 the question they asked was for in example.(Cause I don’t remember one of the questions, but is close to this)…Are there any parts of the human body that get oxygen directly from the air and not from the blood? I was translating my Tagalog version to English. I said this really loud. “Ang aking mga sagot para sa bilang 17, Ang korea ay ang tanging bahagi ng isang katawan ng tao na walang suplay ng dugo; makakakuha ito ng oxygen nang direkta sa hangin. Since everyone was loud. I shouted it! Which means in English is… My answers for number 17, The cornea is the only part of a human body, that has no blood supply; it gets oxygen directly through the air.” He heard me say that in Tagalog, he came around my desk and said “Wow that’s so cool! Hi anyway my name is Joe, by the way. What’s your name?” He said it with surprise. As if he never heard someone talk like me before in a different language. “I know your name, but my name is M.” I said. He had blue eyes and was tall, 12 years old and white. We started talking since. I was done, and he was done with his math. We are just waiting for the bell to ring to go to lunch. “So, where did you come from?” Joe said. I wasn’t going to answer him, but I did. “I came from DSWD RSCC Lubao, Pampanga in the Philippines. I was in an orphanage there.” When I was saying this to him; I felt like I already knew what he was going to say to me. “Wow! That’s cool. Do you want to sit with us at lunch and Keonie?” Said Joe. I was pretty much right on. I wasn’t sure why he asked me that. I was going to sit by myself. “No, I’d rather sit by myself, but thanks for your offer.” I answered “Okay, have a wonderful lunch see u later.” He said. “Yeah cool, thanks!” I responded back. Then the bell rang after what I had said! At lunch, we have an expansive big long cafeteria area, and we can buy whatever we want! With a bunch of wide tables, big long chairs can fit about 10 kids in each group. We have at least 20 tables of them; with hard medal chairs. I sat by the tree shades. Then suddenly, all the cool kids sat where I was sitting. I can only imagine why? They didn’t bother me or anything, but they were talking about things; That I wasn’t sure of. I was the only one who was getting the shade. Then this girl sat by me. She has blak short hair, and wore short and long sleeves tops. At 90 degree weather. She asked me the same question as Joe did. I told her; the same answer. She told me that she was adopted too. While we have our long conversations just me and her. Her name was Kasey’s Wong by the way. While I was eating, Joe’s friend was talking to him, but he wasn’t even paying attention to him. He was looking at me the whole time. I looked for a moment, and he looked at his friends. Then Kasey had a big mouth and said out loud. “Is that your boyfriend now?” I was like really? I just met him then all of a sudden our table was like…“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Our new classmate got a boyfriend!” I was so embarrassed. California’s school really sucks. Kasey was like “I’m sorry and Joe is my cousin anyway, he is nice’’ I tried to keep my cool, but it was hard. I told her instead. “You are fine, don’t worry about it. I’m fine!” Bell ring! Tears as I left for lunch to go to P.E. I didn’t realize they were cousins. As soon I got their girls in the hallways of our locker the door was wide open. They were changing to their Uniforms; I was like really? This is how u guys change from your uniforms? Some girls were high school students, mostly the middle school students who use the back door which is nice! The boy’s locker door is in the gym. We wear outside IDK why? I was the last one to go out. Bang! Bang! Bang! Of the sound of the door I heard. I was scared. I thought it was a door, but a trash can came down the little stairs. With the sound of MEOW, MEOW, MEOW! I jump up as if I was a bomb that just exploded. I was really scared. Not only that, but I pick up the cat and let him out. Through the window. The last meow. It probably said “Thank you” for his last meow. “You’re welcome!” I said to him back. That cat was too dirty. The next thing I know I was late for P.E! I was in mess mud all over me. “What happened to you M?” Asked of my P.E teacher. I was like “I help a cat! I think it had been stuck in the trash can for 2 days and I let it out of the window” I said with a weird reply. “Have a seat at 23.” Joe was right beside me. He got up and spun around me with his wide arms out. Like as if he was some kind of bumblebee or something, and I’m the flower in the pot. I was glad he didn’t stunk me! With a smile on his face. I said quietly “what are you doing? STOP! STOP! I continue to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen. Like everyone is staring at us?” He responded “Huh, don’t worry about them! Just ignore it!” I looked up to him and rolled my eyes at him. I saw Kasey, She was sitting next to the girl named Ann. They were talking about something. Finally, the teacher said. “Joe let’s leave her alone’’ Joe responded with a laugh and a smile on his face. “Yeah, I will.” Sometimes I don’t know about this guy. He was quite something. We continued P.E! We ran me Joe, and Kasey! All together. Then Kasey fined her BFF Anne. I was all alone again with Joe. Then Joe suddenly said “I have baseball practice, today! If you want to see me play.” I was like huh? “Yeah, so does Keonie, remember him, your friends? How can I watch the three of you at the same time? I have 2 brothers and half brothers to watch and plus you?” My mind was acting crazy and the whole rest of school was enough for today! “Yeah, but u can watch me play for a little while; Then you can watch Keonie play; then with your little brother.” He held my hand out of surprise and begged me as if I was his Mother. Where he wants to get what he wants. I finally said “Yeah, can you let go of my hands now!” he was like “Oh, oops sorry.” As if he never did it in forpost. Then our final goodbye after school; was… “Joe?” I asked with a low tone. He turned around and said… “Yeah” With his deep voice… “If you make it to home run. I will watch you play more!” Then I step in the stair of my bus as soon it opens. P.E was our last bell which after that we went home. Then suddenly he screamed… “Yes, Lucky me!” Joe shouted. I laughed for the first time the whole day of school was boring! Kasey is on the bus already! “I’ll save you a seat!.” I was surprised she did. So, we left the school. We sit at sit #23 which is nice! While she was on her phone, I watched every drop of kids go to their house. “Thank you so, much Kasey for saving me a seat.” I said to her. “No, problem. I’m really sorry about today.” Kasey said. While she said that I don’t really know what to say, but instead I said to her. “Oh, It’s okay. Do you want to be friends?” She looked at me like I was crazy or something. “Yes, totally. YES! YES!” Kasey said in a loud voice. And I smile at her. The baseball game! I didn’t watch Keonie play as much. Keonie and got a score if they are close or something. I’m not the type of person who understands sports. I asked Keonie’s mom, “if I can watch my friend Joe?” She said “yeah and come back as soon as you are done watching him play. I want you and your brother to play because he is bored.” I respond back to her, “can I just take him with me?” She said “Yeah, that would be nice!” Out of me and my little brother go. He is my actual brother from blood. We came to California. Together and to find family, but at the time Keonie is step-brother there and his mom. I called it mom. Then I saw Joe was getting ready to play. “Hey, I’m glad to see you again!” He said. “Yeah, Ok!” I said back. “I have to play now and now watch me play. I will try for a home run!” He said. The coach yelled his Name really loud… “JOE, YOUR UP! COME ON!” I told him “Go, Go, Go! LET ME SEE IF YOU CAN GET A HOME RUN!” He ran to his Coach. “YEAH, I WILL, YOU JUST HAVE TO WATCH THE GAME!” He replied to us. “OKAY” I said. He looked so confident, but as I watched him play, the one thing I have no Idea about is this sport. Then he tried his hard best! Everyone was cheering at him then nothing! 2nd try nothing. Then the coach said… “YOU GOT THIS BUD!” Then everyone cheered again. I was hoping he could get it on the second try, but nothing. Then quite…. Theirs Kasey in the bleachers and said. “ YOU CAN DO IT JOE. ME AND M ARE WATCHING YOU! I was like… “Oh no! How does she know I’m even here?” You have to love your friends sometimes. Everyone looked at Kasey’s. Then out of blue Kasey pointed at me. I was going to hide, but there’s nowhere to hide. Then I stand there with my White yellow flowers dress wearing a wite converse with it. Then Joe looked at me again and to Kasey and Nod his head. I was really embarrassed. His, 3rd shot you guessed it HOME RUN! Everyone was cheering and my mouth was wide open. I was shocked and looked at everyone. Especially to Kasey in the bleachers. I walked toward Joe. I was on the fence of the baseball field. “Umm… Good Gob!” I said it with a weird reply. “Well, I did it, so is that a deal.” He responded back to me. “Yeah, You win. I will watch you play again!” I smiled back and said… “Good Job! My friend, well done! I have to go now my little brother wants to play in the playground. I will see you tomorrow.” I said to him. “Okay, Thank You. Will see you tomorrow! Joe said, With a big smile on his face. Then I left and went to Kasey. “Hey Kasey, I didn’t know you were into his baseball game?” I said with a low voice. “Well, I knew he had a game after school, and he is our friend!” She said. “Oh okay, Well I have to go, and I will see you tomorrow. Have a good day.” I responded back, with my smiley face. “Yeah, You too my friend.” Kasey said, with a smile on her face.