by Andrea Engel
Warmth spread through Sadie. Wow. That felt really good. She was buoyant. I feel amazing now; I'm so glad that weight is off my shoulders.
She took her time walking down the hallway and noticed student artwork on the walls. I never realized how talented some of my classmates are.
“Sadie…Sadie.”
Kylie ran after her.
“Sadie, that was really brave of you.” Kylie caught up to her. “I was so upset when my pin was stolen. I guessed you took it, but after what you just did, I can’t be mad at you. I don’t know how I’m able to do this, but…I forgive you, Sadie.”
Sadie looked down at her feet then back up. “Thanks, Kylie. I know what I did was totally wrong, but I promise I’ll never do it again—to you or anyone else.”
Kylie smiled. “You know what? I believe you. Do you want to walk home together?”
Sadie nodded. “Sure. I just have to stop at my locker first.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
Testing 1, 2, 3…
Now what?
Dave and his goons marched up the hallway toward Sadie and Kylie.
Surprise, surprise. She knew they were going to retaliate in light of her confession. Sigh. Sadie readied herself.
“Hiya, Sadie. You think you’re gonna just give that pin back without any consequences? I warned you.”
“Dave, leave her alone,” Kylie demanded.
“It’s okay,” Sadie said. “I can handle them.”
“Ha-ha! You can handle us?” Dave scoffed. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
Sadie ignored him and concentrated on opening her locker.
“I’m talking to you, stupid, or are you too dumb to understand?”
Looking around, Sadie pretended they weren’t there. She finally spoke to Kylie. “I know I’m hearing something. I’m really not sure what it is. Could it be caveman speak, or maybe it’s what cockroaches sound like when they cry.”
The hallway traffic stopped. All eyes were on Sadie and Dave.
“What did you say? Who do you think you are, Myers?” Dave shook his head in disbelief.
“That’s exactly who I am: Sadie Myers.”
He grabbed her arm and spun her toward him. “What did you say, Stupid Sadie?” He looked at the chain around her neck. “I know what that S stands for on that ugly necklace of yours: stupid. It belongs to me now.”
Dave reached for her neck, but Sadie was faster. In one smooth motion, she brought her history book up to block his hand. His fingers jammed and bent backwards.
“Ow…Ow!” Dave bent over in pain, cradling his fingers with his other hand. “Damn it! I think you broke my fingers.”
“You’ll live.” She turned to Dave’s friends. “And by the way, I’m not afraid of any of you.”
Kenny and Alex looked at her and backed away. She saw her reflection in the window. Her eyes held a powerful energy she’d only seen in Mystashan.
Dave looked up at Sadie. “Come on guys. Get her.”
When Dave’s cronies backed off, he slowly straightened up and moved away. When he got to a safe distance, he whispered, “This isn’t over, stupid.”
Sadie knew they wouldn’t be bothering her anymore. The familiar weight of a newly acquired crystal pulled at her pocket. She didn’t have time to look, since she wanted to give Kylie her full attention, and she was pretty sure she knew what it would say anyway.
“Wow, Sadie. That was really something.”
Sadie grinned at Kylie as they headed out the door.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
Consequence of Truth
“I’m impressed with how you handled yourself back there. It’s about time someone put them in their place.”
Kylie and Sadie began their walk home together.
“Thanks, Kylie. I appreciate you saying that. The timing felt right.”
“It’s like that, isn’t it? Timing counts for so much.”
Sadie nodded. “Yes, and every moment is important in its own way.”
“True. I remember once being so disappointed because I had my first date all planned out. I went to the movies with this boy, but the theater was completely full except for the first row. I was almost willing to give myself neck cramps just so my plan would actually pan out. But that wasn’t the way it went, luckily.”
“Why luckily? What happened? Did one of you end the date?”
“No, we went out to dinner and had the best talk. Then we walked on the beach and joined a fire pit and danced in the sand. Things worked out better than I ever could have imagined.”
“Where’s he now?”
“He goes to a different high school,” Kylie explained, “but he left three weeks ago on a junior-year exchange program in Japan. He took the six-month option because he didn’t want to be away from me any longer than that. He’s the youngest of four brothers, and his parents are very nice to me.
“We write letters back and forth at least two times a week, and I’ve received two of his so far. It’s a long distance for the mail to travel. So yes, we’re still seeing each other, if that’s what you’re asking.”
They gave each other quick smiles. Kylie’s eye contact wavered for a second then came back.
“I love your new look, Sadie. It suits you. Hey, is that guy over there waiting for you?” She pointed behind Sadie, who turned to see Sam standing on the corner.
As soon as Sadie saw him, he headed their way.
“Kylie, would you give me a minute, please? I’ll be right back.”
Kylie nodded. “Sure. I’ll wait here for you.”
Sadie met Sam and walked him back to the other side of the street.
“Hi, Sadie. I hope you’re doing okay. I want to apologize for the way I behaved at the dance a couple of weeks ago. I was caught off guard and very confused by the whole situation. There’s no excuse; I shouldn’t have left you there by yourself. I should have waited to hear everything you had to say. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks for saying that, Sam.”
“Do you want to hang out by the creek later?”
“I’ll have to give that some thought, and anyway I don’t think I can do it tonight.”
Sam looked at her with sad eyes. “Sadie, give me a chance to make it up to you?”
“I’ll think about it, but right now I have a friend waiting for me. I have to go. Bye, Sam.”
Sadie walked away without looking back. From behind she heard Sam call after her.
“Sadie. I’ll be there in case you change your mind. I hope it’s not too late.”
“Who’s that?” Kylie asked. “Is that the guy from the dance?”
“Yep. That’s him.”
“I felt so bad for you, but I didn’t think there was anything I could do. There was so much pressure from everyone to be mean to you—I just tried to avoid the situation all together. I’m really sorry. What did he want?”
“He wants me to meet him later.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. Right now I’d just like to walk with you and not think about him.”
Kylie smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
The girls discovered they had a lot in common. They both loved to read the same kinds of books. They loved animals and taking discovery walks around the neighborhood. Their conversation flowed easily. They shared the same route home until they stopped to turn toward their own side streets.
“Hey, Sadie, I have to check with my parents, but would you like to come over on Saturday?”
Sadie gave her a warm smile. “I’d like that a lot.”
Kylie looked down at her pin and smiled. “Bye, Sadie. See you tomorrow.”
Sadie waved then turned toward home.
A tug in her pocket revealed another new crystal. Grateful to receive it, she read her newest addition. She especially liked this message: FRIENDSHIP.
What a turn of events today. Who would’ve thought?
I guess I’ll have to figure out what to do about Sam and Christopher at
some point. For today, I’m going to enjoy my clear conscience.
A few large clouds parted to reveal the sun.
Wait a minute. I got another crystal after my fight with Dave. I haven’t even read it yet. Sadie pulled it out carefully and tried to read the word embedded on it, but it was too bright outside.
She looked up at the sky and eased her face into the warm sunshine. What a day it’s been…and there’s so much to look forward to.
She studied the unique, shape-shifting clouds as they traveled across the sky.
After a while they began to interrupt her thoughts. The clouds were stretching and twisting, like handkerchiefs of silk and velvet in hues of green and blue.
Hmm. I’ve never seen them look like this before.
Wait! It can’t be.
“Cloffuls? What are cloffuls doing here? They aren’t supposed to…”
Oh.
Flashes of red burned the sky.
<<<<>>>>
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Andrea and Leslie are two sisters collaborating on writing through obstacles and illness. It is an entirely new way to know each other while working on their mission of Peace and Empowerment.
Andrea earned a culinary degree and worked as a chef and general manager for many years.
She now focuses on her passion for writing. She writes short stories and continues to work on additional collaborative writing projects.
Leslie earned degrees in Literature and Education. She taught elementary school as well as writing and technology to teachers. A successful grant writer, she later evaluated incoming grants for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. More recently she worked on her certification in Life Coaching. She’s drafted four novels and various short stories.