2024/Elizabeth -29517

On the first day of 4th grade it was sunny and clear, except for the few clouds scattered across the sky. I had grown used to wearing a mask, but I still didn’t like it. Me and my twin, Alex, walked towards the school. Our mom had dropped us off about two thirds of the way, so we could walk the last part.

I’d rather she came with us.

“ Which class are you going to?” Alex asked. She was excited, while I wasn’t.

“ Mr. Morton’s.”

“ I’ve never met him, but he must be nice.” Hopefully. We arrived at the front of the school about ten minutes before we were allowed to go in. There was Alex’s former classmate, Riley, and a few people I didn’t know, but that was it.

Then everyone came. The cars were lined up next to where we had just walked. I don’t know why, but that made me feel exhilarated. Happy.

The doors opened, and I ran through the halls, only walking in the new hallway. The fourth grade one. The teachers were standing outside their classrooms, all very tall compared to me. Everyone was taller than me, except for about five kids. Alex was with Mr. Brundege, who was tall and looked like our dad. I found myself at the end of the hall.

“ Hi! What’s your name?” Mr. Morton was tall, a lot taller than me, but seemed friendly.

“ I’m Elizabeth.” I answered.

“ It’s nice to meet you.”

About a year after that, we got on a plane and hopped over to Germany, where we were going to have another fresh start. Yay? It was pretty in Garmisch, with towering blue-gray mountains and the school as big as the house we had in Kentucky, but just a bit bigger, and looked like a pretty cabin with white concrete walls and wood decor.

“ Are you ready?” This time, I was the excited one. Nervous about starting over, but excited. Alex walked by my side, happy or not happy. I couldn’t tell.

“ Yeah, kind of.” There weren’t many fifth graders, maybe eight, and the same with the fourth graders, maybe one or two more. That’s why we were in the same class. In all there were only twenty fourth and fifth graders.

“ Alex! Elizabeth!” Jamie was the only kid I knew, but Alex knew a couple more. She was tall, with chestnut hair and bright yellow eyes. The only reason we knew her was because her father worked at the school when we were getting registered, and she was there too, pecking out to look at us.

“ Hi Jamie!” I replied, and then I looked over at the fourth graders. Lorilie, our neighbor, was there too, talking to some other fourth grader with short, orange hair. We were led in while everyone else talked and exchanged news, leaving me and Alex in the middle of a pool of kids who’d known each other for years.

“ Okay, everyone, let's introduce ourselves!” Our teacher looked like everyone else. Chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes, but her hair lightened at the tips and looked extremely pretty. “ I’m Mrs. Beckman, let's go around in a circle and say a little about ourselves.”

Yet again, a year after that, we moved again. I hated the thought of leaving Garmisch. That year had been different. Almost magical, with everyone being friends with everyone else, and allowing new people in with open minds.

“ You’re starting twiddle-school.” I heard Evie, our older sister, teasing us lightly, and I swallowed the last bit of hotel waffle in a bit of disappointment. I never wanted to go to middle school. Our older sister had told us all about her experience. Everyone suddenly turned on each other, and it was chaos. The teachers did nothing, and we should find our way around before worrying about making friends.

“ Bye.” I waved half-heartedly from the bus window, and leaned back in the seat. Middle school. The supposedly worst years of my life.

When I went to Ms. Cowles Advisory, I felt like crying. It was stupid, yes, but I got overwhelmed easily now. Because of Covid, I hate crowds. Or anything loud. And I would just hide away. But I couldn’t now. Two girls were already seated in the seats next to me, talking and chittering about stuff I had no idea what.

I sighed, and looked through the bag that was at my seat. There was candy, a lot of candy. Starting a conversation with one might work. I didn;t like Rollos.

It didn't work, and I just got sadder, and more overwhelmed. The first day went by in a blurr, and I followed Evie’s advice. Don’t try to make friends yet. But, it just tore something inside. I wanted to talk to someone.

3 moves in 3 years was just too much.