Finding Hope in Texas Read Free

just
felt awkward. I was now an and/or .
    “Yes, okay.”
    I walked over to the bench and sat down,
watching the continual movements of the day, students checking in
on their first day back from the holidays and teachers preparing
for the new semester. Back to the old grindstone with no change
from any day before it. It seemed the repetition of school life was
one thing that was the same throughout the country, or at least New
York and Texas. Soon, I would join the crowd of faces in the
hallway, cafeteria and classes. A door opened next to me that
brought me back to attention. A woman clad in blue, perhaps in her
early forties and wearing glasses poked her head out and glared at
me.
    “Miss Kilpatrick, would you like to come
in?”
    I didn't say anything, but I really wanted to
stay right where I was. Why I had to speak to a counselor on my
first day was beyond me. Did they already know why I was here? Did
Mags come up here and pour her heart out about her sad little wreck
of a niece? Ugh.
    I reached down and gathered my stuff and
slowly made my way into the office room. The lady made her way
around the desk and took a seat. Another student, a beautiful
blonde girl dressed in a blue and white school clothes sat at one
of the chairs on the opposite side. She looked way too happy to be
there.
    “Well, please, come in and take a seat.” I
did as I was asked, sitting next to the student. “Hope, I'm Mrs.
Tremble, the student guidance counselor here. I wanted to welcome
you to our little school.”
    “Thank you,” I said with little emotion.
    “Now, you’ve received your schedule,
correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “Your first class is U.S. History with Mr.
Peet?”
    “Umm,” I looked at the sheet of paper, “yes,
it is.”
    “Alright, good. Please let me know if you
have any–”
    “Ahem...” the blonde student cleared her
throat.
    “Oh, yes, I almost forgot. You know things
can be hectic at the start of any semester, especially for a new
student. Well, we have created a new program to help you get used
to our system and maybe introduce you around to a few people. It's
something like a buddy system. A fellow student helps you out in
your first week of school and answers any questions you may
have.”
    “Oh, I–”
    “Well, this is Jody and she is here for just
this purpose. Jody is the captain of the cheerleader squad and
president of the Secundus chapter here at school.”
    “Secundus? Isn't that Latin for second?”
    Before the counselor could answer, the blonde
girl turned toward me and grinned brightly. “Yes, it is. You are so
clever. Anyway, as Mrs. Tremble was saying, I am Jody, and I'm here
to help you during your first week here. I have mostly the same
class schedule as you and I can show you all around the school. Oh,
and you can meet my friends. Most of them are in the Secundus, too.
    “What is this...group?”
    “Why, you mean you didn't have Secundus at your school?”
    I shook my head.
    “Well, we’re a civic organization that’s here
to do its part in helping anyone who needs it. We pick up litter
around the school, do charity work. Our members are expected to
keep at least a B average and we do tutorials after school three
days a week. We try to make a positive influence on everyone and be
role models for under classmen as well.”
    “Oh, okay.” That actually sounded really
cool. I gave her a passing smile.
    “We are Secundus because we are
second, you know, to Him.”
    “Him? Him who?”
    “You know, God.” Jody looked at me strangely,
as though I had never heard of God before, and before I thought of
saying something catty like, “Oh, Allah,” the counselor chimed in,
making sure the religious overtures didn’t go too far.
    “Anyway, Jody will be helping you here this
week. We’re trying to make a goodwill effort to all our new
students so they don't feel left out. You, Miss. Kilpatrick, just
got the cream of the crop.” The counselor glanced at Jody and
smiled. “And hey, you