Finding Hope in Texas Read Free Page A

never know, but you both might be best
friends by Friday.”
    “Okay,” I said again, not knowing whether to
be happy or run out of the room as fast as possible.
    “And I am so happy to do this, Hope. You can
count on me helping you in any way I can. I'm sure Mrs. Tremble is
right, we will be great friends by the end of the week.”
    I smiled, not because I wanted a new best
friend, but because she didn't have anything else to say.
    Mrs. Tremble hurried us out the door,
motioning for the next student to come into her office. Now
acquaintances, we walked out of the office together to join our
schoolmates in the foyer. As we waited, Jody tried to continue our
mostly one-sided conversation.
    “So where are you from, Hope? Hope. I just
love that name. Hope,” she said with a glimmering smile.
    “New York.”
    “New York,” Jody said and looked impressed,
“Oh, you don't know how much I've always wanted to go up there. It
always looks so beautiful this time of year on TV with the
Christmas lights up and that tree at that place...you know...where
they have the ice rink and the statues.”
    “Rockefeller Plaza.”
    “Yeah, that's it. Say, have you ever been to
the ball drop in Times Square?”
    “Yes, I've been before, with my
fa...friends.”
    I was lying. It was mom and dad that took us.
We had a wonderful time there grouped all together in blankets
counting down the numbers and singing Auld Lang Syne . I just
didn't want her to ask about my family. What was I supposed to tell
her? Sorry, they are all dead, killed by some reckless drunk on
his way home after a binge? She was either going to see me as
some head case or throw more condolences my way, and from a girl
this bubbly, I would rather go with the head case scenario. I
quickly blinked back a tear that began to form in the corner of my
eye. This year, my parents were going to let me go to the ball drop
with a few friends in the orchestra from school. We were going to
be cool without parental supervision. That didn't happen, though. I
didn't even watch it on TV.
    “You are so lucky. Maybe we can go together
someday and you can show me around.”
    The bell rang and the crowd of high school
scholars began their journey down the hallways to their first
period classrooms. I was dragged along with Jody, who had wrapped
her arm through mine, as if she was leading a blind person. We
arrived at the classroom and took a seat next to each other in the
middle of the room, not in the back like we were not paying
attention, but still having the protection from the first two rows
of desks. The bell soon rang again for those loitering in the
hallway.
    “Good morning ladies and gentlemen,” said a
voice from the door. I turned and saw a man in a dress shirt, tie,
and slacks moving quickly down the aisle toward the podium at the
front of the room.
    A few students mumbled “good morning” back to
the teacher.
    “I hope everyone had a good break and got
everything they wanted for Christmas. And if you didn't, well,
better luck next year. Let's do some history, shall we?” There were
no laughs at the mundane sarcasm. It was too early after too long
of a break. It would probably take a few days to wake up again.
    “Mr. Peet,” Jody raised her hand to get his
attention, “I wanted to introduce our new classmate to the
class.”
    “Jody, don't,” I whispered.
    “Well, does she want to be introduced by you ?” asked the teacher, a grin on his face.
    “Sure, she does.”
    “No, I don't,” I finally said out loud, much
to Jody's surprise.
    The teacher smiled at the new face. “Jody,
stop bothering the new girl. Sounds like she can speak for herself.
If only the rest of your little crew would do the same.” A few
snickers went up from the back of the class as Jody huffed for a
moment. But soon I felt the classroom's occupants turn their
attention on me. “Alright, who are you and where are you from?”
    “Um, I'm Hope from New York,” I said
reluctantly, hoping I