The Atoms Family
Chapter Three: Andrea's Big Day
Author: Belize Lane, high school student writer
I stepped out onto the front porch, still holding up my mother's mirror. "Is it really that bad?" I stared at the big red pimple on my forehead once more and then looked back at my brother, Brian. "Eeeww, it looks like a big…" Mom stepped onto the porch, grabbing the mirror in one hand and Brian's arm in the other. "That's enough, Brian. Andrea, honey, no one can notice it except for you. Have a great first day of middle school!" She bent over and kissed me on the top of the head, then turned back towards the open door, towing a struggling Brian behind her.
Never trust your mom, I thought as I walked down the crowded hall trying to figure out which way my map went. I could tell everyone was staring at me. Those girls giggling in front of the bathroom were staring right at the huge pimple on my forehead. I lowered my head and tried to blend into the graffiti covered walls. Bump! So much for blending in. I raised my eyes to see what I had bumped into. I was looking up at the tallest woman I had ever seen. Her name tag read "Mrs. Thompson," scrawled in squiggly teacher handwriting. "Ex..excuse… excuse me, but I am looking for room 67," I stuttered shyly. Mrs. Thompson pointed down the hall. "Take a left at the end of the hall, honey." I ran towards where she had pointed, the late bell pounding in my ears. "Thank you!" I called over my shoulder. "You're welcome, and watch where you're going." Mrs. Thompson walked back towards the office, laughing to herself. She had not mentioned to me that I had run into the principal.
"Ralph Gray"… "Here." "Margaret Griffin"… "Here." I slid into a seat, and tried to look natural. Why did my last name have to start with an A? After taking role, the teacher looked up from her desk and began going over classroom rules. I raised my hand to tell her I was here, but my hand brushed against the back of my neck, and I noticed that my tag was sticking out. As I tried to stick it back in, I realized that my favorite purple shirt was on inside out. My face turned a bright shade of red. I knew everyone was staring at me. They were all thinking: What a stupid girl, she's late, she has a huge pimple and she can't even put her shirt on the right way. I glanced up at the wall and noticed a yellow flyer advising new students to visit the school counselor with any questions about going to a new school. I heard a cough and looked up, realizing that I had not even taken the time to look at the people around me in the classroom. They all looked like they knew exactly what they were doing.
I feel like everything has been so difficult ever since Grandpa moved in with us. We never know what he will do next, my parents are stressed out, Brian and I argue all the time, and I feel lonely without Kira because I have no other good friends now. On top of everything, I'm breaking out and having a horrible first day of school. Maybe a counselor could help me figure out how to fit in. Is it childish to need help? What if someone made fun of me? Should I go see a counselor and ask for help or should I just keep feeling out of place because I would feel like a little kid if I asked for help?
What would you tell Andrea to do?
Click here to tell Andrea what you think she should do. You will see how your peers advised her, too. Then you will see what she decided.
References
MacE, Nancy L. and Peter V. Rabins MD. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life. Warner Books. 2001. ISBN: 0446610410.
Alzheimer's Society. Caring for someone with dementia. Accessed July 2004.
Books for Kids
Bahr, Mary. The Memory Box. Albert Whitman & Company. 1995. ISBN: 0807550531.
Kibbey, Marsha. My Grammy. Lerner Pub Group, 1988. ASIN: 0876143281
Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. Aladdin Paperbacks. 2002. ISBN: 0689839855.
Willner-Pardo, Gina. Figuring Out Frances. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1995. ISBN: 0395915104.
Books for Adults
Davidson, Ann. Alzheimer's: A Love Story. Carol Publishing Corporation: Ontario. 1997.
DeBaggio, Thomas. Losing My Mind : An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer's. Free
Press. 2002. (also available on audio tape/CD, in large size font books and an e-book)
Mace, Nancy L., and Rabins, Peter V. The 36-Hour Day. Warner Books: New York. 2001.
Tanzi, Rudolph E., and Parson, Ann B. Decoding Darkness. Perseus Publishing: United
States. 2000.