Debbie started dating. She was going off without me. I could not understand this dating thing. She was not aroung much anymore. Mom was working, and if Dad wasn't working he was fishing. Vicki was off dating some guy. I didn't understand that. Shorty was in the Army and they were still married. She should not have been dating.

I didn't know what to do when school started. Frank was my main friend in school and he wasn't there. I felt so lost. I talked to the invisible people more and more. I was afraid I would be alone and I know I didn't like alone. I was really scared. I didn't have anyone I could talk to except the invisible people. They didn't judge me. They just listened and held my hand until I could feel better.

During the summer I had started hanging around with some neighbors. I had met George and Corabell and their dog Red. He was a red bone retriever and he was the sweetest big dog I had ever been around. While they were at work during the summer, they asked me if I would take him for a walk, and I was happy to do it.

Becky, one of my neigbors had a Labrador so we walked the dogs together. One day, the dogs spotted something across the street and Red pulled away from me and ran crossed the street. There was a gas truck coming and the driver didn't see him. He died before he stopped rolling. I was so broken hearted. I felt so bad that I had let that happen. I still say the gas guy should have been more aware that there were two kids on the road with dogs, but I guess accidents happen.

When school started I hung around with a few different people - some good friends and some just friends. I had joined the Choir, and that gave me different friends. I was still going to church with Janie sometimes, but there wasn't that many kids that I felt like I could hang out with. So, I just learned to be on my own, and do my own thing.

I took Home Ecenomics because it seemed like the thing to do. That is where I learned that even I could destroy a perfectly good, brand new sewing machine. I made shortcake for my cooking assignment, and it turned out really good.

I had a Math teacher that helped me with my math skills. Fractions are still hard for me. He didn't think I belonged in the slower classes that I seemed to always get assigned to, but he made the best of it for me, and helped me alot.

I had a Science teacher that was a 'funny' guy, always making jokes. We had a real tangle one day when we were going to take a quiz that we all knew was coming. A friend had borrowed my pencil, and it was the only one I had. She was sitting on the other side of the room, and I kept telling her I needed it. When the teacher came into the class and started handing out the quizes, I told him I needed my pencil and he started giving me a hard time. I told him this was serious, I needed my pencil if I was going to take this quiz. I guess he didn't believe me, when he put the quiz on my desk. I told the girl one more time to give me my pencil. The teacher got mad because I would not be quiet so everyone could take the qui.He told me to sit in the corner. I told him "No, make her give me my pencil and I will be quiet." The Teacher refused and got upset with me that I refused to get in the corner. He grabbed my arm and I hung onto my desk while he dragged me and the desk around in circles. When he released me, I walked out of class and straight to the councellor's office. I was gonna tell my side before he could write me up.

I told her what had happened, and that the teacher had no right to grab me by the arm - a fact that the entire class had been witness to. She wrote it all down, then told me to go back to class. I told her I would be happy to sit in the office until the next period.

The next day I got called to the Principals office where the councellor's was sitting as well. I didn't get into trouble, because I had come to her first. The teacher didn't get into any trouble either. He thought he had the right. We finished the year without further incident, but he knew he could not just bully me.

***

I had a Social Studies teacher that I liked a lot. I don't know how the subject came up, but I told him that the male seahorse carried and gave live birth to the babies. He said that was not possible. We made a bet. Course, there has to be something to bet, so I don't remember what I got if I was right, but he would get my next report on Hawaii as an oral report in full constume. It didn't matter that I proved him right, I did the oral report anyway, I just had to see the look on his face when I came into class during the winter, in full grass skirt costume over a bikini. I even attempted a hula dance. He gave me an 'A'.

In the spring there was a group of girls who kept telling me they were gonna jump me and beat me up. I have no idea why, but I kept walking away from them. this had been going on for a long time, and they kept coming back. I got concerned that one day they really would jump me, so I went to Mr Holder, the principal, he had liked my 'spunk' since the science teacher incident. I explained to him about the girls, and that I really did not want to fight, but if they did jump me, I would do as my Dad had always taught me, and defend myself. He warned me not to fight, and went on my way.

About two weeks later I was sitting on a log under an oak tree with some friends, and the next thing I know I was on the ground. I came up swinging and ended up brawling on the ground. The teachers came and broke us up and we all had to go to the office. Mr Holder called me in and told me he had to suspend me for three days. I told him he couldn't. He said 'What do you mean I can't, you were fighting, the penalty is supsenion.' I said 'Yes sir, if I had not told you about his two weeks ago, and warned you that it was going to happen, and you had done something to keep it from happening, then you could suspend me, HOWEVER, it is your responsiblity to keep us safe while we are in YOUR CARE. You failed to do that, and I told you I would defend myself. Ask the people I was with, they saw me get jumped from behind.' You would have thought I slapped him in the face. He looked dumbfounded. He cleared his throat and told me I was free to go. A lot of adults underestimate children who like to talk to adults. They don't realize we are learning from them.

The next year, my 8th grade year was the first time I had a study hall. I don't do study halls, I could not sit still that long. So I became a teachers aid for my english teacher. It was probably a good thing, because most of the time he was late for school, so I started class without him. I gave the spelling test on Friday's and the grades went from c's and d's to b's and c's with in the first few weeks. He had a really hard accent, and the kids could not understand what he was saying. I know, they should have known what the words were they had studied, but it was fun helping them get better grades.

Choir was always a lot of fun, and I really liked the teacher, Mr Z. He was also the teacher at the high school, and since I never sang unison with the class, something that really irratated him, he knew I could sing harmony. He was trying to get me to take choir when I got to the high school the next year.

Debbie was a Senior at the high school that year, and in a group called the Madrigals. I had gone caroling with them at Christmas, and decided that is what I wanted to do. When Mr Z asked me to join the Choir I told him No, I want to join the Madrigals. He said that was only for 10th - 12th grade, but I told him, he knew I could do it, and he knew I could sing all the alto parts, since I had been doing it for 2 years.

On vetrans day we had to do a report. I loved writing, and I had some strong feelings about this day. Skip was in the Navy and in Vietnam. Shorty had been in the Army, had been in Vietnam, and came home 'awol' because he couldn't handle what he had seen. Sonnie was in Italy, not seeing any 'action' but he was doing his part for our freedom. I wrote a paper, and the teacher said it brought tears to her eyes. She asked if I would read it for the Vetrans Day assembly. Well, of course, being on stage was my forte. The newspaper was at the assembly and interviewed me took my picture and wanted to print my report. Sure. That was cool.

Skip came home just before school let out. I had been going to church more and more then, and had gotten to know some of the kids. They were cool, and it would be good to be friends with them when I started high school the next year. Skip got a job managing a gas station, so I had a job during the summer, pumping gas, cleaning up, and washing cars. It didn't pay much, but It was something to do.

It seemed like it was a long summer, I was really getting excited to go to high school. Debbie had graduated, we had moved again, and she was working. She was dating a big guy, and they took me to some carnivals, and movies and things, so I wouldn't feel left out. It was a good summer, but I was glad when the school year rolled around.

Won't you please follow me as I continue my journey as a Freshman in High School