| We're
moving to where?
by Kathleen Reeves
‘Do this, do that…...blah.. blah.. blah’ . I could
scream. I really could. But what good would that do? My mum and
dad just never ever listen. It’s like they don’t think
I have any thoughts or feelings of my own.
So why do I feel like this? Well – let me tell you.
We have just moved house. I say ‘just’ but it is four
weeks now and it feels like forever. When mum and dad told me, I
knew it was going to be a ‘serious’ conversation. You
know what I mean. Mum gets that look on her face and then says:
‘Anna, your father and I would like to talk to you.’
I knew I wasn’t in trouble - that’s a different face
that mum has on her. This one is her ‘caring and considerate
face’ Yeah, right.
She said that dad had a new job - he sat next to her saying nothing
as usual but looked kind of chuffed - and that this was really good
news because it was a promotion but that it would mean a few changes
‘ for all of us.’ I have come to hate that phrase. The
changes it means for me are that I had to leave my old house (and
I had a supercool bedroom), my school and all my friends. We have
moved from Glasgow to Aberdeen and it’s miles away from everything
and everyone I know. The changes for my mum and dad don’t
seem much at all. Every time I hear dad on the phone he is telling
people how great his new job is ‘Oh yes, absolutely - lots
to get my teeth into, lots of new challenges -you know what it’s
like. Hardly have a minute to think.’ I have too many minutes
to think.
And mum? She says it’s difficult for her but I don’t
see that . She says that as she spends most of her time in the kitchen
she will need a new kitchen in this house - but she said that about
the last house too - so no change there then. As for Peter, my little
brother, he is too little to know any better (he’s five) and
still as annoying as ever - there’s one change I could have
done with.
I’m a bit quiet today – it’s Saturday so no school.
Last night at tea I suddenly burst into tears. I am just so sad.
I want us all to go back to Glasgow. I want everything to be the
way it always has been. I miss Monica so much. Texting is not the
same. When I started crying everyone looked really surprised. That
just proved to me that mum and dad don’t listen. If they really
knew me they would know how miserable I am. All the girls at school
are nice to me but they have friends – they don’t need
me. Then mum started her mantra: ‘I know it’s difficult
- it’s hard for all of us to readjust to our new lives but
you’ll make friends soon.’ How? When? And, anyway, I
don’t want new friends. I want it to be just me and Monica
again.
Mum has just come into my room - Monica is coming up for the weekend
next week. I CANNOT WAIT. I had already been invited to a sleepover
( I think that mum arranged it through another mother at the school)
but mum says that Monica can go to it with me. YES!!!!!!
This week is dragging so slowly and Peter seems to be even more
annoying than usual. Although now that Monica is coming to stay
I am happier and I have realised that Peter is a bit unhappy - so
maybe the change for him is a bit hard too. I will be nicer to him
. In fact - I am going to take him to the park now.
Well…wonders will never cease. I was in the playpark with
Peter and you will never guess what happened. I had taken his bucket
and spade as the park has a huge sand and play area which he loves.
He was digging and building a sand castle when a boy came and picked
up his spade and walked away. Then another boy took his bucket -
he was left with nothing to play with and I was livid. I stormed
over to the boys and (forgeting all about being brave) I asked for
the toys back. Yes - just like that. And , just like that, they
gave them back to me (I must have looked like my mum when she has
her angry face). Peter looked at me with adoration and it made me
feel all good and warm inside. I realised that it was the first
time that I had felt good for ages.
As Peter began playing happily again I wandered over to the swings
and sat casually swinging when a girl whom I had never seen before
in my life wandered over.
‘I saw what you did over there for your little brother. That
was brave ‘
I replied: ‘Oh it was nothing’ (Well I could hardly
say anything else now could I?)
‘I’ve seen you in the school playground - you’re
the new girl.’ (That’s another phrase I hate. I seem
to be collecting them.)
‘Yep’
‘Do you like Aberdeen?’
‘It’s ok’
‘I hated it when I first moved here. I‘ve only been
living here two years. I moved here when mum and dad divorced’
‘Oh’
‘Have you made any friends yet?’
‘Ehm… well… ’
‘Oh, it’s ok - it took me ages but I’m cool now’
‘So… how did you make friends?’
‘I started chatting to other girls.’
‘Like… how?’
‘Like now’ – and then she smiled.
Anyway her name is Lisa and we might just talk at school tomorrow.
I feel a bit better now - and Monica comes in three days.
I have just rushed back from school. Dad is driving me to the train
station and we are going to meet Monica’s train. I am so excited
that I could not eat tea. That’s another first.
That was the best weekend ever - even better than any Glasgow weekend
. It was fantastic to see Monica. We must have talked past midnight
and mum and dad did not even tell us to be quiet. On Saturday night
we went to the sleepover. It was brilliant. It was great having
Monica there as I did not feel so alone. Lisa was there too –
and she looked really pleased to see me. A magician was there for
after tea and he was very funny. I tried some of the magic tricks
and won a prize. I also realised that some of the girls are really
nice and that I could be friends with them - I just need to try
a bit harder.
It’s Monday night and I feel, well, a bit different. We have
a new student teacher at school. She is going to be teaching us
tomorrow morning for the first hour and a few girls have decided
that they want to play a trick. They are planning to hide in the
sheds at the back of the playground so that she thinks that half
the class is absent. I don’t know what to do. I don’t
want to be in trouble so soon after starting at the school but,
if I’m honest, the girls who are playing the trick are more
fun and a bit less boring than the girls who have decided to stay
in the classroom.
I hardly slept last night but I have decided what to do.
Today was just brilliant. When the bell rang at 9 o’clock
we wandered up to the back of the playground and there were ten
of us crushed into one small shed. I had forgotten how much fun
it is trying not to laugh when you should be really quiet. All of
a sudden I heard the clip clop sound of high heels coming towards
us and I told everyone to be quiet (and they were - they listened
to me - to me!).
The door of the shed was flung open and the headteacher, Mrs Robertson,
stood glowering in the doorway.
‘Is there a good reason why all you girls are crushed and
appear to be hiding in this shed?’
I appeared to find my voice and, although it came out in a bit of
a squeak, I said,
‘It was my idea Mrs Robertson’
‘Ah – the new girl (that phrase again).’
‘So I will repeat my question to you – is there a good
reason why you all appear to be hiding in here?’
At that exact moment the absurdity of the situation struck me and
I started to giggle but, because I had been trying to suppress it,
it came out in an unfortunate series of snorts.
Mrs Robertson thundered: ‘ I suggest you all go back to where
you should be, namely the classroom - except you. You can accompany
me to my office.’ Yep – you’ve guessed it - that
was me.
As I followed her across the playground it seemed less fun than
it had earlier - but I have to admit that I still had a knot of
excitement in my stomach at what I had done.
Mrs Robertson was really very nice to me. She told me that she knew
that it was difficult to come to a new school and to make friends,
but that I had to be wise in the friends I chose and not be too
silly.
When I went back to the classroom everyone wanted to know what had
happened. I couldn’t possibly say that Mrs Robertson had been
nice so I just acted a bit cool. At lunch break quite a few girls
asked me to join their table. But you know what? I really listened
to what she had said. I looked around and did not sit with the girls
who had been ignoring me all these weeks. I sat with Lisa and she
and I talked non-stop all the way through lunch.
She thinks I am very brave - and had told the rest of the class
what I did on the playground for my little brother and then I realised
something . Perhaps I am a little bit brave. I have a new school,
a new house and am having to make new friends - and I chose none
of this. I have achieved a lot more than I ever thought I could
- and there’s a lot more excitement around the corner. It
won’t always be easy but I know that I will be brave and I
will make this move a success.
When I came home from school tonight mum asked what had happened
and I said, ‘ nothing’. Well – we can’t
have too many changes all at once, can we?
Perhaps, though, we might even get a new kitchen soon and we will
all be happy in Aberdeen after all… now I wonder when Monica
can come to stay again and meet my new friends?
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