The Shadows Renewed

A short story by Kotori VanGelder

Why did I get myself into this? I should’ve just agreed for homeschool, not this… new school. I walked to the bus stop, sweating as I walked into line. The leaves swished across the pavement of the sidewalk, impatient to float in the wind.  My family had just moved from Missouri to California, and since then I knew well that a new place would mean trouble. The kids spoke of their own busy-day lives, their mouths moving and their hands being thrown into the air. I looked at the trees that swished like the magnificent mane of a horse that bobbed up and down yet seemed as if it was floating. All of a sudden, the undodgeable rush of embarrassment came over me. My whole body shivered with sweat and my hands shoved deeper into my pockets. What if they laugh at me? The talking of the kids grew louder, so did the roar of the engine in the school bus– Oh! The school bus! Thank goodness, I thought to myself. I sat at my assigned seat and looked at the window until we arrived.

As I sat patiently, I saw many new sites that I never thought I would before. Cats raced down trees, their ears and eyes darting this way and that. Squirrels squeaked with the excitement of nuts, their nose twitching to try to find the fond smell of acorn. Dogs barked and raced around yards that were lined with fences, the fences rattling from the push of the dogs. Soon, the familiar neighborhood passed and the bus opened up into the busy-body street of cars. After a long drive, I’m at the new school. Suddenly, my backpack grows heavier, the talking becomes louder, my fingers start twitching dramatically and sweat trickles down my neck, making it feel as cold as an icicle.

“Hi there! Are you new?” Someone’s suddenly in front of me, waving their hand enthusiastically and smiling ear to ear, “I’m new, too! I bet a hundred bucks you’re nervous like me!”

I nod my head and look down.

“Hey, it’s alright! I’m nervous, too. Want to be friends?”

“Um…. Sure,” I responded, looking up hopefully.

“Yippee! So what’s your name?”

“Mines Taylor. Your’s?”

“I’m Elizabeth! You can just call me Liz!”

“Alright,” I smile, “see you at school?”

“See you at school.”

We wave each other goodbye and my insides become warmer, my heart opening up to, now, a not-so scary place anymore. Maybe, I thought, Maybe this won’t be so frightening at all. It seemed like Liz gave me some of her courage, her hope, her dreams of looking forward to a better place. Or maybe, just maybe… I gave myself courage. I gaze up into the school, triumphant that all I just said about it is just a fib.