Sixth Grade by Anika

Sixth Grade
By: Anika


I looked out of the broad window staring at the sparkling sky. “Please come rain, please come,” I said. It was the kind of day where you can hear thunder but see no rain. The kind of day when you curl up with a book inside and read. The kind of day when you eat brownies and watch movies all day. Not the kind of day fit for the last day of summer.

“Caroline!” someone shouted from another room. “It’s time for dinner. We’re having mushy peas, hot tea, and scones! We might even make biscuits for dessert!” It was my mum’s voice. I woke up after a long day dream about tomorrow, on my first day of sixth grade.

I picked at my peas and rolled them into a circle. “Hey C, why aren’t you eating? Is your stomach nervous for tomorrow?” asked my dad gently. I only nodded. I looked across the wooden table and saw my mum’s reflection. “Caroline, you’re going to have to take a shower tonight to look pretty for your new teacher, Mrs. Brownie,” said my mum. “I can’t believe you’re going into sixth grade and not fifth.”

It’s true. I was skipping a grade. Last year everything was way too easy. My birthday was also the summer before so I was older than everyone. When I was in pre-school my parents decided to keep me there for another year so I could be with my best friend.

“I’ll go upstairs to take a shower now if you want,” I said. Before they even said yes I ran upstairs.

After a restless night full of nightmares, I woke up with big bags under my eyes. I went downstairs with the scent of hash browns, eggs, and bacon in my nose. “Sweet heart, I heard you talking in your sleep last night,” my mum said. “You haven’t done that since you were little.” I was hardly listening as I gobbled up my breakfast.

At school, my fear of what would happen came true. “Look at her,” I could hear behind my back. “Who’s she?” and then, “I think she skipped a grade. No wonder she looks that way.” wasn’t looking where I was going until I ran into the new girl.

I had seen the new girl earlier standing in the middle of a group of girls. Her bright red hair had caught my eye right away. Her dangly peace-sign earrings jangled as she ran up to me. “Hi, my name is Bella,” she said as she smiled showing a full set of braces. I was too awed to say anything. “Was this girl talking to me? Wasn’t she scared like everyone else?” Thoughts buzzed through my head.

Later that day just around lunch time, I jumped out of my biology classroom and jogged down the long hallway. Today was pizza day. My school made the best pizza ever!

Once I was in the lunch-room, I sat down at the table closest to the vending machines. It was almost time for what I had been planning. I saw the girl named Bella come through the door and spot me immediately. She hopped across the lunch-room and sat in the spot next to me. I heard a weird voice in my head say, “Yes… she sat next to me!” I started to urge myself to say something and it came out as, “Hibelawannabifrnedaswime?” What was I saying? My mouth was not connected to my brain.

Bella’s face crinkled as I saw her try not to smile. “What?” she said trying to look puzzled. “Sorry, I meant,” I took a deep breath. “Hi Bella.” I paused. “Do you want to be friends with me?”

My stomach was hurting me there were so many butterflies in it. Bella didn’t say anything. Her eyes were gouging holes in my head. Just then the bell rang signaling that lunch was over. I stood up quickly and half-ran to my math class.

That night my mum told me I had a piano competition the next day so I practiced piano and then went to bed straight away.

In the early morning, I was still awake. I could stay awake for a week and never go to bed, but still be energetic. It never made a difference in how I played. After about an hour of lying in bed thinking it was morning I got out of bed, grabbed my rock collection and went downstairs.

I made a boiling hot pot of tea and sat down at the kitchen table. Before a competition I always ate the same thing. A hard-boiled egg. I ate in silence at the counter.

At approximately 7:13 my mum came downstairs and said with surprise, “What are you doing up so early?” I just shrugged. Automatically my mum turned to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup of it. I could see the steam rise up from it and disappear just as it hit our low ceiling. “I haven’t been sleeping either,” my mum said as if she knew I hadn’t either. “And I know that I should have told you this earlier but….” Her hand grabbed mine as she sat down. “What would you think of a baby brother?” I stared at her. This was a dream for sure… wasn’t it? I pinched myself but all I got was a red spot on my arm. “Your father and I have decided that we would want another member of the family.” What was she saying? “So guess what,” she said very slowly like she had memorized exactly how she would say it to me. “I’m pregnant.”

I could not believe my ears. “But mum….”

“Caroline I know this all came out at you so quickly and I know I should have told you this earlier, but for now you should have some time to decide what you think.”

I ran upstairs as a tear trickled down my cheek. I ran to my room and I kicked over a chair. I ripped my jacket of off the hook I had in my room. I smashed everything I could smash. After I had torn my room to bits I sat on my bed looked at the overturned chair and started to cry.

I cried for a long, long time. After what seemed like hours and hours I stood up, changed into the piano outfit I had chosen last night and brushed through my hair. I looked out of my window and saw my piano teacher, Hannah talking to my mum.
I flung open my door and bolted down the steps. I saw my teacher jump up and down with excitement. I knew what they were talking about. I grabbed a water bottle from the kitchen with a note pasted to it. The note said,

Dear Caroline,
I love you so much, and you’re going to do great at the competition. I’m sorry if the news scared you. But remember, you’ll always be my #1 daughter. Have fun!
~Mum   

“Come on!” I shouted. “We’re going to be late!” I grabbed my teacher’s elbows and tried to pull her towards the car. “Caroline, your mum and I need to talk a little bit longer,” explained Hannah. “You can go in my car until we’re done talking if you want.”

“Yeah I’ll go in your car,” I said and I started to walk towards it. “Wait!” I heard my mum say so I turned around. “I need a hug before you leave and I wish you good luck.”
I shrugged and gave my mum a half-hearted hug and then ran to Hannah’s yellow car.

“As you can see, she’s having a rough day,” my mum said. I think the news surprised her a bit.”

“Yeah, she’s probably a bit overwhelmed,” Hannah said. “Well, I’m going to have to get going; the piano competition is going to start.”

After about an hour and a ½ drive we arrived at the place. I got my book ready and as soon as they called out, “Caroline Smith” I heard cheering from the back of the room. I turned my head and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Her curly red hair shining and sparkly earrings on her ears. It was Bella!

Smiling, I went onto the cramped little stage and began playing Fer Elise by Beethoven. It was so beautiful. My fingers danced across the piano keys and just as I was about to reach the finish, my thumb twisted and bended until it touched my wrist. “Ouch!” I screamed as my hand snapped back into place. I heard Bella scream and soon I was in an ambulance which I didn’t think there was any point because I could still walk right? Apparently my thumb had come out of its socket. I played with it. I wiggled it. It didn’t hurt at all which was surprising. I soon fell asleep from the bumpy car ride.

I woke up in a bed with cold white sheets. “It’s all over now honey,” said a nurse with hair that looked like wig.

“Can I go home now?” I asked.

“Yes you can, but first your friend here has something for you,” she said.

Out of nowhere Bella appeared holding flowers. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked. The truth was that I was not feeling any better but I nodded anyway. “I Brought flowers for you and yes, I will be your friend.”

I was so happy that I didn’t even think about my thumb…. “Hey, that reminds me,” I thought. “I haven’t even looked at my thumb yet.” I shifted in the creaking bed so I could see my thumb only it wasn’t there. “Um, where’s my thumb,” I asked the nurse.

“Oh yes that reminds me,” said the nurse. “You’re going to have to learn to play the piano without your thumb.”
“Oh yes that reminds me,” said the nurse. “You’re going to have to learn to play the piano without your thumb. It got a weird disease in it so it had to be cut off.”

“Can I leave now?” I asked again.

“Yes you can,” said the nurse. “Thank you for being such a good patient.”

“Thank you,” I said and I left the room with Bella. “Bye mom!” Bella said. “Bye sweetie,” said the nurse.

Bella and I got to be really close friends. During social time we would always sit next to each other and talk. I told her about the baby and she said it’s no big deal as she is the oldest of five. She really was my best friend.

“Let’s put our sleeping bags outside and then we can make smores,” I said. Bella nodded excitedly. “We should also play a game of hide-and-go-seek in the dark,” she said. We were going to have our very first sleepover!

We grabbed our sticks and put marshmallows on them and stuck them into the fire. My marshmallow immediately went up into flames whereas Bella’s got perfectly brown. After that raindrops started falling down from the sky. Bella and I played until we were soaking wet.

When it was time to go to sleep Bella and I turned out the lights and watched movies on her computer. We didn’t go to sleep at all.

In the morning we ate buttermilk pancakes in Bella’s kitchen. “Mmmm… these are delicious,” I said. “Thanks,” said Bella’s mom.

Around 10:00 my mum came to pick me up. “Thank you so much for inviting me over,” I said. “Bye Bella.” Bella and I hugged each other and then I hopped into my mum’s big SUV and drove back to our house. “How was it sweet-heart?” my mum asked in the car.

“Completely awesome,” I said and I told her all about it.

Weeks went by with me learning how to lay the piano al over again and me and Bella having play-dates and mum’s belly getting bigger and bigger.

On a Tuesday afternoon Bella came into the lunchroom looking glum. “What’s up Belle?” I asked her.

“Absolutely nothing,” he said in a sarcastic tone. “Actually, my parents are getting divorced!” Now she was crying. “Last night they decided and I’ll have to move to Ohio with my mom in two weeks!”

“Well that’s not too bad,” I said trying to cheer her up. “ We can write letters to each other.”

“No because I won’t be able to see you in person.”

“I’ll visit you.”

“It just won’t be the same Caroline.”

“Well we’ll have to spend a lot of time together until you have to leave,” I said. “Really it’s going to be O.K.”

We did spend a lot of time together before she moved but time was just going way too fast. And pretty soon she was in Ohio.


Dear Caroline, April 20

This house is so big! I get my very own bedroom and bathroom. In my bedroom I have a bunk bed and two chairs. Perfect for when you come! I still have to unpack.
See Ya! ~Bella
Dear Bella, April 25

My mom is so pregnant. I think her belly is as big as a beach ball. One more week and the baby is due! I miss you!
~Caroline

Dear Caroline, May 5

We are fully moved in and we just went out to lunch. I had a pizza! I miss you too!
~Bella

Dear Bella, May 15

I have a new baby brother! His name is Kyle. He is so cute! I love him so much! You were right they aren’t that bad.
~ Caroline


Bella and I have always been good friends since sixth grade and I still write to her. We’ll always be good friends.