The Dilemma

 It’s only been my first week in 6 C, I barely know anyone ….except of course, Linda. “ Everyone “ knows Linda , she is annoying times a hundred thousand !!  How I wish she could just be quiet , at least for a  minute!For sure, she doesn’t really know what “taking turns “ mean.Every question the teacher hurls at us  has answers coming cascading out of her mouth! She’s  like a waterfall that flows down thousands of boring tidbits that no one really knows about.I can even see smarty pants Willy Thompson falling asleep.  To top it all ,Linda is my bench partner this year, someone save me !



“Trrriiingggg” , it’s snack break !!

I rushed out of class and made a desperate attempt to find Jade ,Merlyn and Janet. Hmm...Wonder why I got moved to section C. I should have listened to Mrs.Harlington and talked a little less with my “girl gang”  last year.

“Amy!” someone screamed. Merlyn and Jade were waving their hands at me from the other end of the hall. I ran toward them.

“I was looking everywhere for you guys” ,I said breathing heavily.

“Heard you are stuck with Linda” Said Jade half jokingly and half sympathetically.

“Gladly!”,I replied rather sarcastically. Janet who was munching away on her tacos gave me a thumbs down with a mean smirk . That girl never understands sarcasm!

Couple more weeks passed by, school got tougher and tougher….especially Physics! It never made sense to me why “Hook’s Law” was so important, nor the reason to solve

distance -time equations.

Suddenly, there was an amused scream from my bench, practically in my ear!! It was Linda .

“Amy, I solved the challenge question !!” she yelled pointing to the book  at hand. “ Physics In Your Eyes ” .

“Linda! Leave me out of your eccentricity,I have work 
to do .”  I don’t know what came over me , I snapped at her loudly . 

That second, my entire class went quiet. I looked up. 

The strict Mrs. Whitaker was by the door scrutinizing the class. I dug my head into my art book,as if solving a “Speed-time” graph. Linda sniggered;I evil eyed her.

Winter break was indeed a big relief , daddy took us skiing . I spent my whole week drinking hot-chocolate,I can survive only on them!!

On the way back from skiing , I was listening to my favorite “Sara Bareilles” songs when suddenly from nowhere mom popped this question at me .

“ How well do you know Linda?”  .

“Which Linda?” I vexed at being disturbed .

“The one in your class. ” Mom grunted at my attitude.

I was taken aback for a moment. “Err...mom, how do you know her?” I mumbled scratching my head.

“You should treat people well, Amy. “ mom said in a rather monotonous tone.

She knew the whole incident, but how???Luckily,  my hair hid my face which was resting on my hands. I could hide my embarrassment .

“Why did you misbehave with her?” mom was in no mood to let go.

“She is the most annoying person in this universe!!” I replied putting my ear plugs back on. I was in no mood to explain. But, the look in mom’s eyes warned me to behave. I took my plugs off...and listened.

“Amy, Linda lives in a foster home with eight other children.I meet her foster family as part of my work. She had to deal with a lot in life, so be kind to her. ” she said sympathetically.

“Whaat??” my heart sank,my head spun like a thousand whirlwinds. Everyone bullied her as if she was invisible. I should have thought;she had feelings too!!

Guilt engulfed me,I could not wait to make everything right.

It was the first day after winter break, my heart was beating fast;I wanted to apologise to Linda.

Jade ,Merlyn and Janet were waiting for me by the cafeteria.

I could not keep this  a secret from them,I blurted it all out .

BUT, they thought I was going crazy.

“It serves her right”, said Jade.

“What’s up with you , Amy ?” smirked Janet.

“Do you want the whole of Grade 6 to laugh at you?” said Merlyn knocking my head as if to open some closed door that would bring sense to me.

They decided to stay out of it, my friends thought I lost it.

I felt all alone, my bff’s did not share my feelings! For a second,I doubted my intentions too.

Maybe ,I should stay out of it…

May be, My friends were right…

My thoughts walked me back to my classroom. I was startled by a shriek from the classroom.  It was Linda, few frogs were jumping out of her book bag onto our bench,her books were scattered all over the floor.

I could see that Linda was trying hard not to cry, she stood there frozen.Tears swelled up her eyes.

I could not take it anymore . I knew who must have done this . I dragged all my courage out and yelled at the class bully ,looking her in the eye. 

“Zoe, you better apologize!” . Zoe looked startled, no one ever had the courage to stand up to her. She took a whole minute to digest the entire situation before walking away .

I slowly walked to Linda who was staring at me in disbelief.

“let me help you with your books”, I said holding my hand out to her.

The smile on her face told me that for once ,I did the right thing!!