Growing Pains

“Jennifer, would you please come up to the board and show the class how you did this problem.” My math teacher, Ms. Carle said.

The whole class whipped around to see me slouched in my seat in the back corner of the class.

I nodded as I stood up pulling down my sweatshirt and pulling up my jeans. My converses hit the floor with every step I took to reach the chalkboard in front of the room with a multiplication problem etched in white on it.

It read:

15x5

I picked up the piece of the glass like white chalk and began to write the answer out on the board being sure to show all my work.

I reached my final answer of 75 and circle it. Then began my walk back to my corner seat for the next 5 hours until I go back to aunt Pattie’s.

***

As the day finally came to an end I rushed out of the boring building and toward Aunt Pattie’s Kia Optima.

I slide into the back seat and fastened my seatbelt. “Can we go right home?” I asked quietly.

“Yeah of course.” She said sweetly as she normally did.

“Thanks.” I mumbled.

“You have a bad day?” She asked waiting for her son to cross the street and leave his ‘crush’ behind.

I nodded and tried to hold back tears but a few escaped.

I wiped my eyes with my sweatshirt sleeves and looked out the window wishing my parents could be with me, wishing it could all be normal again, but this is the new normal.

“Hi Mom! Hi Jenny!” Justin chirped with a huge smile was planted on his face as he slid into the back seat of the car next to me.

“Hi honey!” Aunt Pattie said.

“Hi.” I softly mumbled.

“You don't know how you met me
You don't know why, you cant turn around and say good-bye
All you know is when im with you I make you free
And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea
I'm singing....

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me

And I worry 'bout the ring you wear
Cause as long as no one knows
That nobody can care
Your fellin guilty
And I'm well aware
But you don't look ashamed
And baby I'm not scared
Im singin...

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me

Won't give you money
I can't give you the sky
It better off if you don't ask why
I'm not the reason that you go stranded
We'll be alright if you don't ask me to stay

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me

You don't know how you met me
You don't know why, you cant turn around and say good-bye
All you know is when im with you I make you free
And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea
I'm singing....

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me

Follow me
Everything is alright
I'll be the one to tuck you in at night
And if you want to leave
I can guarantee
You won't find nobody else like me” the radio played as Justin sang along flawlessly.

I swear one day he is going to be famous.