Trying the Knot, Chapter 1

My sister Elle charged off the school bus ahead of me. On this crisp and sun drenched morning early in April, in our sleepy suburban Philadelphia town, something was terribly wrong. Elle always, always got off the bus after me. She sat in the back row with Lisa Jenkins and the other 8th graders. And Lisa’s rule was that they always got off the bus last.

I jumped from the top step of the bus and ran after Elle, my pink and purple backpack swinging behind me. I rushed a few feet past then turned to block her path. Elle’s slim face was ashen.

“I hope you have a nice day,” I chimed in my cheeriest voice. Elle mustered up, “You too, Mel,” but looked as though she’d burst into tears at any moment. Then she trudged past me, in a stiffened march towards the mass of 8th graders roped off next to the Azalea bushes on the far side of the school, diagonal to the church.

A tagalong to the core, I spun around and followed her. I just did, scared to death that a pimply safety guard would rein me in and deposit me back with my people in the 5th grade holding tank. I followed anyway.

Elle stopped in the middle of the lot. A circle of boys and girls, a storm of blue and gold uniforms, formed around her. My heart rose to my throat. The crowd grew larger, three kids deep. I crouched down so no one could see me and zigzagged my way to the front. Lisa was at the center across from Elle who stood alone. The schoolyard sounds faded and silence fell over the circle. | Next |