Josie

=January=

=media type="custom" key="7577841"=

=When I the garden came to view, I knew I would fit in. Like it here. I was sure of it. Well, I had the same feeling for all of Cleveland, really. I was new. Ive adventured and explored all around the world, to the ,most beautiful, amazing places ever, and its hard to say I dont have any interest here. My parents friends had an apartment here. They begged us to stay for a week... or maybe two, im hoping. And im excited. Excited too see friends, meet friends, and meet Cleveland.= =Nervousness rushed through me. I know i shouldnt be nervous, really, I do. I treasured meeting new people, make friends, and Ive had alot of practice too, moving around so much. And even more of a shock, I was happy to. Ive made more friends than the whole school put toghter, I bet. But that feeling, that unusual feeling, just scrambled up me like a spider, and not the kinds you can find here.= =I slowly, slowly, model walked down the hallway leadig to the double doors, like the sercretary discribed to me slowly, as if I spoke a different launguage. Well, its pretty easy to make the mistake. Im walking around looking like I just walked out of Europe, Asia, Soulth America, Australia, and Africa all together. Nothing like the= =style here. Will they like me? Will I make friends? My head was swimming with thought. Uh Oh. The feeling is suddenly back. The next thing I know, Im on the ground. "Sorry!" I gasp, now looking down at a dirty blonde, blue eyed girl. A rush of relief hits me as I help her up. "Nice bows" I comment, taking the chance while I have it, While we walk down the hall together, we exchange names. Turns out her name is Marvey. Side by side, me and Marvey, I roll the name around on my toung. Sounds like it was ment to be in a movie together I think, getting my hopes up. And they stay up until we reach they classroom.= =Laughter fills my ears. "What? Are we late?" I whisper to my new friend. "Ummm..." she begins. "Marvey, take your seat" screeches the teacher. She sits down, a crown forming around her, shooting questions. She sits there, unsure of what to say. At the sight, I almost feel bad for Marvey, but then my mind clears.= =I realize I have my own problems.= ="You must be January" Yells the teacher in her annoying high voice. The class bursts with laughter. My mind drifts away. This teacher reminds me of Billy Mase. I hope shes a substatute. I jump at the sudden sound of Marveys voice. Shes not laughing, shes telling everyone to stop. I falsh something that resembles a smile. The teacher must see the pain in my eyes, when she starts to announce to the class. I hear a faint voice in my head telling me to listen I can only make out "January travels around the world. ISnt that interesting kids? she will inly be here for a week..." One of the kids let out a sigh of relief. The class bursts again. This day cant get any worse.= =But it does.= =The whole day, what seems like the longest day ever, it full of comments on my cotton candy pinkl hair I got dyed in Brazil. My single cornrose braid from Mexico. The hennah I got done in India. These memeries remind me of how unhappy I am here.= =I cant make friends like this.= =Ive dicided I need to change. Im no thte kind of person who just goes home and cries if something is wrong.= =I make a plan.= =I wander into the garden outside the Rawling's appartment, thinking about my fail attempt to make friends. I turn around, quickly, facing the vacant garden. Chills run down my back. It might be cold for a fall day, but im pretty sure thats not the reason. I have the urge to run. Out of the garden. Out of the city, Out of cleveland. Back to Europe, where I like it best. Maybe a tropical island, like fiji or the dominican republic and Haiti. Or maybe to the rain forrest, like South America. Just thinking of the heat sends a chill down my back as I jump back into reality. But I stay very still, and turn around again v e r r r y s l o w l e y. I catch a glismps of a small girl with Hazel eyes and light brown hair. Ive seen her in school before. I think her name is Olive. But before I can comfirm, she dashes around the fence. And when the feeling comes back for a first time, I start to sweat. I am suddenly knocked to the ground. I dont even try to get up, letting the wind whip my hair around my face. Something pounces on my back. Harder, harder I sweat. "January!!"I here. I stand up to see a 5 year old girl and 2 year old boy cling to my leg. "June! Gale!" I cry back. I couldnt even explain how amazing I felt when I saw them. They pulled me out of my lonelyness. The two little kids that inspire me to be different are staring me in my purple contactey eyes. Then, it hits me.= =I will grow something in the gadren, and hopeully see someone my age. All I find is a bunch of older people and some kids I dont know. My hope drops until I see Marvey, and find myself running over. "What are you growing?" I ask, panting. "Oh, im growing daphadils. You?" "sunflowers, i think. Im sharing my friend Millas garden. Shes my parents friends daughter. Where staying with them to visit." I reply. "Its that... her?" she says, unsuringly. Her tone suprises me. I serch hard. And there I see Milla, surronded by a bunch of kids, with her, Gale, prancing around, June, playing with dolls, and Ledge, explaining to a couple of boys with glasses a more afficiant way to store water, and Milla- ... my eyes widen. Am I seeing correctly? Are Millas flowers.. are they... electric blue? Neon yellow? Bright pink? Lime green? And is that... plaid? A whole pallate of colors are growing out of //our// flowers! She explaining something to a huge group of wide eyed girls, who are obiosly nto paying attention, glancing unasuringly at the flowers. Milla beems proudly. And right then and there I dicided that I wont change. Stand out. Be different. And I wont even flinch on being proud. Why not? I run over and pry Marveys hand from her showel, grasping them as tightly as possible. I tell her my idea. She understands. We plan to spread this idea to school. To Cleveland. To everyone. I feel like hard work has been done after we tall our classmates. And the next day Olive comes to school with blue hair...=