The Building of Learning

"[Name]?  Can I go to school?"  When Mary asked me that, I was drinking water watching Doctor Who.  After she popped the question, I choked.  "*cough* You want *cough cough* to what now?!"  "I want to go to school!  Ib goes all the time!  I want to know what it's like!"  "Trust me, no you don't."  "Why not?"  "Because, school isn't always a good thing.  Kids can be quite mean there and the teachers won't do a thing because 'they didn't see it'.  Not to mention all the boring hours where you want to kill yourself.  Just, make sure you think this through before you decide.  Because once you start school, you can't stop."  With that, she left.  I didn't see her again until dinner.  She was most likely painting.  She usually does that when she's upset or thinking.  

She was silent the entire time.  Garry kept giving her worried glances.  Finally, she said, "[Name], I really want to go to school."  I saw Garry do a spit take.  "Are you sure?"  Garry was now coughing.  "Are you sure?"  "Yes."  "Well then, we'll take you shopping tomorrow and get you enrolled as soon as possible."  "Thank you so much!!"  She ran off to her room.  "Are you sure you want to do this [Name]?  Do you think it's a good idea?"  "Garry, the only way she'll survive in this world is if she makes mistakes, and learns from them.  Maybe this will be a mistake, maybe it won't.  It's her decision, and I will stand by her throughout it."

The next day, we were shopping for both supplies and clothes.  Garry hated every second of it.  I did too, but I wouldn't let Mary know.  She was as busy as a bee and smiling bigger than the sun.  I was NOT about to ruin her fun and excitement.  When we returned, Garry went straight to the TV and turned on football.  He doesn't even LIKE football.  But I guess he just needed some man time.  I went with Mary to her room to unpack.  I hung up her clothes while she, Freddie, and Jessie packed her bag.  She wouldn't be going to school for another few days though, depending on how fast the school can include her in the system.  

The day after that, we went to enroll her.  Well, me and Mary did.  Garry claimed he was too sore from walking around yesterday.  I knew he just wanted an excuse to stay home.  The principle, Mrs. Mendely, was very nice.  She gave us the basis of the school rules and also included a tour.  She also said that if Mary had any trouble adjusting, to come to her right away; whether it be student or teacher.  I told her about Mary's relationship with Ib and she said that the could have the same classes so Mary could adjust better.  Mary would be starting school tomorrow.  We went home and Mary could hardly contain her excitement.  It was REALLY hard getting her to go to sleep.  We were finally able to after five stories and three glasses of warm milk.

In the morning, she was up before any of us.  She kept asking when it was time to go.  I swear, if time had been running any slower, I'd have taken an ax to the entire house and burned it.  Mary would take the bus with Ib.  All she had to do was run across the field and go through Ib's backyard.  She ran off, and was FINALLY out of my hair.  I watched from the back porch and saw the bus pull up and take off.  I went back inside and found Garry at the table, still sleepy.  Feeling like I needed some fun, I casually walked over to the sink.  On my way, I kissed Gary on both cheeks.  He blushed redder than a tomato. (DAMN YOU SPAIN!! D:<)  "What was that for?"  I got a glass and started filling it with water.  "One was a goodbye kiss from Mary,"  I turned off the sink...  "The other was good morning from me."  

...and I poured the ice cold water on Garry's head.  "AHH!!!"  It was so funny I fell on the floor.  "What was THAT for?!?!"  "For lying to me yesterday about being sore from shopping."  I tried getting the last few chuckles out of my system.  "Oh, you think that's funny, do you?"  I nodded.  He ran over, grabbed the nozzle on the sink (the one that you can pull out and sprays), and squirted me.  Let the water fight begin.

Mary's POV

I sat next to Ib on the bus holding hands with her.  I was so excited!  I couldn't believe it!  I got to see Ib all day now!  I couldn't wait!  The bus stopped at the school and Ib and I went to our class.  The teacher and the rest of the student came in.  My teacher was Ms. Herpina (meme name, lolz X3).  "Okay class," she started.  "We have a new student."  She looked at me.  "Won't you come up and introduce yourself?"  I walked up to the front of the class.  "My name is Mary and I love art!  I love drawing and coloring and painting!"  "Thank you very much, Mary.  Please take your seat."  I sat next to Ib and we started class.

[Name] was right.  This WAS boring.  But it was lunch time and then it was recess!  Me and Ib went to the swings.  Soon, another girl with blond hair from our class walking to us.  Ib stopped swinging, and got off.  I stopped and ran after her.  "Where are you going?"  "Anywhere but there."  "Why?"  "It's Emily.  She's a bully and thinks she's better than everyone.  You don't want to pick a fight with her."  I looked over at Emily and she glared back.  I looked away.  She came closer but the bell rang and Ib and I ran to class.  We got there, but the teacher wasn't back yet.  Ib and I sat down.  Ib pulled out a book and I started to sketch something.  A hand slammed down on my desk.  I looked up, and it was Emily.

"So, you think you're so perfect being the new kid and all."  I looked her dead in the eye and said, "How can you know what I think?  I don't think you have telekinesis."  The students in the class gasped.  "Oh, so now you're smart, huh?"  "According to the answers you gave in class, yes."  I felt something wet on my head.  I reached and felt my hair.  When I pulled it back down, it was black.  She had spilled ink in my hair .  "Oh, I'm sorry, did I put ink on your wittle head?"  I saw her smiling.  That did it.  I punched her in the stomach.  "Mary!  Principle's office, now!"  Ms. Herpina had walked in.  "But,"  "NOW!"  I felt like crying.  She got ink all over my hair and my new outfit and all the teacher cared about was me hitting Emily.

When I got to Mrs. Mendely's office, she looked startled.  I must've looked like a mess.   "What's wrong Mary?"  "I hit Emily in her stomach because she was smart talking me and poured ink in my hair.  Then Ms. Herpina only saw me hit her and didn't do a thing about the ink!"  She took me into the bathroom and helped me wash my hair.  Then she wrapped it in a towel.  "Do you want me to call home?"  I nodded.  I felt a little sick to my stomach.  She dialed home and asked [Name] to pick me up.  There was a knock at the door.  Ib came in.  "Hello," Mrs. Mendely greeted her.  "Hi.  I came to check on Mary."  "Mary's going home, sweetie.  Could you go and get her stuff, I don't think she's feeling well."  Ib nodded and sent me a sympathetic look.  She came back a few minutes later, but had to leave again for class.  Mrs. Mendely sat me down in a plush chair and went back to her desk while we waited for [Name].

Soon, she came in.  Her hair was wet.  Mrs. Mendely told her what had happened and she looked mad.  She picked me and my stuff up, and carried me out to the car.  She was quiet the whole time.  I thought it was my fault.  "I'm sorry [Name]."  "For what?"  She sounded confused.  "For picking a fight."  "I'm not mad at you.  I'm mad at this Emily and at the teacher.  Let me tell you something, hun.  Sometimes in life, we just need to keep our cool and smart talk our way out.  Other times, we need to lash out when we can't control ourselves.  And when we get in trouble, if we regret it, we apologize and try to make amends.  If we don't, then we hold our heads high and stand by our decision no matter what.  Mary, do you regret punching Emily?"  I thought for a minute.  "No."  "Then don't let anyone tell you you should feel sorry.  Don't let anyone tell you how to feel or how to act if it's wrong.  Sometimes, it's wrong not to act.  In your situation, I think it was right of you to act.  Not only have you shown her your strength, you've shown her that you will not stand down either.  I'm proud of you."  Those words warmed my heart but did not make the butterflies go away.

We got home; Garry's hair was wet too, but I wasn't feeling well enough to ask.  "You okay Mary?" he asked.  "You look pale."  "I don't think she's feeling well, so I'm taking her to bed."  I went to bed and woke up feeling awful.  [Name] took my temperature.  She said I had the flu and I couldn't go to school today.  She called me in sick.  I was stuck in bed all day but [Name], Garry, Jessie, and Freddie all kept me company.  In the afternoon, Ib came by with my homework and a card.  It was a get well soon card from everyone in my class.  Most of them signed it.  I didn't see Emily's name, but I didn't care.  Most of the students wrote little notes by their name.  They said that I was brave for standing up to Emily.  Even Ms. Herpina wrote to me.  She said that Ib had told her what really happened and that she was sorry for misjudging me and would try to act better in the future.  I fell asleep, knowing that I would better be able to handle school the next time.

The End