Amerie woke up the next morning with a vague sense of happiness. There was a spring in her step as she got ready for school. Not that she was particularly excited for school, but Amerie was looking forward to after school. Grandmother Lyndzei had promised to teach her how to send leaves. Amerie assumed that it was like sending mail, only y’know, magical and stuff.
It was lucky that she was so energetic, considering Amerie had almost always been late to the school bus last year. It was a half an hour walk to the bus stop, but since Amerie usually cycled it didn’t take as long. Her parents had dropped her off yesterday since it was the first day of school, meaning that she had had to walk back but Amerie hadn’t minded because September afternoons were so lovely. Today though, she would take her bicycle.
The air was sweet and fresh. Amerie loved mornings like these, when you could see every corner of the countryside stretch and yawn as it woke itself up. She spotted the sleepy pale moon in the sky and smiled because it reminded her of the star realm. I wonder if there was a moon in the star realm. I can’t remember, thought Amerie. But it didn’t really bother her, because she would have the chance to ask Grandmother Lyndzei later today anyway. Amerie pedalled faster, elated.
Amerie even thought that she had arrived at the bus stop on time too, but the way everyone else looked at her when she got in suggested otherwise. She sat down sheepishly, but one or two judgemental stares weren’t enough to spoil her mood that morning. Even the ride in the dingy old school bus was lovely. Amerie watched the horizon, ignoring the stains on the dirty window.
It was when Amerie sat down at her desk for registration when things had started to go awry.
Normally she wasn’t one to think she was the centre of attention, but even she noticed that before she entered the classroom it was abuzz with chatter. When she walked in, silence. Amerie’s heart pounded as she went to sit down at her desk, feeling incredibly self-conscious. Hushed whispers followed, making Amerie wince at the memory of her walk to the lake. Except at school, there was no lake.
Normally she wasn’t one for gossip either, but this time Amerie felt that if it really was about her, she ought to know. Whilst trying to nonchalantly unpack her school bag, Amerie tuned in to the whispers.
“Did you hear? Jack Lumber went missing on the last day of summer. That’s why he wasn’t here yesterday,” whispered one girl.
“I know! His parents came into school this morning to ask the head if any of us knew where he was. They were so upset,” whispered back another girl.
Amerie almost breathed a sigh of relief. It had nothing to do with her. Then immediately, she felt terrible. How can I be so self-centred, she thought, he’s someone’s son and a classmate. He could be in real danger, and here I am glad that no one is saying anything nasty about me! Moreover, it was just generally worrying. Jack was the fourth child to have gone missing in their town this year. The other kids weren’t people Amerie knew, but her parents knew someone who knew someone who knew their parents. Besides, now that she knew why, his seat seemed even more empty.
“Do you think they’ll ask Amerie? Maybe she’s hiding something.”
“Shhh! She’ll hear you!”
“I don’t care if she hears me! It’s not like I’m saying anything mean.” the girl whispered back. Then she called out, “Hey Amerie!”
Amerie tried her best to sound like she hadn’t been eavesdropping, “Oh, hey Imogen. What’s up?”
“Do you know that Jack went missing?” asked Imogen.
“Lumber? No, I had no idea,” replied Amerie, feigning surprise.
“Really?” said Imogen, arching a brow, “He told his parents that he was going to go explore the forest. You know, the one you live in.”
“I don’t really live in the forest...we just live next to it,” Amerie explained weakly.
Imogen waved her hand dismissively, “Same thing. The point is, no one saw him after that. Unless, you did?”
“No, sorry. I wish I did,” said Amerie, cringing at how lame she sounded.
Imogen looked like she was about to say some more, but the girl next to her, Tilly, interjected, “Drop it, Immy. She’s obviously clueless.”
Maybe Tilly had been trying to be nice, but for some reason the way she had delivered it stung. Amerie wished she could feel a little less pathetic. With the pretense of needing to fill up her water bottle, Amerie left the classroom. She wished she had walked a little faster because she had overheard one last snippet of conversation:
“Whatever, Tilly. I bet she’s involved somehow. She’s so weird.”
On her way to the water fountain, Amerie bumped into the school nurse.
“Well hello, Amerie! Welcome back to school! But what’s this, you look as white as a sheet!” the nurse exclaimed.
“I-I’m fine, I just wanted to fill up my water bottle. Don’t worry,” she stuttered.
“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s my job to worry. Come with me, you look ready to faint!”
In the nurse’s office, Mrs. Jackson tutted, “Amerie, please ask your parents to update your Health form. I know it probably won’t have changed since last year, but paperwork is paperwork.” She sighed kindly, “I’ll just give them a call right now, to remind them.”
Mrs. Jackson picked up the phone and rang the number, “Hi is this Mr. or Mrs. Errai? Oh hello. This is Mrs. Jackson speaking. I just wanted to ask if you had filled Amerie’s Health and Wellbeing form. Oh okay, I see. Well then, see you soon. Oh, Amerie’s here in the office, she wasn’t feeling very well. Okay. Okay. Bye. Yep. Buh-bye.”
Amerie handed Mrs. Jackson back the thermometer.
“It’s not quite a fever, but almost. If you don’t feel well, I don’t mind writing you a note since I know you’re not the type to fake it. Your parents are coming soon, so you can just go home with them,” said Mrs. Jackson, scrutinising the thermometer.
“My parents? I’m really fine, they don’t need to come get me!” Amere exclaimed.
“Dearie, they said they were on their way when I called them. The head had asked them to come in.”
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