know why, but ever since I came home from the hospital, I’ve felt so “out of it.”
Maybe it’s because I’m being bused this year to the new high school. I swear, ninth grade isn’t at all like middle school. The other girls have their own little cliques, and I don’t feel like I fit in with a single one. I know they think I’m contaminated because I’ve had cancer. I overheard some of them talking, and they think they can catch leukemia from me. How dumb!
I heard from Noreen last week, and she sure sounds down. I don’t think she’s doing well at all. Her handwriting looks so shaky. Oh, about Christmas—I can’t come to visit. My grandparents in
California want us to fly out for the holidays. They even sent us plane tickets. We’re going to Disneyland. I don’t mind seeing Mickey Mouse, but I’ll miss being one of the Four Musketeers (or is it the Four Horsemen of Destruction?). Keep writing. Your letters mean a lot. You, Noreen, and Kimbra are the only ones who understand me. Love and stuff,
Elaine
J ENNY FOLDED E LAINE’S letter thoughtfully. She too was worried about Noreen. The last time they’d talked on the phone, Noreen had sounded groggy and drugged. “It’s my pain medicine,” Noreen said. “I hurt all the time, but my doctor says I don’t need to go back to the hospital. My mom cries a lot when she doesn’t know I’m listening. Sometimes, I get the feeling that everyone’s trying to hide something from me.”
Jenny called Kimbra, caught her coming in from school, and read her Elaine’s letter.
“I understand the prejudice bit,” Kimbra said. “I get it all the time. You’re lucky you have a tutor and don’t have to face the high school rat race every day.”
Jenny didn’t feel so lucky. Because of her private tutor, she was certainly caught up with her class academically, and in some subjects, she was even ahead. But studying at home left her restless and bored. “I guess either way has its pros and cons,” she replied. “You sound angry. What’s up?”
“I never could fool you,” Kimbra admitted with a sigh. “I talked with the basketball coach yesterday and told her I wanted to go out for the team. I’m still a good shooter from the foul line, and as I toldher, I wouldn’t have my hands all over the opponents and get called for fouling by the refs.”
“And?”
“And she almost fainted. It seems no high school in Maryland has ever had a one-armed ball player. Can you imagine that?”
Jenny chuckled. “If anyone can be the first, it’ll be you.”
“Over the school board’s dead bodies.”
“What do you mean?”
“They won’t let me play. They says it’s ‘too risky’ for my health.”
“But you’re perfectly healthy. No more tumors.”
“I know, but they aren’t listening. My dad’s fighting mad, and he says he’s going to get an attorney and take the whole school board to court if need be.”
Jenny wished she could console Kimbra. “I can tell my grandmother. Maybe her attorney can recommend a good lawyer to take your case.”
“That’s nice of you, but I’d rather not become a media event. It’s bad enough that I’m different from everyone else. I don’t really want my troubles aired in the newspapers and on local TV.”
“Maybe the board will change its mind.”
“I doubt it. I guess I should just give it up.”
“Don’t do that.” Jenny was surprised by the vehemence in her own voice.
“Why not?”
“Because you can’t let them push you around. Because if you don’t fight now, it’ll be harder to fight next time.”
There was a pause as Kimbra thought over what Jenny had said. Finally, she broke the quiet. “I’ll think about it. I’ll talk to my parents.”
“Good.” Jenny toyed with the phone wire. “Are we still on for Christmas?”
“As far as I know. What do you hear from Noreen?”
Jenny shared her concerns about their friend. “I wanted to go over and see her last weekend, but her mother
Maybe it’s because I’m being bused this year to the new high school. I swear, ninth grade isn’t at all like middle school. The other girls have their own little cliques, and I don’t feel like I fit in with a single one. I know they think I’m contaminated because I’ve had cancer. I overheard some of them talking, and they think they can catch leukemia from me. How dumb!
I heard from Noreen last week, and she sure sounds down. I don’t think she’s doing well at all. Her handwriting looks so shaky. Oh, about Christmas—I can’t come to visit. My grandparents in
California want us to fly out for the holidays. They even sent us plane tickets. We’re going to Disneyland. I don’t mind seeing Mickey Mouse, but I’ll miss being one of the Four Musketeers (or is it the Four Horsemen of Destruction?). Keep writing. Your letters mean a lot. You, Noreen, and Kimbra are the only ones who understand me. Love and stuff,
Elaine
J ENNY FOLDED E LAINE’S letter thoughtfully. She too was worried about Noreen. The last time they’d talked on the phone, Noreen had sounded groggy and drugged. “It’s my pain medicine,” Noreen said. “I hurt all the time, but my doctor says I don’t need to go back to the hospital. My mom cries a lot when she doesn’t know I’m listening. Sometimes, I get the feeling that everyone’s trying to hide something from me.”
Jenny called Kimbra, caught her coming in from school, and read her Elaine’s letter.
“I understand the prejudice bit,” Kimbra said. “I get it all the time. You’re lucky you have a tutor and don’t have to face the high school rat race every day.”
Jenny didn’t feel so lucky. Because of her private tutor, she was certainly caught up with her class academically, and in some subjects, she was even ahead. But studying at home left her restless and bored. “I guess either way has its pros and cons,” she replied. “You sound angry. What’s up?”
“I never could fool you,” Kimbra admitted with a sigh. “I talked with the basketball coach yesterday and told her I wanted to go out for the team. I’m still a good shooter from the foul line, and as I toldher, I wouldn’t have my hands all over the opponents and get called for fouling by the refs.”
“And?”
“And she almost fainted. It seems no high school in Maryland has ever had a one-armed ball player. Can you imagine that?”
Jenny chuckled. “If anyone can be the first, it’ll be you.”
“Over the school board’s dead bodies.”
“What do you mean?”
“They won’t let me play. They says it’s ‘too risky’ for my health.”
“But you’re perfectly healthy. No more tumors.”
“I know, but they aren’t listening. My dad’s fighting mad, and he says he’s going to get an attorney and take the whole school board to court if need be.”
Jenny wished she could console Kimbra. “I can tell my grandmother. Maybe her attorney can recommend a good lawyer to take your case.”
“That’s nice of you, but I’d rather not become a media event. It’s bad enough that I’m different from everyone else. I don’t really want my troubles aired in the newspapers and on local TV.”
“Maybe the board will change its mind.”
“I doubt it. I guess I should just give it up.”
“Don’t do that.” Jenny was surprised by the vehemence in her own voice.
“Why not?”
“Because you can’t let them push you around. Because if you don’t fight now, it’ll be harder to fight next time.”
There was a pause as Kimbra thought over what Jenny had said. Finally, she broke the quiet. “I’ll think about it. I’ll talk to my parents.”
“Good.” Jenny toyed with the phone wire. “Are we still on for Christmas?”
“As far as I know. What do you hear from Noreen?”
Jenny shared her concerns about their friend. “I wanted to go over and see her last weekend, but her mother
Similar Books
