Saving the Wilsons

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rd crappy apartment this year, to be exact. Mom recently broke up with boyfriend number one million.

I am starting school with everyone else. Being the new kid doesn't bother me anymore. I learned a long

ed and hit the

ed for the first day, so time

t super anxious. This morning is all planned out, though, and I should be out of the apartment by 7:15, at t

action. Nursing is a good choice because it is reliable and pays well. I'm not too concerned wi

g Shannon aka mom, always stresses is appearance. She always wants to impress the men around her. I do no

in the mirror and smil

ugh. My eyes are big, which is good, and they are framed with thick, naturally long curved lashes. They are primarily b

ing the new kid means always hearing people comment about my "c

r with a determined walk. I am ready. Mom's slight throat-clearing has me halting at the front door before I can

kitchen counter with her wavy brown hair, identical to mine, pulled up in a ponytail. In all hon

ckly dismiss the thought, though. She frequently makes me

t out of school," she says while tak

ere going to kill her one day. I feel like I am her parent more than she is mine. S

other and I also share a temper. If she were to hear my sarcastic

ay, I have a shift ton

ith my head up and my body full of as much confidence as I can muster. I wish my mom would

ns

school year," I mutter while

started two weeks ago, and coach, aka

ne and realize it

r

teethed are all I have time for. I race do

special to me, and this is t

fast as possible, I hear my

like middle school," she says, and I

school, No Boys," I fake g

ordinary fourteen-year-old girl. She is the leader of the two. Stacy only has one hearing aid and is a little delayed in maturity. She behaves more like a ten-yea

r to sign at home. I wrap one arm around Mom to silently reassure her that I have the girls

in the c

ok down at Mom with a knowing smile.

nly, "You watch out for them, Ryan Wilson

smirking, "They are

m four, she pushes me towards the door

ead coach for 22 years. He hates tardiness and likes to reward students

eady to go," I

"yes," I pull ou

go during a weekly family meeting. Mom is terrified, and to be honest, I am starting to feel nerv

is is going to be very different than their Christian Private school, but

em a warm smile before taking their li

ALI

ng you in the system," the school receptio

is possible my mom forgot," I mumb

et, Karen," a woman with short black hair says sternly w

d. I don't want to start school on the seco

AN

sses, and I need to prepare fo

button needs to be sued," I

ee. Sorry, we are a bit late this m

ards my sisters, I look around the room, and when I do, my world seems to pause. I faintly he

her cheeks blazing. Our district is small, and most of my classmates went to

sorry, but until your mom shows up to fil

nameless beauty. Sh

in my direction. She has her eyebrow raised a

an feel the heat rising from my neck to my ears. I say the fi

her eyes and repeats, "Your hair is sticking

de? Probably because I just stared at her for lord knows how long.

ilson," I intr

she says with the

ds are taken by my sisters, and I am l

that save," I say before laughing out as

ut Dad still made sure our schedules have classes as close together as possible. My parents and I worry about how th

ifferent than them attending. Mind you, we don't think of them as incapa

oom. After walking with them to the girls' locker room, I run to the weig

o a furious-looki

" I say before internally cringing from t

ng back. That's twenty laps. It would be best if you were more considerate of your

I can escape, Dad grabs my arm a

, and this time I s

n me, but I know it

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me try to plead my way into sc

et her to sign it all tonight, p

l shakes her

aperwork, I can't do anything," She says, turning back to

gh

is on display. Sure enough, a tall guy with c

re

ot know staring is rude? I cl

lace," I say while trying to take the

ms to wa

life, his eyes widen, and h

wl out, "your hair is

. Great Nat, be rude to the first student you meet for nothing. I

on," he says whil

st insulted him,

ll," I say whil

s, but one has thick glasses. The only reason I didn't jump out of my skin is they have the friendliest smiles on t