September 13, 2007 Dear Matt,
Dear Matt,
I hate seventh grade. It’s been two weeks and seriously, it’s the worst. There’s this girl in my grade named Stephanie Dean who I can’t stand.
We used to be really good friends, but she just decided this year to turn into an asshole.
She basically told the whole school about my dad.
And she stole one of my sneakers out of my gym locker on the first day of school!
I didn’t see her do it, but I know it was her.
I just reread all that and it sounds confusing, so let me start from the beginning.
You know how my dad has been mostly out of work for the past few years?
And how, like anytime he starts to get his act together or gets a new job it never lasts very long?
Well, because of that, my aunt sends money to my mom every month so we can get the things we need.
Anyway, at the end of the summer, my aunt sent some money for back to school clothes.
Not a lot, but it was enough for a new pair of sneakers (which I needed for gym class) and a few new shirts and pairs of jeans.
So, the first day of junior high I was nervous, you know?
New school and everything. And even though I’ve known most of these kids a long time, it’s a much bigger building and all new teachers and also kids from other elementary schools who I’ve never met.
But I had on a nice outfit and I had just gotten a haircut and my mom packed me my lunch in a brown paper bag because I didn’t want to look like a baby carrying a lunchbox.
And I brought my new sneakers to wear for gym.
Anyway, the first thing we had was homeroom, which is not very long, but it was extended homeroom on the first day of school so everyone could get to know where their lockers were.
We get two lockers: one for books and stuff and the other for gym.
The homeroom teacher told us to go put our gym stuff (which was just the sneakers for me) into our gym lockers and then come back to the classroom.
The problem was I didn’t realize we were going to need two locks, and I only had one.
Some other kids also forgot their locks, but the gym teacher said it should be okay since it was just the first day.
He told us to bring a second lock the next day.
So, I hoped for the best and left my sneakers there.
I heard Stephanie giggling with some new girl who I hadn’t met yet and I felt like they were looking at me, but I was like, whatever. I didn’t want to start something.
Anyway, so the morning comes and goes, and then it’s lunchtime.
I sat down at a table in the cafeteria, and a few kids from my class last year sat nearby.
What I realized was that almost nobody brought their lunch from home like I did.
They all went to buy hot lunch. I didn’t know that was important, but obviously it is.
My mom made me a perfectly fine turkey sandwich, but I was too embarrassed to eat it, so I just sat there.
When Stephanie and the new girl sat down at my table, they saw me not eating, and Stephanie said, really loud in front of everyone, “What’s wrong?
Too poor to buy lunch? Did your mommy make you a welfare sandwich? ”
Can you believe that? I was so mad! And all the kids at the table kind of looked at me. A few laughed, but no one really stood up to her for me. I wanted to punch her right in her big fat nose, but I just sat there. I don’t know why. I just couldn’t move.
Then! This is the worst part! I have gym eighth period with her.
So, I get to the locker room with my T-shirt and gym sweats that I just got from the teacher, and I go to my locker, and one of my new sneakers is gone.
Gone! I looked everywhere for it—I mean, how do you lose a sneaker?
And Stephanie was laughing so hard. I know she stole it, Matt.
I just know. So I had to sit out in gym.
I went home and told my mom I needed a lock and a new pair of sneakers.
She told me I could get a lock, but she said we didn’t have any money for another new pair of shoes.
Which, like, I understand, but I can’t just sit out of gym every day!
She wanted to call Stephanie’s mom, but I begged her not to.
That might have been a solution in fifth or sixth grade but not anymore.
I feel like I would get laughed out of the school.
So we went to Target and found the cheapest pair of fake Converse.
They were ten bucks. They don’t even look like Converse sneakers, but it’s better than sitting out of gym for the whole year.
It’s been like eight days and do you know my sneaker still hasn’t turned up?
Anyway, sorry that was such a long story. Honestly, I wish we could just go back to camp. I counted—only 294 days till next summer begins.
I hope seventh grade has been better for you than it’s been for me so far. Write back and let me know.
I miss you so much. Are we still hanging out the first weekend of October? I hope so.
Love,
Taylor