Secrets I Know

By Sheryl Fletcher

Tissy Matthews is excited about beginning grade 7 and hanging out with her friends. But she does worry what kind of teacher Mrs. Ward will be because she's heard that she loves nature a little too much. A new girl joins her class this year named Lara. Although Tracy and Karen immediately decide that Lara tries to act too old for her age, Tissy and Rachel take the time to get to know her. They include her in their activities and quickly discover that Lara is a lot of fun to be around. But signs of a stressed home life soon become obvious. Although Lara is very private about her personal life, Tissy can't help but wonder what is going on that Lara doesn't want to share with her friends. As their friendship strengthens, Lara becomes more comfortable with Tissy and eventually entrusts her with a secret she has never revealed before. As certain events unfold, Tissy's mother also feels it’s the right time to tell her something from the past leaving Tissy with "Secrets I Know."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books for Pleasure
• Release date: Sep 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781553491156

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Normally I don’t like to argue with my mother but today was an exception. After all, she was not being fair. By the way, my name is Christina Matthews but most people call me Tissy. Getting back to my point; today my mother called me Christina, which means she’s angry.

I don’t see the need for a young girl in grade seven to wear make-up, Christina, she argued. You have your whole life to wear it and I didn’t until I was almost eighteen.

Honestly, what is the big deal? After all, I’m going into grade seven. And I only wanted to wear a little bit for the first day of school. Maybe when my mother was young, girls didn’t wear it until they were eighteen but not anymore! For instance, my friend, Tracy, never goes a day without make-up. I put it on after I leave the house and take it off before I go home, she brags. That way I don’t get lectured by my mother.

How about I just wear lip gloss, then? I begged. Is that okay? She stared at me for a moment before answering. Just lip gloss, Tissy, she agreed.

Fine, just lip gloss it is. Although I could do what Tracy does, I’d rather not take the chance of getting caught. I have an older brother, Mark, and if he ever saw me with it on, he’d tell. Especially if he knew my mother forbid me.

Enjoy your bus ride to school, Mark laughed, as he headed out the door to catch his bus.

I will, I yelled.

This year Mark is going into high school. He reminded me of that fact every single day throughout the summer. But what he failed to realize was that I couldn’t wait for him to go to a different school. The one person I knew I would miss the most was our neighbor, Lena. She has walked to the bus stop with Mark and me for as long as I can remember. Although I would still get to see her around, it wouldn’t be the same.

Just as I was about to catch my bus, I retouched my lip gloss. Then it dawned on me that I would be one of the few not wearing make-up, except for Cameron, of course, who is a good friend. She wouldn’t be caught dead with make-up on. She is way too much of a tomboy. And I also don’t think my friend, Anna, will be wearing make-up, either, because her father is so strict. Then again, she could always do what Tracy does. Oh well, I had to stop worrying about it. I would just have to wait until I got to school and see exactly who was wearing it and who wasn’t.

My friends were sitting at the same spot we sit at every year. A couple of years ago we decided to give the spot a name. We voted and called it the c-spot, which stands for the cool spot. Only my friends and I sit there. Nobody would dare join us without being invited by one of us.

Tissy! Rachel yelled.

Hi, Rachel, I waved. Great! Rachel was wearing make-up.

Everyone but Cameron was sitting at the c-spot. As predicted, most were wearing make-up except for Anna. You’re not wearing any make-up, Tracy said. Why not?

I have lip gloss on, I said, embarrassed. That’s all I wanted to wear.

"You mean that’s all you were allowed to wear," Karen said sarcastically. She looked at Tracy and they both laughed. Typical Karen! I hadn’t even warmed my spot yet and she was already picking a fight.

I only have a bit of make-up on, too, Rachel said, trying to make me feel better. If I wear too much then it makes me look like a clown. She giggled.

I’m just not allowed, Anna admitted. My father would ground me forever if he ever caught me.

The bell rang and we headed to class. Unfortunately, this year we’re not all in the same class. Rachel, Anna and I have Mrs. Newberry as our grade seven teacher. She’s been at our school forever. I’ve never heard anything negative about her, like she yells or anything, but I have heard she’s old fashioned and a bit of a nerd. Mark had her in grade seven. He liked her but she’s not who I would have preferred. I would rather of gotten Mrs. Sap. She’s Tracy, Karen and Cameron’s teacher. Although I’m pleased with the fact that I have two of my good friends in my class, I wish we all could have been together, again, like we were last year in Mr. Thompkins class. I’m really going to miss him. He has definitely been my favorite teacher so far.

Mrs. Newberry was standing at the front of the classroom. Just take a seat, please, she said, motioning for kids to sit down. Don’t be shy, just take a seat and we’ll make proper arrangements later. Rachel and Anna sat beside me. After the class settled, Mrs. Newberry spoke, Tomorrow I’ll assign your seats by last name order, she smiled. We looked at one another. Rachel’s name last is Collins, Anna’s last name is Richley and mine is Matthews. There was no way we’d be sitting anywhere near one another.

For today’s assignment, I’d like you all to write a 250 word essay on how you spent your summer break. She walked around to the front of her desk and took out a handful of paper. Then tomorrow you can all read your assignments out loud in class.

Great! There’s nothing I hate more than standing up in front of a room full of my classmates and reading out loud. Rachel shook her head because I know she feels the same.

Mrs. Newberry passed out paper and gave us the day to write. It shouldn’t be too difficult to remember what you did over the summer, she said, looking at each student. After all, it’s only your first day back.

When the bell rang for break, Rachel and I took our time heading to the c-spot. See that’s why I didn’t want Mrs. Newberry as a teacher this year, I said. She’s so boring.

I know, Rachel agreed. I would have much preferred to have Mrs. Sap.

Tracy and Karen were already sitting at the c-spot. Cameron was playing with the boys and Anna was with her sisters. How do you like your teacher so far? Rachel asked them.

She’s nice, Tracy said, admiring herself in her compact mirror. She looked up. Do you like Newberry?

She’s a little boring, I said, sitting down. Hopefully she’ll get better as the year goes on.

You should see the new girl in our class, Tracy said. She put her compact mirror in her pocket. She’s dressed like she thinks she’s in high school or something.

Where is she? Rachel asked, looking around.

She stayed inside to get things worked out in the office, Karen said, leaning back on her elbows. They had her name spelled wrong or something.

What’s her name? I asked.

Lara Lambert, they both answered at the same time.

Rachel and I made funny faces. What kind of name is that? I asked.

Tracy rolled her eyes but when she tried to blink, her eyelashes stuck together because her mascara was too thick. She quickly rubbed her eyes as she struggled to open them. Rachel and I giggled. She also had more eye shadow on one eye than the other.

She’s Swedish or something, she said, picking the mascara off. She now had a big black smudge under her eye. All I know is that she thinks she’s really hot.

You’re just jealous, Karen said, sitting up. You didn’t like the boys looking at her and taking attention from you. She burst out laughing. Tracy pressed her lips together tightly and squinted her eyes. Karen stopped laughing and turned her head.

Seriously, I said. What’s she like?

See for yourself, Tracy said, pointing towards the front of the school.

Rachel and I both turned around and saw Lara Lambert walking out of the front door. Tracy was right about one thing: she did look as though she should be in high school. She was beautiful! Definitely, one of the prettiest girls I’d ever seen in our school. She had long blond hair and was very tall, much more than any of the girls in our grade. And she had something none of the girls in grade seven had: a grown woman’s body.

Wow, Rachel whispered. She sure doesn’t look like she’s in grade seven.

She walked over to the grass area and sat under a tree. We couldn’t stop staring at her. She opened a book and began to read.

See, Tracy said, in a snotty tone. Doesn’t she think she’s hot?

Well, she is very pretty, I said.

I couldn’t stop staring. Then I noticed Freddie and his friends. They were pointing and whispering to one another. She completely ignored them and continued reading.

We should go say hi, I suggested. I’d hate to be the new kid at school.

I’m not talking to her! Tracy said rudely. I don’t want her hanging around me and my friends.

I didn’t say anything. Karen was right: Tracy was jealous. She is just so use to getting all the attention from the boys. She wouldn’t like having to compete with anyone else, that’s for sure.

The bell rang and we returned to class. Everyone worked on his or her paper. I had spent one month of my summer vacation staying with my cousin, Sheila, and her husband, Daryl, and working in their store. I met a girl named Norma and ended up having one of the best summers of my life. I had so much to write about that I didn’t know where to begin.

CHAPTER 2

Do you like Mrs. Newberry? Rachel asked me, during our conversation on the phone later that day.

I like her but she’s so boring, I said. What about you?

I feel the same way. Kelly said she was boring when she had her, too.

Yeah, so did Mark.

I wish we were in the other class, I said. Mrs. Sap is young and I’ve heard she’s a lot of fun.

Kelly is Rachel’s older sister. She was in Mark’s class the same year he had Mrs. Newberry. I think part of my problem this year is that I miss my old teacher from last year, Mr. Thompkins. He was fun every day. He had great ideas on how to make learning interesting.

I miss Mr. Thompkins, I said.

So do I.

The next day at school, Mrs. Newberry assigned our seats by alphabetical order. I was sitting at the very back of the third row. I could see Rachel and Anna but I wasn’t within earshot of them.

As we were preparing to read our essays, there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Newberry stepped out into the hallway. Immediately, everyone began talking and left their seats.

Anna quickly ran to my desk, I wonder who it is? I shrugged my shoulders. Just then, Mrs. Newberry peeked her head inside. She held the door open and motioned for the person to follow her in.

Come along, she said, smiling.

I couldn’t believe my eyes! It was the new girl, Lara Lambert. Her head was down and she looked very shy. Mrs. Newberry gently took her arm, Can I have everyone’s attention for a moment, she said, waving her hand in the air. We have a new student to our classroom and her name is…um…err. She pulled Lara closer and whispered in her ear. Lara whispered back. Yes, yes, she said, nodding. Her name is Lara, it rhymes with Sara.

Nobody said a word. Let’s have you sit in this row, Mrs. Newberry said, pointing to my row. You can sit at the back.

I guess because her last name was Lambert, she would sit close to me since my last name is Matthews.

Lara quickly glanced up at me as she walked by and took the seat behind me. Part of me wanted to turn around and smile at her to make her feel welcome but the other part was too shy. The entire class, including Mrs. Newberry, was staring at her. After a few seconds, Mrs. Newberry returned to her desk. Now, let’s begin the day by taking attendance. She sorted through the pile of paper on her desk until she found the class list. I could hear Lara getting her books out of her school bag. I looked at Rachel. She mouthed the words, Say hi. I shook my head. She shrugged her shoulders and scrunched her nose as if to say, why not?

Mrs. Newberry began calling out names from the list. The kids raised their hands in attendance. Finally, after what seemed like an hour, she called my name and then took a second to write Lara’s name on the list.

Now, Lara, Mrs. Newberry said, making her way down our aisle. The class has prepared essays on how they spent their summer. I realize that you weren’t in our class yesterday so I’ll give you a day to do yours.

I could begin now, Lara suggested, speaking in a soft voice.

Oh, Mrs. Newberry said, sounding surprised. She smiled delightfully. Well, she continued. You take your time, dear. Tomorrow is just fine. We may not get to all of the essays today anyway.

The first person to read their essay was Freddie Albrock, who is the most annoying boy I have ever known. He was in my class last year and I prayed he wouldn’t be in it again. It’s not that I don’t like him, I just find him extremely annoying. Also, he thinks all the girls like him. I’m pretty sure Tracy does but that’s the only girl I know of.

My summer vacation was awesome, he began. I spent four weeks at summer camp. I met lots of people and did some pretty crazy things. He took a deep breath. Mrs. Newberry was grinning from ear to ear. I looked over at Rachel. She was beginning to giggle already. Everybody who knows Freddie knows he is always the class clown. He also likes to say things to shock teachers. I knew him well enough to know that any minute he was going to read something from his essay that would shock the crap out of Mrs. Newberry.

You do a lot of different things at camp, he continued. We canoed, hiked, fished, made picnic tables and much more. Suddenly, a devilish smile came over his face. But the best part was the kissing. The entire class burst out laughing. Mrs. Newberry nervously stood up beside her seat and moved her mouth, but nothing came out.

I kissed at least 10 different girls, he bragged. He was getting louder. But the best kiss was the french kiss I had with Maggie Spencer. Again, the class burst out laughing. I forgot Lara was behind me and quickly turned around. She smiled but wasn’t laughing like the rest of the class.

Mr. Albrock! Mrs. Newberry said, putting her hands on Freddie’s shoulders. I’m glad you enjoyed your summer camp but we do not have to hear all of the gory details. Can you please continue but omit any kissing?

Oh…sure, Freddie said, acting disappointed. Mrs. Newberry made her way back to her seat. Freddie looked up at the class and winked. Enough about kissing, he said. "We also had nightly campfires where the leaders would tell us ghost stories. Then, after we’d return to our cottages, strange things would occur in the middle of the night. I remember one night, the ghost of the Boobie Monster tried to peek into the girls’ cottage window." The class laughed hysterically. The boys were laughing much harder than the girls. They couldn’t stop. Rachel