Kristy's Collection: Golden Child & the Music of Life

By Kristy L. Pincock

Golden Child: A teenage girl may seem perfect on the outside with a family, friends, athletic ability, boyfriend and everything she could hope for. But one choice can bring her world crumbling down.
The Music of Life: Personal reflections brought to life through poetry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504971904

Kristy L. Pincock

Kristy Pincock discovered vocabulary at a young age and written expression in her youth. She has vast experiences from life and opportunities she has been blessed to embrace. Her insights into a teenage point of view show compassion, empathy, intrigue and a deep love of God. Her poetic and unique ability to describe a moment in time and feelings which accompany the fleeting moment have engaged avid readers of her poetry. Kristy is a dear friend, the best aunt ever and cherished by loved ones.

Book preview

Kristy's Collection

Golden Child & The Music of Life

Kristy L. Pincock

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© 2016 Kristy L. Pincock. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/07/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7191-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7189-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7190-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016900190

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Golden Child

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Golden Child

By Kristy Pincock

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A frog? You think Mason James is a frog? Jamie exploded with laughter. That's the best thing I've heard all day! She gasped for air as she spoke.

Hey! Shay leaped defensively, You didn't let me finish. Now stop laughing and let's go! The bell already rang!

The two girls raced down the slick, gray hall.

If I get another tardy... Shay's words pounded from her lips with every step.

Three tardies in one quarter dropped your grade half a notch and Shay was so close to a 4.0 this time. Nothing, not even Jamie, was going to stop her... she hoped.

As the two girls slid into their seats the tardy bell screamed out, shrill and ear piercing.

Welcome to class you two. That was a close one. Miss Banter warned with a raised eyebrow.

Shay smiled with relief.

Miss Banter was Shay's favorite teacher. The other kids seemed to like her too. Maybe it was because she seemed more approachable, more understanding than most of the other teachers. Maybe it was just that she was cool. Shay could think of no better way to put it.

Physiology was Shay's favorite class and the fact that Jamie, her best friend, shared it with her was a bonus. They sat across the room from one another, on the same row, so glances could easily be exchanged.

Jamie caught her attention with a nearly silent snickering and Shay knew she was still being mocked. She didn't get to explain her answer and it needed an explanation.

Mason James was a very nice looking guy. Okay, he was wonderful to look at. No question about it.

Jamie overheard him asking about Shay and turned it into the big news of the day. She always blew things out of proportion.

When Jamie asked what Shay thought of him, her reply was simply, He's a frog. That's where the laughter burst and the rest of her answer went unsaid.

Shay leaned back in her chair and studied the class' chinchilla caged on the counter next to her.

Miss Banter loved nature and surrounded her classroom with it.

Brilliantly lit salt-water fish swam peacefully in the right front corner of the room. The lacy patterns of the coral fanned out so elegantly, so delicate. Orange and white clown fish seemed to glide through the finger-like tenticles of the sea anemone giving the scene an ethereal quality.

Milo perched comfortably on one of his branches in the opposite front corner of the room. The Chinese Water Dragon sat regal and always alert. He was Miss Banter's favorite. She handled him gently and often. Even the students got to hold him from time to time. He was as docile as they came.

Tiny brightly colored frogs thrived in their own little world. The wood and plants were real including the blanket of moss contured along the bottom. With the trickle of water running down the rocks and into a small pool in the front part of the tank the illusion was complete. The poison dart frogs, splashed with a vibrant blue and black, lived in their own piece of the rain forest resting serenely on Miss Banter's desk.

Miss Banter was so interesting to Shay. She was young and so full of life. Simple in appearance with features as even and attractive as anyone in the movies or magazines. Not flamboyant or pretentious at all, but classy.

Miss Banter usually felt more like a friend than a teacher, at least where Shay was concerned.

Shay's attention rested back on Willey, the chinchilla. He seemed pleased with his dust bath taking special measures to groom his cat-like whiskers and mouse-like face. What kind of worries do you have? She offered wordlessly, I'll trade you.

Her thoughts drifted back to Mason. He was great looking, but there was more to him than that. He was smart and kind and she always felt he had a certain depth that others didn't. Shay admired him from a safe distance for the last year and a half. They shared a few classes but she hadn't spoken more than a handful of words to him in that time. He intrigued her. So much so that she found herself painfully shy around him. Much more than usual.

Lunchtime. An hour filled with laughter and loud talking mingled with curious smells wafting from the kitchen.

As they found their way to the table that Sydni and Paige were saving, Jamie could hardly contain herself.

Hey guys, guess who's got it for Shay! The Frog-boy himself!

Paige stared blankly at Jamie while Sydni choked on her soda.

Frog-boy? Why would you call him that? Sydni sputtered.

Paige smacked Sydni on the arm, You know who it is? So I'm the last. I am always the last to know! Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?

Shay and Jamie situated themselves at the table with the two girls.

You don't even know its true, insisted Shay.

Oh please Shay, open those big blue eyes of yours and pay attention. The poor guy is smitten. Jamie had a talent for this kind of thing. She saw just what she wanted to see and made sure everyone knew.

Paige interrupted, Hello, I'm still here and I still don't know who we're talking about.

Mason, Sydni announced. Mason James.

Paige gasped, then broke out with a grin from ear to ear. With one smooth motion the grin grew puzzled. Frog-boy? Why in the world would you call him that?

Yeah, that's what I want to know, Sydni said turning to Jamie.

Hey, those are not my words. Shay's the one who said he was a frog, Jamie answered, flipping her long dark curls and waving off any responsibility for the ridiculous title.

You didn't let me finish! Shay blurted in aggravation. I didn't mean a frog frog. I meant a prince frog. Like in the fairytales. The girls stared silently as they tried to follow her logic. Oh, forget it, she added.

Okay, Sydni spoke up, I get it. He's your prince charming. I think it's sweet.

Shay shot Jamie a menacing look and continued eating her lunch. She wished just once that Jamie could keep her big mouth shut. She also knew Jamie well enough to know that would never happen.

I didn't say my prince, she muttered quietly.

The girls sat in silence for a moment and then Sydni changed the subject.

Not another word about Mason was mentioned for the remainder of lunch.

The final bell of the day rang and Shay hastily made her way through the crowd of students to the locker room to get ready for her third day of basketball try-outs.

She found herself intensely nervous, even though she played the last two years on the varsity team. She even started in more than half of the games. By all rights, according to her friends, she should have nothing to worry about.

A piece of cake, with a huge scoop of ice cream on the side, Jamie had assured her.

Shay was still apprehensive though but knew as soon as she stepped onto the court the fear would fade.

Hey Shay, are you ready for another season? We are going to kick some butt this year! Michelle exclaimed as they laced their shoes.

Michelle and Shay played basketball together since their freshman year of high school. On the court they were so in sync. Off the court they were friends but not close friends. They didn't seem to have many other things in common.

Michelle spent her spare time in a weight room or gym somewhere. She played every sport available. Her personality and attitude were loud and often aggressive while Shay was more reserved and introspective. The girls were nearly night and day but on the basketball court they clicked.

Oh yeah! It looks like we've got some good players this year, Shay responded enthusiastically, trying to hide the concern she felt from head to toe.

With you and me running the ball, we can't lose! joked Michelle, with a playful jab of the elbow. Are you ready?

Shay stood, hopped up and down a few times to relax a little. Let's go! she chimed.

Together the two girls threw open the heavy locker room doors and marched into the gym to join the others already on the court.

Great job Shay! Keep it tight, the coach called out from the sidelines. Good... good. Watch those passes.

The gym was filled with the sounds that soothed and excited Shay- the hollow echoing bounce of the ball, the quick-stop squeaks of a court full of athletic shoes, and the coach's strong voice ringing out. Shay's heart was home.

Okay ladies, good practice. There is only one more day of try-outs. The final cut will be posted on the gym door the day after tomorrow.

He looked around at the girls and continued, There's a lot of talent standing here and the decision is tough but, as you know, we only have fifteen jerseys. Now, go home and get some rest. We'll meet the same time tomorrow.

Coach Mullen was stern but positive, so playing for him was a pleasure. He taught Shay a lot in the last couple of years and she was grateful.

Shay was working for a scholarship, but not in basketball. She was pretty good, quick, strong, sharp, but only 5 feet 4 inches tall. By basketball standards, she was short.

On the team, they had a running contest to see who grew the most from year to year. Shay lost every time. It didn't slow her down though. In fact, she played harder and ran faster to compensate.

Shay knew that a career in basketball was not in her future. And with that understanding, she wanted to play hard now while she could.

She dragged her exhausted body through the front door and headed toward her bedroom. The first few weeks of practice were always the worst and she was only three days into it. Your body does horrible things to you if you don't use it all the time, she noted.

Is that you honey? How was practice? her mom inquired, stopping Shay in the hall.

I think it went well. I'll know Friday, she said wiping her sandy blond hair from her eyes.

I've got dinner in the microwave, if you're hungry.

Her mom was great. She was thoughtful and spunky. Shay's friends loved to hang out at her house while her mom was home. She was the cool mom and Shay loved that.

Shay often thought that her personality had come from both parents, though her appearance came largely from her father. She had his eyes, nose, and hair with her mother's frame and smile.

I'm so tired. I think I'm just going to fall onto the bed and sleep where I land. Thanks though.

All right, her mother said as she headed back down the hall, good night then.

Shay turned back toward her room and finished the trek.

Her bags and coat slid off her shoulder and landed with a solid clomp in a corner by the door.

Shay shed her worn and faded Chicago Bulls sweatshirt and threw it on the bed with perfect shooting form. As it landed, an odd crinkle sound escaped from under the covers.

She made her way to the bed and curiously peeled back the puffy comforter. Laughter burst from her mouth.

A collage of candy bars and notes were spread out under the covers. 'You're the Best!, Look out Mr. Jordan, here comes Shay Taylor! and, Dribble, baby, dribble!' were taped onto the different candy bars.

Right in the middle of the mess was a giant sized Big Hunk candy bar. 'Don't forget the Big Hunk!!' Shay's grinned wider, sure that one was Jamie's handy work.

Oh yeah, her mom called out from the living room, your friends stopped by earlier.

I see that, she laughed.

Shay sat at the bottom of the bed and rested her head on the wall. Her eyes moved from the posters of her favorite bands on the wall to the stereo system her parents had given her for her last birthday. It was the best sweet sixteen gift. The only thing that could have topped the stereo would have been a car. She knew that wouldn't happen at sixteen. Maybe at eighteen, she thought to herself.

The calm enshrouded her like a warm blanket. Shay rolled her head to the right and caught her reflection in the window over the bed, smiling.

She looked through the reflective glass to the peaceful street outside. The chaos is sleeping, she said softly thinking of the day's events.

With everything back in its place, and her nightly prayers said, she slid her battered body under the sheets and sighed deeply.

Big Hunk. she chuckled, In my dreams.

As her eyes closed, thoughts faded and consciousness left her.

--- 2 ---

A toothpaste jingle penetrated her dream. The dream was odd enough without the influence of the alarm. Shay blinked hard as she focused her bleary eyes. What day is it, she wondered in her morning fog.

Shay, come and get something to eat, pleaded her mother.

I have to get there early this morning, Shay replied hastily. I have a test in Physiology I didn't study for last night. Do we have any bagels? I'll eat one on the way.

Shay was double-checking her needs for the school day and making sure she had everything when her mother appeared in the doorway of her room.

"I thought that if you gulped some orange juice before you inhale your bagel that somehow it would be healthier," she said with a smile as she handed Shay a large glass of juice.

Thanks Mom. Shay gratefully accepted the glass and drank it down with big gulps careful not to spill it as she did. She didn't have time to change her clothes if it spilled. Aaah, now I feel healthy, she smirked, What would I ever do without you? I've got to go. Wish me luck.

Her mom followed her down the hall and right past the kitchen. Hey, don't forget to inhale this, she said grabbing the cream-cheesed bagel from the table and handing it to Shay.

Oh yeah.

The hand off was made and, with a smile, Shay was out the door.

Good luck Shay. You'll be great! her mom called as she watched her daughter quick step down the sidewalk.

Shay situated herself on the floor leaning back against her locker with physiology book in hand. Okay, she thought pointing to the locations on her own body as she reviewed the chapter. The zygomatic arch is here and the orbicularis oculi is here. The orbicularis oris, her fingertips gently touched and encircled her lips. That's the kissing muscle she mused as her train of thought shifted. Big Hunk.

Stop it! Shay reprimanded herself. This is Jamie's fault! she cursed under her breath.

Shay? You're here awfully early. The voice was startling and familiar. As she looked up from her textbook, she felt her face ignite. It was Mason. Well speak of the devil, she thought.

Uh, yeah. I have a test that I'm not quite ready for, she sputtered. Shay felt her pulse quicken while he looked... well, he was handsome and perfectly at ease.

Oh, the gods have been so kind to him, she thought as her face turned a deeper shade of pink. She smiled uncomfortably.

He ran his fingers through his thick, dark brown hair that then fell right back into place. Those piercing green eyes of his could keep a girl lost for a week, she thought. Mason was striking to say the least, and he was standing here talking to her.

Mason returned her smile and Shay's focus fell to his lips. There was something very inviting about his lips. She had always thought so. The orbicularis oris, she mused again.

What about you? Are you always here so early? she asked at the height of her embarrassment trying very hard to sound relaxed and confident.

Well, to be honest with you, he admitted, sometimes I just enjoy the quiet before the crowds. Mason cast his eyes around the near empty hallways. My house doesn't get much of it so I like to come early to gear up for the day. It's weird, I know, he said as he sat on the floor right across from Shay and smiled at her again.

No, she spluttered I don't think it's weird at all. I think it's cool. Shay swallowed hard at the awkwardness she heard in her own voice. I mean, it makes sense.

All to soon the halls filled with students and teachers buzzing with the chatter and laughter that signaled a new school day.

Hi Shay. Last day of try-outs, are you ready? inquired a fellow team hopeful as she passed by the two sitting up against the lockers.

Yes, I'm trying not to think about it though.

Yeah. I'll see you there. Good luck, the girl said as she bounded off down the hall.

You too, Shay called after her. She really hadn't been thinking about it. She had been focused solely on Mason for the last thirty minutes.

Seeing the expression on her face he asked, You aren't worried about try-outs are you?

Shay shrugged. A little, she lied.

You're the best player they have!

Surprised at his conviction she reeled with the thought of him watching her play. Had he been paying attention?

Then, smiling shyly, he added, You've got nothing to worry about.

Feeling the heat in her face again she thanked him. I'll have to remember that when I check the final cuts.