Nadine and Adele

By John Baiori

Nadine Martin is one of the most popular girls at school. Adele Wilson is the most misunderstood girl at school. But, when Mr. Trudeaux recruits Adele into his Sociology class for a project and pairs Nadine with her; they quickly bond and become best friends.

Shortly after that, Nadine discovers that her leukemia has returned; and, she isn’t going to survive. Nadine decides to accomplish two things before she dies. First, to help boost Adele’s self-esteem. Second, to get people to accept Adele for the truly wonderful person that she really is.

At first, Nadine doesn’t tell Adele about her leukemia so she doesn’t worry or get upset. But eventually, Adele discovers that Nadine is going to die.

As this ordeal goes on, their friendship grows stronger, and Nadine finds out that even though she didn’t see it before, Adele was always her friend. Also, after spending more time around Adele and seeing what a good friend she is to Nadine; other students start to realize how special Adele is, and end up becoming friends with her too. As for Adele; she becomes more confident and outgoing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716630040

Book preview

Nadine and Adele

By

John T. Baiori

Caterpillar

Adele’s eyes are intensely focused, peering through 50’s style glasses that are way too big for her face, watching a caterpillar slowly inch its way across a sapling’s tree branch with childlike wonderment.

Estelle Wilson steps out onto the back porch carrying a basket of wash to be hung on the clothesline.  She notices Adele standing over by the edge of the woods, and begins muttering to herself…

    Lord have mercy; what’s that child up to now?  She climbs down the steps and heads towards her granddaughter.  Adele; you still here?  Shouldn’t you been on your way by now?

Adele quickly scoops up the insect from the branch and rushes to Estelle; extending her hand out proudly displaying her find, while exuberantly exclaiming, Look, Grandma; a caterpillar!

Estelle glances at the insect, then back at Adele; sounding unimpressed as she remarks, Yeah; it’s a caterpillar alright.  Seen ‘em before; and I’ll see ‘em again…so?

Adele gently strokes it with her index finger as it crawls along the back of her hand.

    It looks kinda ugly now…but one day it’s gonna spin a cocoon…take a long nap… she closes her eyes and starts to envision it in her mind; appearing as if in a trancelike state, and turn into a beautiful butterfly; with bright colorful wings.  Adele gracefully waves her hands back and forth to mimic its flight motion.  And it’s gonna fly like it’s floating on air.

Estelle’s always admired her granddaughter’s love of nature; especially being how it was instilled into Adele by her late, beloved Joe.  But she’s less enthused over it when it starts to interfere with what needs to be done.  And at this moment, Adele needs to be on her way.

Estelle slowly rolls her eyes.  I know how butterflies come to be, child.  I also know that school starts today; and if you don’t quit lollygagging, you gonna be late.  Now move that butt and git goin’, girl.

Upon hearing this, Adele opens her eyes and laughs.  Ooo, Grandma…you said butt.

Estelle half-jokingly replies, while keeping a straight face and serious tone, Yeah…I said butt…and I’m gonna spank that butt if it don’t git movin’.  Now go along.

    Okay, Grandma.

Adele rushes to the sapling and places the caterpillar back on the branch.  Then she picks up her Hello Kitty backpack and darts off.  She suddenly remembers; then comes to an abrupt halt, quickly spins around and runs back to Estelle.

She kisses her on the cheek.  Love you, Grandma.

    Love ya, too, Suga’bear.

Adele takes off; and as Estelle watches her granddaughter run down the dirt driveway, she shakes her head and smiles while once again beginning to mutter to herself…

    Lord; give me the strength to deal with that girl…Bless her soul.

Licensed to Drive

A yellow Prias pulls up to the curb just as David Martin’s opening his car door.  Three of Nadine’s girlfriends are in the vehicle.  Shortly, Nadine comes running out the front door, heading for the car; but comes to a quick stop after hearing her father calling out to her.

    Nadine!  He waves her over.  Could you come here a minute?

She walks back to her father.  Yeah, Dad?

    Sarah has a license?

    Yup.

An incredulous countenance emerges upon his face.  Sarah Parks?  The girl who always used to crash her tricycle into every rosebush on her block…that Sarah Parks…has a valid driver’s license?

    Yup.  Is this a great country, or what?

A sudden look of gravity appears on his face.  More like scary.

    Come on, Dad; what’s the matter?

He nervously rubs the back of his head and neck.  Nothing…I suppose.  It’s just…do you really think she’s a good enough driver.  I mean; do you think you’ll be okay…with Sarah driving?

Nadine smiles and jests, It’s okay…I don’t think there are any rosebushes between here and school.

    Ha, ha…I’m serious, Nadine…I’m just worried that…

    Relax, Dad… she reassuringly places her hand on his shoulder, life’s too short to worry about the bad things that could happen.  It’ll be fine.  She kisses him on the cheek.  Gotta go, Dad…love you.

Nadine runs over and gets into the front passenger seat.  David watches with typical parental concern as the car drives away.

New Swings

Adele’s running down the sidewalk, when she hears a little girl’s voice call out from the playground as she’s passing by.

    Adele; come swing with me!

Adele stops, grasps onto the chain link fence with both hands, and closely leans into it while looking into the playground.  I can’t now, Rebecca.  I gotta get to school.

    Aw, come on; just a few minutes…please!  They’re new swings.

Adele leans in a little closer, pressing her forehead against the fence to get a better look, and whispers aloud to herself, New swings?  She looks down at her Hello Kitty wristwatch, and gently bites down on her lower lip before calling back, Okay…just a few minutes.

She enthusiastically enters the playground, hastily throwing her backpack on the ground by the fence; then immediately runs to the vacant swing next to Rebecca and begins swinging.

A passing car stops in the street in front of the playground, and a teenage male leans out of the back seat window to taunt Adele.  He uses mimicking baby talk as he yells out…

    Oooh…wook at the baby playing with the wittle kiddies.  Then he uses his normal voice as he shouts, Retard!

He leans back in, and the car peels away.

Both Adele and Rebecca stop swinging.  Adele immediately looks down towards the ground; while Rebecca looks at her.

    Adele…are you a retard?

Adele slowly looks back up and faces Rebecca.  I don’t know… she shrugs her shoulders, maybe.

Adele returns to staring at the ground.  Rebecca reaches out and places her hand on Adele’s shoulder.

    That’s okay…I still like you.

Adele looks back to Rebecca and gives her an appreciative smile; though still unable to fully mask the hurtful pang felt from that ridiculing.

    Thanks.  I like you, too.  Adele looks down at her watch, then quickly jumps up.  I gotta go…I’m gonna be late for school.  Bye!

She runs to the fence and snatches up her backpack.

    Bye, Adele!

They wave to each other as Adele dashes off.

The Future

Nadine and her friends are walking from the parking lot to the school entrance, when a group of boys hanging out front take notice of her.

One remarks, Hey, Nadine; looking good.

Nadine continues walking, while simply responding, Thanks.

The girls giggle.  Sarah’s the first to comment…

    Well; someone’s already in demand.

Nadine blushes as she bashfully replies, Shut up.

Janice tells Nadine, No kidding; you’ll have them all wishing they were Junior Prom King just so they could dance with you.

    What are you talking about?

    I’m talking about you…Miss Junior Prom Queen.

    Please.

Trish chimes in, No, seriously, Nadine; you’re a shoe-in to win.  Face it; you are the most popular girl here at Roosevelt.

    Yeah; right.  What about Christy Rosenberg?

Sarah scoffs, That ‘Barbie’ in a cheerleader suit?  Please…you’re way more popular.

Janice and Trish quickly concur with For real and Yeah.  Then Trish asks…

    Don’t you want to be Prom Queen?

    Actually, I never really gave it a thought.  Besides; prom’s not until May…it’s only September.

Sarah advises, Hey; you need to plan and prepare way in advance nowadays.  Am I right, girls?

Janice and Trish simultaneously nod in agreement.  Nadine chortles and shrugs her shoulders as if to say whatever.  Then she tells them…

    I really don’t see the point in planning so far ahead when you don’t even know what to plan for.

Trish asks, What do you mean?

    I mean, you never know what life has in store for you, guys.

An Act of Meanness

    ‘The Board’ of Roosevelt High School’s self-proclaimed ‘Cool Crew’, Christy Rosenberg and Leah VanCleef…both dressed in cheerleader uniforms…and Frankie Kowalski and Troy Washington…both wearing their letterman football jackets…are talking by Christy’s locker when Adele happens to catch Leah’s attention.

    Oh my God…check out the Freak show.  She gestures in the direction of ‘the show’.

Adele’s at her locker, desperately trying to remember the combination.  She’s noticeably mouthing numbers as she frantically turns the tumbler back and forth.  Still unable to remember the combination, she closes her eyes and repeatedly hits the side of her head; continuing to silently mouth random numbers.  Now frustrated, Adele erratically spins the tumbler.

Using a tone as if Adele were somehow getting on her nerves, Christy nastily remarks, That girl is such a loser.

Adele finally remembers the combination and manages to open her locker.

Frankie sarcastically says aloud to his group, Bravo…good job there, Einstein.  Then he deviously smiles.  Hey…check this out.

As Frankie starts to leave, Troy asks, Whatcha gonna do?

    Just watch.

Once again, Frankie deviously smiles as he walks towards Adele.  He bumps into her, causing her backpack to fly out of her hands and fall to the floor; causing its contents to scatter all over the floor.  Then for his own warped amusement, at Adele’s expense, he starts to unjustly scorn her in front of everybody.

    Watch out; Retard…what’s your problem?

Adele quickly looks to the floor while assuming a subservient stance, with her head bowed down as she instinctively draws it back into her shoulders; like a turtle bringing its head into its shell.  This is the typical positioning Adele takes when her fellow classmates cruelly belittle her.  Frankie continues his chastisement.

    Well…aren’t you going to apologize for bumping into me?

Keeping her eyes fixed upon the floor, never leaving that subservient stance, Adele, speaking at a barely audible level, meekly apologizes, Sorry.

Intent on continuing the ‘fun’, Frankie leans into Adele and goads, Huh?  What did you say, Retard…I couldn’t hear you.

Adele apologizes again; a little louder, but still softly, Sorry.

Nadine, who’s been witnessing this at her locker, gets a look of utter disgust on her face as she tells her friends, Frankie’s an idiot…why doesn’t he just leave that poor girl alone.

Meanwhile, back at Adele’s locker, Frankie’s about ready to end this session of humiliation.  That’s more like it.  Be more careful, Retard; and watch where you’re going next time.

Frankie walks back to the group, cockily grinning, and receives a high-five from Troy upon his return.  The group disperses laughing.

Adele kneels down and begins to collect her things.  She once again softly utters aloud to herself…

    Sorry.

An Act of Kindness

Although she herself has hardly had any social interaction with her, Nadine has always held a soft spot in her heart for Adele.  Deep down inside, she has always despised the way most of the people at school treat Adele; though she has never stepped forward to address it before.  That is…before today.

Nadine walks over and bends down beside Adele.  Are you okay, Adele?

Seemingly in awe, with her mouth partially agape, Adele looks in Nadine’s direction.  She can’t believe Nadine Martin, a girl whom she’s always admired, was right there next to her…speaking to her…and calling her Adele.

Sounding almost in shock over it, You know my name, Nadine?

Nadine lets out a short, kindhearted laugh.  Yeah…and you know my name.

Adele looks back to the floor.  Everybody knows your name.  Nobody knows mine.

    That’s not true…I know it.

Nadine starts helping Adele gather her things; while Adele desperately tries to avoid making eye contact.

    Frankie’s a jerk, Adele; don’t let him get to you.  Just ignore him.  Okay?

Not wanting to appear being rude to Nadine Martin, Adele makes brief indirect eye contact and gives a quick nod to acknowledge her; then resumes stuffing the backpack.

    Good.  Nadine continues to help.

Sarah calls from across the hall, Nadine, come on; we’ve got to go.

She looks to Sarah, Okay; be there in a sec… then back at Adele, Are you going to be alright?

Again, Adele makes quick indirect eye contact and nods.

    Alright then; I’ll be going now.  See you around.  Bye.

Nadine rejoins her friends.  Adele watches as they walk away; softly saying aloud to herself…

    Bye…Nadine.

While walking down the hallway, Sarah asks Nadine, So, what was that all about?

    What?

    You helping out the weirdo?

    Sarah.

    What?  Sorry, Nadine; but you have to admit, that girl’s weird.

    She’s not weird…she’s just different.

Trish comments, Yeah; weird different.

    Stop it, you guys; she’s a nice girl.  She’s just…

Sarah hastily finishes, Weird.

Nadine emphatically insists, Different.

Sarah decides to end the debate for the time being.  Whatever.  Let’s just hurry up before we’re late to homeroom.

Class Schedule

Mr. Horace Trudeaux is one of the select few that Adele feels comfortable communicating with.  Maybe it’s because, like herself, Mr. Trudeaux speaks differently than everyone else at school…him originally hailing from England.  And since they find themselves in the same predicament; perhaps she views him as sort of a kindred soul.  But no; it’s more than likely the fact that unlike most everyone else at school, he…like the others on her ‘select few’ list…shows her genuine kindness and respect.

Sipping his beverage of choice, Earl Grey tea, from his favorite mug, Mr. Trudeaux’s leaning against his classroom’s doorframe; mulling over what had just transpired at Adele’s locker merely moments ago.  He watches Nadine as she rounds the hallway’s corner, and then looks back towards Adele.

With all her belongings returned into the backpack, Adele’s back on her feet; rigidly standing in place with her forehead pressed against her locker, sighing.  She’s waiting for everyone to be on their way.

Once the hallway clears, Adele looks around, takes in a deep breath and proceeds down the corridor.  She’s met by Mr. Trudeaux.

    Good morning, Adele. 

    Good morning, Mr. Trudeaux.

    Ready for another school year, Ms. Wilson?

    Yes, sir.

    That’s good.  And where are we off to now?

    Basic Math class.

    Basic Math?  But that’s a course you should have taken your first year.  You’re just taking it now in your third year?

    No…it’s my third year taking it.

    Excuse me?  Third year?  So, you haven’t passed the course yet, Ms. Wilson?

    No, sir; Mr. Trudeaux…I mean yes, sir…I passed it both times before.

He appears a bit perplexed.  Really?  Adele; may I see your class schedule a moment, please?

    Okay.

She briefly fishes through her backpack looking for it.  When Adele finds the schedule, she hands it to him; pointing out on the paper as to vindicate herself…

    See…Basic Math.

Looking down upon her schedule, Yes; I see.  Basic Math; P.E.; Reading Comprehension…  he looks up at Adele, And I suppose…after having passed it twice before…this is your third time taking this class as well, Ms. Wilson?

Adele nods.  He looks back at the schedule.

    Music Appreciation; Lunch; Home Economics…and Study Hall the rest of the day.

After reviewing her so-called course load, Mr. Trudeaux has come to the disturbing realization that it only wasn’t the students at the high school who were being unjust to Adele Wilson; for the school system itself was doing a great disservice to her as well.  By arbitrarily and solely assigning her these remedial and elective courses…excluding her from the more academically based ones because of her slight ‘mental condition’…they are systematically depriving her the opportunity for obtaining a real education. 

While standing there, scrutinizing over Adele’s schedule wondering what he can do to set things right, Nadine suddenly pops into his mind; and the proverbial light bulb glows brightly above his head.

    Adele; would you be kind enough to accompany me to the office?  I need to speak with Principal Davis about…

Suddenly believing that she’s somehow in trouble, Adele instantly becomes frightened and cuts him off.  Principal Davis…why?  Am I in trouble?  I’m sorry for whatever I did, Mr. Trudeaux.  I…

He gently takes hold of her shoulders and attempts to put her mind at ease.  No, no, my dear Adele, relax; you’re not in any trouble.  Allow me to explain.  I’m in need of assistance; and I can really use your help.

Adele’s stupefied.  You…need…my help?

    Yes; if you wouldn’t mind.

Totally amazed over this morning’s events…first, Nadine Martin knowing her name; and now, Mr. Trudeaux asking for her help…Adele quickly shakes her head.

    Fine then; shall we go?

Still a little apprehensive, Adele inquires one last time, Okay…so…I’m not in trouble?

Mr. Trudeaux smiles.  No, Adele; you’re not in trouble.

New Recruit

Just like one may ponder over as to which came first, the chicken or the egg; the same can be wondered about Miss Agatha Krinsky and the school.  Seemingly having always been there, some amusingly contend that the building was probably erected around her.  Now in her early seventies, Miss Krinsky has been a beloved, permanent staple at Roosevelt High School.

Miss Krinsky’s sitting at her desk when they enter the school’s Main Office.

    Good morning, Ms. Krinsky.

    Good morning, Adele, sweetie.

To make sure that Miss Krinsky doesn’t misconstrue why she’s there, Adele takes it upon herself to quickly clarify, I’m not in trouble, Ms. Krinsky; I’m gonna be helping Mr. Trudeaux…right, Mr. Trudeaux?

    That’s right.  He gestures to the bench against the wall in front of the reception counter.  "Adele; why don’t you have a seat while I speak with Principal