Not What I Expected

By Virginia Redman

Allie and her Octet had been close, happy, supportive friends since kindergarten. Her friend Jen is like her sister. One day when they are all walking home from school, she is shocked to see a “For Sale” sign in the front yard of her home. Her dad is being transferred to San Diego. Allie’s family is going to move from a suburb on Lake Michigan north of Chicago to a suburb north of San Diego. She is heartbroken. She thinks, I will be starting high school all over again in my junior year in a strange new place.
When the dreaded first day of school arrives, surprisingly, she meets Jordan in her first-period class. Jordan’s dad had just been transferred to San Diego from the San Francisco Bay Area. Jordan introduces Allie to her cousin Greg at lunch. Allie thinks, As Jen would say, he is awesome! In French class Allie meets Amanda and Chloe. So many absolutely amazing, unexpected things happen for Allie in the next few months because of Jordan, Amanda, Chloe, Greg, and her brother Conner. One night, she hugs her dog and says, “Oh, Sunshine, I’m so happy!”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887511863

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Not What I Expected

Virginia Redman

ISBN 979-8-88751-185-6 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-186-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Virginia Redman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

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About the Author

1

I looked at the clock—2:30 p.m. Five more minutes till the bell rings. It had poured down rain until about an hour ago, and now I could see through the window that the sun was shining! What a beautiful spring afternoon!

Then our teacher, Mrs. Conway, said, Allie, it looks like you can't wait till the day's over!

Everyone laughed.

Mrs. Conway, I'm just wondering if maybe there's a rainbow after all the rain today!

Sure hope so! she said.

Just then the bell rang, and as I gathered my book and notebook and stuck them in my backpack, I wondered if my friends would be out in front of school, so we could walk home together instead of getting a ride as we usually do on rainy days.

As I walked down the hall and then through the front door, I was happy to see all three of them—Jen, Jeff, and Kevin—standing outside waiting for me.

Your backpack looks super full, Kevin, I said.

I've been studying so much this week! I've been up way past my bedtime! he said.

I know what you mean, I said. After the midterms this week, I'm so grateful spring break is next week. And, Jen, your sixteenth birthday celebration tomorrow is a happy beginning of a super week! Can you believe we've all been really good friends since we were in kindergarten?

Even though we were all in our school uniforms of white polo shirts and V-neck sweaters, with khaki pants for the guys and navy pleated skirts for the girls, we each had their own unique look—Kevin with his blond bangs down to his eyebrows; Jeff with his thick, dark hair sleek and combed back; and Jen with her golden-blond shoulder-length curls framing her pretty face.

We're really lucky, Jeff said.

I know, Jen said. Just having such good friends all this time. When we were little, we all learned to ice skate at the pond when it froze over in the winter, and now we're all taking our driver's license exams!

Remember when we began seventh grade and switching classes each period, how cool we thought we were? I said.

I don't know about you, but I really was, Kevin said.

We're so lucky you've always been a clown, Kevin! Jeff said.

*****

I love the canopy that the leaves on the trees lining the streets form overhead during spring and summer here in our little town north of Chicago. On the lawns below, pastel daffodils and hyacinths brighten our way as we walk home. As we walked closer to my house, I noticed my brother, Conner's car was parked in the tulip-edged driveway.

Oh, look, Conner's home. He can't wait to hear from University of California San Diego. I'm sure he'll be accepted, but he's really worried.

Jen looked at me. Allie, why does Conner want to go all the way out there?

Well, he went out to San Diego with Dad when he had a business meeting in San Diego, and Conner just loved it. My dad's a scientist, and Conner gets great grades in science—all AP classes. He wants to be a doctor like my uncle Danny was going to be.

Kevin said, Seriously, Conner is unbelievable.

Yeah, and he went back to our junior high a few weeks ago to tell the eighth graders about his promise. I have a feeling they'll make it just like we did, I said.

Just then Conner walked out the front door wearing that blue polo shirt that matches the color of his eyes. When he turned to get in his car, he saw us. He ran his hand through his curly dark-brown hair and gave us his huge smile and a thumbs up.

My little sister and friends, I have some happy news to share. California, here I come!

Kevin and Jeff ran over and shook his hand, and Jen and I reached up to give him a hug.

Totally rad, bro! I'm not at all surprised!

Jen said, Tomorrow night's my birthday party, Conner. Would you do me the honor of celebrating with us?

That'd be totally rad, Jen, he said.

I said au revoir to my friends and went inside. Conner followed me in.

Were you going somewhere in your car when we saw you? I asked.

No, sis. I left my iPhone in the car. I had just called Dad and told him the good news. Where's Mom and our little bro?

Dillon's third grade class had a field trip today to the Children's Museum at Navy Pier, and Mom is one of the chaperones. She said they'd be home about three thirty or so. I have to take Sunshine for her walk. We'd love it if you'd come with us, I said.

Conner grabbed Sunshine's leash and said, Sunshine, Allie, we're off to the park!

Sunshine, our sweet golden retriever, loves our afternoon walks. She was waiting for me in the hallway on the blue carpet and panting with excitement. Her eyes seemed to say, I'm so happy you're home!

I followed Conner and Sunshine out the door and headed to the park two blocks down our street.

Conner, I'm so thrilled about UCSD! Wish it weren't so far away, but I know you set your sights on going there. And Dad travels out there a lot, so you'll have family around.

Sis, I've never told this to anyone before, but Uncle Danny really wanted to go there. He told me he didn't apply because it was so far from home. If only he had, he'd probably still be with us.

Oh my gosh, Conner.

Sunshine turned around and looked up into his eyes. She always seems to sense our thoughts and feelings.

Allie, I just feel like I'm fulfilling one of his dreams. If that young guy hadn't been drinking, he would have seen the red light that night, and he wouldn't have smashed into Uncle Danny's car. I'd probably be going to Northwestern, like he did.

Conner, you are the best. All my friends say that all the time. Jen and I are so happy that you're coming to her party tomorrow night, and we've all made your promise of no drugs or alcohol in high school in Danny's memory so you can be sure none of our friends will be trying to sneak anything in!

Sunshine was sniffing the grass when we got to the park, and then she saw her two friends, the little fluffy Yorkies Sugar and Spice. Her tail was wagging furiously as she pulled us toward them. She thinks they're her puppies. Sunshine began lovingly licking their faces.

How they love each other, Mrs. Marshall said. It is so fun to watch them!

*****

Walking home, Conner said, You seem so happy, sis, with your awesome friends!

I cherish them, Conner. We've totally grown up together. Just today we were reminiscing about kindergarten! By the way I saved up my babysitting money so I could get Jen an extraspecial birthday present. After all she's like my sister, and she's turning sixteen!

What'd you buy her, a car?

Conner, the people I babysit for pay me well, but not that well!

I thought maybe I should start babysitting to help pay my tuition!

I love the way Conner always makes me, and really everyone, laugh.

"Actually, I got tickets for this really cool play, All Shook Up, at the Northwestern Theater. Jen loves Elvis, and she'll really like this!"

Sounds super rad, Allie!

When we got home from our walk, Mom, Dad, and Dillon were home. Dad told us that he had emailed Grandma and Grandpa about Conner being accepted at UCSD, and they were so excited, they called him immediately and asked us all out to dinner to celebrate! He said that Grandpa suggested that cool new Mexican restaurant.

Awesome, Conner said.

It'll make you feel like you're in San Diego, Conner, Dad said. There are so many super ones out there. I'll have to take you to my favorite one when I have business out there in the fall.

*****

When we got to the restaurant, we walked through the large wood and glass doors, and we could see Grandma and Grandpa waving to us from a big wooden table next to a window. The hostess brought us to the table, and the waiter brought our menus and chips and salsa.

What should we order, Dad? Dillon asked. I don't know anything about Mexican food.

Me either, said Mom.

Dad looked over the menu and said, I think you'd like the taco sampler, Dillon. And knowing you three ladies as well as I do, I think you would enjoy the grilled chicken mango and avocado wrap burrito.

We each placed our orders, and my little brother Dil began munching on the chips and salsa. You could tell he was really excited.

Are you going to learn how to surf, Conner? he asked.

Grandma and Grandpa started laughing.

He's going to be pretty busy, dear boy, Grandma said.

Mom and Dad, maybe I could go out there next year for spring break, and Conner and I could take surfing lessons! Dil said.

It's always good to dream, Dil, Grandpa said. Maybe I'll come out with you and learn to surf too!

Awesome! Dil said.

2

Saturday morning I found a text message on my iPhone from Emily. Her granddad wanted to know if Emily, Laura, Jen, and I wanted to go sailing on Thursday. He gave us a sailing lesson last summer on his cool boat, and it was so rad!

I texted her back, LTG! Thanks so much!

We live about a mile from Lake Michigan, and I decided to walk Sunshine down to the little area where dogs could play off leash on the beach. I was happy to see Laura there