1:48 P.M.

Yay! No gym! Teachers absent again. Okay, so I’m sitting at the bottom of the bleachers when...WHACK! A rolled up piece of paper hits the back of my head. I turn around to see who threw it. But, there’s like six or seven kids scattered around behind me so I couldn’t tell who threw it. I took the rolled up paper and opened it. All it said, in two big letters was…HI.

I turned around and looked at each kid behind me. No one seemed to look at me. Because, if one person does look at me, I can tell that, that person threw it. But, unfortunately, no one looked at me. I think I have my first mystery. Who threw the rolled up paper? And why?

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4:15 P.M.

Today is just getting weirder. I came home from school, to find my mom…cleaning. I actually found her sweeping the floor. I thought hey, maybe she spilled something. But, when I look around…the whole house is squeaky clean. Even my room, which is small and only has a bed and bureau. But…now I get the feeling that something’s up. I mean, there has to be a reason why she’s cleaning. Now I have to mystery’s to solve.
1.Who threw the rolled up paper ball?
2.And why is my mom cleaning?

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September 7th, 2008-11:04 A.M.

This is bad. This is very bad. This is like the worst news ever. I heard my mom talking to some guy outside of my house. I couldn’t tell how he looked like, but I know what he said. The bad news is that my mom’s boyfriend, Jack…comes out of jail tomorrow. He’s coming out tomorrow. I guess that solves mystery number 2.

Why didn’t they give him life? He’s just gonna keep doing it. He’s gonna get worse…I can feel it. I don’t even know why mom puts up with his crap. After what he’s done to us…she’s just gonna take him back? What am I gonna do?

Maybe…maybe he won’t come to our house tomorrow, after school. Maybe he’ll go somewhere else…I hope.

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September 8th, 2008-11:44 A.M.

I was gonna write in first block…but, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack. What’s gonna happen when he’s back? Will things be the same? Will things get worse? Or will things be different? I don’t know what to do. I’m practically terrified of this man. Ok, maybe that’s exaggerating to say, but I’m still scared around him. There’s no knowing what he’s gonna do to you. He’ll strike you when you least expect it. I don’t wanna live with him again.

I’m in lunch by the way…

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“Hey,” I heard a voice from behind me. I quickly closed my notebook, set it aside, and wiped my tears. Clearing my throat, I turned to a boy, about my height, and looked my age. He had brown hair and green eyes. He was wearing a Skater Silhouette Tee, plaid baggy shorts, and Illest Skate Shoes. I think he’s a skater boy.

“Is anyone sitting here?” he asked. I shook my head no and took a bite out of my sandwich. He sat down next to me, putting his tray down. I saw him turn to me and say, “I’m Carlos.”

“Maddy,” I replied, turning to him.

“Nice to me you, Maddy.”

I nodded and turned back to my lunch. At the corner of my eye, I could see that he was still staring at me. So, I looked at him and said, “It’s not polite to stare at someone while their eating.”

“Sorry,” he turned away. “And I’m sorry for hitting you in the head with the paper.”

Mystery number 1 solved!

“That was you?” I asked still staring at him. He nodded looking at me and said, “I didn’t know how to approach you.”

“You could’ve just come up to me and say hi. How hard is that?”

“I saw you sitting alone so, I though it was a good idea to say hi to you,” he said.

“Well, that was the weirdest greeting ever.” I said, making him laugh a little. Carlos looked at his tray and then at me. “So why were you crying?”

“What?” I looked away. “I wasn’t crying.”

“You looked sad.”

“I have allergies,” I quickly replied. “And its none of your business why I was crying.”

“So you were crying.”

“No…I just said I have aller…”

“But, you said it was none of my business why you were crying,” he interrupted.

“Are you trying to get smart with me?” I scold. He stuttered,” N-no, you…you just said…look just forget about it. Nevermind.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I said getting mad. Who does this kid thinks he is?

“Sorry if I was such a bother.” He stood up. “Just thought you needed cheering up.”

He took his tray, dumped it, and then left the cafeteria. Great. Right when I‘m about to make a friend, I have to screw things up. I think I should go apologize.

“Look, I’m sorry I got mad at you,” I said following him through the school hallway. “I’m just not having a good day.”

He stopped and turned to me. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Why are you so concerned, anyways? Why do you even care so much?” I asked, also stopping. “I don’t even know you. We just met a few minutes ago. What makes you think I can trust you, just like that?”

“I-I don’t know,” he said. “I just thought you could use a friend. In third block and fourth block your so quiet…and you always sit by yourself.”

“Maybe I’m quiet because I wanna be,” I suggested. “And maybe I wanna sit by myself because I want some time by myself to think.”

“To think about what?” he asked. I answered, “To think about what I’m gonna do in my life.”

“What are you gonna do with your life?”

“Why do you ask so much questions?” I asked. What’s it to him anyways?

“Ok, look. I’m gonna be open and honest with you,” he said clearing his throat. “I’m a believer.”

“Of what?”

“God,” he replied. I quickly said, “Oh.”

“I don’t know but, for some reason I get the feeling that God wants me to talk to you,” he said. “I’ve never talked to anyone about God before. I was always nervous and afraid of what to say.”

“Oh…kay.” I seriously do not know what to say to this.

“Hey, come to church with me this Friday night,” he said. I asked, “Are you asking me out on a date?”

“N-no. I just thought…I mean I’m just asking if you want to come,” he stuttered. “Would you like to come?”

“I don’t know. I don’t own a skirt.”

“No,” he chuckled. “You can wear anything you want…unless its appropriate.”

“Will there be food?” I asked. He smiled and said, “Yep. Lots.”

I smiled and said, “Ok, then. I’m in.”

The bell rung and we walked to our third block class. “So do you want me to pick you up?” Carlos asked. Quickly without noticing I exclaimed, “No.”

“Huh?”

“I mean. I’ll meet you at your house. Give me your adress in third block. I’ll be right back. I have to use the bathroom.”

“Kay,” he said looking confused. I smiled and at him and then headed to the bathroom. I went into one of the stalls, sat down to do my business, and took out my notebook.

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12:22 P.M.

Wow, I made my first friend. I though my first friend was gonna be a girl. But, I thought wrong. I’ve never imagined making friends with a boy. It’s not a lie when I say that from pre-k through 8th grade I have never ever had a friend. Not even a best friend. I’ve been a loner all my life. Until now. This is great. I just hope this happiness never disappears.

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3:48 P.M.

I talked with Carlos during 3rd block and 4th block class. I told him a little about me and he did the same. I only told him that I lived with mom and that my dad died 3 years ago. I didn’t tell him about Jack because I didn’t think it was his business to know about him anyways. He told me he was adopted by a Christian couple that he now considers his parents. He told me that his real parents were too young to take care of him, so they gave him up when he was a baby. ‘Till this day, he still doesn’t know who his real parents are. He also said that he never ate at McDonalds. Then he gave me his address for Friday. I’m really not into this whole going to church thing…but I’ll try it out anyways.

Oh, and by the way Jack didn’t come here yet. I hope he doesn’t show up at all. My mom seems to be taking his “out of jail” pretty well. She seems happy that he’s out, Maybe, I shouldn’t worry so much.

Be right back…mom wants me.