This is Normal?

Hey Dad, can I ask a question?”

“Sure, what’s the question?”

“Why did you change your mind so fast about Stella with school?”

I thought it was really weird. Not that my parents allowed Stella to go to school, but why didn’t they force her to go to school? It was so weird for them to change their mind that fast.

“Because she needs to go to school.”

“Then why did you say she didn’t need to go before?”

“Oh, we just wanted to give Stella some time to adjust and get used to our family first. After all, we just brought her into our family.”

“Okay, Dad.”

I guess that makes sense. Maybe when Stella was staring at my parents, they noticed that she wanted to go to school and changed their mind. Yeah, that must have been it.

Soon the car was parked at the parking lot.

“Have a good day at school, son.”

“Thanks, Dad, have a good day at work!”

I waved goodbye to my dad and walked towards the entrance and into my classroom.

Inside, were a bunch of my classmates. I think I’m friends with all of them, but I’m closer to some of them more. 

“Hey Arthur, where were you after school?”

I see my friend, Gavin, already at his seat. He is my best friend in school. I have known him since third grade, and he and I always play with each other. He is smarter than me, but I was always faster than him, so we always compete with each other. 

“Oh, I forgot to mention, there was this girl I saw at the far-away playground. She and I were playing with each other yesterday. Now she lives with me!”

A fast explanation, but I think it tells everything well.

“Who’s living with you?”

I heard a voice behind me. And there is Chelsea. She is the girl who can do everything, and she doesn’t hide it. Always gets the best grades in gifted education, always can run faster than everyone, can do art, singing, everything she seems to do it perfectly. But sometimes that leads other kids to be jealous of her. I used to not like her as well because I was jealous, but then I realized that she is not a bad person over time. She helps me with my classwork and even hangs out with me and Gavin when we play. 

“This girl I saw at the far-away playground. But now my parents have her live with me.”

I explain, but Gavin and Chelsea both give me strange looks. What did I say wrong?

“So, your parents just adopted a random girl to your house. Without telling her parents?” 

Chelsea…made a good point. That is weird. Why did my parents do that?

“So, does that mean your parents just kidnapped a child?”

Not you too, Gavin.

“I’m sure my parents are now looking around for her parents. Maybe she is staying at my place for a little.”

Yeah, that has to be it.

“Alright class, let’s sit down so we can learn today!”

Mr. Bob entered into the classroom. He has a really long last name, so he just lets us call him Mr. Bob.

“Let’s start with attendance. Geoff."

********************************

Finally the school day ended! Even though my dad drives me to school in the morning, I ride the bus home, unless I am going to play on the playground, or sneak my way to the hidden playground. But today, I want to see how Stella is doing.

I ring the doorbell so my mom can let me in the house. The door unlocks.

“What’s for dinner m—”

I feel a strong impact on my chest. Looking down, all I see is red hair. And all I feel is a face that is going all over on my chest.

“Hi Stella, did you miss me?”

I give a small smile as her head goes up to see my eyes. Oh, her eyes are a little red. Her normally beautiful green eyes don’t look great with the red eyes from crying so much. I guess it’s a sign to never make her cry.

“Do you have to go to school Arthur?”

Stella asks me, still hugging me as I keep walking inside the house.

“Yeah, I need to go to school. That’s where I can learn and be an adult.”

“But then you need to leave the house, and I’ll be alone.”

Aww, she was lonely. Well, there is only one solution to this problem.

“Why don’t you go to school with me? Then we can be together while I’m at school.”

Stella gives me a stare, then stops hugging me.

I notice Stella staring at my parents again.

"Come on, Stella, let's go to school."

My mom and dad get into the car with Stella in the backseat. Leaving me alone at the house. What. Just. Happened. Does this mean I can eat junk food before dinner?

*********************************

As I was watching TV, I heard the front door open. I noticed on the clock that it has been about 2 and a half hours since Stella and my parents left. I brush off the chip dust off my shirt and go greet them at the front door. Stella enters the house first. She runs at me to hug me.

“I’m going to school with you!”

That was fast. I don’t know how long it takes to allow a new student, but probably more than one day right? Well whatever, this is good news! I was a little worried that Stella didn’t go to school, but that problem is now solved.

“Stella will go to school with you in the same grade, so make sure she is safe.”

My mom tells me as she takes off her shoes in the entryway.

“Oh yeah, Stella, you need shoes, right? Wait, did you go barefoot?”

She nods at me. Baby steps. I have to teach her correct manners.

“Stella, when you leave the house, you need to put on shoes so that your feet get dirty.”

“Ok.”

She responds as she nods.

I can see that my mom is continuing her cooking. Alright, while my mom is cooking, this is a good chance to get her prepared before we go to school.

“Stella, I need to teach you a couple more things while we wait for dinner. Can you follow me?”

She nods and follows me upstairs to my room.

“So when you arrive at the classroom, there are a bunch of people…”

I try to teach her as best I can while we wait for dinner. When my mom called for dinner, we headed downstairs. I continued to teach her while eating and continued after that till we had to sleep.

****************************

I wake up the next morning, where Stella is sleeping right next to me. I’m pretty sure I told her in the talk yesterday that she needs to sleep in her own room. Guess I need to keep reminding her. Last time I woke her up because I was surprised and had to ask her. This time, I need to wake her up for school. The harsh reality of any student.

I shake her gently where she snaps her eyes open, scaring me for a second. Guess she’s a light sleeper.

“We need to go to school, Stella. That means we need to go take a shower, brush our teeth, and eat breakfast before Dad takes us to school.”

Stella nods and starts to follow me to the bathroom. Oh, not again!

“Stella, we can’t be in the bathroom together!”

“I know we can’t shower together, but we can brush teeth together right? That doesn’t involve taking off clothes.”

“I guess we can do that, but you can take a shower and then brush your teeth. Here, why don’t you get ready first? Do you have your change of clothes?”

She shakes her head. 

“Ok, I’ll get you some of my clothes. I’ll leave them outside the door. When you are done getting ready, grab the clothes and find me in the room. Do you understand?”

She nods her head. Ok, hopefully this is the last time I have to deal with this.

I grab some of my clothes in the drawer and leave them outside the door, and I wait in my room. I guess I could’ve gone first, as I already grabbed my clothes, but I was too flustered to care.

Stella, thankfully, finished her shower and brushing her teeth and found me in my room. Her skin is shining just like yesterday. I wonder if I’ll shine like that too after the shower.

After I finish my shower, a little disappointed that the same did not happen to me, we head downstairs, where I see my parents at the dining table, eating their breakfast.

“Alright kids, we don’t have much time, so I made some toast with eggs and milk. Quickly eat and leave to go to school.”

I heard my mom’s orders and quickly ate my food. Stella, noticing my rush as well, ate the entire food in three bites. And I thought I was a fast eater.

After I finish my milk, I run out to my dad’s car with Stella following close behind. 

“Did you pack everything, Arthur?”

I said yes to my dad, and I realize that Stella doesn’t have anything.

“I do, but what about Stella?”

“We’ll buy school supplies for her over the weekend, as well as some clothes as well.”

That makes sense. I relax at the back of the car, where I notice Stella staring at me and putting her hands on top of my hand.