manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE ONE

Sandra Smith was an ordinary girl. She had an ordinary name. She had ordinary dreams. She looked ordinary. She even acted ordinary. But who she was inside was extraordinary. She just didn't know it yet.

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Sandra examined herself in the mirror. She hated her nose. She hated her freckles. She hated her glasses. She hated her limp, dirty-brown hair. Essentially she hated her appearance. Why did God give me these looks? Sandra wondered. Why can't I be beautiful? Why did I get these looks? What happened to me? Sandra sighed. She couldn't change anything, might as well not complain about it. "Sandra!!" Mrs. Smith called up the stairs, "Sandra, time for school! Hurry up, or you'll be late!" Sandra groaned. Another day of teasing and tormenting. She couldn't take it anymore. She just wanted to drop down and die.

"Coming mother!" Sandra hurried down the stairs. She grabbed her breakfast, a piece of toast, and ran out the door. "Bye mom!" she called over her shoulder as she walked down the driveway.

Sandra bit into her toast as she walked down the street. The crisp autumn air nipped her cheeks as her scarf swished wildly around her neck. Her jacket wasn't warm enough. It was too thin. No wonder, she thought, I bought it at CheapMart. She walked fast and kept her head down, hurrying past the popular group of girls hanging out on the corner. Quickly she crammed the rest of her toast in her mouth as she approached her school, James Lincoln High. Please God, help today be better than the other days. Sandra prayed. Not that it'd help... "Hey Mouse! Whatcha up to fool?" a bunch of guys taunted her from their territory alongside the path. Ignore them Sandra, they aren't there, they aren't talking to you, your name isn't Mouse, it's Sandra. Sandra walked swiftly past the guys and rushed into the building, where she was safe, in a way. Ok Sandra, to your locker. Go to your locker, ignore the people. Don't talk to them. Don't look at them. Go to your locker. Your locker Sandra. Go to your locker. She ducked her head, keeping it pressed close against her chest. Her eyes looked at the ground, never looking up. She knew the route to her locker, she didn't want to meet the people along the way. Go on Sandra, it's ok. Go on, don't look at them. That's it, just walk it. Walk down the hallway. Quickly Sandra, quickly, you don't want to meet up with Rachel do you? Sandra rapidly went down the hallway and stopped at her locker. Good Sandra, you didn't see Rachel. Her numb fingers turned the combination slowly. She held her books tightly against her chest, her eyes focused only on the locker dial. 22-hurry Sandra, hurry-11-Come on Sandra, turn the dial, faster Sandra faster, you can feel Rachel coming, she's coming Sandra-33. Good Sandra, hurry, stuff your books and binder in. Hurry, Rachel's coming, she's turning the corner. Come on Sandra. Hurry. Sandra stuffed her math book and binder into her locker and quickly slammed the door shut. She turned around abruptly and met face to face with Rachel. Sandra almost trembled in fear. No Sandra, keep your head up. Don't let Rachel see you're that afraid of her!

"So.... Mouse... what do you think you're going to do today?" Rachel sneered.

"Ummm.. Nothing Rachel.. nothing at all." Sandra kept her eyes on the ground, afraid to look up.

"What's wrong Mouse, you lose something?" Rachel flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and stepped closer to Sandra, trapping her.

Sandra crouched down. "Umm... No Rachel, no. I just umm.."
"Huh, what Mouse? What?" Rachel curled her lips back. Sandra could smell strawberry bubble gum on Rachel's breath.
"Nothing at all Rachel..." Sandra meekly answered. "Would you please let me go to class Rachel? I really need to go to class," she whispered.

Rachel blew a bubble in Sandra's face. "Really Mouse. You really do need to go to class huh. Sure Mouse. Whatever." Rachel blew another bubble. She looked thoughtful. "Hey Mouse, since you're going, you wouldn't mind throwing some trash away for me would you," Rachel took her gum out of her mouth and pressed it onto Sandra's face.
Sandra felt the warmness and stickiness of the gum on her cheek. She tried hard not to cry, but she could feel the tears forming. Why me God? Why me? Why does this always happen to ME?! Her lips trembled as she tried to look up at Rachel. It's ok Sandra, it's ok. Don't let her see you cry, that'll make it worse. Don't cry Sandra, don't cry.
"See ya later Mouse," Rachel laughed and sauntered down the hallway.

Sandra stood at her locker, with bright pink bubble gum stuck to her cheek. She reached up and peeled it off. She couldn't help it anymore. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she walked to the trash can and threw the gum away. Her face was burning as she felt a whole array of eyes on her. She hated being so low. She hated being so powerless... so conforming. She hated herself. She hated being so plain and ordinary. She hated taking orders from people. She hated not having enough self confidence to fight back, to argue against people's wishes for her. Sandra ran down the hall to the girl's bathroom.

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