manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE EIGHT

Sandra woke up to the merry sound of birds chirping outside her window. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and got out of bed. She stretched, and pulled back the curtains. The bright sunlight hurt her eyes, and she squinted. Yawning, she went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face. Now she was fully awake. "Oh shoot, I have to go meet Kevin's grandmother today," she muttered as she opened her closet door. It's ok Sandra, don't be nervous, Kevin's grandmother will help you find the power you have inside yourself. She will help Sandra, she will help. What power inside me? What are you talking about? I don't have any powers. I'm Sandra. I don't have powers. Yes you do Sandra, you just don't know it yet.

Sandra picked out a silk red blouse she used only for special occasions and black flares. She tied her hair up in a bun, and fixed her glasses on her nose, showing off her heart-shaped face. Her big brown eyes stared back at her from the mirror. I'm not that ugly. I'm not ugly at all. I'm Sandra, and that's the way I am.

Sandra snuck into her mother's room and took some lip gloss, blush, eyeshadow, and body spray. Bringing them back to her room, she carefully applied them. Why am I doing this? You want to look good. Yesterday I wouldn't even have thought of going to a guy's house, or putting on makeup! Things are different now Sandra, things are different. Kevin is bringing out the best in you. His grandma will bring out even more from you. Be prepared Sandra, be prepared. Sandra finished applying lip gloss and squirted some body spray on herself. She went back to her mother's room and replaced the items. After taking one last look at herself in the mirror, she went downstairs.

"Good morning mom," Sandra said when she reached the kitchen where Mrs. Smith was busy making breakfast. "I think I'm going to go over to that guy's house, the guy who came here yesterday."

Sandra's mother raised an eyebrow at her. "And exactly who is that guy?"

"He's Kevin," Sandra looked down at her feet, unable to provide more information.

"Kevin what? How much do you know about him?" Mrs. Smith scrambled some eggs. "And why are you so dressed up today?"

"Kevin..." It struck Sandra that Kevin hadn't told her his last name, he just said that he was Kevin, and he had a grandmother who wanted to talk to her. How much did she know about him? Not much. She suddenly doubted going with him would be a good idea. Hurry Sandra, make up a last name so she won't be suspicious. I'm thinking.. I'm thinking... "Kevin Richardson," Sandra mumbled, "he's going to take me to the park, where we can get some ice cream." Sandra felt horrible lying to her mother. I don't even know where he lives, or when he's going to pick me up. I don't even know his full name for goodness sakes! It's ok Sandra, you're doing fine, your mom is believing you. Don't worry about it. Kevin's grandmother is here to help you. Just wait for Kevin to come and pick you up.

"Ah... I see," Sandra's mother took out some plates and piled scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes on them. "Well, you'll have to eat breakfast before you go anywhere young lady." She set the plates on the table and motioned for Sandra to sit down. Sandra took her place and began eating. She stuffed the food in her mouth, hoping to avoid any more of her mother's questions. Her mother sat down across from her, a fork in one hand, and the morning's newspapers in the other. They ate breakfast in silence.

Man, mother, you don't even know what's going on. You don't know what I face everyday at school. You think I'm doing great, I have many friends, but you don't know about Rachel and them, and how they torment me so. You're clueless mother, you're clueless that's what you are. You have no idea what happens to me at school, and even me going somewhere with this guy that you don't doesn't faze you. If you really knew me, you'd know that the guys avoid me. They avoid me, either that or they outright tease me. Damn, Mother, you're so clueless.

Sandra quickly chewed the last bite of her pancake and washed it down with a glass of milk. "Ok mother, I'm done, I guess I'll go outside and wait for him now."

Sandra's mother waved her away, engrossed in the newspaper. You're so ignorant Mother, you have no idea what's going on. Sandra felt a resentment toward her mother, she wanted her mother to know what was going on, and yet she didn't. Oh well, I'm going to go outside and wait for Kevin. Sandra stepped outside into the morning sunlight. She sat down on her porch steps and folded her arms.

Kevin... where are you? She rested her head on her arms and listened. Off somewhere in the distance a dog barked urgently, followed by a quick shout of "Shut up, you stupid mutt!" The dog whined and became quiet. There was an eerie silence, Sandra could hear the breeze blowing through the trees. A flock of birds flew over Sandra's head, startling her. She glanced up and saw that they were heading south. It was already time for the migration season. Sandra sighed and rested her head back on her arms. It was going to be a long wait, she could feel it.

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