Today, Tomorrow, and Yesterday (Part 1)

By: Paige W.

Today

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” My best friend, Mel, practically screamed. “What?” I asked lazily, knowing what was coming. “You have to audition for the play today!” “Why?” “Because I don’t want to be alone in the play,” Mel whined. “Of course,” I started, seeing the excited look on Mel’s face. “Not,” I finished. “Oh come on, why not?” She pouted. Because I’m already having the worst day of my life, I wanted to say. But for Mel’s sake I just shook my head and reluctantly agreed, saying that I already auditioned, which wasn’t exactly a lie. “Yay!” Mel screamed, practically was jumping in the air with joy. “I’m going to go look at the parts. Brb,” “See ya,” I called. Okay, let me back up to this morning. . .

I woke up a few minutes before my alarm on an October morning, the 21 to be exact. All was going well until I crept silently down the stairs and heard my parents talking in their “very important discussion” voices. I stopped, noticing their unusual tone. I decided to eavesdrop a little, just to see what the conversation was about. “We can’t tell her yet,” My mom argued. “But it’s high time she learned about our decision,” My dad interjected. “At least wait one more year,” My mom pleaded. Knowing this was an actual serious conversation, I tiptoed back upstairs. I thumped down the stairs so my parents would know I was coming down. I smiled to them and we exchanged the usual “Morning.” I sat down to eat some cereal and they both looked at me intently. “What’s up?” I asked casually. “Your mother and I had a talk and it’s time you knew what’s going to happen,” My dad started. My mom looked like she was going to saw something, but she kept her mouth shut. “We are going to divorce,” My dad finished.

“What?!” I started babbling about how this was going to ruin our family and stuff. My mom finally told me to be quiet before I wake up Emily. (Emily is my 4 year old sister) “But she’s got to know too,” I argued. “I know, I know,” My mom shouted. Well this is a great start to the morning, I thought. I shoved the rest of the cereal into my mouth and hurried upstairs to get ready for school. I yanked my clothes on and waited for 7:30 to come. As 7:20 rolled around, I started to get ready. Soon, I was out the door, waiting for mom to get in the car. “I suppose this was your brilliant idea to divorce?” I taunted. “Yes, I suppose it was my dear,” She responded. The rest of the car ride we were silent. As we rolled up to the school, I didn’t even wait for my mom to stop, I jumped right out of the car. As I walked briskly up to the school, I knew this was going to be a horrible day. Oh boy, was I right.

I entered the school building and was instantly the center of attention. I checked my watch, it was 8:10! I was late for English. Mr. Burmu was going to kill me. I slammed the classroom door behind me and watched as everyone jumped. “Ah Ms. Sika, how nice of you to join us,” Mr. Burmu said in his long, drawing voice. I silently stomped to my seat next to Mel. “Wow, ten minutes late and still excepted into class, that must be a new record,” Mel joked. When I didn’t respond Mel asked, “What’s up Lillian?” “Nothing,” I muttered. “What’s that?” Mel asked. “My parents are getting divorced and only told me this morning! They’ve been planning this for a month,” I exclaimed. “While I am very concerned about your parents Ms. Sika, I am trying to teach a lesson,” Mr. Burmu announced. About 50 pairs of eyes were now turned to my direction. Great, the center of attention, again. “Sorry,” I muttered loud enough for only Mr. Burmu to hear. “I’m sorry, sir,” He corrected. Now I was plain annoyed, so now you have an idea why I said this. “Incase you haven’t noticed Mr. Burmu, but I am a lady and you don’t need to call me mam’ or sir.” “To the principal’s office, Ms. Sika,” Mr. Burmu said through clenched teeth.

Walking through a deserted hallway at 8:15 in the morning is not a pleasant sensation. Well at least there was no one staring at me as if I set off a bomb. The principal’s office was straight down the hall, so I didn’t have to worry about bumping into lost kindergarteners on my way. I swung open the door and almost hit a third grader in the face. He stared at me with cold, black eyes and I had to look away. I sat in one of the plush velvet chairs and realized I had no principal note. Yippee. “Lillian Sika,” The secretary called. “Note.” “I don’t got one,” I replied, purposely using improper grammar, she hates that. “Well than why are you here, other than to use improper grammar?” She asked, a disgusted look on her face. “Well I was talking in class-,” “ Okay head right in,” She interrupted. The principal’s office was bland and dreary, nothing compared to our bright principal. “Before you ask, I was talking in class, that’s why I’m here.” “Well straight to the answers Ms. Lillian. I’m sorry, I’ll have to give you detention.” “What?” I demanded. “I was only saying a few things to my best friend and your giving me detention. This is an outrage!” “Well make that two, and any more arguing will lead to a third and fourth and so on,” She added. Nevermind, our principal is nothing but darkness. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the devil’s daughter!

So now I have to explain this whole mess to my parents, and just my luck! I’m somehow late for math! I raced down the hallway and slipped into math class undetected. Math was boring so I ended up spacing out most of the time. By the time it was lunch, I was exhausted and ready for a break from all this trouble. I headed towards my usual table and waited for Mel. Well that was all today but wait until you hear about tomorrow and yesterday.

So it’s still October 21st and I’m sitting here bored in study hall (which is right after lunch), so I might as well tell you about yesterday, the 20th. . .

Yesterday

I woke up to the screaming sound of my alarm clock. What a great way to start the day, I thought. Yawning, I opened my eyes and instantly felt that something was wrong. My closet door was open! I was sure that I had closed it before I went to sleep. Beep! Beep! Beeeeeep! Oh no! I overslept! I rushed downstairs and found that the refrigerator was open. No one was down stairs, this was getting creepy. I shoveled some cereal into my mouth and got ready for the day. We managed to leave at 7:30, but my mom was driving super slow and I knew I was going to be late to Mr. Burmu’s class. Seeing the time, 7:50, I yelled at my mom, “Step on it!” She blew me off and I decided to take the wheel. I know that was a dangerous move but I knew the roads to school like the back of my hand. I pushed my way to the front, grabbed the wheel, and pushed hard on the accelerator. My mom rudely, I mean politely got out of the way. I took every short cut I knew and somehow, we made it to school alive and on time. “Bye, love ya! I called as I ran to the school building. I pushed past the crowds of people entering the school and yanked open the door to Mr. Burmu’s class. “Right on time Ms. Sika,” Mr. Burmu noted. I really have to get him to stop calling me Ms. Mel, who sat right next to me, whispered, “ I saw you driving the car to school. I think you gave my mother a heart attack.” “I had to get on time today, otherwise that would have been my second time late. I have a feeling I need more than three strikes,” I replied. “Also I woke up late and some creepy stuff started happening.” “Oooh, tell me about it!” Mel insisted. Then I realized everyone in the room was silent and staring at me. All except Mel. “Mel,” I whispered. “Umm I think we have a problem.” Mel looked at me blankly. “Look around you Mel,” I commanded in a hushed whisper. “I don’t see what’s wrong!” She exclaimed. I took another look around me, the class had returned to normal. Why does this keep happening to me? “I saw . . . . nevermind.” “So what creepy stuff was happening?” Mel asked. “Nothing, I’ll tell you at lunch,” I replied harshly.

As lunch came around, I dreaded telling Mel what happened. Anyone in the whole world wouldn’t believe me, why should she? But Mel never showed up for lunch. I didn’t see her the rest of the day. I walked to the audition room, my last period of the day. I entered the auditorium, where we would be auditioning for the winter play. The auditorium was strangely silent. I sat on one of the benches to wait for more people to show up. Mel was so excited for the play, so I decided to audition before she bombarded me at lunch the next day. The play was about the nutcracker. I studied my lines for Clara, the lead, when the door slammed closed. I jumped, then laughed to myself. It was probably just some more students for auditioning. Suddenly, the lights started flickering uncontrollably. All at once, the lights went off. I was in complete darkness. I started to scream as hands grabbed at my arms, when the lights came back on. Everyone was staring at me. Apparently, the play director liked making dramatic entrances. But that doesn’t explain the hands grabbing at me. Everyone was at the other side of the room. I grabbed my stuff and stormed out of the room. I didn’t exactly audition, but I didn’t exactly not audition.

I walked through the school building and made my way to the doors. I walked out into the cool evening air and stopped. There was a single car sitting in the deserted parking lot. But that’s not right. There should be at least a few cars because of all of the students auditioning. And this was not my mom’s baby blue Toyota. She had forgotten about me auditioning, of course. I walked calmly (frightenedly) back into the school building. The auditorium was bare, yet again. That night, I camped out at the school building. But it wasn’t all cupcakes and rainbows. For starters, I fell asleep in the school building, but woke up in my bed.

The 21st was a really creepy day but that’s nothing compared to what tomorrow’s events could hold

Find out what events lie ahead for Lillian in the next chapter, Tomorrow, which will be coming in The Comet’s next issue!