Adopted

Chapter 39

"Good morning, Seventh Grade," Miss Abigail said. "I'm sure you're wondering how we have an assembly already but no worries. It won't be long and you'll be back in your classrooms ready to learn shortly,"

"As if that doesn't sound like we're about to be some pod people experiment," Astrid whispered to me and Paige. I laughed.

"What we have to discuss is serious, so I would appreciate your attention," Miss Abigail said. 

"How can we be in trouble already?" Astrid asked. "It's only the second morning!"  I shrugged, but when I saw who was also on the stage, my heart sank.

"Now, young ladies and gentlemen, we're here to talk about AIDS," Miss Abigail said.

"Oh for the love of god," Astrid said. "We're not stupid and shouldn't this be in health class?"

"In the spirit of confidentiality, we can't identify the student, that's up to them, but you should know that a student in your class has been diagnosed with AIDS.  We tell you this simply because if this student chooses to identify themselves and they become injured or ill, you'll be aware of how to help them and protect yourselves.  We've brought in Dr. Paul Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at LA Children's Hospital to talk with you. Please give him your attention and consideration."

"Thank you Miss Abigail and good morning. As your principal has said, one of your classmates has been diagnosed with AIDS. I am here to discuss how this affects you and answer any questions you may have.

For starters, you need to know that you cannot catch AIDS from anyone just by being in the same room. AIDS is transmitted through sexual contact or tainted blood products. So you are all perfectly safe sharing a classroom, books, pencils, washrooms and drinking fountains with this student. When you need to be most careful is if your classmate gets injured. The school will be providing each classroom with gloves in case this student does become injured and requires assistance. If they are bleeding, alert one of your teachers or office staff who have all been trained to handle these types of scenarios."

"Questions?"

A few hands went up.  Doc pointed at a boy in the back row.

"If we don't know who the student is, then how do we know who we have to be careful of if someone gets hurt?"

"Good and fair question," Doc said. "It's up to the student to identify themselves if they choose, but if any student is injured and bleeding, your default should always be to get a teacher and avoid contact with anyone's blood. That's just practical in any case."

"I wonder who it is," Paige said. "I hope they're okay."

"That's gotta suck," Astrid said.  "But again. We're not stupid and it's not 1980. We already know we can't catch it from sitting in the same room." 

There were a few more questions. I tried not to draw attention to myself but I could feel my cheeks starting to burn.

"Thank you, Seventh Grade," Miss Abigail said. "If you have any further questions, you can come by the office to talk, or speak with your teachers.  You are dismissed."

We filed out of the auditorium and headed back to class.

Paige and Astrid were talking, trying to figure out which student it could be and how they'd be able to tell.  Joshua came up behind us and joined in.

"Meh," Astrid said. "Who cares who it is."

"Would you be friends with them if you knew who it was?" Paige asked.

"Yeah. Why not?  I mean, I wouldn't become blood sisters with them obviously, but they're just people."

"Yeah," Paige said. "I did a project on AIDS last year. It sounds scary to have, but not scary ti be a friend to someone who has it. Whoever it is, they probably would appreciate some friends."

I wanted to tell them so badly, but I didn't say anything.

"You're quiet, Jess," Astrid said.

"What?" I asked.

"What do you think? Would you be friends with the AIDS kid?"

I frowned.

"Why not? They're just people. Besides at our age, they probably got it from, like, a blood transfusion or something."

"Well, yeah. Who do you think it is?"

"How would I know. I know a total of four people in our class," I said.

"Touchy," Astrid said. Paige shrugged.

"Yeah. Same. Astrid, you know people because you went to elementary school with most of them. We're new," Paige said.

"You grew up in LA though, didn't you?" Astrid asked me.

"Yeah. I lived in Laurel Canyon and went to Laurel Canyon Elementary."

"You were in an orphanage weren't you?" Astrid asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Why?" Joshua asked.

"My parents died in a car crash when I was eight. I didn't have any family, so I lived at the Laurel Canyon Children's Home until this summer," I said. I didn't feel like making up a story. I was still trying to figure out how to tell my new friends that I was the reason we had an assembly.

"Oh. I'm sorry," Joshua said. "Where were you?"

"In the back seat," I said.

The three of them looked at me.

"You were there?!" Astrid asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Alright class, settle down," Mr Clark said.

We started a unit on short stories and started by reading one.

After class, Mr Clark asked me to stop again for a minute.

"Are you alright?" He asked. "I'm guessing the assembly was a bit uncomfortable. You know you don't have to tell anyone if you don't want to,"

"I know. Thank you sir. I'm okay," I replied.

"Good. You can come to talk to me anytime you need, alright?"

"Yes sir. Thanks," I said and caught up with Astrid and Paige.

"Two days in a row Mr Clark asks you to stay behind. How much trouble did you get into at your old school?" Astrid smirked.

"You have no idea," I laughed. "I'm practically a convicted felon."

"Pfft. Orphans. You just can't trust 'em," Astrid said, giving me a light push towards the lockers lining the halls.

Math class was, well it was Math class. The rest of the day went by quickly. In Music, we were asked to submit which instruments we wanted to take. We had to choose 3 and the teacher would decide. I put piano as number one, guitar, and then drums.

In PE we got our uniforms - maroon shorts and sweatpants, a maroon hoodie with the school mascot on it. A Marauder. Whatever that is, and a grey t-shirt with the mascot on it too. Mom had paid for two shirts, so I stowed one in my bag when we were sent back to the change rooms to get into our kits.

At 2:30, the bell rang and I found Mom in the lineup. I said goodbye to my friends and got into her car.