Adopted

Chapter 87

The second half of the school year was less dramatic.  I did pretty well with baseball - also managed to not get hit in the head.  My hitting was still pretty good, but a few times, when I'd been sick, I had to get a pinch runner when I got on base. It was frustrating, but at least I could still play. 

As the summer wore on, and school ended, I was feeling better. Doc had put me on a new med, and it seemed to be helping keep me healthier longer. 

Dad had  more festivals over the summer and we traveled with him to most of those.  A few times I slept on the bus or Mom and I stayed at the hotel because I was so tired, but most of the time, we were right there, back stage watching him. I loved watching him perform. 

At the end of August I joined Astrid, Josh, Kevin, Kristen, and Paige and we went to orientation at Mullholland High. 

"URIE!" A loud, booming voice said, coming running towards us. I looked up and Darren came and nearly bowled me over with a hug. 

"Hey Darren," I said. "So good to see you!"

"You too! Ninth grade sucked because I didn't get to see you and make sure you were okay. How was eighth?"

"Uneventful, to say the least," I said. 

"You doing okay?" he asked, scrutinizing me. 

"I'm doing okay," I said. "I've been sick a few times, but mostly okay."

"Good. Good to hear."

"So, what are you doing here?" I asked. 

"I am your tour guide.  I asked specifically to be your guys' guide," he said. "Give you the official and unofficial tours."

"Unofficial?" I laughed. 

"Yeah. You know, short cuts, hangouts. That sort of thing," he said. 

We followed Darren and he showed us the important stuff first - sports fields, classrooms, Freshman Building, the pool, music rooms, gym, auditorium, so and and so forth.  Then he showed us where the ninth graders usually hung out, and then said:

"But, you know me, so you guys can come hang with the Sophomores," and he showed us an area near the football field where the sophomores would hang out. 

We all went to the barbecue the school was holding for us incoming Freshmen and listened to the principal and the sports director talk and welcome us to the school.  We picked up our PE kits, the booklets of forms and our schedules.  The Principal, Mr. Avery, came over to me and asked to speak to me in his office for a minute. 

"School hasn't even started," I said. "Am I in trouble?" I asked. 

"Of course not," he said, sitting across from me at his desk. "I just wanted to touch base with you. Ms. Abigail sent me some information on you, and I want to make sure you are comfortable and safe here."

"Oh," I said.

"So, we are already aware of your diagnosis. Your parents obviously  have already told us about it, and we've had a staff meeting to discuss possible needs, first aid, that sort of thing. Everything I'm sure that Mulholland Middle did. I am confident you won't have a repeat of your seventh grade incident here, and I am sorry to have heard about that."

"Thanks," I said. 

"My door is always open. Your counsellor, Mr. Abignale, is also available any time you  need.  Your teachers are or will be apprised of your situation and, as at Mulholland Middle, we will do whatever we can to make sure you stay up to date with your classwork, in case you're out of school for an extended period of time."

"Thank you," I said. "Please don't tell me you're going to hold an assembly telling everyone there's a kid with AIDS here." 

"No, nothing like that. A letter will go out to the school population so the students and the parents are aware, but obviously you won't be identified. In fact, you won't even be the only student here in your situation. Obviously, I can't tell you who the other student is, but the school will be a safe place for you. I promise."

"Okay," I said. 

"How are you enjoying your orientation?" he asked. 

"Well, I don't know if you know Darren, who gave me and my friends our tour?"

Mr. Avery laughed. 

"I know Darren very well.  He's a good kid, and while he acts tough and looks like a bully, he is one of our better students, if I'm honest.  But don't tell him I told you that. He likes to act tough."

"Well, yeah. He and his friends took it upon themselves to be my sort of body guard in seventh grade. He made orientation and our tour a lot of fun," I smiled. 

"Good to hear.  Alright, well, orientation is over, go meet up with your friends, enjoy your last week of summer break and we look forward to seeing you after Labor Day."

"Thank you Mr. Avery," I smiled. 

Mom picked Paige and I up, Kevin and Joshua walked home together and Astrid was busy signing up for photography clubs and other clubs.  She told us to go on without her. 

"How was it?" Mom asked as she, Dad and I sat outside by the pool eating dinner that evening. 

"It was okay. You remember Darren?" I said. 

"Your so-called self-proclaimed body guard from seventh grade?" Dad said. 

"The one who gave me a heart attack your first day back?" Mom said. 

I laughed. 

"Yeah, him."

"What about him?"

"Guess who gave us our orientation tour? And has resumed his role as bodyguard?"

They laughed. 

"I knew I liked that kid," Dad said. 

After dinner, we walked the dogs and then decided to go out for ice cream. I'd eaten most of my dinner, but I think Mom and Dad were still trying to fatten me up from the weight I'd lost over the summer when I'd gotten sick. 

I was also having more appointments with Doc, more blood work, and a couple of times, I had to be admitted for some more tests. MRIs, CT scans. Mostly to check how some of the new meds were affecting me, not so much because I was sick. 

The first day of school came and went and before I knew it, it was October. And I hadn't gotten sick once! 

Homecoming weekend came in early October, and Joshua asked if I wanted to go to the dance with him. I accepted because I liked Joshua. I didn't know if I liked him like, a boyfriend, but I did  like him. 

Mom and Dad practically cried when I asked them to take me shopping for something appropriate to wear. I actually bought a dress. And it was way nicer than the one I'd had at the orphanage that I'd  left in the wardrobe.  Mom took me to do my hair and makeup and then we went home and I got ready to go to the dance. 

When Joshua showed up, he was speechless. For about a minute. 

"Wow. Jess. You look great!" he said. 

"Thanks," I smiled.  "You look really nice, too." 

He was in a tuxedo with a midnight blue cummerbund. My dress was midnight blue, too. He'd gotten me a corsage, and it was really pretty. It was a bunch of blue and white flowers. 

Mom and Dad took a million photos, and then drove us to the dance. 

The next night was the homecoming game, and I went with Joshua and the gang. The Mulholland Marauders won and the night was absolutely amazing.