Young+Authors+Introduction

Monday Feb 1

I am Alexa Harrison. I am 13 years old. I have long black hair, and brown eyes. I live in New Jersey. Or at least I did.

Today I am going to Samantha's house. Samantha Peris my best friend. She has pretty, brown hair and gray eyes. We always spend the weekends together. We even ride to school together and we have the same class schedule. She is really popular at school. I was in the car on the way to her house on Maple Street.

When I got there, Samantha gave me a big hug and we ran upstairs to find something to do. We went on MySpace and IMed our other friend from school, Sarah. We had spaghetti for dinner, our favorite. I was having a blast. I thought about how sad I would be when I had to come home. But, Samantha would be coming over next weekend, so I figured I could wait a week.

When I woke up on Sunday morning, Samantha made us French toast. After I ate, I went upstairs and packed my clothes up and brought them downstairs and waited for my mom to come. She came at 12:30. I gave Samantha a big hug and ran to the car. When I got to the car Mom asked how my weekend was. I told her it was so much fun and I couldn't wait until next weekend. She said we had to talk about something when we got home. I was confused.

When we got home, Dad was sitting at the table waiting for us. We sat down and he began to talk. "Alexa, your Grandma Ruby is very ill and, well, we are moving down to Florida to help her." "No, we can't! What about school, and your jobs, and what about Samantha?" I cried. "You'll transfer to Sedphar Middle and we'll have to find new jobs. But Samantha will have to stay here. We're really sorry," Dad apologized. "But I'll never see her again!" I said. "Well during school breaks we can have Samantha come down for a week or two and during summer break maybe a month. We just have to talk to Samantha's mom." he explained. "Okay," I said wandering toward the steps toward my bedroom.

When I got to my room I was already in tears. I reached for my phone to text Samantha. Lexi231: OMG Samantha, my parents just told me were moving to Florida! Sammie610: OMG! Why????? Lexi231: My grandma is sick and my parents want to help her.

I guessed I'd have to deal with it.

The next morning was Monday. I dragged myself out of bed and threw on my old sweatpants and sweatshirt. I went downstairs and ate a granola bar. As soon as I finished I left for school. When I got on the bus, Samantha sat next to me and talked to me.

"It's okay, we'll still be able to see each other," she said. "I know, but I just don't want to move," I said.

The day at school seemed to fly by so I got home and went to my room. There were boxes in there labeled "Alexa's Room". I was confused. I texted Mom and asked her why the boxes were there. She said she wanted me to start packing. I asked why since she had just told me we were moving. She said we had to move as soon as possible. I sighed and started taking stuff off my desk and putting it in a small box.

By the next week, my room was mostly packed. That weekend was the last weekend I had to spend with Samantha before spring break, when her mother agreed to let her come down for a week. After lunch on Sunday, I hugged Samantha goodbye and we both started crying. I left and I was speechless the whole way home. Mom told me we were moving on Thursday, so tomorrow was my last day of school. At least I could spend that day with my friends.

I got home on Monday afternoon and packed some more. I was done except for my stuff I needed until we moved, which was in a box anyway. I watched television in the living room and ate some vanilla ice cream. I hadn't realized how much SpongeBob I had watched until Mom got home at 5:30. I had been watching television since 3! I helped make spaghetti for dinner and when Dad got home we ate in silence. I went upstairs to go to bed.

On Wednesday, I packed my stuff I absolutely needed for the trip in a small bag and put everything else in a box and gave the box to Dad to put in the car. We ate out at McDonald's since our food was packed up. We slept on a blow-up matress together. The next morning, we left at 7 a.m. sharp. As we drove out of town, I looked back at the city I lived in. I layed down in the backseat and fell asleep.

I woke up, still tired. I sat up quick, and asked Dad where we where. We were in South Carolina. Already? I guess I had been asleep for a while. I texted Samantha.

Lexi231: Hey what's up? Sammie610: Nothing...where are you at? Lexi231: We are in South Carolina, still a long drive to Florida. Sammie610: Hmm...bored yet?? Lexi231: Yeah...just woke up...might play a game on the Internet

I went on Habbo.com and checked my friend's houses out. Janya changed her house around. I logged out and went to MySpace and read my new mail. When I was done, I asked if we could stop to get a snack and a drink. We went off the highway by a sign that said Exit 72 and went to the closest gas station. I grabbed a Dr.Pepper and a bag of Doritos, payed, and went to the car. We got some gas and drove back to the highway. When we got to a run-down motel, it was 10:30, and the motel was closed. We had to sleep in the car.

When I woke up, we were moving. I sat up and opened my eyes. The sun burned my eyes, so I squinted. I began to speak "Where are we?" "We are just inside Florida, sweetie," my mother aswered me. "When did you and Dad wake up?" I asked since we had to have drove atleast 200 miles since South Carolina. "At about 5:30," my mother chirped wide awake. I texted Samantha again. Lexi231: Hey what's going on up there??? Sammie610: Nothing...I miss you so much! Lexi231: Yeah I know I miss you too!! I wish I could come back! Sammie231:Hmmmm.....=/ So I figured that she had ran out of things to say.

When we got to our new home, I helped carry some heavy boxes inside. When I sat the tall boxes down, I decided to look around. The room I put the boxes in was to be my new room. It was a light pink shade with 3 windows and a big window seat. I liked it. I looked in a few more rooms before I went to help again. I found the upstairs bathroom, a second and third bedroom, and the living room. The kitchen was a pale gray with small windows and a big, wooden dinner table. I went outside through the small garage and grabbed a few more of my boxes. Since I had found a few rooms, I found my room easily this time.

When we finished unloading, we blew the big air mattress up again, and went to bed.

The next morning was unpacking day, so Dad set my bed up and I began to take things out of boxes. When we took a break for lunch, I had my clothes in my drawers and my desk set up. After lunch, I texted Samantha.

Lexi231: We finally made it! I'm so excited! Not really.What's up? Sammie610: Nothing, lol! How's the unloading coming? Lexi231: Pretty well, I'm bored. Talk to you later, Bye! Sammie610: Bye!

That night, we had spaghetti for dinner, so I was kinda happy. Afterwards, I unpacked one more box and went to bed.

In the next week, I had almost everything unpacked and I was settling in. On Monday, I had to go to my new school.

On Monday, I got up at 6:30 and got dressed. I wore my pink Florida t-shirt with my favorite jeans. After I ate a bowl a bowl of oatmeal, Mom drove me to my new school. When I got to school, I went into the office to get my schedule. I asked the secretary for my schedule. Her nameplate read Mrs.Minnick. I got a sheet of paper that had 8 classes in order. It read: Locker:394 Code:2-24-12

1* Math Room 106 Ms. Ives 2*Reading Room 202 Mr. McNeely 3* OAT Prep Room 106 Ms. Ives 4* Lunch/Recess Room 101 5*Language Arts Room Mrs. Szabados 6*Social Studies Room 201 Mrs. Lang 7*Specials Art/P.E./Intervention/Library/Music 8*Science Room 109 Mr.Raccio

I wandered through the hallway looking for locker 394. A teacher who introduced himself as Mr. Strauser, pointed me toward my locker. I dialed the code in and opened the locker. I left my empty bookbag in the locker and shut it quietly. I asked Mr. Strauser where room 106 was. When lunch came, I had a few friends. I had met Tiara, Julie, and Marissa. They helped me get from class to class. I was getting used to where the classrooms were.

After I got home, Mom asked how my day was. I said it was okay. We had tacos for dinner after I did my homework. I watched television until 9:30 then went to bed.

The next day was just like the day before except for one thing. I met Claire. Claire was the school bully. I bumped into her in the hallway and she threw my books on the floor. But another girl, Autumn, helped me pick them up. She introduced herself and I recognized her from Math and Science. We sat together at lunch and exchanged stories. I was in Science waiting for the final bell to ring because Autumn wanted to talk to me.

After I got out of class, she asked me where I lived. I told her at 412 Broadway Avenue. She asked if she could come over. I said I had to ask and she gave me her number to call her later. I got home and asked mom if Autumn could come over. She asked who Autumn was and then agreed to let her come over until 7.

Autumn came over at 4:30 and we finished our homework together. She and I talked for a while about school who everyone was, where everything was, and what everything was. She told me that she had to go when her mom arrived outside. I waved goodbye and her mom drove off.

Dad got home shortly after mom finished cooking steaks and he said that the next day we had to go visit my grandma. I went upstairs and grabbed my cell phone. I started a new message to Samantha that read: Lexi231: Hey Samantha! I miss you so much! Sorry I haven't texted you in a while. Sammie610: Hey! I miss you! What's up in your new school? Lexi231: Pretty well but I have to go. Parents calling me. TTYL bye! Sammie610: OK bye.

My dad wanted to talk to me about Grandma. He said she is very sick and we were going to see her. I said OK and went upstairs to bed.

The next day, after school, we went to the old nursing home on Boulder Drive. We asked a young looking woman for directions to Grandma's room. We walked into Room 1408 and an elderly woman was lying in bed. I was confused until I realized that it was my Grandma Ruby that I was staring at. She looked terrible! We sat on the other bed and we talked quietly. Dad said that Grandma was feeling better and she was going home and she had a nurse to take care of her. I shook my head and we walked out through the double doors. We drove home quietly and I finished my homework as soon as we got back. It was Friday so I asked if we could go to McDonald's for dinner. We left again and came back with bags of hamburgers and fries. Dad said tomorrow he had a surprise for me. I was really anxious to know so I went straight to bed after dinner.

I was up at 8:30 on Saturday morning and I was eating a waffle when Mom and Dad walked down the stairs. After they had coffee, Dad told me we were going to TGI Friday's for lunch. Now, I was worried because we never have special lunch unless something is happening. So we went to TGI Friday's at around noon and we began to talk. Dad said that since Grandma didn't need us to take care of her anymore, that there was no reason for us to stay here. He said that we were moving back to New Jersey! I was so happy, but I wasn't going to tell Samantha. I wanted to surprise her.

The next couple days, I packed up my stuff and I was getting anxious to tell Samantha. I was returning my books at the end of my last day, and I walked home alone. I was so happy that I practically skipped home. Now we had to drive all the way back the way we came. But that was ok, I could wait. About 15 miles into our trip, I texted Samantha. Lexi231: Hey, what’s up? How is it up in Jersey? Sammie610: Hey girl! Not much. I miss you! I wish you would come back! Lexi231: Yeah well I don’t think that’s going to happen But nice try..lol Sammie610: Haha well I have to go to volleyball practice so bye! Lexi231: Goodbye =) We were almost home, when I woke up. I noticed some of the places around me. We stopped at McDonald’s, and I ordered a McFlurry with M&M’s in it. We went to our house that I missed so much and started removing boxes from the car. I took all of my boxes up to my room and I realized I was happier than I thought I was. Seeing the old house and where everything was made me happy. I helped put all the boxes away and then I asked Mom if she could take me to Samantha’s. We drove to her street and I went up to the porch and rang the doorbell. Samantha’s mom answered and she told me I could go sneak upstairs before Samantha got home. I went up in her room and sat on the bed with the TV on. When Samantha got home she went into her closet and put her stuff away. Then, she turned around to see me on her bed. She screamed and ran to give me a hug. “How did you get here?” she asked. “We moved back!” “Oh my gosh! Really?” “Yeah!” “I am going to ask right now if you can stay,” she said. “Okay.” Samantha’s mom said I could stay and I went home to get some clothes. When I got back to Samantha’s, we had spaghetti for dinner, a special request from Samantha. We stayed up all night talking about my friends from Florida, my school, teachers, my room, and my house. It was almost 3 a.m. when we went to sleep. When I woke up, I smelled French toast. I went down the stairs and saw Samantha making French toast and her mom setting the table. We ate and my mom came to get me. We got settled in to our house again and I got used to my school again. I caught up with school and my friends I almost lost. Samantha and I got back to spending every weekend together like we used to. A few months later, I came home and Mom and Dad wanted to talk to me. “Alexa, your Uncle Derek has cancer and we are moving to North Carolina to help him,” my dad said. Oh no, not again.