Two Groups
(By Mishka Parashar 5th Grade 2016)
Chapter 1
Getting out of my bed has always been the worst part of my morning. I have to literally roll off my bed, get up, and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth. This is especially tough when it is a stinky weekday(Which everyone knows: a school day).
But it can’t be a school day. It just can’t. There’s got to be more weekends. Why not Friday just be a part of the weekend? That’s what it is today.
I’m not afraid of school or anything. How could I be? The teachers in Hawkwood are really nice. Learning here in this school, is actually pretty much a dream come true. They make it a dream. By having us do experiments, geometry, and algebra in many different ways.
It’s just this one thing that bothers me. Don’t worry, I’m not being bullied. I’m just bothered. Very bothered. Help! I’m being torchured by a bunch of random students! I want this all to stop! That’s all I want!
People never listen these days. They just do what they think is right, and they do it, even if they know it’s not right, and never take advice from other people.
What I mean to say, is that I want this all to stop. I need peace. You probably don’t know what this all is, and that’s what I’m about to explain right now.
Chapter 2
You see, in school, the boys always get along with each other just fine, and all are really good friends, forming one big group of boys.
But for us, the girls, it’s a little different. We have two groups instead. I think it all started from an argument between Stella and Stacy. I got into Stacy’s group, only because all my friends are in this one. I didn’t want to go into any group, but my friends made me have no option.
The people in our group are: Stacy, Katie, Lia, Lily, Lexi and me(Katrin). The people in the other group are: Stella, Gabriella, Miya, Mary, Amy, Kayma, Rosie, and Lizzy. Stella is the leader of that group, she has a co-leader, which I guess, is Lizzy. Stacy is the leader of our group. I think our co-leader is Katie.
Not every girl is in a group though. Rebecca, Belinda, and Wendy aren’t in one. Those people we just call, “Non-Groupers”, who would probably never want to join any group. Ashley, Emily, and Hillari are thinking to join one, which are people who we call, “Pre-Groupers”.
I don’t like this “Group Thing” though. It makes me feel like something bad is going to happen soon. I’m afraid that if we keep staying in our groups, this might even cause war. Which is what I’m most afraid of.
Chapter 3
When I reached school today, I slowly walked to my classroom carrying a notebook that says “Math” on it, an accordion folder, and five books(my mother keeps trying to tell me to bring only one book, but I just can’t help it!)
When we started math, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around. It was Katie.
“Meet me at lunch tomorrow.” she whispered.
“Okay.” I whispered back.
“Katrin, Katie, stop whispering, and pay attention please.” said Mrs. Candel, my math teacher. “You won’t want to stay in for lunch, will you?” We both shook our heads. Katie scurried back to her seat.
At lunch, Katie waved her hand right above her head, expecting me to come over to her table. I looked at her, nodded, and walked over to her. I sat, and placed my lunchbox onto the table.
“So,” she began. “we’ll need more people in our group. How about an interesting group name to attract Hillari?”
“Not this again!” I complained.
“But it’s important!”
“I’m leaving.” I said as I got up, and left the table.
“You can leave, but you’re still in our group!” yelled Katie when I reached another table.
I sat in a table where non-groupers usually sit. Rebecca and Wendy were sitting there waiting for me. Belinda wasn’t there though. Must’ve been absent. I put my lunchbox on the table, took out my sandwich, and took a big bite of it.
“Do you like being on Kate’s side?” asked, Rebecca.
I swallowed. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to be on anyone’s side! How many times do I have to tell people that?”
“Oh. Sorry. I was just trying to test you to know if you like the idea or not.”
“What idea?”
“Don’t you know? I’m planning to join your group.”
The words made me worry. I didn’t want more people on my side. That’ll cause more arguments. It’ll make things scarier. Creepier. Horribler. Is that even a word? Whatever.
Chapter 4
Today is the day. Today will be the day. Because today, I, Katrin Millar, am going to start peace.
I jumped out of bed, brushed my teeth, took a shower, got dressed, and grabbed my book(one this time).
Downstairs, my mother noticed me, all dressed and ready.
“How did you get down here so fast?” She asked, almost giggling.
“I’m ready for school!” I rushed towards the door.
“What school?”
“Huh?” I stopped, almost about to bang my head.
“It’s Labor Day remember?”
“Oh.” I said as I plopped myself onto the couch.
“What’s wrong?” asked my mother. “You usually love Labor Day.”
“I do.” I replied back. “Just didn’t expect that.”
“I see.” My mother finally went back to the kitchen. I sighed. Good thing she didn’t barge into my business like she usually does, this time. I’m just too exhausted to even say anything.
Chapter 5
The next day was a school day(finally). But guess what? I gave up. I’ll just try best to ignore all the annoying arguments and wars, and things like that. I mean, what’s the point when nobody’s going to listen?
When I reached school, I finally had some peace. The ignoring trick actually worked. Not a single sound I could hear. Only until the end of the day.
The English teacher was at a meeting and the substitute was in the restroom. I was working silently in the classroom, until I heard someone scream, “You take that back!” and then, “No, you take that back!”
I was at the edge of the room looking around. All I saw, were boys looking up, and non-groupers rolling their eyes, and continuing their work. I was the only girl in the classroom.
I stepped out of the classroom, and into the hallway to see a bunch of girls arguing with each other.
“This group idea isn’t peaceful!” yelled Rosie which forced me to nod in agreement. I actually kind of smiled.
“Because Stacy started it!” my smile turned down to a frown.
“NO! You started it, Rosie!” Stacy yelled.
“Actually, I think Amy started it.” said Lily.
“No!” Amy sighed. “And let’s just forget about it all, but still be groups. How’s that?”
“NO!” I couldn’t help yelling.
“What?” said Mary, confused.
“I said no.”
“Why?” asked Lexie.
“Because,”
“Because what?” asked Stacy disagreeing.
“Because, first tell me, who created the groups?”
I got a bunch of answers, “Stacy did! Lia did! Obviously Katie!”
“Er… forget I even said that!” I hated it whenever I said the wrong thing. It reminds me of when I accidently said a swear word in first grade(That was bad. REALLY BAD!) “Let’s just forget the past, and just all be friends!” was all that came out of my mouth, but the countenance on everybody else’s faces told me that they totally disagree.
Lily took three big steps towards me, only a foot away. “I can’t.” She sighed. “Mary won’t confess that she stole my planner in third grade.”
“I did not!” Exclaimed Mary.
“You did! And also my pencil case in fourth grade!”
“You must’ve misplaced it then!”
Before the girls could even argue, I yelled, “STOP!!!” They stopped. “We can work this out.” I knew exactly what I was going to say this time. “First of all, did the teachers ask you to do this?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“What is causing all this negativity?”
“Stacy!” said one girl.
“No!” yelled Stacy.
“It’s the groups.” I smiled. “This would’ve never happened if we were all one group.” A memory began to flow through my mind. “Why not have it back in the old days? Where Stella and Stacy were best friends, and the whole school was filled with peace, and everyone was happy? So why not-”
“Stop it, Katrin.” Lizzy had interrupted. “I’ve heard enough trash.” She walked back into the classroom.
I looked to the ground. “I give up.” I said. “I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Chapter 6
I was about to walk away, when I felt someone tap my shoulder. It was Lily.
“I agree.” She unbelievingly said. “I don’t want to be in groups anymore.”
“What about you people?” I turned to everybody else.
Gabriella kind of seemed to agree, but said it in a strange way. “You made us all look like fools!” she walked back to the classroom. Everyone else followed.
Me and Lily stayed standing in the hallway. She put her hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks for being fair.” she said. “Now I agree. No separate teams, we should all be one team.”
I smiled. “Let’s go inside now. I think the teacher, I mean, sub is coming.”
Chapter 7
The next day, I expected to see people still in their same old groups, arguing, and starting wars. But that didn’t happen. Somehow. Everyone seemed to be all in one group, seeing each other as a whole class.
But the only thing that surprised me so much is that I noticed Stella and Stacy talking to each other again. But this time, it wasn’t an argument. They were talking like, as if they were friends, or as if it were the beginning of the school year again.
I had never expected that, and I wanted to ask them what had happened, but I was just too cheerful because of all this peace. But I’m still not sure if the the “Group” thing has completely ended or not, but I really don’t have to worry about that, for now.
By the way, I found my new hobby: writing. My first story was about this dragon made of candy canes, that lives in Potato Land with his brother who’s made of strawberry yogurt. Some people say it’s kind of strange, but according to the fact that I will and always have full control of my life, I still like it, just the way it is.
Mishka Parashar 