Can you please help me?

Susan walked into class at 9 am. It was a sunny day and the wind was pleasant. She adjusted her glasses and made her way towards her desk. Setting her books down, she greeted her classmates. Another day at school. Another chance to make friends. No one really responded, but she tried.

Susan had been transferred to this school in Brooks, Washington a month ago. She had changed five schools by the time she reached the ninth grade. Her father was a Government employee, and transfers were common. They couldn’t retain employees at one location for security concerns.

Susan had lived a nomad’s life. Packing bags and moving across the state, multiple times. She lacked the emotional support systems in the form of a best friend that most teenagers take for granted. She had never had a serious relationship either. Long distance didn’t seem to work, she had observed. She had grown to be a quiet girl, struggling to fit in.

It was Algebra class. She like algebra. Because there was always a way to find ‘x’. And every ‘x’ found was a little victory. History was boring because it was about people who were dead; Geography was dull because who needs a map while travelling? But Algebra! This was fascinating. It was complex, yet simple. It teased her brain and challenged her to higher levels.

The classes rolled by and soon it was lunch time. Susan walked into the cafeteria with her lunch — a vegetable sandwich, coleslaw salad, fries and jelly for dessert. She looked for a place to sit, somewhere quiet where she could read. She was tying hard to fit in; but she didn’t want to look desperate. Spotting a corner, she walked slowly. Balancing her books and cradling her lunch tray in her arms.

Soon she was 15 pages deep into her book. An Agatha Christie, she had always been charmed by mystery fiction novels. Who was the killer who slipped through the night? Leaving no scrap of evidence or trail. Poirot would soon find out, mon ami! The criminal could run, but he could not hide.

Hearing the class bell, Susan shoved her food in. She shut her book and came out of her world of make believe, and rushed through the halls. It was chaos. As teenagers most of her classmates were in a hurry to reach their classes. Professor Goldberg was strict. If she didn’t make it, he might even give her detention! She bumped into someone and fell. Her glasses flew off her face and her books! They were everywhere.

Can you help me?

Christopher Morgan apologized for bumping into her like that. That was rude. He smiled and helped clear the mess. Susan blanked out for a minute. He was such a nice person! No one would actually bother to help someone after knocking them down. She wondered why they hadn’t met earlier. In the small conversation in the busy hall, she realized this was because most of his classes were different.

As it was time to leave, she thanked him for his help. He apologized again for the trouble caused. And said he would see her around. For the first time, Suncoast High didn’t seem like such a bad place after all. And Susan secretly wished she never had to leave. A helping hand had made her realize she might just actually fit in here. Time would tell.