Chapter 2. Home, School, and a Little Chaos

The morning started the way most mornings do in my house — loud.

With six kids under one roof, there's always someone fighting over the bathroom, shouting about missing socks, or chasing someone else with a slipper.

I sat quietly at the breakfast table, stirring my cocoa, pretending not to hear my younger brother yelling that someone stole his school bag.

Mom was trying to get everyone organized, her voice somehow louder than all of us combined.

"Bernice, you're late!" she said, handing me my lunch in a paper bag.

"I know," I mumbled, grabbing it with my left hand.

My left hand has always been my strongest.

The one I depend on when my right hand feels... different.

Not wrong.

Just different.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and squeezed past the chaos, heading out the door with a quiet goodbye.

No one heard it, but that's okay.

I was used to being the soft voice in a loud world.

At school, everything felt sharper.

New faces.

New teachers.

New chances to embarrass myself.

I found my way to my classroom and picked a seat in the second row, near the wall.

Not too far in the back to look suspicious.

Not too close to the front to be noticed.

Grace was already there.

She beamed when she saw me and gave me a hug that almost knocked the air out of my lungs.

"You look so pretty!" she said.

I laughed softly. "Liar."

"You do!" she insisted.

Her kindness felt warm — like a blanket I could wrap myself in for a while.

While we waited for the teacher, a tall boy brushed past our desk.

He didn't even glance at me.

Instead, he dropped into the seat behind me with a heavy thud and stretched his long legs out so far he kicked my chair.

I turned around, ready to say something, but he beat me to it.

"Sorry, shortie," he said, grinning like it was the funniest thing ever.

I blinked at him.

Did he just call me shortie?

Grace giggled.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling a little too.

"Gerald," he said, like I asked.

I hadn't, but okay.

"Bernice," I said back, tucking my left hand into the sleeve of my sweater.

He noticed, but — thankfully — didn't say anything.

Just then Mr. Douglas walked in, clapping his hands for attention.

"Government class," he said. "Open your minds!"

I sighed, taking out my book and pen.

The day had just begun, and somehow it already felt like a lot.

But maybe — just maybe — it would be a good kind of lot.