of the midnight ride of...” and we all shouted, “Paul Revere!”
Mr. Dover talked about how that poem was written nearly one hundred years after the actual ride and the ride wasn’t all that big of a deal. Mr. Dover likes to talk so it took him about half the class period to get to the point. We talked about all the fake news that went on throughout the last presidential election and that it was important to know what was true and what wasn’t.
Two minutes before the bell rang he gave us the assignment. We have to do a group research project about an urban legend—what’s real about it and what’s made up. Then we have to get up in front of the class and give a presentation about what we learned.
I wanted to throw up when I heard the details of the assignment. I don’t mind working in a group but there is nothing I hate more than getting up in front of the class and having to talk. I loathe it. My face turns bright red and my voice shakes. It makes me sick just thinking about it.
In middle school, there are three ways we get put into groups: the teacher picks, you number off or first-come-first-serve where we get to pick our own partners. I hoped Mr. Dover would pick for us—it was less stressful that way—but just before the bell rang he said in this old-fashioned voice: “Chooseth thy partn’r, mine own scholars.”
Luckily I caught on to what he was saying and right away turned to Violet and asked her if she wanted to be my partner and she said yes! When Mr. Dover assigns projects it isn’t just some one-or two-day thing; they usually last weeks, so it will be good to not have to worry about picking partners for a while.
I looked over at Jordyn and she was whispering in Deanna’s ear and they were staring at us. I know they’re talking about me and Violet but for once I don’t care. Violet’s my partner and I think she’s going to be really nice. Usually I do whatever I can not to get on Jordyn’s radar. She somehow always makes me feel like an idiot. I’ll have to make sure to tell Violet to stay away from her. You just can’t trust her.
When we were in fourth grade Jordyn invited all the girls in the class to her birthday overnight except for me. My mom went insane and called Jordyn’s grandma, who said it must have been a mistake and drove over to our house and made Jordyn deliver the invitation in person. It was MORTIFYING! Jordyn looked like she wanted to vomit and I wanted to disappear. I was sick the day of the party and couldn’t go, anyway, which was just fine with me and with Jordyn, too, I’m sure.
Anyway, Violet and I already started a list of urban legends we could choose from: bigfoot, a twenty-foot alligator in the sewer or maybe Johnny Appleseed. After school some kids were talking about researching Bloody Mary or the Babysitter and the Clown Doll or the Mothman, who my sister says is this creepy seven-foot man with red eyes and wings like a moth who would show up just before something really bad happened.
Gabe asked me and Violet what we were going to do our project about and Jordyn butted in and said, “Probably something babyish.” I swear she loves embarrassing me. But then Gabe came to my defense and said to Jordyn, “What’s your genius idea, then?”
That shut Jordyn up and Violet and I told Gabe about our urban legend.
* * *
Me again... The weirdest thing just happened. My sister told me someone was on the phone for me and when I went to answer it no one was there. I kept saying hello but it was just quiet. I finally hung up and when I asked Kendall who it was she rolled her eyes and said she wasn’t my secretary. Like I said, weird.
Dr. Madeline Gideon
September 14, 2018
“What do you think?” Dr. Soto asked. “Would you like to meet Cora?”
“Sure, why not?” I remember saying.
Dr. Soto rapped his knuckles gently against the window to announce our arrival and then slid the door open. “Mr. and Mrs. Landry, this is Dr. Gideon. She is the mental health professional I was speaking of. Dr. Gideon, this is Jim and Mara Landry, Cora’s parents.”
“Hello,” I said and extended my hand out to Mr. Landry.