With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

 

New Things

The next morning, even though it breaks my heart, I say goodbye to Babygirl and rush out the door as ’Buela gets her ready for school. It’s wild to miss someone so much, and yet in order to care for them you have to constantly say goodbye.

When I walk into Advisory Ms. Fuentes is passing out sheets of paper.

“Okay, on your desks you’ll see your revised schedules.”

Hmr—Advisory, Ms. Fuentes

Engl—Advanced English, McCormack

Math—Applied Math, Gaines

Soc—US Government, Ulf

For Lang—Latin III, Gatlin

Sci—Intermediate Physics, Ordway

Elec—Culinary Arts: Spain Immersion, Ayden

I was accepted into the class. The new boy, Malachi, stares out the window. I look back at the sheet. There’s my name at the top. My other classes are the same. I try to keep cool even though I’m so excited my hands shake.

“You’ll report for your first day of electives starting today. Let me know after class if you have any problems; now, take out the outline of your college essay. We still have fifteen minutes and we’ll use them to revise the themes of your essays.”