The first day of sixth grade will be very difficult for you. There are new students and teachers you will meet. Know that the people you sit with on the first day are not going to the people you sit with for the rest of the year. This is only temporary and you won’t talk to them ever again.
Remember to charge your phone every night before school the next day. You're going to need it during lunch every day in order to text mom letting her know that you're OK. Math will be much more difficult this year, especially because I know you hate fractions and decimals.
Don’t laugh the social studies teacher's teeth, you have the exact same problem she has. The boy who sits next to you, Jon, will become your best friend and will always make you laugh in social studies, even if you do get in trouble. Jon will send you historical jokes. You will see him pull out the miniature orange sticky notes, know right away what he going to do. The anticipation will drive you crazy, but your heart rate will drop into a relaxed state because it will be a good thing that you and he sit in the back corner together. Don’t let the cold air from the air conditioning irritate you, just remember to put your hair up the next time. After an anticipating three minutes, he’ll pass the sticky note, which he turned into what seems to be a paper fortune. Open it right away because the teacher will finally turn her back. The joke will say, “How was the Roman Empire cut in half?” On the back it will right, the answer will be “With a pair of Caesars!” Just smile right away, and look right at him. He knows exactly what you’re thinking.
After another half hour of torture, you will both run right out the door, bursting in laughter. Other students will pass you and Jon in the hallway giving the “ Dah F***” face. Don’t give two shits because no one can take away what you and Jon have. Friendship.
While waiting for Tonya to pick you up, don’t look at the fathers giving their children a hug when they see each other, it’s only going to make you feel worse. Fridays are going to weird for you because dad is not going to be picking you up from school to go to his house in Randolph. Remember, him leaving for Florida was not your fault; it was for “business.” When Tonya picks you up after school, tell her she is beautiful; she is going to need it. She and Lorraine will be very helpful with homework this year, and will push you to think on your own.
This is a big year for you! Your now an official pre-teen. Just so you know, on Memorial Day, when you go to the bathroom, you're not dying. It’s all normal, trust me. That weekend will be hell for you because you’ll be hungry, tired, cranky and crampy. One night over dinner you’re going to learn the real reason why Dad and Mom divorced. He committed embezzlement.
“I want to know what the real reason was behind the divorce,” you ask. Keep eating your spaghetti, it will make the conversation less awkward and more casual.
Mom says, “I divorced him because he committed embezzlement. I had to do what was best for you and Abbey.” You will not know what embezzlement means. Mom was never good at breaking bad news, but you will be proud of her because even though you're 12 years old, at least she told sooner or later. This will make you really love mom more because you’ll learn that all she wants are for her kids to live a happy life. Family is going to mean a lot to you this year, just like it does to me now.
