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"Iris? Can you hear me"

Ms. Amadala said. I snapped to attention quickly realizing the whole class was watching me.

"Oh yes ma'am I hear you," I said sheepishly.

"I know how hard things have been for you since the passing of your father but you really must stay on top of things here at school"

"Yes Ma'am" I replied

Ms. Amdala continued teaching as I continued daydreaming. School had never really been my thing. In kindergarten, I was the last person to learn to count to 15, in 3rd grade, I wasn't able to do multiplication tables and even now in eighth grade, I struggle to keep up with all my assignments.

However, don't let me fool you because I'm not dumb. I'm just not good at focusing. With matters made worse by the passing of my father. Ever since he passed I've been constantly daydreaming about all the memories we shared together and all the things we planned to do. All the places we planned to visit and all the memories that we still had left to make. Thinking of him brings me joy but also immense sadness. Because I will never be able to make another memory with him. But pa wouldn't have wanted me to be sad, he would have wanted me to keep moving forward. So that's what I've done ever since his death. I've just kept moving forward.

"RING!" The bell sounded and pulled me out of my thoughts and back into the real world. I hurried out of the class eager to leave for the weekend. As I entered the hallway I could hear the life all around me and feel the excitement. I heard the excited footsteps and students raced from their locker to the door, eager to begin their weekend. I heard the students talk about their weekend plans or whisper the latest gossip that floated about the school. It was like a busy fish tank with fish bustling from one place to the next, trying to find a way out of the tank.

I hurried out the door into the crisp spring air that smelled of flowers and morning dew. Flowers were beginning to bloom and trees were beginning to sprout vibrate green leaves. Spring had always been my favorite season because it was like the beginning of a new cycle of life. It had been Pa's favorite season as well.

I began to walk home when I heard a voice that was all too familiar.

"Hey Iris," A voice said menacingly

It was Serena. Serena had been making my life miserable for as long as I can remember. From calling me names to leaving notes in my locker. Serena was very skilled at being horrible. She was a young Korean girl, just a little bit taller than I was, she had long black hair and brown eyes. She was the opposite of me. She was good at reading and writing and I definitely wasn't. Her skin was light and my skin was a dark deep brown. We were nothing alike.

"Oh hey, Serena! Can I help you with something?" I said trying to sound polite

"Need help from someone like you? Ha! You can barely stay focused in class and you think I need help from someone like you!" Serena said with laughter.

Before I knew what happened Serena pushed me down into a puddle and laughed.

"Oops, I must have slipped!" She said laughing

Serena and her gang walked away while I sat in the puddle in shock at what had just happened. What had I possibly done to offend them?

I got up, brushed myself off, and remembered what Pa said. Keep moving forward. And so I did.