Aphra has just moved to Redwood, California from Florida. She is new and needs to make new friends. However, sometimes things are harder without her dad around.
Aphra sat in her bed, hugging her covers close to her chest. She listened to the soft pitter-patter of rain and ice hitting the windows. Her journal and pen were scattered beside her, along with the book she was reading. Aphra's favorite song, “What a Wonderful World” was playing on her cassette player. Her grandma had gotten it for her when she was three, and Aphra kept it even when she moved away. She missed her big old Florida house, and collecting caro caro pods from her backyard. Now Aphra lived in a small apartment in the city. Aphra's long hair was a dark auburn, and her skin was tanned from the hot summers in Florida.
Tap, tap! Creeeak.
“Honey,” Came the soft voice of Aphra's mom, who had wavy black hair and a tan like Aphra's. “Are you asleep yet? It's 10:00.”
“No. Not yet.” Aphra's mom walked over to her bed and kissed Aphra's cheek.
“Love you Aphra, Mi querida.”
The light flickered off. Aphra stared at the seemingly empty room, engulfed in darkness. She could still hear the storm against the windows. Aphra drifted to sleep.
The next morning, Aphra awoke to the sound of her alarm beeping. The storm from last night had stopped, but the sky was covered with empty grey clouds; the sun milky and whitish. Aphra slipped on some clothes and put in her favorite amber honey drop earrings, then made her way down the stairs.
“I made banana bread with chocolate chips!” Aphra's mom exclaimed.
“Wow, thanks mom!” Aphra sliced herself a piece of warm banana bread, so fresh the chocolate chips were melting. After she was done, Aphra did everything else she needed to do and grabbed her backpack.
“Bye mom, love you!” Aphra pulled her mom into a tight hug and walked out the door to school.
After about fifteen minutes of walking through a woodland trail and watching the lavender-pink sunrise, Aphra arrived at the school. It was like a beehive, with kids swarming in through the front doors. Aphra hesitated for a moment, smoothed the wrinkles out of her soft grey jeggings, and walked into her new school.
