Middle School

Oh Middle School!

Pearl started 6th grade today, first day of school. I think she's very proud to finally be like a big kid, a preteen. But it is the age of questioning authority, the age of sticking it to the man (also known as "back talk"), it's wonderful and grown-up feeling and hormonal and cranky and savage and confusing! Middle school is the time when solid friendship bonds are formed, maybe they don't last but the friend part becomes SO much more important.

Whenever I think of middle school, I think of Lauren Beyer. The Lauren Beyer incedents really defined middle school for me, though the incidents that seemed so defining in my life were probably trivial for her and if she ever reads this I'm certain she'll think I'm ridiculous.

I moved to Bellingham when I was in 6th grade. My previous 6th grade class was still in elementary school, junior high didn't start until 7th grade. I moved from Marblemount. So I'm the new kid. I'm a hippie dork, fresh from the land co-op. I'm functioning with out a mother (she lived far away) and a new step-mother (don't get me started). I'm out of my leauge, I don't know how ot wear make-up, I'm afraid of the big kids, I don't watch TV, I don't know WHAT most of them are talking about, I don't have pogs, I don't play video games. I read, and I rode my bike and I was a geek, ok? So then I'm assigned a locker with the lovely Lauren Beyer. Lauren Beyer hates me. Why? I don't know, her and Melissa (then Missey) they tease me. I'm not dressed like them. I can't work the faucet in the bathroom, I don't know where I'm going, I never had to "suit up" for gym before.

Like I said, she hates me and we share a locker. The locker is a very important part of this story, it's almost a character. Lauren uses the locker to express her hate. She leaves mean notes. Dear Carly, I really hate you. She goes to the locker after class and opens it to get her stuff out and then waits for me unitl I almost reach the locker, until I'm inches away from her and our locker, knowing I'm coming to get my things too, and then SLAMS the locker in my face.
What a BUTT. This goes on all year, I play my share of pranks as well, because it's only fair.

Then...

7th grade. I'm in Mr. Porter's class. I go in and find a seat and look around for someone I know, someone to sit with, someone to share a locker with... and the only person I recognize is...

LAUREN BEYER!

But, fortunately Lauren didn't know anyone either, her dear friend Missey was in another class. So Lauren and I were actually friends. AND we shared a locker in 7th grade as well! But the notes got much friendler. I think I came home and told my dad we were going to share a locker again and he said, "I thought you hated her!" and I said, "I thought so too!"

I hope middle school is a little easier and just as much fun for Pearl as I had. It really was an interesting time, though I don't think my parents and I got on that well.