Chapter One: The Beginning
It all really started in second grade. I remember this day so clearly, it’s like it happened yesterday. I remember that I really didn’t want to go to school that day. My older brother didn’t have to go to school and I wanted to stay home and play with him. But my mother, the determined woman that she is, practically forced my into that God awful plaid uniform and shoved me out of the Mercedes. Let’s just get this one thing out of the way; I’m not much of a charming person and I never really was. As a result, I didn’t make friends very easily. Anyways, I sat at a table with Teddy O’Connor and Penelope Bane and quite honestly, I hated both of them. Even at eight, Teddy was an asshole and eight year old Penny was shy and kind of a weirdo. So we didn’t really talk much until that day. Teddy had been teasing Penny about her hair all morning and I think Penny just couldn’t handle it. By snack time she was wailing, quite loudly. Teddy thought it was the funniest thing ever and he was just positively tickled. Our teacher, Ms. Waters, couldn’t really handle situations like this, so she was absolutely no help. Finally, I just couldn’t deal with Penny’s crying and Teddy’s obnoxious laughter. I was already having a pretty shitty day. So I stood up from my red plastic chair and calmly walked over to where Teddy was sitting.
“Could you, please, stop bugging Penelope? It’s getting really annoying.”
Teddy looked up at me and (I swear it was the first time he’d ever done it) he smirked that stupid, douchey smirk. And I did the logical thing. I punched him square in the face. Penny thought it was hysterical and cracked up laughing. Teddy didn’t take it too well. He used a few words an eight year old shouldn’t know and that ended up getting everyone in trouble.
But ever since that day, and ever since having to spend five recesses together, we all agreed to be best friends. Well, me and Penny agreed to be best friends. Teddy just decided for himself. But now, looking back, I’m really glad he did.