Life's Lessons

(Word count: 604)

Life’s Lessons

“C’mon dear, open this door,” her mother’s voice floated into her bedroom like a soft breeze trying to blow an old oak down. In other words, it didn’t work. Sheri just groaned and rolled over on the bed, pulling the pink comforter over her head. Her day at school had sucked and she really just wanted it to be over. All over!

Even under the heavy pink comforter that she’d had since she was seven, Sheri heard the door creak open and could almost feel her mother’s soft eyes trying to pierce the gloom of her room. The dark pink shades were pulled down and the pink floor lamp was currently off. Even without the comforter, she would have blended right in since she was wearing a pink sweater, pink jeans and even pink socks.

“If you want to talk about what’s bothering you, dear, you know I’m here to listen,” the door creaked open a bit more and her mother shuffled into the room. She didn’t go very far because of the clothes and junk strewn about the floor.

Sheri just groaned again, her throat tight with shame. She didn’t want to share with her mother just how horrible the day had been, though it hadn’t started off that bad. Her morning had been great. Her first period teacher had let them use the computer lab and surf the internet. She had gotten so much research done, until she had heard the boys laughing over in the corner.

They had found some nasty jokes thanks to their ringleader Alan, who was a wiz at breaking through any computer security program. She should have just left them alone as previous encounters had taught her, but it had bothered her. What if they found adult material or how to make a bomb? Some of the boys in that group were just stupid, but not deserving of getting kicked out of school because of Alan. So she had gotten up and confronted him.

He had just laughed and sneered at her, “What’samatter Pinkie?” he circled around her and yanked the pink ribbon out of her hair.

She had glared at him, “Give that back! And stop goofing off. You’ll get in trouble. All of you.”

At that, the boys had just laughed. This had spurred Alan on. He waved the pink ribbon in front of her face, “What a loser you are. No one likes you enough to give you a blue ribbon?” he had laughed uproariously at his own joke, though none of the others boys had. However, it had been enough to irk Sheri. Without thinking, her fist had left her side and connected with Alan’s nose.

This, of course, had caused a commotion and she had been sent to the Principle’s office. She hadn’t been to the principles office since March 25, 2002 when she had started a fight with a girl over who would feed the goldfish. That had been pretty stupid, but so was this, she supposed.

“Honey?” her mother’s voice pulled her back into the present.

Sheri knew she had to say something to get rid of her mom. She thought for a moment, sighed and stuck her head out from under the comforter. As hoarsely as she could, she croaked, “I lost my voice Mom.”

“Oh dear! Then you just rest your pretty little head,” her mother started to shuffle out, “When you want some soup or lemonade, come on downstairs,” she closed the door. Sheri sighed in relief. She realized that she had just learned another valuable life lesson – pretend to be sick and they’ll leave you alone.