Woofles: The Question

As she walked to Miss Sestor's history class, Natasha saw Kelsey giggling with another girl. She didn't seem to notice Natasha as she walked past. Tears sprang to Natasha's eyes as Kelsey walked by. I wonder when she started walking out on her new friends' lives, she thought. She pondered this, then thought, As least I have Gloria now. It was true. For two weeks she played, talked, and laughed with Gloria. "John, he be a pest most times," she said. "I know exactly how you feel. Lucy is a TOTAL pest, and I have another sibling coming, too." Natasha groaned. "Oh, wow!" Gloria's delighted expression soon changed; she looked extremely perplexed. "And you no is happy? John and me have great times 'agether, even though he be a pest. " she said. That made Natasha think hard. She thought about all the fun things she had done with Lucy. "I don't really know yet," she told Gloria. That night as she lay in bed thinking, Natasha thought, I wonder if Gloria is a Christian. Oh, no! What if she's not?! She woke up the next morning and wondered, How on earth am I going to ask Gloria if she's a Christian or not? I know! I'll ask Momma. So she did. After she had talked with Momma over toast and eggs, she had a plan. She would simply talk to Gloria when they got off the bus. When she got on the bus and sat down beside Gloria, Natasha's heart was pounding. I think all the people on the bus can hear my heart pounding, she thought. It was a funny thing to think, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. Natasha said basically nothing the whole way there, while Gloria was jabbering so much Natasha couldn't get a word in anyway. When they jumped off the bus, Natasha's heart leaped. She took a deep breath and blurted out, "Gloria, are you a Christian?"

Woofles: More Friends

This is the fifth chapter of Woofles. I hope you enjoy it!

"I don't know what that means, either!" Lucy fairly screamed. "A sibling is a brother or sister," Natasha replied, a LOT more annoyed now. That's the way seven year-old sisters are, she thought. "What's the second thing?" Natasha asked. "We're going to a church," Momma answered. "Oh," Natasha said. She had been hoping it would be a little more exciting. Lucy was exuberant about it, though. "Yay, a church!" "Girls, are you ready? The school bus will be here any second now!" Momma exclaimed. Beep, beep! "Bye, Momma," Natasha said as she gave her mother a hug. "Bye, Natasha. Have fun!" Momma called after her as she went out the door. Like I will, Natasha thought. When she boarded the bus, Natasha was surprised that Kelsey had saved her a seat. Wow, she really IS a friend, Natasha thought. "Hey, Natasha! How ya doin'?" Kelsey smiled and pointed to the seat next to her. Natasha sat down and looked around the bus. There were many boys and girls sitting there. Maybe I'll find more friends this week, Natasha thought. She saw two African-Americans. They're just like me. Maybe I'll make friends with THEM, she thought. She decided to at least try. When they got off the bus, she didn't take her eyes off of them. She walked up to a Negro girl she had seen on the bus. "Hi, I'm Natasha Brown," she said. The girl ducked shyly and said, "I be Gloria Orgen. I never seen you afore." Natasha explained that she had just come from Virginia. Gloria giggled and said, "I been here in dis school 4 years, and I ain't seen no other Negro kids here." Natasha realized that she had probably just made a new friend. "What classes are you in?" she asked. "I is in Mester Canby's evolution class, Miz Carter's science class, Mester Riley's math class, Miz Mann's spellin' and readin' class, and Miz Sestor's history class." Gloria grinned. "Those are all the classes I is in." Natasha smiled back. "I'll see you in all but one class - math." "I is be seein' you," Gloria said. She turned to leave, and Natasha said,"Um, do you know him?" She pointed to the Negro boy she had seen on the bus. Gloria grined again. "He bbe my brother, John. You be seein' him a lot, too." Then she ran to class. 'A lot, too.' The words echoed in Natasha's ears as she sprinted to Mr. Riley's math class. That must mean I'm gonna see her a
lot, thought Natasha. She knew that the thought didn't leave a hole in her heart.

Don't miss Woofles:Part 6!