by Sharlet Mullen

Shy Jill

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/ag9u42ub35s5

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my two wonderful, supportive girls. Your love, support, and patience has made me stronger and helped me achieve my life goals.

Love, Mom

Hello, my name is Jill. I am eight years old. I am in the second grade at Discovery Elementary School. In a small town in Minnesota.

Today started like most days in my shy life. I woke up, got dressed, brushed my teeth and ate breakfast. After breakfast, I sat in the living room and watched for the school bus.

On the bus, I sit in the same seat every day. I look out the window and daydream about playing catch with my dog. I never want to make eye contact with anyone getting on the bus because I am afraid they might want to talk to me.

There is a boy named Joe who rides my bus. Joe is a fourth grader at my school. He has brown hair, has lots of friends and plays basketball.

Today, as Joe gets on the bus, there was something different about him. He had a strange smile, and his eyes sparkled. I shrink down in my seat, hoping he will not notice me.

“Hi Jill, mind if I sit next to you?” Joe laughs as he sits down in my seat.

I turn and look out the window hoping he will just go away. Nope, I am wrong.

“Jill, why do you always sit here looking out the window?” Joe asks mischievously.

I say nothing. I do not look at him. I feel my heart start to beat fast, my hands are getting sweaty and my leg begins to shake.

All of a sudden, Joe takes my backpack and tosses it to the back of the bus. Joe begins to laugh and his friends join in the laughter.

I am afraid and do not know what to do. I can feel my face getting hot. It is probably very red.

Joe laughs even harder as he points at me “Your face is so red.”

I just want to jump out the window. Then, I look up and see we are at school.

I stand, and start yelling, “GIVE ME MY BACKPACK AND LEAVE ME ALONE!” (I might be shy, but I do have a breaking point where I just blow up.) Oh no, I feel my cheeks getting wet. Now, I am crying.

I do not stop. I am the first one off the bus. As I walk quickly to the school, I continue to breathe in and calm myself down. I do not want anyone else to laugh at me. All I want to do is get to my classroom and sit quietly at my desk.

I enter room D-105. I can see other students at their desks working on their morning jobs.

Mrs. Nelson greets me as I walk in, “Good Morning, Jill, is everything okay today? Your face looks a little pink.”

Did she have to say that out loud? Now, everyone is looking at me. I look up and mumble, “I’m fine.” I really should have told her everything that happened because maybe it would have prevented the rest of the day from falling apart. Instead, I go to my desk and hope this day does not get any worse.

Once all the students arrive we stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. “I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag...

Then, Mrs. Nelson goes over the schedule for the day. “Today class during math we will have a one-minute fact test. In spelling, we will practice for Friday's test. Then, we go to Music, lunch and recess. Science we will observe our plants. I will be calling up a few groups up during reading.

Pledge

Math – 1-minute timed test

Spelling – Practice

Music

Lunch

Recess

Reading – Groups

Science – observations

Home

I think to myself I can do this. If I do not have to talk, there is no chance my face will turn red and no one can laugh at me.

Mrs. Nelson did say she was only going to meet with a few reading groups. Maybe it will not be my group.

See reading in front of the people is painful for me. I am a good reader, and I love to read but to read in front of people terrifies me. I try to keep quiet and hope another confident classmate will volunteer to read.

The day was going great. Then it happens… reading groups.

Mrs. Nelson calls my group to the reading table. Our group has been reading Nate the Great.

She says, “Okay, group turn to page 16. Who can tell me what has been happening?”

I freeze and look down at my book hoping Mrs. Nelson will call on someone else to answer the question. I am grateful when my best friend Suzy answers the question.