Worst to First. by Kaylee Kwok

Transcription

1 Worst to First by Kaylee Kwok

2 To my dear baby brother who helped me with this idea by watching television with me. - Kaylee Copyright 2016 Kaj Publishing. All Rights Reserved. i

3 CHAPTER 1 The Impossible Test Beams of light hit my eyelids from the curtains. I had the sudden feeling that something was terribly wrong. I turned to face my alarm clock. It was 9:30 am! School had started an hour ago and I already missed my first class! I leaped out of bed like a frog. I disregarded the fact that my mother did not wake me up like she did every day until I went to the kitchen. She wasn t there! Then I suddenly remembered that yesterday she told me that she would have to leave early for work. I turned to look at the dining table. There was a little bowl of cereal waiting to be eaten. By its side was a little post-it note. It read: My lovely Margo, I hope you remembered that I would have to leave early! I made a bowl of your favorite cereal. I wouldn t want my only child to starve to death! Remember, study hard! Love, Mom My mom was miles away and she still cared about me. After eating the bowl of cereal, I combed my unkempt hair and brushed my teeth. I grabbed my colorful pink shoes and put them on. I then grabbed my sparkly backpack and I was ready to roll. 2

4 I wish I was ready earlier, I thought but there was no time for thinking. I locked the front door and sprinted all the way to my middle school, Burton Junior High. I wrote on a tardy slip and brought to my second and least favorite class, Math. Ms. Stern, the math teacher, was waiting for me there. She briefly looked at me with her cold blue eyes then handed me a test packet. I skimmed through it. There were a hundred questions! The test had decimals, exponents, and more. I looked at the clock. There were only 5 more minutes of class! I tried to do just 10 questions but it was impossible. When it was time to hand back the tests I only finished about 20 questions. A few moments later I heard my name called over the loudspeaker telling me to report to the principal s office at once. 3

5 CHAPTER 2 Test Scores Ms. Failcury, you have been tardy all week! said our principal, Mr. Draconian. I don t know what to do with you. Maybe detention for a month? He gradually started to rise out his rolling black chair. Yes, detention for a month sounds fair, don t you think Ms. Failcury? Y-y-yes sir Principal Draconian sir, I stuttered. I got out of my chair and the principal walked me to the door. As I left the principal s office, I scanned the area of unruly kids racing to their next class until I spotted my friend, Musi Kalke. We had been best friends since kindergarten. We were total opposites, though. She was never late for school and I m rarely even at my first class. She loves listening and playing music, while I do neither. I love sports and she gets scared of any type of ball. But the saying is that opposites attract! I ran straight at her but she got out of the way as quickly as possible. I didn t see her move so I was just running at a wall. After a second or two I realized what was going on. I tried to stop as quickly as possible trying to not fall on my head. Hey M.K! I said as I caught my breath. Hi Margo. I saw you out the window when you were running to the school. You were tardy again and heard your name called over the intercom. What happened in the principal s office? Musi added as we walked to our next class together. I got detention for a month. At least it s not as bad as last time, I guess. I replied. As the day went on new things were posted on the school bulletin board such as afterschool class forms, lost dog or cat forms, and even some ba- 4

6 babysitting posters. Just one of the flyers caught my eye. The test scores had come and they were on the posted! I don t know how Ms. Stern corrected them so fast but she did. I looked to see where my name was. At the bottom of the paper there stood my name. Teresa Snort - 91% Nicole Norgay - 85% Margo Failcury - 10% A piercing shriek came behind me. I turned around to see what had happened. I was flabbergasted when I saw nothing had happened. There was a possibility that the person who made this sound was a girl named Mia Glupan who had a grin so big it could touch the blue sky. Someone that ecstatic would have only made such a noise. Yay, yay and yay! She cheered. She had been looking at the top of the scoring list and there stood her name. 5

7 CHAPTER 3 Testing...Again Ms. Stern, I think there is something wrong with the scores. It says I got 10% when I know I got something higher than that. I exclaimed as I entered the math classroom. No one was in there except Ms. Stern. Even if there was a class I would have still talked to her. I wasn t even mad, I was infuriated! Ms. Stern was correcting some other tests when she turned around to look at me. Hello Ms. Failcury, I see you are unhappy with your score. Ms. Stern replied. Unhappy was not quite the word I would have used to describe my lividness yet I kept listening. The only way you can change it is if you take the test again. Okay, I will take the test again. When should I come in? I announced. Come in tomorrow and remember to practice. If you need help ask Mia Glupan. She is a very altruistic girl and has passed all my tests so far this year. I don t mean to be rude, Margo, but you did horribly on the test so please try to lift your score. Ms. Stern said as I walked out of the classroom and into the halls of Burton Junior High. 6

8 CHAPTER 4 Mia Glupan Can you believe her? I spoke. Musi and I were in line in the cafeteria to buy our lunches. Why would I ever talk to Mia of all people? Everyone knows she s the ultimate nerd of the school. No one hangs out with her, not even the other nerds. I know it s mean to talk like this behind her back but still I waited for Musi to answer. Nothing. I waited some more. Still nothing. I turned to face Musi. She was talking to the last person I wanted to see at the moment, Mia Glupan. They were muttering to each other about something. I tried to listen to what they were saying. Do you think she will like me? What if she hates me? No one hangs around with me anymore. They say I m a nerd. Mia whispered to Musi. Musi reassuringly patted her on the back. I felt bad for her. Of course she will. Why wouldn t she? I m her best friend I know her best! This really made me livid. I was so stupefyed with her answer that when she tapped on my shoulder I almost fell over. Hi! I bellowed. Hey, Margo. You know Mia, right? Musi asked as she pointed to the freckled girl next to her. Of course I know Mia! I responded. You also know how Mia doesn t have any friends, right? Musi said. I felt left out and Musi was so amiable to let me hang out with her, Mia confessed. It never occurred to me that Mia actually cared about having friends. 7

9 Why are you telling me all of this? I asked the friendly two girls. They were just talking to me about how great Musi was. There had to be a reason. I was wondering if you would be my friend. Mia s face Mia looked sorrowful because she knew I would say no. This urged me to do the ultimate embarrassment; to say yes so I did. Sure, why not? I said even though I knew I would become the laughing stock of the entire grade. I didn t want to disappoint her, though. 8

10 CHAPTER 5 Bad Things Happen To Good People When I got home from school, I started to sniffle as a tear came to my eye. I was worried about what had happened today. What s wrong? my mother asked as she started to display our dinner on the kitchen table. It s just that I m not doing so well in Math class and I did really badly on my math exam and- I said rapidly. Slow down, sweetie. We have all the time you need to explain. My mother comforted me. I started to explain the day I had to her not telling her that I got 10% on my test. I really wanted to avoid that subject. Mom? I called. Yes, dear? My mother announced as she brought out another bowl of food. Ms. Stern told me that I just did horribly on the test; don t you think that s kind of mean? I asked. What was your score? she requested. Ten percent, I muttered. CRASH! The last bowl of salad fell and broke into a million pieces. What?!? Ten percent?!? Margaret Jane Failcury you should have studied for the test! It is worth half your grade! I told you to and did you listen to me? No! Go straight to your room this instant! We will talk to your father about this when he gets home. But mom- I whined. Now! She ordered. 9

11 Fine. I said as I climbed up the stairs to my bedroom. 10

12 CHAPTER 6 Life s Best Memories My room looked as if it had been through an earthquake. My clothes were all over my room. My bed sheets were nowhere to be found and all of my books were so viscid they would stick together. I jolted onto my bed and started to think about what had happened that day. I wonder if Mia will be less mortifying then I thought she was, I pondered to myself. What if she s just the weird nerd we thought she was? Then I started to think about all the tests, exams, and assessments I ever took. I never ever got 100% on a math test. Was I really that bad? I should study if I don t want Mom to yell at me again, I said aloud even though there was no one there except for me. I rummaged for my math textbook in my backpack. At the bottom of the bag my textbook sat there, waiting for me. Ah ha! There you are. I cried as I lifted it into the air and then laid it on my desk. Margo? Are you up there? whispered a familiar voice from the window. I walked to the glass window. Standing outside was Mia. She looked like she needed some help. Hey Mia, what do you need? I cried out the window. I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out since you know we re friends now and stuff. I thought for a second. Being with Mia was a lot better than studying. Sure! I commented. We lived in a house so I could just jump out the window. 11

13 Let s go! Hand in hand Mia and I skipped down the street like 6 year olds, free from all of the troubles in the world. I forgot about everything from the test to the detention. Life, at the moment, was good to me. Nothing could ruin this moment. 12

14 CHAPTER 7 The Beauty and the Brains Margo, you almost scared me to death! my mother shouted as I walked inside later that evening. Never ever run away like that again! Mia, I have called your mother and told her to come pick you up. I figured the two of you w e r e t o g e t h e r! m y m o t h e r y e l l e d i n d i g n a n t l y. Mia and I were seated at the living room couch. I sat up straight and Mia was balling her eyes out. After I had snuck out of my room to play with Mia, my mother must have come looking for me Ding, dong! someone had rang the doorbell. That s probably your mom, Mia. My mother said as she opened the door for a lady who was standing outside. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of brown, her hair flowing freely with a breeze; she was wearing a dress the color of blood. She was the epitome of pretty. Am I at the right house? she said. Her voice was music to my ears. Yes, my mother cried. Mia, your mom is here. That night I didn t sleep at all. All I could think about was the day I had. My eyes were as open as an owl s. I twisted and turned but still I could not sleep. Early in the morning the sun was rising from its restful sleep. Riing! my alarm clock rang and it was time to get dressed. Uhhhh. I whined. I turned to face the mirror. There were small, black shaded drapes under my eyes. I looked at myself in complete disgust. Soon after I was in my mom s car driving to school. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mom, you can drop me off here, I told my mother as we were about a 13

15 block away from school. Bye sweetie, my mother finally announced. Love you! Whatever, I thought rolling my eyes. 14

16 CHAPTER 8 The Score Math. My least favorite subject. All you do is do random things to random numbers. What was the point? I was in math class when Ms. Stern pulled me aside. Everyone was doing an exponents worksheet. Yes, Ms. Stern? I asked. Here is the test you need to need to do. This time your scores will not be up on the bulletin board. She told me, Please try your best. She handed me the test and shortly after I was off doing the assessment. I couldn t finish the test in class so I had to take it home. It took me a while but I did it. I conquered that dumb test! Good job. my dad said Now get ready for bed. Okay, I said grinning from ear to ear. I had had just come back from school the next afternoon and my mother was seated at the dining room table. Again?!? my mother yelled. She was on her phone talking to someone. She sounded very cross. What s wrong, Mom? I asked her very puzzled by the expression on her pale face. She brought her index finger to her mouth. She wanted me to be quiet. While I was waiting for her to finish the call I started part of my homework. Once I finished the homework I started to get out of my chair to check on my mom. I couldn t stand the silence anymore. When I got to the dining room table I could smell the wonderful scent of freshly baked lasagna, my favorite! Hey, Mom. The lasagna smells amazing! I announced. 15

17 Thanks, sweetie! My mother replied. But later we need to talk. BIG TIME. Okay, sure Mom. I answered. I was very suspicious so I had to say yes. All I knew was it had to do with the phone call she had received. 16

18 CHAPTER 9 The Talk Sweetie, I don t want to be rude but- my mother and I were chatting in my bedroom. But what? I asked. Margo, you are not doing well in your Math class. Like I already don t know that, I muttered, rolling my eyes obnoxiously. On your math assessment redo you got a higher percentage than last time yet you still did not get a good score. Ms. Stern was magnanimous enough to let you test again and now she is giving you one last try. If you get lower than 30% you fail. Okay? my mother bellowed. Okay, I murmured. I went to my desk and started to do the rest of my homework. The windows were open so you could feel a nice breeze coming in. Oh, by the way the redo is tomorrow. My mother said as she left my bedroom. Tomorrow? I thought to myself. I should start studying after the homework. I didn t know what to say after that. 17

19 CHAPTER 10 Last Chance The next day at school Ms. Stern gave me the same test for the third and last time. This is it, I pondered to myself. My last chance. The day before I had studied for hours for this test like a maniac. Before studying the test seemed impossible yet now it felt like a breeze. I think I can actually do this! I thought. I had completed about half of the test when I looked at the clock over Ms. Stern s desk. Only 20 minutes had passed! If I did the other half as fast I would have 20 minutes to check it and then turn it in to Ms. Stern. I lifted up my yellow #2 pencil and got back to work. Time flew by as I breezed through the questions and soon after I was correcting my test. Correct, correct, and correct! I pondered to myself as I corrected the last of the questions. I got out of my seat and walked toward Ms. Stern who was seated at her desk. I finished the test, Ms. Stern! I announced, handing over my test. Good job, Margo! While I check it start your classwork, Ms. Stern smiled. She handed me a worksheet to do. I galloped to my desk as elated as a hyena. What a wonderful day it is, I whispered joyfully, looking out the window. Later that day I went back to Ms. Stern s room. She was sitting at her desk. It was like she was expecting me or something. Ms. Stern? I called out. Margo, I have finished your test and you didn t get 30%. Ms. Stern 18

20 couldn t even bare to look at me. Did I fail? Did I get lower than 30%? I ruminated. You got 100%! You earned the highest score in the class! I don t know what you did to prepare but its working! she surprised me. I couldn t wait to tell my mother. The rest of the day was amazing. Everything went perfectly and I even got chosen on the new school soccer team! Time went by and soon there was only one minute left of school. All of a sudden a loud bell rang. School was out! I rushed through the old school halls and into broad daylight. I raced home to find my mom. She was on her computer looking for a recipe for dinner. I finally told her about my score. She was so elated she was jumping up and down. I know the perfect way we should celebrate! my mom commented. Pizza! We said in unison. We will have the pizza of your choice. When Daddy gets home you should tell him the good news. My mother cheered. I had never had a celebration with pizza so this was a great way to celebrate. When my father got home I hugged him so tightly that he probably couldn t breathe. After a few seconds I let go. The pizza came soon after and I told him the wonderful news about my assessment. He was also very jubilant like my mother. I guess hard work really does pay off! I announced at the end. 19

21 About the Author Kaylee Kwok was born on August 5th, 2006 in Anaheim, California. She now lives in Beverly Hills with her parents and baby brother. She is currently a 5th grade student at Beverly Vista Elementary School. Kaylee s favorite subjects in school are Art and Writing. In her spare time, Kaylee likes to sing in the choir and loves to grow her friendships with her close family and friends. Kaylee will always come up with new ideas for new books. This is Kaylee s first published book. She hopes to write some more one day. 20