The story continues!

Oh my. The month is almost up and this story is NO where near complete? I'll just have to keep hammering away at it until it is. Until then I still have Short Story Saturdays.

The next installment of Shannon's life, after the break!


Principal Lawson showed Shannon around the school in a hushed manner. Shannon felt like she didn't have time to take anything in. The gym was large, the auditorium was huge and the library tiny. A brief tour of each wing of the school (set aside for certain grades) and they finally stopped outside a room in the 4th grade wing.

"This will be your homeroom class. You'll come here first thing every morning." As he said this Principal Lawson opened the door.

The class all stopped and stared as Shannon was escorted into the room. Silently they sat watching her every move. Principal Lawson approached Miss. Meriweather who was sitting behind her desk.

"Hello Principal Lawson. This must be the new student you mentioned earlier."

"Yes. Everyone this is Shannon Baker. Welcome her and treat her like you would any of your other classmates." The principal turned to Miss. Meriweather. "I'll let you get to it then." And with that he swiftly left.

Shannon was still standing in front of her classmates, still as a statue. They all just stared silently at her.

"Well, Mz. Baker. Why don't you introduce yourself to us! Tell us what you like."

"Um. Ok." Shannon closed her eyes, took a deep breathe and stood up straight. She was used to introducing herself to strangers at this point. "I'm Shannon Baker."

"HI SHANNON!" the Spencer girl from before jumped up and waved frantically from the back. All the children laughed.

"Sit down, Amanda!" Miss Meriweather chastised.

"I was adopted by Fredrick and Meredith Baker who are my new mom and dad. I love them and my new family. I also like to run and sometimes I like to read."

"Very good! Pleased to meet you Shannon. I'm Miss. Meriweather your homeroom teacher. If you'll have a seat over there we'll continue todays lessons." Miss Meriweather gestured towards a set of desks that were empty.

Shannon took her seat and took in her surroundings. The seats around her were mostly empty, like she was being put on display. She had a few students nearby. Amanda Spencer was sitting at the back-and still waving frantically at Shannon. She gave a small wave back.

The rest of the day went well for Shannon. She did the second best on the surprise spelling test and despite a rocky start to math she quickly caught on. After school she walked home with Amanda Spencer-who seemed all too excited to get to know Shannon.

"So you were adopted? What's that like? I've never met anyone who was adopted. Well, except you." Amanda seemed to have a never ending supply of energy. Shannon just chuckled.

"I'm not sure. I've only ever been adopted. I don't know what its like not to be."

"Woah. That's deep." Amanda stopped in her tracks and stared into space. "So, do you know who your real parents were?"

"No. I was told they died when I was young."

"Who told you that? How can you trust them? Maybe they're actually super secret spies out on a super secret mission."

Shannon had to admit she never thought about that. "Thats ridiculous!" She finally stated after drifting off in fantasy for a bit. "Besides, I'm happy with Fredrick and Meredith as my new parents."

"Why do you call them by their first name? I don't call my dad George."

Shannon blushed and looked away. She didn't have an answer for that. She just felt uncomfortable referring to anyone as "Mom or Dad." At least, not to their face.

"Oh! I go left here, what way do you go?" Amanda turned down a park path.

"Uh, I go straight."

"Ok! See you tomorrow Shannon!"

"See you tomorrow, Amanda!" Shannon smiled as she walked the rest of the way. Her first day back in public school and she had already made a friend. Amanda was a bit weird but Shannon liked that about her. She wasn't someone you could easily predict how they'd act.

She rushed home and spent the rest of the day talking continuously about her first day in school. Fredrick would just smile and nod and go back to reading his paper. Meredith tried to make comments but Shannon left little room for her to speak. That night Shannon slept like a log and in the morning she was out the door and off to school bright and early.

She rushed to school meeting Amanda outside. The talked briefly before the school bell rang. They ran through the halls to get to class. Principal Lawson shouted after them reminding that there was "no running in the halls!" As Shannon and Amanda came bursting through the door they greeted Miss. Meriweather. Shannon then stopped dead in her tracks.

There, sitting next to her appointed spot in class, was cousin Eddie.