Sean

By Chloris Li

Chloris Li generously sent her wonderful Young Author's story to GWN. Because there is limited space (on the paper copies), we are sorry the story is not separated into the paragraphs the original story was. We have guessed on where to separate the paragraphs. Here is the story:

"Bye, Professor Williams!" I cried as I ran to the bus stop. Once I entered the bus, a boy pushed me.
"Scatter away, rat!" he shouted rudely. "The bus is full!" Giving him a glaring look, I jumped off the bus and ran as fast as I could to school.
Many people tease me because I have no parents. They call me "rat" because many people say I look like one, and my name, Razine, sounded like the word rat-eat. I don't like anyone who calls me that, but I have no choice. The mouth they talk with is born on them!
Once I reached Rose Middle School, I was late. I ran to my classroom, C4 the biology classroom, as fast as possible. "You're late," Mrs. Lorie added. "Please hurry to your desk and start the test immediately."
This test was really easy. It was as easy as playing checkers. The test contained questions such as:

• How is a cladogram constructed?
• What do all anthropoz have?

Now that is what I call EASY! When we turned in our tests, Mrs. Lorie announced some news. One of them was that we can start making clubs in the school, but we first have to ask permission from Mrs. Talua, the vice principal. I was happy about the news, but who would agree with my club? I thought, and thought and finally came up with an idea.
"Ding, dong!" as I rang my neighbor's doorbell. "Coming!" shouted Sharon, my neighbor.
The door open. "Why, hello Razine!" cried Sharon. "I'm glad to see you. I thought Professor Williams is here today."
"He's out of town," I replied quickly. "May I start my homework?"
"Why of course!" Sharon shouted. I walked across the house to meet Sean, my neighbor's son.
"Hi Razine!" added Sean. "This homework is really difficult. Can you help me?"
"Of course, but you have to do me a favor. You are the only one who doesn't mind me having no parents. I really need your help," I said.
"What is your favor then?" Sean asked.
"I want to start a club. If you don't mind, I wish you can help me make posters, and most important, members. Since no one likes me, I know that one would join if you tell them. If you could do that, I will be glad to help you with your homework every single day. Can you?" I asked.
Sean thought for a while. "Sure! What club are you planning to start?" he asked.
"A STOP POLLUTION club. Many people are littering these days. I hope to stop that from happening."
"Ring! School dismissed!" After school, I raced Sean all the way to his house. I already had a form from Mrs. Talua to start a club. We think that today is the right time to start the posters.
Today, we did a lot of work. I did all the decorating, and Sean did all the cutting. Sean also helped me find members while I sat with my classmates at lunch that day and talked to them. Soon, we started becoming friends. Sean talked about stopping pollution with his friends, and told them if someone started a stop pollution club, they should join. All I need now is the poster and the form, and I hope I will be finished soon.
At the end of the day, we had 19 posters! We also had enough time to finish our homework. Tomorrow would be a big day for me!
The next morning, I ran to Mrs. Talua's office right away. We taped the poster onto the walls next to the other posters. The other posters were larger than mine. This was a challenge, because you need people to agree with your club in order to start your club. Each student at school could only agree with two different clubs each month. There were dozens of posters next to mine, and they were much fancier. This was a real challenge, but I wasn't worried. I had CONFIDENCE!
"I'm scared," I whispered to Sean at lunch that day. "Today is Voting Day and I don't even know if I could make it. After lunch, I will have to make a speech!"
"Don't worry, I have confidence in you. Remember what you are trying to achieve. I know you will make it. Worrying won't do anything but make you more scared," Sean exclaimed.
After lunch, I went to the auditorium to make my speech. At backstage, there were hundreds of heads from the crowd looking back. I went onto the stage and slowly started my speech. I remembered Sean's words. His words were like really smooth music. I finished my speech on a nice mannered way, and walked backstage.
One week later, the results came. I was in second place! 97 students agreed with my club! Now my goal is to get as many people as I could to join my club. I printed and copied many forms for students to fill. If more than 50 students wanted to participate, then I would receive a prize. This would be difficult, because I was only in second place. Handling more than fifty members, I separated the club into three different meetings, with different students in each meetings. One meeting would be before school, one would be at lunch, and one would be after school.
At lunch, I sat next to Sean. I was worried about the club. The deadline was two weeks away, and only 6 people signed in! I was really worried. If I don't get more than ten people in my club, the club would be canceled!
"Is your club going well?" asked Sean.
"Not really. Only six people signed-in so far, and the deadline is just two weeks away! I need to do something about that," I replied.
"Don't worry, you will get more than 50 people," Sean reassured. I don't know why Sean was so relaxed, but knowing Sean well, I knew there was a reason. I know I would find out two weeks later. If I don't get more than 40 people by the end of next week, I'm doomed.
Today was the day! It was the day to see how much people joined my club! I was so worried. I didn't even know if there would even be a chance of having the club. I didn't bother going to the bus stop today. I ran straight to school as fast as possible, and rushed straight to Mrs. Talua's office. "Hi Razine!" Mrs. Talua cried. "I've been expecting you today. I have some great news for you. The news is that you have won the prize! 64 students joined your club!" I became silent for a while. I was so happy that I didn't know what to say! I just could not believe it! I said thank you quickly and ran to my classroom.
At lunch, I told Sean the good news. He also was silent. Then, he told me something that made me sad, I couldn't believe what he told me. I just stared at him with tears in my eyes.
"Sharon never said you were going to move. At least not today! I just won the prize today!" I cried.
I was disappointed but I watched Sean leave. I gave him the prize I got, which was a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, and a book about friendship. He left the house with one wave. He promised that he would come back some day. He kept his promise, and I? I promised myself that I would never forget Sean. Never.