I know how this school year will probably turn out:  rotten.

We just moved here from Elmwood last month; dad lost his job at the meat packing plant, and until last week, he didn't have a job.  We couldn't afford the rent at the place we'd been at, so we moved into government housing until we can get back up on our feet again.

I have met a few people, but none that I would really consider to be my friends.  Hopefully that will change once school starts.  Then again, maybe it won't.  I'm not exactly "Miss Popularity".  I'm not as ugly as the butt end of a Pomeranian, but I'm no Miss America either.  I'm rather plain looking with mousy brown hair that hangs to my shoulders, a rather boring face, and small dark eyes.  I also wear glasses.

I'm the youngest in my family.  I have two older sisters, Camey and Gina, who are more outgoing than I will ever be.  I'm rather shy in nature; it takes me time to warm up to people, especially kids my age, which is twelve.

I do okay in school gradewise, but as for making friends, forget about it.  I get all tongue tied, and I often end up putting my foot into my mouth.  Then kids end up laughing at me, and I just don't want to even bother trying to make new friends.  I wish we were still in Elmwood: there, at least, I still had some friends.  Not many, but some friends is better than no friends, y'know??

I just hope the kids will be nice to me.  I also hope that I will have some good teachers.  At my last school in Elmwood, a boy tried to do a swirlie on me (he tried to put my head into a toilet in the girl's bathroom as a joke), and ever since, kids teased me and called me "Toilet Head" or "Stinky Sue".  It was very embarrassing!

Mom says I am overexaggerating with the having no friends bit, but she doesn't know what it's like to be a kid.  She's way past that stage; she's old!  I try to talk to her about it, but she doesn't want to hear it; she says she's tired of my whining, so I shut up and keep it to myself.  It's no wonder I'm so miserable, especially now that we've moved.

Well, I start school tomorrow, so I will have to be in bed by eight.  We are also going to church in less than an hour and a half, so I have to go.  We are going to eat supper.  Just wish me luck in this new year, and pray I don't blow it again when I try to make some new friends!  I don't want to spend another school year being a loser!!  Thanks!