Page 8 - My FlipBook

from the fall. By the time lunch came around, she was feeling
better. Ellie had fourth lunch, so Mari was alone, heading to
the table where she sat with her friends from debate class.
She brought her lunch from home most days, preferring her
mom’s PB&Js over the school’s food any day.
That, and carrying a tray was a problem.
And Mari hated asking for help.
But today was one of those days she really should have
asked for some help. Even if it was just to have someone walk-
ing beside her.
Because a stupid squished grape was going to be her
downfall.
Literally.
Her one foot stepped on it, the miniscule fruit giving
enough slide that her foot slipped out from under her, caus-
ing her to land on her ass with a resounding thud. She was
just thankful she didn’t hit her head again.
Everyone was staring at her.
“Only an 8.5,” she announced to the silent cafeteria. “I
didn’t quite stick the landing.”
Brooke and Hannah, friends from Mari’s lunch table, came
to her rescue, grabbing her crutches and bag before helping her
up. Murmurs filled the space around her and slowly morphed
into more talking, and Mari hoped people had moved on and
were already discussing something else. This would be a great
story by the end of the day, no doubt. Gossip traveled fast
in any school, and gossip about the disabled girl falling was
always going to be a hot commodity. Especially because she’d
fallen twice now in the space of a few hours. That had to be a
record, even for her.

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