At lunch time, Sandy walked past class 9-C on her way to the cafeteria with her blue lunch box in her hand. She had wanted to have a glimpse of Annie and, hopefully, receive her pay. However, as she stepped before the front entrance to the class, it was Connie who appeared at the door with one of the boys.
"Hi, Sandy," Connie greeted with a smile.
"Hi, Connie," Sandy greeted back, trying to keep her voice as even as she could.
The redhead looked as impressive as ever, dressed in fashionable clothing that Sandy wished she had. She had a bright expression that shone in contrast to the gloomy sky outside. She stood on the pedestal of popularity, admired by the other freshmen, by both boys and girls. She had beauty, fame, charm, grace, style and... probably a stained skirt, judging by the way she kept her red handbag over the front of her skirt.
Sandy felt a pang of uncertainty over what she had done. She felt like she had done something terribly wrong to a celebrity who should be respected. Then she remembered the pay that she had yet to collect. The promise of money smothered all doubt over her deeds.
Connie left in the direction of the cafeteria, talking with the boy along the way.
Sandy followed a few steps behind.
In the cafeteria, Sandy chose an empty table. As she was seated and was about to open her lunch box, an envelope was slipped onto her lap. She turned and saw a little black-haired girl walking away. Annie!
Sandy examined the envelope under the table. It was unsealed. Inside was a single note of currency - a large note, enough for two big banana splits! It was her pay!
Ooh, it felt good to be paid! But she should not spoil her dinner again. Maybe she would treat herself to a few of the smaller sundaes instead.
"What's with that smile?" Ariel asked as she placed her tray of food opposite Sandy and sat down. The tray had quite the variety of food on it - baked potato with a topping of baked beans, a plastic bowl of sliced fruit, a chocolate bar, a lollipop, a carton of strawberry milk.
"Huh?" Sandy folded the envelope and pocketed it without bringing it up from under the table. She opened her lunch box. "Just thinking that today is a great day."
"Oh, really? It's depressingly wet outside. You had an emergency this morning. What could possibly be so great about today?" Ariel cut into her baked potato with a knife. She forked a piece and added some tomato-sauce-covered beans to it before eating it.
The day was great because Sandy got paid!
"Well, ah... it's Friday!" Sandy thought of a quick answer, "Yeah, Friday! Tomorrow's the weekend!" Not even the fact that her lunch was the leftover of yesterday's bland and boring vegetable casserole could diminish her happiness.
Before Ariel could question her further, Esper and Selina appeared with their lunch trays.
"Oh hey, Sandy, Ariel," Esper greeted. She noted the blond's tray of food. "Filling up the Air Blimp, I see."
Ariel huffed with indignation.
***
School was eventually over. When the final class bell rang, everyone was happy to go home. The delighted teacher was the first out the door.
After she had packed her belongings, Sandy stood up at her desk. She searched through her pockets.
"What's wrong, Sandy?" Ariel asked as she came up from behind.
"Can't seem to find my bike keys," Sandy said.
"You rode your bike here?" Ariel pointed out the window. "It's been raining all day."
"Oh yeah," Sandy remembered, "Momma Lois dropped me off this morning." So how was she going to get home?
(When Momma Lois had dropped Sandy off earlier that morning, she had told her ward to give a call for a ride home. However, Sandy had been in a hurry and had her mind on something else (money). Thus, she had not heard what Momma Lois had said.)
"You look worried," Ariel noted. "Let me guess, you have a problem getting home?"
Their classmates were already leaving the room.
"Uh, yeah," Sandy admitted.
Ariel sighed. "I'll ask Mum if she can give you a ride."
"Really? Thanks!"
Yes, it had been a great day for Sandy.
(Umm, Sandy, did you remember to take your umbrella home?)
The umbrella had been left all alone to dry in the corner of the classroom. It was still raining outside so the girls shared Ariel's umbrella as they walked out to the car of the blond girl's mother.
(Oh well, Sandy's umbrella should still be there on Monday. Of course Momma Lois was going to scold the girl for her carelessness.)
***
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