With Love, Guinevere (part seven)

1

Summer came and for normal teenagers, it's a period of rest, relaxation, and creativity. Mrs. Maroney, my previous math teacher told me that I was far too advanced for her class and that she would like to see me finish up SIMMS in summer school. The SIMMS course itself was a two-year course. The first year consisted of the first semester of both Algebra and Geometry. The second year was the final semester of each. Mrs. Maroney advised me to go ahead and finish the second semesters of each in summer school so I could skip ahead to my level of work. When Mrs. Maroney left the school to be an at-home mother, I felt lost. She had always given such great advice to me.2

Summer school was boring, simple, and lengthy. I got bored quickly in the four hours I had to spend there each day. I spent a lot of time during our fifteen and ten minute breaks with Mrs. Day-Aleman (Mrs. Day) because she was the senior class sponsor for the 2002-2003 school year and she was running a "trading post" with Chanda to raise money for the Senior Prom. Her daughter also spent the time with her. Mrs. Day read Harry Potter to her daughter and she wanted to preview the Goblet of Fire before she read it to her daughter and asked me if she could borrow the book from me. Naturally, I let her read it.3

I also had to participate in summer band camp while going to class. It drained my energy levels fast. The heat was unbearable, even in shorts and a tank top. We were going over basics with and without instruments, building up stamina and building up trust for our new drum majors, Cruz and José. 4

I missed Liam over the summer, but I dealt with it. I kept busy and at the end of each day, I was too drained to really care about much else other than a bowl of cold ice cream and sleep. 5

When July came around, mom decided she couldn't keep driving by herself all the time. She figured it was about time for me to get my permit, so she took me and signed me up for Driver's Ed at Austin Driving School. So then, not only was I splitting time with summer school and band, but also Driver's Ed. 6

I was split beyond words and though my aunt promised to pay for both summer school and Driver's Ed, mom put out the money yet again while my aunt fell back on yet another promise. I lost energy levels and precious health that summer, heat melting it all away. Stress, I had locked away without realizing it and had thought it let go and behind me. 7

Don't bottle your emotions, 8

They blow up in your face.9

Sacrificing health for love,10

We'll win this endless race.11

With Love,12

Guinevere13