From the Schools
St. Lawrence O'Toole

Herbert's First Day of School

By Billy Johnson II

Chapter 1

"Herbert, get ready you're going to a new school, it starts at a different time."

Herbert came down those stairs with some big old glasses, a suit, high pants, and a high-top fade. Mom said, "Herbert come on, your sister Sherbert already took the bus."

Herbert was in sixth grade. When he got into his class, the classes stopped what they were doing (even the teacher) and just stared at him for about 15 seconds, then started dying laughing.

Herbert said, "What's so funny?"

Kelly said, "Yo' haircut."

And the whole class said, "Yo' face."

Herbert did not care; wherever he went they would say that. They went the whole day making fun of him. Herbert liked this girl the first day he saw her Shelly. He went to her house every day because his dad knew her dad, and whenever Herbert would go over there, he would say, "Hey Pudding," or, "Come here, Peach Cake," and Shelly would always say, "Go home."

Chapter 2

Ten Years Later

Shelly was dating this man named Damon, and, you know, Herbert was still playing with Shelly. But one day when Shelly and her friend Kim were in the house, Herbert came in the back door and said, "What's up, ladies?" and went upstairs. While he was going up Shelly was taking a glance at him, and Kim said, "You are hitting on Herbert; you like Herbert."

Shelly said, "He makes me laugh." Shelly told those same words to Herbert.

Chapter 3

One Month Later

The Proposals

Shelly was watching TV, and the door rang. It was Damon. Shelly said, "Why are you over here?"

Damon said, "I love you, Shelly." He got on one knee and said, "Will you marry me?"

Shelly did not say anything, but when she saw that 10k ring, she said, "Go get me a glass of water, and when you come back, I'll tell you."

The doorbell rang again, and it was the flower guy, who brought in a dozen flowers, and the last flower came in with Herbert. Herbert got on both knees and asked, "Will you marry me?"

Herbert said, "I proposed to Shelly."

Damon said, "I did, too!"

Shelly said, "I'll have to think this over."

Chapter 4

The Discussion

Shelly asked her dad, "Which do you think I should pick?"

Dad started laughing and said, "Out of Herbert and Damon? Herbert, I don't even want to talk about. Damon is a model and brings home the green."

Shelly said, "Thank you," and when she went back into the living room, Herbert was about to leave.

Shelly said, "Where are you going?"

Herbert said, "I'm moving to California."

"Why?"

Herbert said, "Damon is smart, he's a model, and he's good-looking. I'm a nerd."

As he turned to leave, she said, "I don't want you to go."

"Why?"

"I want to marry you."

This story first appeared in Mary B. Morrison presents Diverse Stories: From the Imaginations of Sixth Graders, An Anthology of Fiction by Lou Richie's 6th Grade Class, ? 2006. Billy Johnson II is currently in eighth grade.