Change (Is Good), chapter 1

Based on a true story...

Chapter 1

Nine fifty-six.

Carrie had been staring at the clock on the wall for almost half-an-hour already. It was the day of her science exam, her last exam, and school was ending. And she was confident that she would get a good mark on this test. It was too easy.

"Thank God I studied the cell structures," she thought.
She had been so nervous for this exam, even though she was already a straight A student. She was top in her class and had been all year, except in science, which was her hardest subject. She had a nice teacher though and was sure she would make her proud.

Nine fifty-seven.

"God, this clock is moving so slowly."

She looked around. Across the aisle, she saw one of her popular classmates muttering under her breath to the girl sitting behind her. As she strained her ears to hear, the words "golgi apparatus," "mitochondria," and "question eight" popped up. Carrie frowned in disapproval. She looked back at the teacher, and then at the two girls. She decided to let it go.

"At least I didn't cheat."

During her attempt to lure her mind away from the clock, the time had magically skipped a minute and the black minute hand was pointing at the fourth marking after the eleven.

Nine fifty-nine.

One more minute and all the students who finished their exams could leave.


Thirty seconds...

Twenty...

Ten...

Five...

Four...

She looked around with her hazel eyes and saw everyone else's eyes on the clock most likely also counting down the time in their heads.

Three...

Two...

One...

Ten o'clock.

"Okay guys, could all who have finished their tests quietly raise your hand, wait till your exam is collected, and then leave," came the high-pitched, glass shattering voice of one of the science teachers.

Carrie raised her hand and had her test taken from her. She gathered up all her stuff and headed out the door of the gym where the exams were taking place.

Carrie had to wait for her sister in seventh grade to finish her exams before she could go home because she had the house key. She went over to the red benches and dumped her stuff there.

It was a cool day for summer. Cloudy, and had that foreboding look like it was about to rain. Carrie's hair was pulled back into a big, blonde, bun. Her light blue turtle neck wasn't doing her much good so she decided to slip on her Old Navy sweater.

She began thinking about what the next year had in store for her. Carrie's parents had already decided to move because her dad just had a job transfer. They would be moving to a little place in Canada called Ottawa. She couldn't wait. Not that she hated living here in Los Angles, but she honestly didn't know anyone and had barely any friends. She just wanted to start her life over, meet new people, and make some friends. Her parents promised a house, instead of an apartment like they were living in now, and she and her sister wouldn't have to share rooms, nice school, lots of stuff to do, many activities.

She began to imagine her new life while turning on her CD player and listening to The Beatles. They were the only thing she would listen to. The Beatles, they were therapeutic.

Carrie continued thinking about her future until her sister finally came out and together they walked back home.



One month later...

Carrie collapsed back onto the hardwood floor and looked around what would have been her bedroom a week earlier. It was now completely empty except for a bunch of boxes in one corner, about to be moved by a bunch of men in navy blue uniforms. She had just finished packing all the clothes she would need and since the furniture wouldn't reach Ottawa until one week after they already arrived, she'd need a lot of clothes.

The room was now completely deserted as a few men picked up the remaining boxes. She looked to the spot in the middle where her bed used to be. The corner where her chest of drawers used to rest. She fought back tears thinking about the memories she had in here. Her emotions were strong though and she found herself sobbing softly and silently into her jeans.

Carrie reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. It was an old model, not used much by her, but right now she would give anything to be talking to her best and only friend.

"Hello?" she said, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying, "This is Carrie. May I please speak with Sandy?"

"One moment," came the voice of a man.

Carrie kept the phone near her ear, straining to hear the voices in the background.

"Hi Carrie," Sandy said in a cheery voice.

"Hey. I was just about to say goodbye. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Aww, I'll miss you, Carrie."

Although Sandy was Carrie's best friend, they were never really close. They hung out. But it was obvious to Carrie that Sandy's best friend wasn't her. Still, it was a relief for Carrie to know someone would be missing her.

They talked for a while about the good times, and the bad, and when they started running out of things to say, Sandy decided to give Carrie a last piece of advice.

"Carrie?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever change."

"Sandy?"

"Yeah?"

"I won't."

"Good." Sandy replied.

"Bye. I'll miss you."

"Miss you too."

Carrie waited till she heard the click on the other line till she hung up.

"Carrie? Don't ever change."

The words seem to echo softly in her head.

"I won't. I promise I won't." Carrie whispered to herself.

She didn't know how wrong she was.