Free Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree Page B

your mother,” Joy promised her.
    Tracy giggled, covering her mouth to hide it. “I wasn’t trying to talk to that boy.”
    â€œMmm hmm, I know you were. I was trying to do the same thing when I was young,” her aunt said.
    Tracy gave in. “Well, I didn’t like him anyway.”
    Joy chuckled. “Yup, those little boys can tear your heart out, but no girl can live without them.”
    â€œI can,” Tracy proudly announced. “I’m not ever gonna talk to another boy again.”
    Tracy was not allowed to return to school until Monday. She felt like a new student when she had returned. Everyone was ahead of her in class assignments as if she had been left behind. Even the smell in the hall seemed different. And everyone was staring at her.
    Curious students whispered about her as she walked through the halls. Her mother had told her to ignore them, but it was aggravating. Tracy wanted to lash out and finish off the entire hallway. But then she would end up suspended again.
    Tracy was unusually quiet in class. She was silent at recess as well. Her friends were scared to talk to her. They all figured she was still mad about Aaron not teaching her to play football, so they sat and watched without speaking. Pam made sure she went nowhere near Tracy.
    Tommy stopped playing football to talk. He smiled at Tracy and said, “I heard you beat up Pamela.”
    â€œYup, that’s why I got suspended last week,” Tracy told him, pleased that someone was willing to talk to her.
    â€œWell, if you still wanna play football, I’ll teach you.”
    â€œOkay,” Tracy said, forgetting that she hated boys.
    Tommy had a red-headed temper, but he was sweet when he wanted to be. The other boys dared not to say anything about him taking the ball to play with her. They all mumbled under their breaths.
    Tommy and Tracy played catch all through recess. Tracy’s friends watched, hesitantly. Anything could trigger Tracy’s wrath. None of them were willing to take that chance.
    Tommy even walked Tracy home after school. He was as nice as any boy could be. Tracy started to like him. He was wonderful. She had no idea that a boy could be so friendly and understanding toward girls. He then sat outside of her house with her. Tracy felt like she was grown. Talking to Tommy was relaxing.
    After going in the house, Tracy went up to her room and dozed off as she watched Tom & Jerry. Then suddenly she was shocked to attention, sitting up wide awake in her bed.
    I forgot about something, she thought to herself, frantically. Or did I forget to do something? No! I forgot to see somebody .
    Tracy stared at her television trying to remember what it was. Something was missing from their normal school day and she couldn’t figure it out.
    â€œAARON!” she yelled at her television. “Aaron Barnes wasn’t in school today,” she reminded herself. Her little heart began to patter. No wonder school had been so dull. Aaron made school exciting. Without him, there was little to talk about and nothing to remember.
    Tracy grew restless. She knew she had to face him. She couldn’t get Aaron Barnes off of her mind. In her daydream, she imagined him teaching her to play football. It was the strongest feeling that Tracy had felt for anyone besides her father. And it was the first dream she had had of any boy. Aaron Barnes was it! Tracy Ellison had been bitten by the love bug.
    Tracy wore one of her prettiest skirts to school on Tuesday. It was royal blue with white and gold hemlines. And she wore the rubber-soled blue shoes that her father had bought her, anticipating playing catch.
    Tracy walked through the halls with a new attitude, expecting to behappy. Aaron hadn’t arrived in class, but Tommy was there, and he was in her way. Tracy decided to ignore him while she waited patiently for her young Romeo to enter the classroom.
    Tommy asked a few questions, trying to get