Free Mrs. Shepherds Dolls - A Christmas Story by Nancy C. Wilson Page A

taking a last
sip of coffee. Give her a break huh?” Her father lightly tapped her
on the head with his newspaper, kissed his wife and then patted Amy
on top of the head.
    “Way to go Dad, you’ve just messed up my
hair.” Jen complained.
    “Hang in there slugger.” He said to Amy as he
went out the kitchen door.
    “Slugger? Really Dad?” Jen groused shaking
her head.

    “No trouble today, okay girls. Try to get
along. I think there’s a bus that stops on the corner, so don’t
miss it, either of you!” Their mother said, warning them.
    “Really mom? I’m too old to ride a bus, I’m
going to meet those girls at the corner and we’re going to walk to
school.” Jen said getting up and fussing with her hair.
    “Well, okay, but don’t talk to any
strangers.”
    “That’s about all there is in this town to
us, mom.”
    “I know.” Their mother sighed. “Just be
careful.”
    “I’d rather take the bus.” Amy said finishing
her pancakes.
    “Good girl, I’ve got to get dressed and go to
church.” Brenda said, rushing up the stairs to her room.
    “Church?” The girls both said out loud.

    *******
    Amy joined the other kids at the bus stop;
which was an uneventful gathering of elementary school
children.
    Amy was relieved no one noticed her. She
stood off to the side holding her trapper keeper to her chest as if
it were armor against any unwelcome comments someone might
have.
    Truth be known, she wished someone would say
something to her in friendship; but that was too much to ask for,
she guessed.
    “Oh where is that bus?” She said out
loud.
    All of a sudden she heard a voice behind
her.
    “Good morning children, have a wonderful
first day.”
    “Good morning Mrs. Shepherd, thanks.” The
children automatically chirped back.
    “Who’s that?” Amy said it before she realized
it.
    “That’s Mrs. Shepherd, are you the new girl?”
One pretty little blond haired girl asked.
    “Yeah.” Amy answered, looking down at her
shoes.
    “Okay, well, you can eat lunch with us today
if you want, my name is Heather.” She said smiling at Amy.
    “I’m Amy.”
    “Well hey, why don’t you sit with me on the
bus.” Heather offered.
    “Okay.” Amy said smiling back.
    The bus arrived and the children started
climbing up the steps and grabbed their seats. Unfortunately the
bus had several stops before Amy’s and there weren’t a lot of seats
left.
    Heather rushed to the back of the bus and sat
with a girl who had long dark braids.
    Amy went back to sit with her but the girls
put their trapper keepers down so no one could sit with them.
    “Oh, sorry, I guess there’s no room. You’ll
have to sit somewhere else.” Heather frowned and then giggled.
    The bus driver hollered for everyone to sit,
but every time she went to take a seat, someone put something in
her way and then glared at her.
    “FIND A SEAT!” The bus driver yelled at
Amy.
    “Here.” A girl offered to move her lunch box
out of the way and let Amy sit down.
    Amy gratefully sat down and continued to hold
her notebook to her chest.
    “So, what’s your name?” The girl asked.
    “Amy, what’s yours?”
    “Misty.” She answered.
    “What grade are you in?” Misty asked.
    “Fifth.”
    “Me too.” Misty said.
    “They’re mean girls back there, don’t trust
them.” Misty advised.
    “Yeah, I learned that the hard way.” Amy
said, turning around to see the two girls heads together laughing
at something, probably her.
    “Who’s the dark haired one with braids?” Amy
asked.
    “That’s Jenny, she’s one of the meanest girls
in school.” Misty said turning around and narrowing her eyes at
her.
    “Well, I hope she’s not in my classroom.” Amy
said turning back around.
    “Afraid she will be and that little stuck up
Heather, we’re so lucky.” Misty said sarcastically.
    “Who’s the fifth grade teacher?” Amy
asked.
    “We’ll really be lucky if we get Mrs. Bond
this year.” Misty answered.
    “Is she nice?” Amy