Chapter one

Daphene
As I walked to the bus stop that morning I could smell something different in the California air. It was quite chilly, even for Tehachapi. I waited for Courtney to show up. Every morning we meet at the bus stop. We've been friends since kindergarten. we pinkie swore that nothing would ever take us apart. Nothing, never, ever. My Black curls were bouncing all over the place in the wind. Why is it so cold? I thought. Then I saw Courtney walking along. "Hello!" I called. She Smiled, she always said I was too cordial. I always said she was too frank. Just as she reached the square of pavement, A load of my hair flew in my face. We both laughed and tried to push it away with our gloved hands. Eventually, once I could see again, Courtney asked me; "How's the weekend been?" "Just fine, Grandma Mimi came to visit." "Hm. How's Henry?" "Stuffing his cheeks with food I'm sure." Courtney giggled. Henry was my hamster, he had been one of the babies of her two hamsters, Berry and Cinnamon. "How's little miss Berry?" "I'll bet she's eating the carrot I gave her this morning!" The bus arrived. I hadn't even noticed that the rest of the kids on the street had showed up. We got on to the nearly empty bus, the only kids who had gotten on before us were the Norberts, who lived way out in the countryside.
(YOUR TURN REBECCAH!)