Alvin I. Holsey Books

   Ellie Rigor sat beside her mother in church and listened to the pastor preach. She hid within her braided, raven black hair because of her braces. She hated them because they and her glasses made her look and talk funny, she thought. She was 11, skinny and about 5 feet tall. Her brother, Elisha, was 17 and at home with their father. He was almost as tall as their father, Harmon, was.  Harmon never went to church. Sometimes Elisha went to church with them. They were one of the few African American families that attended Mighty Fire Community Church.
   Ellie was so preoccupied with her shyness and new purse that she didn't even hear the pastor say that the service was over. People were up and moving all around her as she sat fidgeting with it. They had been going to the church for about a year. It had about 100 people in it and still had two whole sections of empty pews and empty spaces in the other pews. Ellie never talked to anyone. She just sat and waited for her mother as she talked to a few people.
   Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie thought she saw someone watching her, but she didn't want to look around.
   "Hello," a woman said.
   Ellie jumped and looked hesitantly in the direction of the voice.
   "Hello, my name is Anne. What's your name?"
   Ellie kept her mouth shut and didn't want to speak to keep her braces hidden.
   Just then, Sandra, Ellie's mother came back and sat down beside her. "Hello, Anne. I see you've met my Ellie." Sandra had green eyes, straightened, raven black, medium
length hair.
   "Well, I was just saying hello, but she appears to be a bit shy. Maybe she'll feel more comfortable with me some other time. I'll see you next Sunday ladies."
   Sandra smiled and said, "'Bye now."
   Anne smiled, picked up her bible, purse and left. She had neatly combed short, black, kinky hair and wore a beige dress with grey spirals on it. She was a very pretty single woman.
   "Baby, you should get over your shyness. A whole world is wide open to you. You're beautiful. Those glasses and braces don't make you look as bad as you think."
   "I know."
   "You haven't talked to anyone since we've been going to this church, and I know you're a talker when you want to be. You're a really cool person to be around too. Somebody your age at this church is just waiting to meet a good friend."
   "I'll try not to be so shy."
   "And stop worrying about what people might think or say about your braces."
   "My teeth hurt from these braces though."
   "You're okay. And Melinda is your only friend at school and we've been here a year. You need to make more friends there too."
   "I will. I'm trying."
   "I guess we should go get something to eat. I don't mean to pester you, but I just don't want you to miss out on living. There are lots of interesting people and things in the world, but if you never talk to anyone, you'll never find that out for yourself."
   "I'll try harder, mamma. I promise; I will."
   "Good, let's go get pizza."
   Ellie smiled as they got their things and left.

   Monday at school, Ellie sat with Melinda during lunch recess on a bench on the
playground. "I don't know if I can come over Friday after school. My father goes bowling with his friends sometimes if he's not working and he takes the car. We go with him sometimes, but none of us like to bowl except my father," Ellie said.
   "Are you sure you can't come?" Melinda was a bit smaller than Ellie and had long, dark, beautiful chestnut colored hair. She also had a dazzling smile and was very quiet and shy. She only talked to Ellie.
   "Well, I'll ask, but I'm pretty sure I can't."
   The bell rang and the two slowly stood up and walked to get in line to go inside.
Melinda was in Mr. Startop's class. He wore glasses, and looked like a body builder. Ellie was in Ms Fragle's class so they got in separate lines. Melinda waved as her class went in first. Mrs. Ozlar and. Mrs. Shelmar were sixth grade teachers. They were helping the kids line up to go inside. Mrs. Ozlar waved at Ellie when she saw her. She had curly, black hair and wore long, dangling earrings.
   It was March in Anchorage, Alaska and snow was still on the ground. After she took off her boots and put her coat away, Ellie went to her seat. As she walked down the isle between the desks, Parker's foot went out as he bent down to pick up something off of the floor. Ellie went around it and went to sit at her desk. She sat beside Desmond. He was an Asian boy. They barely talked because she was so quiet.
   "Good job fifth graders. You're almost ready," Ms Fragle said. She was very tall, freckle faced and had a silver tooth. She had straight, brown hair and usually wore a dress. Also, she was kind of forgetful.
   "Can I pass out the atlas', Ms Fragle?" Ronald asked.
   "Why?"
   "We're doing Social Studies and we're supposed to be finding the straits," Ronald said.
   "Oh, oh, yes, sure you can," she replied.
   Some of the students laughed.
   Abruptly, someone yelled, "NO, I WON'T! HE PUSHED ME FIRST!"
   The sound of running feet made them all look towards the open door towards the hall.
   "I'M GONNA TELL ME DAD! HE'LL BEAT YOU UP, MR. HOPS!" A boy ran past the door and out of the school.