JOSIE
"Honey, breakfast is ready" Dad is calling from downstairs. Good old Dad. He's made breakfast already. The sweet smell of pancakes and waffles float upstairs to my bedroom. My tummy growls.
"Boy, sounds like a thousand hungry lions are in there." I tap my tummy lightly for silence
"Josie. Honey. Breakfast!" Dad calls again, voice laden with impatience.
"Be down in a bit Dad. Gotta fix me up a bit." I reply even as I jump out of bed. I stretch my thick body and run my hands through my hair. Boy, it's so thick, gotta stop by the saloon one of these days. I have always been lucky with my hair, it's rich and thick the only way a typical Navajo can have it. I love to consider my dark long hair as one of the lucky traits I got from Mom. I look a lot like my late mom than dad, she was a beauty. All the boys in my senior year drool over me. At least that's what Stacey tell me. I am not too sure about that.
Thinking about Stacey makes me remember how soon I have to be in school. Mr. Jeremy's History test is this morning. I groan upon remembering this. God knows half the kids in American high schools take History just to get grades good enough to get into college. I love the subject but I am fed up with being a High Schooler. I can’t wait for Spring as I would be finishing at Riverside High.
In the bathroom, I barely let the cold water run through my body before I jump out of the shower. The hot water is out again, well it's what you get in low cost housing such as ours. It's the least Dad can do since we moved here and I love him for it. I show my gratitude by being responsible and dedicated to my studies. I even have an after-school job at Patty's Kitchen. That way I get to support us in my own little way. I grab a pair of paint -stained jeans and a faded tee. I am not the dressy type. No make up for me either safe a dash of nude lip gloss. I hurry downstairs for breakfast, bouncing along the creaky stairs as I go.
"Morning Dad. Sorry I am late " I kiss Dad on the cheek.
"Ay, Muchacha. Slept well?" Dad replies in his mix of Spanish and English.
"Arrrggh. Night was so short. Had to study for History for the better part of it "
"You would do well Princessa like you always do" Dad has the best words to warm my heart. I lean across the table and squeeze his lean fingers in mine.
The sound of Stacey's engine pulling in the driveway breaks up the moment. She is my best friend who drives a beat-up truck that used to belong to her older brother. "Stace" as I love to call her has been my friend since I came to Riverside. She is as loud as her engine, dyed blue curls, ripped jeans, and dark make-up announces her presence wherever she goes. I love her. She is everything I am not: Bold and confident.
"Yo folks, morning. Can smell those pancakes from two blocks away." She snatches one from my plate.
" Morning Mr. Josie's dad" she says while flashing him a gold toothed smile.
"Morning Stacey. How do you do?" Dad pours her a glass of orange juice.
"Hey Josie, are you ready for 101? " Stacey asks me
"I dunno. are we ever ready? Mr. Jeremy is a bore. History is plain torture." I reply while twitching my brows.
Stacey looks at the thrift watch on her wrist and yelps.
" Aww shucks, seven fifteen. We're gonna be late for class." I quickly drain what's left of my juice, reach for my backpack and blow Dad a kiss, then we are out.
The drive from my home to our school takes just five minutes so we get there within the twinkle of an eye. Stacey finds space for her truck in the parking lot. We grab our packs and join the throng of students and teachers hurrying to class this morning. I catch my reflection in the glass door and I can't help but marvel at the woman I am becoming. I have thick hips with a well-rounded behind. My full breasts are bouncing joyfully in my tee. Most girls in my school are thin, straight and tall, typical white girls. The Navajo blood in me made me curvy and not so tall. I am not too cool with this though.
I take my seat next to Stacey in class. pulling my notebook from my bag, I try to revise my notes before Mr. Jeremy comes in. The class is as noisy as any American public High School can be. I think I sight Cute Chris trying to kiss Cheerleader Lizzy in the back. I am engrossed in my notes when the class suddenly goes silent.
I look up to see the most handsome guy I have ever seen in our school. Could he be a new student on transfer from another school? This is a new fish for the cheerleading girls.
"Who's this god in our class?" Stacey leans over and asks me.
"I dunno. I think one of the Greek gods escaped the history books" I reply.
Our Greek god guy is tall, like a basketballer. His hair is a lustrous brown the shade of chestnut. He has the healthy complexion of one who spends a lot of time under the sun. The class is so silent that it is possible to hear a pin drop. Very unusual for this class. Even the boys are captured.
"Good morning History 101" He finally speaks. His voice, there are no words to capture its thick richness, deep baritone yet musically calm. Maybe Mr. Greek god sings to the ukulele too. Boy, am I pathetic?
"Mr. Jeremy had to go on a sabbatical and would be away for some time. Sorry you are just being informed."
" I am Daniel Winchester, your new teacher for History 101."
