Stella Diaz Has Something to Say

by Angela Dominguez

  I stand up without thinking and say in a loud voice, “I’m not stupid.”

  Jessica’s eyes get big for a second. She looks surprised, even a little nervous, but that only lasts a moment. Bridget starts laughing and Jessica joins her.

  Thankfully Stanley walks over with Ben and asks them if they want to play tag.

  “Do you want to play, Stella?” Stanley asks, turning to me.

  “That’s okay, Stanley,” I say quietly as I sit back down. If he’d asked if I wanted to play hide-and-seek, I might have said yes. I’m really a good hider and today feels like a good hiding day.

  When I get home, I lie on the rug in the living room. Feeling alone is very tiring. I wish I could just move back to Mexico. Then I realize I wouldn’t have been able to defend myself there like I did today. I would have just replied in English to some mean kid who was speaking Spanish. At least Jessica understood me. That’s it, as soon as Mom gets home, I’m going to ask exactly how to say “I’m not stupid” in Spanish.

  Nick walks over to the computer, sits down, and turns it on.

  “Rough day at school?” he asks as he starts to play a video game. I sit next to him.

  “Nick?”

  “Yup…” he says. He’s staring at the screen, so it feels easier to talk to him.

  “Did you know we’re aliens?”

  He gets quiet. He pauses the game and looks at me.

  “You know that’s not like aliens in outer space. You’re not E.T.”

  “I know that, but it still means we’re different.”

  “Okay, yeah, it sounds bad, but it’s really not.” He opens a new window on the computer and types. Then he points to the screen. It’s a very official-government-looking website.

  “See, here’s the definition. ‘Alien’ is an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.”

  I bite my lip and nod.

  Seeing that that didn’t really help, Nick gets another idea and types something else on the keyboard. A new window pops up.

  “Look, and the word ‘alien’ is derived from the Latin word alienus, which means ‘stranger’ or ‘foreign.’”

  I look at him. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “Okay, so we’re aliens, but you’re not a weirdo. You’re my sister. Mi hermana.”

  “But then why do kids at school say I’m weird? Today one of them even said I was stupid, which is not the truth.” I cross my arms.

  Nick’s face looks sad. I never really told him before that kids make fun of me sometimes.

  “Sis, you’re not stupid. You are the coolest, smartest almost-nine-year-old I know.”

  “You’re just saying that,” I say, looking at the ground.

  “No, I’m not,” he says, lifting up my chin.

  “Plus, so-called ‘aliens,’” he says, putting air quotes around “aliens,” “are some of the smartest people. Albert Einstein was an alien. He was from Germany. He’s pretty smart and cool, right?”

  I nod.

  “Jenny’s mom is an alien.”

  I nod again. That’s true, and if she hadn’t moved here, I might never have met Jenny, which would have been terrible.

  “Plus, I’m an alien, and I’m the coolest, right?” he says, putting his hand on his chest.

  I move my hand side to side. “So-so.”

  Nick laughs and continues, “Aliens are just people from different places, and different places can be awesome. Can you imagine if we were born here? If we weren’t Mexican, Mom wouldn’t know how to make albóndigas!?”

  I gasp. I hadn’t considered that.

  “Or worse, we’d just call them ‘meatballs’ instead and they would be boring meatballs sin sabor.”

  That makes me feel a little better. I like it when Nick listens to me. Still, I can’t help but feel scared thinking about the presentation.

  “What’s the frown about?” he asks.

  Nick is being so understanding that I just blurt it out.

  “I have to do a presentation with my fish project. I have to speak for a whole five minutes in front of the class. I’m nervous,” I confess, dropping my head into my hands.

  “I remember the first time I had to do that. It was scary.”

  I look up. I can’t even picture Nick being nervous. He’s so good at school presentations. Once I saw him do a debate in front of the whole school.

  “I have no idea what to do…” I say, scratching my head.

  “Well, first of all, we will practice.”

  I sigh.

  “Yeah, I know. It sounds silly, but it helps.”

  Then he pauses for a good minute. “And maybe Mom can take us to the Shedd Aquarium.”

  The Shedd Aquarium! Nick is the smartest! We’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to go. It’s all the way in downtown Chicago. It was the largest aquarium in the world for the longest time.

  I throw my arms around him.

  “All right, all right,” he says, hugging me back. I can see the small smirk on his face. “It’ll be good. We can do some research and get some ideas for your presentation.”

  “Yes!” I exclaim.

  “And don’t worry. I’ll help you, sis,” he says, then nudges me. He puts two fingers above his head like antennas.

  “We aliens got to stick together.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Stella, sit over here!”

  I hear Jenny calling me from across the cafeteria. I walk over with my tray, and as I get closer I can see Anna is there, sitting next to Jenny. My hands start to shake, which makes my chocolate pudding jiggle on the tray. I sit down next to Jenny. Anna waves hello.

  “Thanks for letting me sit with you guys,” says Anna. “My best friend, Isabel, is sick today. I usually eat with her.” She pouts a little bit.

  I quietly let out a sigh of relief. Yes! Anna has her own best friend.

  “No problem. It’s hard to eat lunch without your best friend,” I say, smiling as I shove a chicken tender into my mouth.

  “Thanks, Stella. Can I trade you an ants on a log for a chicken tender?” Anna holds up a piece of celery with peanut butter and raisins.

  “Sure,” I reply. We exchange grins as we trade food. Any person who is willing to share food with me can be my friend. The more we talk, the more I can see why Jenny is friends with Anna. She has a cat, a goldfish, and is pretty funny. I can actually picture us eating lunch together again, maybe even with Isabel.

  “Do you guys have your Valentine’s Day cards ready for tomorrow?” asks Jenny. “I do!”

  Anna nods. “I can’t wait for the class party.”

  I tighten my lips. “Almost. I’ll finish them tonight.”

  Usually, I would have finished them by now, but selecting Valentine’s Day cards this year has been tricky. Mom makes me give valentines to all the kids in my class, even the ones I don’t like. With most kids, I can give them something simple like “Happy Valentine’s Day.” That works for Jessica, who I have to give one to, but I don’t know which card to choose for Stanley. “Happy Valentine’s Day” would be boring. I also can’t choose the “Be MY Valentine” card. No way could I do the “Will You Be Mine?” card.

  When I get home from school, I finally choose “You’re the Coolest” for Stanley because it’s the truth. I also spend a lot of time writing out his name nicely. I hope when he reads it he’ll realize that I’m normal and not weird. Then things will get better in class. We might even be friends.

  While I write everyone else’s names on their envelopes, Nick watches Jaws on television. “I’m helping you research for your project,” he says.

  Some help! I have to hide behind the couch for most of the movie. Out of all the sea creatures, I’m most afraid of great white sharks. People say they don’t attack humans that often, but after watching the movie, I’m not sure. Jaws, the great white shark in the movie, really seemed to like attacking people.

  * * *

  The next day I bring the cards for my classmates wit
h me. There are balloons and hearts decorating the entire classroom. I spy Mom in the corner hanging up a streamer. Mom always takes a break from work to help out with parties as the classroom mom. I love her being here. She makes it a little easier, since she is so friendly and gets to know all the kids. Also, Mom is chatty enough for the two of us, so I follow her everywhere as she walks around the room.

  I’m busy eating a cupcake when I see Mom talking to Stanley. I’ve never told her about Stanley. He just cut his hair short, and it looks super soft. Mom says to him, “I love your haircut. My son, Nick, just cut his hair like that. Do you mind if I touch your hair? It looks like a teddy bear.”

  Stanley just grins and says, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mom pets his head. “Yup, just like a teddy bear.” They both laugh and Stanley turns a little roja. I’m surprised. I didn’t think Stanley could ever get embarrassed.

  Then I hear Jessica whisper in my ear, “Are you hiding behind your mommy?”

  I turn around, my own face roja. Mom turns around, too. Apparently, Jessica wasn’t quiet enough. Mom stands up extra tall and says, “Yes, I’m Stella’s mother. Nice to meet you.”

  Jessica drops her mouth open and her face goes blank. She’s been caught in the act.

  I beam. “Yes, this is my mom.”

  Unhappy that she can’t say anything else to me, Jessica huffs, puffs, and walks away. Having Mom around is the greatest!

  After the Valentine’s Day party, Mom drives us home. The radio starts playing my favorite song. I open my mouth to sing, but she lowers the music.

  “You know, Stella, someone can only make you feel bad if you let them. It’s just words.” I can see her eyes looking at me in the rearview mirror. She looks worried. I hate making her worry. I hoped that she would never find out.

  “It doesn’t feel like it’s just words. Plus, you’re lucky everyone likes you.”

  “Not everyone likes me. I just decided I wasn’t going to let it affect me as much. It’ll work for you, too. I promise.”

  I look out the window. At the stoplight, I feel her hand reaching back to me. I grab on to it tight. It makes me feel safe.

  “You’re so much stronger than you realize. That’s why your full name is Estrella. You’re my star. You can light up the dark.”

  “You promise you aren’t lying?” I look into her eyes in the rearview mirror. She looks right back at me and says, “Promise.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I don’t a hundred percent believe her, but Mom never lies.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Wow, Stella. That’s such a great dolphin,” Ms. Bell says as she looks down at my project. She leans over to me. “Can you do me a favor? We need a poster for the third-grade spelling bee tomorrow. Since you’re an expert at drawing dolphins, would you be interested in doing it?”

  I sit up and exclaim, “Yes!”

  “Wonderful! I’ll give you the poster and materials.”

  Ever since I shared Captain Rob and Monkey with Ms. Bell, she has been giving me extra projects. She also gives me story ideas all the time. Some of them are not that great, but I love that she talks to me as if I’m a good writer.

  Dolphins are also the mascot of my school. On the last day of first grade, we got to vote for a new mascot. I voted for the dolphins because back then I mixed up cute little penguins with dolphins. I was really bummed when I saw a dolphin mural instead of a penguin mural when we got back from summer vacation. That’s when I started learning all about fishes and all marine life.

  “Come, Stella. Let’s go to the supply closet to see what you need.”

  Together we select glitter, markers, and a poster board, and she puts it in a tote bag for me.

  “I can’t wait to see what you’ll do!” she says.

  As soon as I get home, I draw a dolphin jumping with big letters that spell out “Spelling Bee.” I even put glitter on the waves to make it feel more magical. I’m so happy that I even show Pancho.

  “Look, Pancho!” I say. He zips around his fishbowl. I am pretty sure that means he likes it.

  The next morning, I proudly stare at my poster as I eat my bowl of cereal. It’s so great that my poster will be on display for everyone to see. Then I start thinking about the spelling bee. I don’t mind spelling out loud too much, but I also have never done a spelling bee in my life.

  I ask Nick, “Have you ever done a spelling bee before?”

  “Yup. They’re pretty fun. Let’s practice. I’ll quiz you.”

  “Okay,” I reply.

  “Spell … ‘Bigfoot.’” He smirks.

  I groan.

  “Okay, what about ‘alligator’?”

  I groan again.

  Mom takes a sip of her café and says, “I’m sure you’ll do fantástico.”

  Despite Mom’s encouragement in the morning, I’m so nervous by lunch. Lauren is sitting with us today. Ever since we ate lunch together, she joins Jenny and me a couple times a week, when she isn’t reading. I’m about to ask Jenny about the spelling bee when Jessica interrupts us.

  “Look, it’s the weirdo twosome.”

  I think about what Mom said on Valentine’s Day. So instead of looking up at Jessica, I pretend to ignore her. My heart is racing, but I just look forward and talk to Jenny.

  “What do you want to do next Saturday? My mom said we could go to the movies.”

  Jenny plays along. “Oooo … I’ll bring candy then.”

  This makes Jessica angry. “Did you guys hear what I said? I called you weirdos.”

  “Did you hear something?” Jenny says, putting her hand to her ear.

  “Nothing worth listening to,” I reply.

  “Ugh!” says Jessica as she storms out.

  “Wow, what’s her problem?” whispers Lauren.

  We shrug, then Jenny and I give each other a quick fist bump. Then I take a big bite out of my delicious peanut butter sandwich. Secretly, I don’t know if I could have been so brave without Jenny. However, I realize that Mom was right. Suddenly, I feel less nervous about the spelling bee.

  The spelling bee finally happens that afternoon back in the cafeteria. I see my poster hanging on the stage. The other third-grade classes did posters too, but all the kids in my class agree mine is the best.

  “Looks so good!” Michelle gives me a high five. Even Stanley says so. At least I think so. I just see his mouth move and I begin to turn away, but then I remember him turning roja on Valentine’s Day. I force myself to stop and say to him, “Thanks,” then turn around before he can say anything else.

  Since all the classes in my grade are doing the spelling bee, Jenny is already there. I rush over to sit next to her. She is sitting next to Anna and another girl. Anna is smiling much more than any of the other times I’ve seen her. I know that’s because the other girl has to be her best friend, Isabel. Being that happy is just what happens whenever you’re near your best friend.

  After I say hi to Jenny and Anna, I whisper, “Hi, Isabel,” and she waves back.

  I was right.

  Our principal, Ms. Richards, is on stage with a microphone. She has on her dolphin pin, which she only wears on special days.

  “Welcome, third graders! Today is the annual spelling bee! We’re going to be doing it alphabetically, of course. We will have prizes for those who make it into the second round, and a big prize for the grand winner!”

  Everyone claps. The prizes at our school are pretty awesome. Kids have won school T-shirts, dolphin-shaped pencils, and even a pizza party. I whisper to Jenny, “I hope we get a pizza party!” Jenny nods.

  Ms. Richards calls all the students with a last name that starts with an A onto the stage. I start to get clammy hands and a sweaty forehead. I didn’t know we had to go on stage. Trisha Abrahams heads to the microphone first.

  Ms. Richards says, “Trisha. Please spell the word ‘happiest.’”

  Trisha looks around. Then she said, “Happiest … H … A … P … P … Y … E … S … T. Happiest.”

 
Ms. Richards presses a buzzer, which makes a big errrrrrrrr noise.

  “Sorry, Trisha, that’s wrong. Good try! Take a seat back in the audience. Jessica Anderson, do you know?” Ms. Richards asks.

  Jessica sticks out her chest and says loudly, “Yes, it’s happiest … H … A … P … P … I … E … S … T. Happiest.”

  Ms. Richards presses another buzzer, which makes a perky ding noise.

  She says, “Correct! Jessica, please take a seat on the stage.”

  I don’t want to hear the errrrr noise. What if I get a word that I don’t know how to spell, or, worst of all, don’t know how to say?

  My stomach starts to hurt. Maybe I could go to the nurse. I wish Mom didn’t have to work. Some of the other kids get to go home when they go to the nurse, but Mom can only pick me up if it’s an emergency. Maybe this is a real emergency. I mean, a stomachache could be a sign of something else that I don’t even know about!

  Before I can figure out my escape plan, Ms. Richards says, “Will all the children with last names beginning with D come up to the stage.”

  I look at Jenny and whisper, “I don’t want to.”

  “You’ll be great, Stella. You got this,” she says as she pats my back.

  It makes me feel a little better, but my legs feel wobbly like flan as I walk onto the stage.

  There are two students in front of me. The lights are so bright I can’t even see what is going on. Then I hear Ms. Richards say, “Estrella Díaz, will you come up to the microphone?”

  I gulp, nod my head yes, and walk up to the microphone. My hands and every part of me are shaking.

  “Estrella, please spell ‘disappear.’”

  I freeze. I wish I could disappear. If I spell it wrong, everyone is going to laugh! I look at Ms. Bell. Then Jenny. Both are smiling at me. I feel a little bit better, but my throat is closed up like I have cotton candy stuck in there. Then I remember what Mom said. I’m stronger than I realize.