Wacko Academy

by Faith Wilkins

  He dropped his hands from my shoulders and studied my face, trying to see my reaction, I guessed.

  Casting my eyes down, I said, “Umm, I should get back inside before my mom comes looking for me. The police will be here any moment, so you need to go.”

  He was quiet for a minute, searching for words. Meanwhile, I mentally kicked myself for saying what I had just said. Did you really have to mention your mom right now? Wow, Lily. Thanks for ruining the moment. I gave myself another mental kick.

  “Yeah. See you later,” Dustin finally said. Then he turned and got into the car.

  I watched him drive off and lightly touched my cheeks with the tips of my fingers. A wide grin spread out across my face. Malerie would so want to hear about this.

  But first, I had a whole lot of explaining to do. With squared shoulders and a clenched jaw, I marched through the hospital doors.

  About the Author

  Faith Wilkins has been writing poems and short stories since she was seven. She loves music and plays the violin. She also sings in a local choral group called Jubilate. Faith began writing Wacko Academy during the summer of seventh grade in a spiral notebook. She currently attends high school and lives with her mom and two little brothers in New York’s Hudson Valley.