Secret Life

 

            The red pen said 88% at the top of Trixie’s test. Letting out a sigh of relief, she put it into her folder to take home. Math was not her strong suit, but she had gotten an acceptable grade. She didn’t understand why she would need math in the real world, but she was expected to do well in all of her subjects.

            “What did you get?” Melody whispered from across the aisle.

            “Eighty-eight,” Trixie whispered back. She couldn’t stop a small smile from forming on her lips.

            “I got eighty-seven!” Melody’s face showed how pleased she was.

            Trixie didn’t know how she would get through school without Melody. Best friends since second grade, they had always been in the same class. Now, in eighth grade, they were each other’s lifeline in the whirling torrent that was junior high school.

            As they walked home from school later that day, Melody asked, “Do you want to hang out at my house this afternoon?”

            “Sorry, I can’t,” Trixie murmured. “It’s Thursday. I have my family thing tonight.”

            “Oh right, I always forget. What exactly do you guys do anyway?”

            Trixie couldn’t quite meet Melody’s eye as she said, “We do different things. My dad says we should always spend time together as a family.” She wasn’t lying, exactly, but her family had a secret that no one else knew about.

            Trixie said goodbye when she reached her house. As she walked inside, Mom met her, looking excited. “Are you ready?” Mom asked, taking Trixie’s arm.

            “Of course!” Trixie couldn’t wait.

            “Dad and Aaron have already left – let’s hurry!”

            They both ran up the stairs to the secret closet. “After you,” Mom said as she opened the door.

            Trixie carefully stepped over some boxes to the back of the closet. She held out her hand and stepped through the invisible portal. A slight breeze blew across her face and she felt her talons dig into the grass beneath her. With a joyful roar, she shot into the air, her great wings unfolding to carry her higher. She may have two different lives now, but this was the one she really craved. She couldn’t wait until she became an adult. Then she would be able to stay where she belonged – in the Land of the Wind as a fearsome dragon.