By JoyBaker. 

Saturday, September 12 – Maelynn Beaufort

I slowly walk down the aisle of the small church. Well, big enough to hold over 100 people. But small, compared to the size of the church my family attended in Quebec.

My old church had a big balcony. My footsteps would echo because of the high ceiling. 

I would see my friends eagerly waiting for me in the corner.

I sigh, thinking of Greta and my other friends. 

I see most of the children from the church school. 

I look around and spot DeeKay waving. 

We sit behind them. My 4-year-old sister Sabina immediately starts talking to the Laurier family. “Are you and Mae’s friends? Do you do taekwondo? How old are you? My name is Sabina!”

 “Sabina! Be quiet!” I whisper. She frowns at me and then, as usual, ignores me and keeps chatting. 

Although I try to listen and participate, my mind keeps wandering off to my church in Quebec. And all my friends. I didn’t want to leave. I was fine back in Sherbrooke. I remember the quarrel I had with my parents a few months ago when they decided to move to Ontario. I had stormed away to my bedroom, where I had stayed the rest of the day. 

“Ce n’est pas juste!!  We can’t move!! I’m fine here!” 

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 I skipped a grade back when I was 8. So since then I have had two sets of friends: one set from the grade I was supposed to be in, and one from the grade I was actually in.

We had a babysitting club, we played games like jump rope and chalk art . . . we had a lot in common.

But here .. . well all the kids here are so different. Strange.

After church I go up to Ava. She’s wearing a purple sweater.
“Hi Ava!” 

“Hi Mae.” 

Wow! She actually said my name!

“Uhhh, what do you like doing?” I ask.

She pauses. “ I … I like hanging out with my brother,” She replies.

“That’s nice! Is he older or younger?”

“Older.” 

“Ok, well… Uhh, It was nice talking with you. See you on Monday.” 

“Bye.” 

I continue the challenge I made. To start a conversation with all my classmates I haven’t talked to much.

Next, I walk over to Hannah, who’s chatting with DeeKay, as usual. 

I decide to go over to Omari first. 

“Happy Sabbath,” I say shyly. 

“Happy Sabbath,”  He says. 

“It’s a nice day!” 

“Yeah.”

“ Who’s your favorite Bible character? ” 

“Uhh… Probably Elijah. ”

“Nice! I like Abraham.”

I go back to Hannah and DeeKay.

“Hi DeeKay and Hannah!” 

“Hi!” they say simultaneously. 

“What do you two like to do?” I ask timidly.

“I like doing art.” Hannah replies.

“That’s nice!” I say.

“ I like uni-cycling, chair-dancing, fishing, jumping on my pogo-stick, practicing taekwondo, hanging out with my brothers and friends, and I like animals.” DeeKay says, making her friend chuckle.

“Wow, that’s a lot of things!” I smile.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you on Monday.” I say after a few seconds of silence.

Yay! I’ve completed the challenge!