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Spring - First Bloom - 4 (The Stefnies)
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Josie’s school was situated in the city of Lordfield’s Crossing, and she had to take a bus ride of about twenty minutes to reach her hometown. They soon left the outskirts of the city behind, and the scenery turned into open countryside. At the times when the dense forest opened up to the sky, Josie watched the vast, open fields interspersed with clusters of trees, but her thoughts had returned to the cat. She hadn’t been able to get a good look at it during her mad dash away, but she really hoped it was okay. Maybe she could try to get away tomorrow during recess? Josie decided to check at home for something the cat could eat, determined to help. She couldn’t just ignore its presence. Something already pulled her back to the small park area. Even if the cat didn’t want a friend, it still needed sustenance, at least, the girl considered.
Her thoughts lost in her plans to feed the stray, Josie didn’t notice the three girls sitting a few rows in front of her. They were of the same age as her and had been watching the girl with interest since she had entered the bus. Meanwhile, Josie was still concerned for the cat and wondered about the contents of Veilwood’s kitchen. What did cats eat, other than canned cat food? Josie herself ate very little meat in general; she just didn’t enjoy the taste, the texture - well, everything about it, to be honest. There also was the gruesome factor of how it became meat. Turning her thoughts back to the more pressing topic, she made a mental note to check for bread. If the cat stole sandwiches, maybe it would accept that at least. With a sigh, Josie resolved to settle this at home, as she had to check what was available before being able to make a decision.
To pass the time of the bus ride, she took out the book she had been reading before the boys had interrupted. This one had turned out to be rich in detail, feeding her mind and imagination. She loved it - but then, she loved most books, didn’t she? They always introduced her to new amazing words - like “mellifluous” or “perspicacious” for example. Josie’s most recent acquisition was “serendipitous”. What a great word. Words like these felt a bit like code because so few people were aware of them, but Josie loved words in general and languages fascinated and came easy to her. She almost found words to be like little treasures, to be sought after, found, and then cherished. They all held a unique shape, caused their singular sound, had their own meaning. Some sounded even like the meaning they used to convey, and nice words, like “soft” or “gentle” caressed one’s senses - while others were sharp and jagged, like “scold” or spite”, and possessed the inherent ability to tear at others. "Ugly" was another good example, as the word itself was already not very elegant and one of the actual few Josie disliked. There was beauty to be found in almost anything if one cared to look close enough, so she avoided using it at all if she could.
It always made her sad to hear unfriendly words being flung about, cutting through the air and lingering long like a bad aftertaste - worst for those they were hurled against. Why would anyone choose words that hurt over all the beautiful ones that could be shared? She had also noticed how some words, full of potential for greatness, could be twisted into something rude if the speaker wanted to do so. Being treated like this - being used to hurt others - was as if the words lost their shine, their possible magic, and Josie wondered why people didn’t realize this. Couldn’t they feel the unkindness spreading from them to everyone else and the world around them when they said things that made others sad? Josie held on to the dear wish that others could see or hear words like she did - a trove to use for creating rather than breaking. But, as much as she cherished words, when it came to herself, they sometimes seemed to escape Josie when she needed them most. It was curious, really, that was.
In her head, they danced about to arrange themselves into neat little sentences, ready to be given to someone else, almost like a present. But when she’d try to speak to other children, they all seemed to vanish into thin air as soon as she opened her mouth. Having been sure to be able to say something interesting, nice, or funny, she would be left abandoned by her own words, or what she did manage to say would come out all wrong. Sometimes she wondered if her own words were shy, hiding away when a Moment arrived for them to be spoken. It was a peculiar fact that made her feel like she was on the outside of something she couldn’t quite comprehend; as if everyone else had a map to the right things to say, and she was left to wander about without it. So, Josie carried her books, preferring them over cold and lifeless e-books on an electronic device. They were her companions, and also, one couldn’t hide behind a small screen if one needed to. Books didn’t mind if she didn’t have all the right words at all times and still offered her new ones with eternal patience, each like a small bauble to be tucked away. And when she found a particularly delightful one, like “effervescent”, it was like discovering a hidden gem, something rare and precious, something that somehow only she could appreciate.
In her quiet way, Josie understood that words had power. They could be used to hurt, yes, but as she had also been able to experience, they could comfort, heal, and inspire, too. So what, if she sometimes struggled to find and say the right things. She knew that the words she kept close, the ones she chose with great care and that would come out right, were all the more special because of it.
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The girls in the front of the bus were peeking through the seats to look at Josie, who was still captivated by the text, her concentration unwavering. Their agitated whispers, dispersed with silent laughter, hinted at a spirited conversation. One of them uttered something to the other girls, her braces glinting while she talked, her lips a tad thin. Her luscious brunette hair was cut into a gentle inverted bob that reached chin length, providing a perfect frame for her pretty, oval face and high cheekbones. Amber brown eyes sparkled in her fair complexion.
The second one had a bit darker, more olive-toned skin and was slim with delicate bones. She snickered with her hand in front of her mouth, the small limb not big enough to hide the contours of her pronounced, angular jawline. Her beautiful dark brown curls bounced with every move, most of them tamed into a high ponytail but for a cute fringe on her forehead.
The last of the group was taller than her companions, noticeable even while they were sitting; her overall physique a bit more robust. She had a round face, the skin just a touch too red with a subtle sprinkle of freckles. Straight and fine blonde hair, cut into a shoulder-length bob, was kept back by a headband. Her bright blue eyes were glinting with delight, her grin showing a set of very white but somewhat oversized teeth. All of them had stylish and modern backpacks adorned with small plushies and glittering items, matching their fashionable and expensive-looking wear.
A hushed sentence from one of them had the others laughing out loud, making Josie take note of the group at last. Once again interrupted in her reading, she frowned and stowed her book away. It would wait for her, and at home she would have enough time. When she looked up again, she sighed. Of course, she wouldn’t be left in peace on the way home; of course, this day had to end with a bus ride accompanied by the Stefnies. Meeting them here, though, was a bit surprising, as they were chauffeured by one of their parents to and from school most of the time. She knew every girl in that group better than she would have liked. All of them were named Stefanie, and Josie wondered to this day about the adults who ever thought it would be a good idea to give them the exact same first name. Was there some deeper meaning to this? She doubted it.
The brunette, Stefanie Langermore, and her two best friends - Stefanie Ellinger with the pretty dark curls and the blonde Stefanie Pondras - were a source of almost daily grief for her. The three girls had decided some time ago that Josie, with her unique looks and demeanour, was a great target for their collective teases. Her unusual home and familial situation were also recurring themes in their mockery, and few school days passed without them teasing Josie about one thing or another. She had come to just call them “the Stefnies”, not bothering with their nicknames. The girls had made up shortened forms of their last names (another sign for Josie that their name givers couldn’t have put much thought into their decision) that they used proudly. She hoped Lany, Elly, and Pondy would be content to just whisper about her. It had been a long day already, and the events in the park had left Josie tired and longing for the solitude of her home.
Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, with the Stefnies, this hope was pointless. Josie felt a familiar vibration of her phone and took it out of her parka. It was a message with a picture of herself and it was obvious that one of the Stefnies had taken it a few Moments ago. It showed her with wild and chaotic hair, her face flushed and sweaty after the run, and read the caption: “Messy Missy - Nosy Josie”.
Again, Josie sighed. They had sent it to the entire class. Of course, they had. The Stefnies had coined the rhyme, mocking her for not being dressed as well as them, and for always being nose deep in a book. The second part also fit, because Josie had the habit of asking (in their opinion) strange questions at school. They would use the phrase as often as they could, so she had heard this tease many times.
"She is also a thief, guys. Caleb and I saw her in the park today,” someone had answered.
Josie’s face heated up as she enquired further, but wasn't surprised to see that Danny had sent the message. Anger bubbled up in her stomach. Sure, she had taken his backpack, but she had never intended to take it with her. What would she even do with a boy’s stuff? Was he untruthful on purpose - leaving out all the details leading up to Josie taking his belongings in the first place? Tears threatened to well up in her eyes.
"Great,” she thought as she started to type a response.
Everyone in their grade had received those messages, and she could not let the statement go unchallenged. After taking a few deep breaths like Nan had taught her, Josie thought better of it. She deleted everything she had typed, locked her phone, and stowed it away.
Once more, Josie sighed. Nothing good would come from engaging them. She tried to swallow the hard lump in her throat, but it wouldn’t leave so easily.
She only wanted to go home.
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