Kim Sigafus - Nowhere to Hide

NOWHERE TO HIDE

KIM SIGAFUS

7th GENERATION

Summertown, Tennessee

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, except for brief quotations in reviews, without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-939053-21-3

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H aving been a victim of bullying when I was in school, I dedicate this book to anyone who is dealing with it now. If others tease you for the way you look, talk, act, think, or feel, remember that its okay to be different. Being different makes you unique.

To anyone who is doing the bullying, think about something Maya Angelouan American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet, and civil rights activistonce said:

Ive learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

It is my hope that everyone who reads this book will stand up and be a light for others.

CONTENTS

NOWHERE TO HIDE

CHAPTER

Dealing with Life

H ey, Ive been looking for you.

Autumn turned away from her blue school locker to see Sydney Coffman standing there.

What do you want? Autumn asked, shutting her locker and giving it a little push. It wouldnt close right, so she opened it back up and shoved it a little harder trying to get it shut. She waited until she heard it click and then twisted the lock before she walked away. Sydney laughed and followed her.

Only a dummy would have trouble with their locker, Sydney said, falling in step beside her.

Autumn didnt reply as she shifted her heavy backpack to the other shoulder.

I hear you might be trying out for the play, said Sydney, walking backward in front of her.

So?

With the way you talk, youve got to be kidding. You cant even pronounce the name of the play. It comes out sounding stupid, like The Jingle Dreth.

Autumn tried to ignore her by walking around her and taking a side hall to the parking lot. Sydney caught up to her and gave her a push.

Hey, Im talking to you.

My mom is waiting in the car.

Sydney laughed, pushing her again. I dont care.

Stop it, said Autumn, falling back against the wall. She straightened up and caught a glimpse of a couple of kids coming down the hall toward her. She swung her backpack around and held it in her arms for protection.

Two girls rushed toward Sydney with a grin.

I see you found Autumn, Bree said. We were looking for her too.

Yeah, shes thinking of trying out for the play, replied Sydney. But I think she might change her mind.

They stared at Autumns stony face as her gaze fell to the floor. She hugged her backpack tighter to her chest.

You know that we try out for the fall play every year, said Jayden. What makes you think you have a chance to get a part?

We always get the best parts anyway, so you might as well forget it, added Sydney, and her friends nodded.

Fine whatever, replied Autumn, heading for the door again. The three girls laughed and walked behind her.

Shes so stupid, Sydney whispered loudly to her friends. I mean, not only does she talk weird, but shes too stupid to get her homework done. I heard Mr. B. talking to her after class yesterday. She hasnt turned any homework in all week.

Its none of your business, Autumn shot back, struggling as always with the s sounds in the word. She pushed the door open and stepped outside.

As she ran down the steps and headed for her mothers car, she could hear Sydney yell after her, but she didnt stop.

Autumn headed across the parking lot to a white SUV. Her mother was waiting there with two-year-old Sam, who was crying. Autumns mother was trying to comfort him.

Autumn opened the front door to see her mother glaring at her.

Why didnt you answer those nice girls back? asked her mother, trying to find the pacifier. If you ignore everybody, youll never make any friends.

Autumn pushed her shoulder-length black hair out of her eyes and sighed. Her mother had no idea what was going on, and she didnt want to tell her. It would just make matters worse. Better to just keep it to herself, she thought.

She was late getting out of school, and she could tell her mother was mad. Autumns dark eyes clouded over as she steeled herself for the yelling she knew was coming.

And where have you been, Autumn Dawn? her mother asked impatiently. Ive been here for ten minutes. She fumbled with Sam and then spat out, What is wrong with this kid? He wont quiet down!

I had trouble with my locker, Autumn replied as she threw her backpack in the back seat and got into the front seat. Whats wrong with him? she asked, pointing to her brother.

He hates that car seat, said her mother. Its almost too small for him now. She growled and turned around to face forward. Hell just have to get used to it.

Maybe he needs a bigger seat, replied Autumn as she leaned over to dig into the diaper bag sitting next to Sam. She handed him his pacifier, then she buckled her seat belt and added, Maybe we should get one.

Autumns mother laughed loudly as she shook her head. Her short blonde curls bounced around her heart-shaped face. No money for that. She started the car and pulled away from the school. How was your day? she mumbled.

Autumn glanced over at her. Same as always. Mom, can we do something fun this weekend?

I have to work.

Oh. Autumn sighed and stared out the window as they drove through town.

Autumn loved living on the White Earth Reservation. Located in the northwest corner of Minnesota, it was beautiful there. There were woods and lakes all around, and Autumn spent most of her time outside.

Her father, Tom, also grew up there. His Ojibwa name meant One Who Gathers, but everyone called him Tom. The thought of her father made her smile. Shed been told many times that with her black hair and dark brown eyes, she looked just like him.

Autumn sat back in her seat, staring out the window as she thought about him. He liked to tell the story of how he met her mother. His parents were hoping hed find an Ojibwa girl to marry, but he fell head over heels in love with a girl from Topeka, Kansas, by the name of Melissa Stewart. She had come to the reservation to visit a friend for the summer. Her curly blonde hair set her apart immediately from the dark Native American women he was used to seeing around town. Everyone noticed her, as a matter of fact, and Tom had to work hard to make sure she noticed him in the sea of men trying to get a date with her. Autumns father told her he won her mothers heart with his charm. Her mother said it was his work ethic and kind heart.

Once they were married, they both worked hard to support their little family. Her mother got a job working at the library, and her father worked for a construction company. They did a lot of things as a family, until her parents occasional fights turned into an everyday occurrence. When she was younger, he took her fishing. Now she hardly saw him at all.

Autumn sighed and her eyes clouded over as she thought back. Things started to fall apart when Sam was born. There was a lot of fighting, and Autumn used to sit in her room with the door closed and the pillow over her head. Eventually her parents divorced, and her father moved to Minneapolis, several hours away. She hadnt seen him in a long time.