A girl and a boy making it through the worst year in everybody's lives.

DAREN AND KAREN: 7^th Graders Winning the Worst Year

by Joe Reister © 2024

“You know, it doesn’t look so bad to me,” the tall and nearly curvy girl said, standing up straight at the street corner to zip up her worn leather jacket, and half smiled at the gray sprawl of a school building on the hill.  “And I don’t care what Mr. Schepsis said, Daren.”  She stared at the school.  “It’s smaller than Lincoln.”

“I guess so, Karen.”  The short stick of a boy next to her said in the torn Yankees cap, stepping forward to stare at the building too, and then turned back to her with his own half smile.  “But remember that Lincoln had K through sixth and Jefferson is just seventh and eighth.”

“No kidding.”  Karen nodded, now watching an old, gray haired and wrinkled part-time crossing guard direct a large group of similar looking kids at the corner, and then saw the long line of waiting cars loaded with even more kids and their smiling, 40 something parents.  She shook her head, stepping into the backed up street, and pulled Daren with her as they walked past the stuck cars, the staring parents and the now frowning crossing guard.

“Careful,” Daren said, seeing the looks and the frowns pointed their way, but didn’t pull her back.  “The crossing guar…”

“I think we can cross the street all by ourselves.”  Karen avoided the crossing guard’s glare, getting to the other side of the street, and then turned to the school again, swallowing and losing her smile.  “I mean, we’re twelve and a half now.”

“Right.”  Daren looked down at his sneakers for a minute, swallowing too, and then noticed half of the students in front of the school sulking.  “That doesn’t look good.”

“No, it doesn’t.”  Karen nodded, noting the droopy faces on the quieter, younger seventh graders and the full smiles and laughter from the eighth graders before turning back to him.  “This is going to suck, isn’t it?”

“I think so.  Yeah.”  Daren half frowned, pulling her forward even more quickly, and then waved back to a larger boy in a brand new Mets cap.  “My mom said seventh grade’s the worst.”

“Great.”  Karen frowned at the larger boy, sighing, and looked again at the rest of the students.  “You’re still talking to Aaron?”

“Yeah, we play soccer together.”  Daren nodded, ignoring her frown, and saw another frowning girl with long legs walking straight toward them.  “Remember this summer?”

“Still?”  Karen stopped them both, nodding to the long legged girl, and shook her at the larger boy.  “It’s Aaron.”

“So what?”  Daren waved away Karen, nodding to the frowning girl too, and then sighed.  “Sharon looks thrilled.”

“Her brother told her seventh graders get beat up the first day.”  Karen sighed too and started them forward again.  “He’s a jerk.”

“Yeah, I know him.”  Daren held his breath as their feet hit the school grounds, started breathing again, and then looked for a path through the hundreds of students crowding around the entrance.  “My dad said that’s just talk, though.”

“Yeah, that’s what I told her too.”  Karen stopped again, watching an even curvier eighth grade girl come their way, and then shook her head.  “But Sharon wasn’t convinced.”

“Nice jacket.”  The eighth grade girl laughed, rolling her eyes at the worn leather jacket, and kept going.  “Get that from you dad?”

“I did,” Karen said with a low voice, pulling her leather jacket closer around her as a taller eighth grade boy looked their way and laughed too.  “And thanks.”

“Yeah.”  Daren glared at the eighth grade boy as Karen pulled him toward Sharon and the crowd in front of the main entrance to the school.  “Her brother might have a point.”  

“He might.”  Karen noticed the even louder laughs from more of the taller and curvier eighth graders closer to the building and held her head up higher.  “But that doesn’t mean we have to put up with it.”

“You’re right.”  Daren held his head up higher too as a different eighth grade girl eyed the leather jacket and them.  “It doesn’t.”

“It’s a whole new world.”  Sharon walked right up to them, frowning even more at the eighth graders, and gave Karen a hug.  “Fun, huh?”

“Just like your brother said it would be, Sharon.”  Aaron showed up with his eyes on the eighth graders too and threw up his arms with a big smile.  “And where we’ll be next year, huh?”

“Shut up.”  Karen stared down Aaron but pointed to Sharon.  “Her brother’s a jerk.”

“Marc is a jerk.”  Sharon rolled her eyes and nodded big.  “You should see him at home in nothing but boxers thinking he’s God’s gift to girls.”  She laughed.  “He’s an idiot.”

They all laughed too, and Daren and Karen shared a last look as the bell rang and they got pulled in different directions with the hundreds of other students around them.

They shared the same look a month later when they found each other again outside of a now familiar drab classroom.

“Fun times.”  Karen sighed, pushing the now longer bangs out of her face, and looked at Daren.  “You know?”

“Yeah.”  He shrugged, reaching for bangs that were no longer there with his shorter haircut, and shook his head.  “The best.”

“At least now you know where all your classes are,” Karen said, pointing to their drab classroom, and then stared back at three approaching eighth graders giving them the eye.  “Finally.”

“Right.”  Daren noticed the eighth graders and nodded to a boy in a matching soccer jersey.  “Yeah.”

“Yeah?”  Karen ignored the stare from the boy and shook her head.  “And who the jerks are.”

“Sort of.”  Daren high fived the older boy.  “Maybe.”

“Have fun in Puleo’s class.”  The older boy pointed into the drab classroom, grinning at Karen, and kept walking.  “I heard he thinks you’re cute.”

“Great.”  She stared back, frowning more, and shook her head.  “He popular on the team?”

“Not really.”  Daren shook his head too.  “No.”

“I’m not surprised,” Karen said and turned back to Daren.  “He seems like…”

“Yeah.”  Daren nodded and followed Karen into the classroom.  “He is.”

“That’s because jerks are everywhere,” Karen said and put on a smile at the scowling, puffy old man watching her and other students from behind a large desk at the front of the classroom.  “Even when they get paid to be here.”

“That’s true,” Daren said, keeping his eyes on the floor, and sat down at the desk next to her.  “So, you going to raise your hand before you call out the answer next time?” 

“Maybe.”  Karen shrugged, pulling out a pencil and notebook from her backpack, and tried to ignore the eighth grade girl sitting behind Daren but staring at her.  “But I was right.”

“At least you got that going for you,” Daren said, talking quietly, and stole a glance at the teacher.  “Mr. Puleo told me I was going to fail the class last week.”

“Good teaching.”  Karen shook her head and then noticed everyone else frowning at the turned over test papers on the desks in front of them.  “That looks like it’s going to be fun.”

“Nice shoes,” the eighth grade girl behind Daren said, clicking her tongue at Karen, and pointed to her feet.  “Stylish.”

“Chucks are making a comeback.”  Daren turned and gave her a look.  “And red ones are the cool…”

“Please.”  The eighth grade girl laughed and flicked the back of his neck with her index finger.  “Like you’d know.”

“I would.”  He turned, rubbing his neck, and pointed to his own red Converse sneakers.  “And you better watch…”

“Yeah, you’re so scary, Daren.”  The eighth grade girl laughed and looked right back at him.  “But we’re not on the soccer field.”  She pointed to the teacher.  “So shut up.”

“Excuse me,” Mr. Puleo said, loudly, and stared right at Daren from the front of the classroom.  “Is there a problem, Mr. Reece?”

The eight grade girl laughed and flicked his neck.

“Sorry, sir.”  Daren rubbed his neck and turned to face the front of the classroom.  “No.”

“Let it go.”  Karen leaned over, speaking quietly, and ignored the eighth grader.  “It’s just a girl thing.”

He saw Sharon nodding at the desk on the other side of Karen.

“Well, if Mr. Reece is done, let’s get to it boys and girls,” Mr. Puleo said, turning away from them as he waved a hand in the air and the whole class turned over their test papers.  “Take a look at how little you’re learning despite my twenty three years of teaching and the benefits of modern technology.”

The whole class groaned, but Daren smiled and held up the 71 on his test paper.  “I passed.”

“Me too,” Karen said, but frowned, flashing her 88.  “Great.”

“That’s not a grade to be smiling about Mr. Reece.” Mr. Puleo looked again right at Daren, pointing to the test paper, and shook his head.  “Worse, it’s probably your high point for the year.”

Daren swallowed, unable to look the teacher in the eye, and the whole class went quiet.

“He’s such a jerk,” Karen said, putting her hand over her mouth, and Daren nodded. 

Sharon too.

“Something you’d like to say, Miss DeMarco?”

“No, Mr. Puleo,” Karen said, putting down her hand, and forced a smile.  “Sir.”

Daren pretended to look at his test as Mr. Puleo stared at Karen for three more seconds and then turned to the rest of the class.

“It’s only nine more months,” Karen said even more softly while keeping her eyes on the teacher.  “Remember that, okay?”

“Yay.”  Daren looked up, ignoring Mr. Puleo, and half stifled a frown.  “So much fun.”

“Trust me,” the smiling youngish woman said at the front of a different and brightly lit classroom as Daren, Karen and the rest of the students looked anywhere else but at the diagram of a woman’s reproductive system on the giant screen in front of them.  “Just remember, it’s all normal, all awkward and it all gets better no matter what your friends say, eighth graders tell you or what you’re thinking and feeling right at this moment in time.”

Karen, Daren and the rest of the students all nodded and didn’t say a word. 

“Look.”  The youngish woman smiled big, stepping out from around the desk, and raised her hands high with an even bigger nod.  “I was 12 and a half once too, you know.  And I remember it being the most awkward, horrible and loathsome year in mine or anybody’s life.”  She laughed to herself with a twist and a shrug.  “But it does get bette…”

“You know,” Karen said very quietly at the desk next to Daren as the teacher kept talking.  “This is even more fun than Puleo’s class.”

“Yeah,” Daren said in an even softer whisper without looking at her and held his breath.  “So much fun.”

The bell rang and 24 students all got up at once.

“We’ll finish this tomorrow,” the youngish woman said, pointing to anyone as they all bee lined it for the door, and she half followed them.  “And maybe Friday too.”

“Never wanted to play soccer so much,” Daren stepped into the hallway, letting out his breath, and kept walking.  “And after that, I don’t care if they put me in goal and I take one in the nu….”

“Right.”  Karen trailed right behind him with half a laugh.  “Because you wouldn’t whine about that too.”

“Yeah, I would.”  Daren kept up his lead without looking back and nodded.  “But at least it’s not Health.”

“Oh kay,” Karen said when they broke out from the rest of the students and hit the first stairwell.  “You know Mrs. Bellows is right.”  She almost caught up to Daren and pointed back to the classroom.  “It is normal.”

“And awkward.”  Daren nodded without slowing down and started taking the stairs two at a time.  “Very awkwa…”

“And I figure you’ve tried it.”  Karen lost ground but kept going and followed him onto the first floor.  “At least once.”

“You figured right.”  Daren turned red, still keeping his eyes in front of him, and moved faster.  “At least once.

“And you liked it?” Karen said, almost catching up, and stretched to tap his shoulder.  “Right?”

“You bet.”  Daren sped up again, swerving around a group of laughing eighth grade girls in the crowded hall, and avoided their looks.  “Can’t stop, actually.”

Karen lost another step to him.  “I think that’s normal, you know,” she said, trying harder to catch up, and almost reached him again.  “And it’s supposed to feel good or nobody would…”

“Yeah, I know.” Daren stopped, turning around all of the sudden as she ran into him.  He looked right at her.   “And you?”  He pointed down below their belts.  “Are you…”

“No.”  Karen looked back, blushing herself, and shrugged.  “No, it’s a little more confusing for us.”  She swallowed, looking down, and half frowned.  “You know?”

“No.”  Daren stared, blinking at her, and half frowned too.  “Not really.”

Karen stared back.  “It just gets a little messy down there,” she said, blushing more, and looked past Daren.  “Lady wise.  Okay?”

“Oh.”  He turned to the floor, getting redder himself, and crossed his arms over his chest.  “What, uh…  When did that happen?”

“This summer,” Karen matched his blush, shrugging again, and moved past him.  “Just before we graduated 6th.”

“Graduated?”  Daren looked up, making a face, and started after her.  “In June?”

“Right.  June.”  Karen walked faster.  “I stayed home for a few days the first time.”

“Oh.  Okay,” Daren said a few steps behind her.  “I wondered why you were sick.”

“Right.”  Karen stopped, turning around, and looked straight at him again.  “I didn’t think you’d want to know.”  She made a face too and threw up a hand.  “It’s, uh, sort of disgusting at first.”

“Um, okay,” Daren said, staring at the floor yet again, and then looked up.  “And you’re the first one?”

“No.”  Karen scoffed and then pointed to all the girls around them.  “No, not even close.”  She laughed and shook her head again.  “No, Sharon started in Miss Clay’s class?”

“Miss Clay?”  Daren made another face and then looked past her.  “In fourth grade?”

Karen looked right at him, taking in a deep breath, and then frowned.  “Don’t tell her I told you that, though.”  She turned to the girl’s locker room and then looked back at him again.  “It’s kind of personal, okay?”  She nodded big, grabbing his arm, and squeezed it.  “Like, really personal actually.”

“Yeah.”  Daren took in a breath, looking at her again, and nodded with a big sigh.  “Of course.”

She nodded too, letting go of his arm, and swallowed.  “Okay.”

“I don’t remember that.”  Daren’s eyes narrowed, looking past her for a second, and then shook his head.  “In Miss Clay’s class?”

“Why would you?”  Karen matched his look.  “It’s not like…”

“Yeah.”  Daren just stood there, shrugging, and nodded.  “Right.”

Karen just stood there too and then shrugged herself.  “I’ll see you,” she said and went into the girl’s locker room.

“Yeah.”  Daren closed his eyes as the girl’s locker room door slammed shut and then opened them later to hear the sidelines roar as the soccer ball hit the back of the net and everyone on the team rushed onto the field.  He turned to see Karen screaming on the sidelines with everyone else when Aaron caught him in a hot and sweaty bear hug from behind and lifted him high.  He roared too as rest of the team shouted his name, hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him to the other side of the field.

“It’s going to be like that for a while.”  Karen laughed, shaking her head at the gathering crowd, and turned back to Sharon.  “And I’m not getting into that mess.”

“They’ve got to calm down, hear from Coach and then clean up.”  Sharon stared at the team, waving a hand in their direction, and then smiled at Karen.  “It takes about 20 or 30 minutes before...”

“It’s not my first game, Sharon.”  Karen half frowned, looking past her as the team put down Daren on the other side of the field, and then noticed a familiar eighth grade girl walking toward him.  Daren raised a hand to Karen and then saw and half smiled at the eighth grade girl.

Karen frowned all the way at his reddening cheeks.

“Come on.”  Sharon noticed, pulling her away as the sidelines broke up into smaller groups, and started them for the parking lot and Sharon’s mom’s car.  “We’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Right.”  Karen watched Daren demonstrate his goal scoring kick to the older girl until Aaron came up from behind him and punched him in the arm. 

“Great.”  Sharon sighed, watching too, and shook her head.  “Let’s go.”

But Karen saw Aaron point Daren in her direction, nod to the eighth grade girl and then yell something she couldn’t make out.

Sharon saw the same thing as Aaron dragged Daren away from the older girl and pointed him toward the coach and the rest of the team.  “He can be such a tool.”

“Yes, he can,” Karen said, and frowned again when Aaron punched Daren in the arm, this time in the school cafeteria.

“Ow.”  Daren turned, steadying his tray with a second hand, and just managed to save his lunch from the floor.

“Daren, what are you slumming with these chicks for?” Aaron said, loudly, smiling big at Sharon, and winked bigger at Karen.  “We’re eating with the team, pal, like coach said we should.”

“Hey.”  Karen stopped in her tracks, turning all the way around, and gave Aaron a look.  “You want to knock that off?”

“Chicks?” Sharon said, making a face next to her, and Aaron laughed out loud looking right at them. 

“You need to back up.”  Karen stepped right up to Aaron with a finger in his face.  “We were talking here, and I don’t remember inviting you into the conversation.”

“Yeah.”  Aaron stepped back, keeping his eyes on her, but laughed out loud again.  “And I don’t remember caring what you think, Karen.”

“Right.”  She chuckled, seeing Daren suddenly step in between them, and looked right at Aaron.  “Are you kid…?”

“Footballers eat together.”  Aaron waved off Karen, pointing to the table of soccer players on the other side of the cafeteria, and turned to look Daren right in the eye.  “That’s what coach said.  Remember?”

“Did the coach tell you to be rude too?”  Karen frowned as Daren half nodded at what Aaron said.  “Because I don’t think...”

“Excuse me?”  Aaron turned back to her.  “I’m not talking to y…”

“Like I care.”  Karen rolled her eyes as Sharon laughed, and then she did too.  “And you need to stop flirting.”  She wagged a finger at both Aaron and Daren and shook her head, with another, louder laugh at both of them.  “Because you’re really bad at it.”

“Flirting?”  Aaron’s face twisted and he stared at her with narrowing eyes.  “What are you…”

“Not with me, dummy.”  Karen stepped back, pointing to Daren, and smiled big at both of them.  “Daren.”  She laughed yet again and then pointed to Aaron.  “Although I thought you liked girls, you know, because you keep staring at us.”  She pointed to her chest.  “Or at least parts of us.”  She saw Sharon nod next to her.  “But whatever team you’re on is fine with me, Aaron.”  She shrugged and gave him two big thumbs’ up.  “Really.”  She nodded too.  “It’s all right.”

Aaron frowned, turning redder, and just stood there for a second before taking a step toward her.

“Okay.”  Daren held up a hand, shaking his head at all of them, and pulled Aaron back.  “Let’s go eat with the team, huh?”  He started them to the table on the other side of the cafeteria.  “Like coach said.”

Aaron went along with Daren, but then looked back.  “You can piss off, Karen.”  He raised a finger.  “That smartass stuff isn’t cute anymore, and I...” 

“I’m so concerned, Aaron.”  Karen raised her own finger.  “As usual.”  She turned to Daren.  “And it was great talking to you this month, Daren.”  She made a face.  “Again.”  She raised the same finger on her other hand.  “For like the second time.”  She shook her head.  “Thanks.”

“Look.”  Daren’s face sank as he kept walking Aaron away from her and then shrugged.  “I’m sorry, but...”

“You should be.”  Karen stopped in her tracks again as her face sank too, and she pulled out one of several books from her satchel, raising it high in the air.  “Because you used to know better.”

“He did.”  Sharon grabbed Karen’s arm as she pulled the book back and she stopped her from throwing it at Aaron.  “But it’s not worth Ms. Dybas’ office, right?”

“Hmm.”  Karen lowered her arm and the book and turned to Sharon with a nod.  “Probably.”

“What?” Daren said, sitting next to her in the principal’s office, and gave her a look.  “What did you say?”

“I said probably?” Karen said, crossing her arms over her chest in one of the dingy plastic chairs used by students, and stared at the ‘Felicia Dybas, Principal’ sign on the office door in front of them.  “I probably wouldn’t have hit Aaron with that book at lunch if Sharon had been here today.”

“Yeah.”  Daren half shrugged and saw the older school secretary in the principal’s outer office shake her head at them.  “That was not smart.”

“He shouldn’t have punched you again.”  Karen turned and looked right at him.  “That’s like the tenth time since your big goal, you have a giant bruise on your arm, and I’d had enough.”

“It’s not a big deal?” Daren said, rubbing his arm, and looked back with a shrug.  “It’s what guys do.”

“Except when you punch him?”  Karen pointed to the secretary and threw up her hands.  “Then you get in trouble.”

Daren saw the secretary nod and turned back to Karen.  “I wasn’t going to let Aaron hurt you, Karen.”

“Please.”  She half laughed.  “He wasn’t going to hurt me, Daren.

“Yeah, okay.”  Daren saw the secretary look at Karen and nod again in agreement.  “Good point.”

“You broke his nose,” Karen said with a big face.  “And got blood all over the place.”

“Yeah.  Another good point,” Daren said and turned back to Karen.  “But you know, Aaron’s scared of girls, right?”

“So what?  So is every other seventh grade boy, Daren,” Karen said, and the secretary laughed, covering her mouth.  “Even you, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him...”

“Aaron’s got a lot going on at home right now, Karen.”  Daren sighed, still looking at her, and threw up his hands.  “You know his parents are splitt…”

“Whatever.”  Karen raised a hand between them and shook her head.  “Look, I appreciate you sticking up for me, but...”

“Like you said, I was protecting him from you, Karen.  Okay?”  Daren made a face and nodded.  “You would’ve knocked him out with that second book, and…”

“That was kind of the point, Daren.”  Karen nodded back.  “Because you need protection too.”

“You’ve been saying that since I was three.”  Daren gave her another look.  “Maybe two.”

“You’ve been pathetic that long.”  Karen smiled and gave him another look back.  “You know?  Since you moved here?

“Yeah,” Daren said and smiled back along with the secretary.  “Well, thanks for joining me.”

“Mrs. Bellows didn’t give me much choice.”  Karen pointed to the rest of the school outside of the principal’s office.  “Which is why we’re here.”

“Yeah,” Daren said, and they both looked at the secretary.  “Well, I guess we’re in a lot of trouble, aren’t we?”

The secretary nodded yet again, hearing something move behind the principal’s door, and turned back to the computer on her desk. 

“At least it’ll up our cool factor.”  Karen gave a thumb’s up but then lost it and her smile as the principal’s door opened, and they both sat up straighter.

“I can explain, Ms. Dybas,” Karen said, leaning forward, and pulled out a book from her satchel.  “You see I was reading this book called The Cider Hous...”

“Yes, Miss DeMarco.”  Ms. Dybas’ face tightened, and her eyes narrowed on Karen and Daren’s sinking faces.  “I’m sure it had something to do with your love of reading.”  She sighed, pointing to the book and then Karen’s satchel.  “It always does.  Doesn’t it?”

“Um.”  Karen swallowed, putting back the book in her satchel, and looked at her shoes.  “I guess.”

“We.  Are.  In.  A.  Lot.  Of.  Trouble,” Daren said under his breath.

“Yes.  You.  Are.  Mr. Reece,” Ms. Dybas said and pointed them forward with a wrinkled finger.  A.  Lot.  Of.  Trouble.”

“I can’t believe you’re still in trouble.”  Karen shivered, standing outdoors behind Daren, and smiled as he plunged a shovel deep into the deep and still falling snow.  “I mean, Aaron…”

“Yeah.  I know.”  Daren ignored her, scooping the snow over his shoulder, and looked at the long, white driveway in front of him.  “Aaron forgave me the two weeks ago, but my parents said I still haven’t learned my lesson.”

“You’re not alone.”  Karen half frowned.  “I mean I’ve…”

“Really?”  Daren glanced back and pointed to the deep snow and long driveway.  “Babysitting doesn’t seem that big a deal.”

“I’m doing it for free.”  Karen frowned all the way, throwing her hands in the air, and pointed to a house down the street.  “And the Shaws have three kids.”

“Yeah?”  Daren looked down the street, grinning, and then laughed.  “Their twins just turned one, right?”

“Plus, a two-year-old.”  Karen nodded, taking in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, and raised three fingers in her wool gloves.  “All still in diapers.”

“That’s got to be a whole lot of fun.”  Daren laughed again and turned back to the driveway.  “Right?”

“Shut up.”  Karen kept watching him.  “And it’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“Right.”  Daren gave her a wink and started shoveling again.  “I heard the first diaper’s the worst.”

“Said by someone who’s never changed a diaper.”  Karen stuck her tongue out at him.  “Please.”

“Well.”  Daren shrugged, throwing up a hand, and grinned more.  “I think you forgot about my grandpa’s.”

“What?”  Karen froze and her eyes went wide.  “Your…?”

“Yeah.”  Daren turned back to her with another, even larger grin.  “That’s right.”

Karen saw him nod big and punched him in the arm.  “Shut up.”  

“Really?”  Daren dropped the snow and shovel and looked right at her.  “That’s what started all this, except with a book.”

She laughed and nodded to the house next door.  “I heard you’re shoveling us out next.”

“Yeah.”  He sighed, picking up the shovel, and started again.  “My dad wants to spread the love.”

“My mom said he’s keeping the money?”  Karen half frowned again.  “Yeah?”

“Until April.  Then I’ll have learned my lesson.”  Daren sighed more and dumped some more snow behind them.  “I guess.”

“At least this should be the last big snow.”  Karen pointed to the world around them.  “Right?”

“Let’s hope so.”  Daren nodded and then turned back to her again with another shrug.  “But my mom also volunteered me at the church pantry every Tuesday and Friday until the summer.”

“Whoa.”  Karen caught a glimpse of Daren’s dad in the front window a few houses down the street and half waved.  “I’d hate to see what they’d do if you really hurt Aaron.”

“You’re telling me.”  Daren saw his dad and added to the pile of snow next to him.  “Because Aaron doesn’t even ca…”

“I know.”  Karen saw Daren’s dad open the front door and give them a look.  “But at least you’ll have some money in April.”

“Yeah,” Daren said, half waving to his dad too, and dug even deeper into the snow.  “Then this will all be worth it.”

“Sure,” Karen said, now avoiding Daren’s dad’s look, and started for her house with a laugh.  “If you say so.”

Aaron laughed too, in Mrs. Bellows’ class, staring right at Daren’s now slicked back hair, and shook his head at the shine.  “You did what with it again, buddy?”  He kept Karen at the next desk in the corner of his eye.  “Shellacked it with like half a bottle of gel?”  He reached out a finger, just dabbing Daren’s head, and stared at the shine now on the tip of his finger.  “It’s practically a helmet, pal.”

“What?”  Daren turned, frowning, and gave him a look.  “Is your problem?”

“You look like a girl.”  Aaron wiped off his finger with another laugh.  “That’s all I’m saying.”  He winked and leaned back in his chair as Karen leaned forward.  “Nothing wrong with girls.”

“I think he looks pretty,” another boy said, nodding, and laughed too.  “A pretty, pretty boy.”

“Excuse me.”  Karen shut up the other boy with a look and turned back to Aaron.  “You want to shu…?”

“He’s right,” Aaron said, laughing more, and tilted his chair back even further away from her.  “Daren is a pretty, pretty boy.”

“It’s called product, you idiots.”  Sharon grabbed a seat one desk over, taking in Daren with a smile, and then stared down Aaron and the other boy.  “It’s stuff you buy if you work to make money like Daren did, and then want to impress girls.”  She chuckled and pointed a finger gun at them.  “It’s something neither of you morons would know about.”  She fired the finger gun twice and shrugged.  “You know, because you’re idiots.”

Aaron and the other boy just stared at her.

“Nice.”  Karen turned to Sharon, and they both laughed. 

“Um.”  Daren turned to her with half a smile and his own shrug.  “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”  Sharon smiled back.  “Happy to help.”

“And it’s certainly better that the bowl cut you’ve got there, Aaron.” Karen pointed to his limply hanging hair as half the class laughed with her.  “You’ve had that since what?  Preschool?”

“Miss DeMarco,” Mrs. Bellows said, raising a finger, but not looking up from the laptop on her desk.  “Do you want to rethink that?”

“Sorry, ma’am,” Karen said, seeing Aaron’s face sink, and took a deep breath.  “Sorry, Aaron.”

“Yeah.”  He swallowed, failing to push back the hair out of his face, and turned away from her and everyone else.  “No problem.”

Karen shook her head and sighed.

“You want to knock that off?”  Daren frowned, shaking his head, and gave her a look.  “I’m fine.”

“Sorry.”  Karen shrugged, looking back, and then noticed an out of place curl.  “And actually, you’re a little off.”

“What?”  Daren kept frowning, glancing up at the curl hanging in his face, and failed to pull it down.  “What is…?”

“You want it to be symmetrical.”  Sharon leaned over, pushing Daren’s curl all the way off his forehead, and smiled right at him.  “Now you look fine.”

He smiled back

“And it’s worth the $9.99.”  Karen gave him a wink and smiled too.  “And the walk to Walgreens.”

“I think that’s enough, Miss DeMarco.” Mrs. Bellows stood up and looked at all of them.  “If you don’t mind.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Karen nodded.  “You’re right,” she said and kept smiling at Daren.

So did Sharon, and Karen noticed it then and now in the large, low lit school cafeteria as she took in the balloons, the snacks and the punchbowl while all the seventh grade girls stood on one side of the dance floor and all the seventh grade boys stood on the other.

Daren noticed Karen with big eyes, giving her a wave, and then patted Aaron on the back.

Sharon saw them and nudged Karen.

She turned, taking in Sharon with her pseudo little black dress under a white cardigan, and nudged her back.  “You look good.”  She smiled at her, noticing the divide between the boys and girls, and then stepped forward.  “But enough is enough.”  She waved to Daren, then stared at the entire population of seventh grade wannabe dancers and started across the cafeteria all by herself. 

“Hey.”  Aaron grinned at on the other side, swallowing hard at the same time, and touched his newly cut and slicked back hair.  “How you doing?”

But Karen passed him by to take Daren’s hand.  “Your mom made you take dance lessons, right?” she said, pulling him forward onto the dance floor with a big look.  “Right?”

“Right,” Daren said, walking with her to the very center of the cafeteria, and took in a deep breath.  “But it was my dad.”  He half smiled and pointed to the hundred seventh graders staring at them.  “He didn’t want me to embarrass myself at my first dance.”  He looked around at all the eyes on them and shrugged just a little.  “Like this.”

“Oh.”  Karen laughed, not looking at all the eyes on them, and shrugged too.  “Good.”  She nodded and half smiled too.  “Smart.”

“Of course.”  Daren nodded back with a bigger smile.  “I think he was counting on you to get us started.”

“Of course, he was,” Karen said, squeezing his hand with everyone watching, and Daren pulled her closer.

They moved to the music without looking at each other, her hands just reaching his shoulders and his hands just on her hips as they stepped back and forth in a slow circle.

“Nervous?”  She finally looked up at him.

“Yeah,” Daren said, looking back, and swallowed, still very aware of all the eyes on them.  “You?”

“No,” Karen said, but nodded again, and found a bigger smile.  “Life’s too short.”

“That’s what my dad said,” Daren said and smiled bigger too, pushing her away from him, swinging her back slowly and then pulling her much closer just as the song ended.  “I think.”

“Nice,” Karen said, holding him even closer for a moment, and then laughed.  “Your dad’s a pretty smart guy.”

“You think?”  Daren caught his breath at their closeness, before seeing other kids come out on the dance floor, and then looked right into her eyes.  “I’m not so sure.”

“I am.”  Karen looked right back, still smiling, and then caught her breath too.  “And you should listen to him more.”

“Right.”  Daren stepped back, still looking at her, and found another smile.  “I’ll see what I can do,” he said as Aaron approached them from one side and Sharon the other.  “Okay?”

“Yeah.”  Karen said through a blush.  “Okay.”

“That was so cool.”  Aaron said, shouting, and spun around, almost falling into Karen.  “Damn cool.”

She frowned as Sharon held out her hand to Daren and then heard.  “Want to dance?”

“Yeah.”  Daren swallowed, still looking at Karen, but took Sharon’s hand.  “Okay.”

Karen watched them smile and stare at each other and then turned to Aaron’s big eyes, wide open mouth and his hand held out toward her. 

“Hey.”  He blushed and shrugged.  “You want to…”

“Fine,” Karen said, sighing, and took his hand, and they smiled too.

Then they all let out a giant shout, bursting through the school’s front doors, with Karen and Daren leading the way. 

“Have a good summer,” Aaron said, shouting again, his fists pumping the air as he ran right by them.  “We are done with seventh grade, losersssssss.”

“Ugh.”  Karen noticed, half turning to him, and shook her head.  “He’s such a…”

“See you at practice,” Daren said, waving to Aaron, and then turned to Karen with a shrug.  “And I know.”

“I am not going to miss him.”  She looked right back at Daren.  “At all.”

“Right.”  Daren laughed, giving her a look, and shook his head.  “You danced with him three times at the May formal.  And one was slow.”

“Yeah.”  Karen half frowned.  “But…”

“She was being nice,” Sharon said a step behind, catching up, and pulled them into a big hug.  “Like I am right now.”

“Right.”  Daren blushed, and Karen hugged her back. 

“See you tomorrow?” she said, nodding to Sharon, and gave her a squeeze.

“Yes.”  Sharon nodded too, heading to her frowning mother in a familiar car, but looked back.  “It’s going to be a great summer.”  She smiled big and waved bigger.  “See you, Daren.”

“See you.”  He looked up, waving back, and smiled big too.  “Sharon.”

Karen laughed at them both as he turned back to her, and she started them forward.

“What?” Daren said, catching up to her at the corner where the gray haired crossing guard gave them a look.  “What are you laughing a…?

“Busy year.”  Karen looked right at Daren, ignoring the question and the crossing guard, and nodded.  “A crazy one, even.”

“Yeah.”  He looked past her and shrugged.  “I guess so.”

Karen shrugged too.  “We learned a lot, grew a lot, and found out...”

“… that we’re not in charge,” Daren said, taking her hand, and pulled her across the street as the guard gave them a wave.  “Not yet anyway.”

“I’m all right with that.”  Karen shook her head, noticing her hand in his, but holding onto it even after they hit the other side of the street.

“You sure?”  Daren kept up.  “Really?”

She didn’t say anything as they kept walking, their hands growing sweaty until they turned at the next corner and she let go, looking him right in the eye.

He looked back.  “I guess we’ll be in charge next year, huh?”

“If we want.”  Karen half nodded and then grinned right at him.  “Yeah.”

“Right.”  Daren half nodded and grinned right back.  “Until then I’ve got about a dozen lawns to mow every week, including his.”  He pointed and then waved to the man sitting on a front porch with two babies in his arms.  “Hey, Mr. Shaw.”

Karen waved too and gave Daren a look.  “If it helps, I’m taking care of his kids all summer.”

“Fun times,” Daren said, and they both laughed as one of the babies spit up all over the man.  “The three-year-old potty-trained yet?”

“No, and I’m so looking forward to it.”  Karen shared a look, shaking her head, but still smiled.  “This time I’m making money, though.”

“Good stuff.”  Daren turned to his house and raised a thumb’s up.  “And soon enough eighth grade.”

“Not too soon,” Karen raised her own thumb, still looking at him, and turned to the house right next to his.  “I’ll stop by after dinner?”

“Okay.”  Daren opened his front door, looking back, and smiled.  “See you then.”

“Right.”  Karen smiled back, raising an eyebrow, and took in a deep breath before heading inside.  “It’s going to be fun.”

Next time: K

Daren and Karen: Seventh Graders Winning the Worst Year

by Joe Reister

“You know, it doesn’t look so bad to me,” the tall and nearly curvy girl said, standing up straight at the street corner to zip up her worn leather jacket, and half smiled at the gray sprawl of a school building on the hill.  “And I don’t care what Mr. Schepsis said, Daren.”  She stared at the school.  “It’s smaller than Lincoln.”

“I guess so, Karen.”  The short stick of a boy next to her said in the torn Yankees cap, stepping forward to stare at the building too, and then turned back to her with his own half smile.  “But remember that Lincoln had K through sixth and Jefferson is just seventh and eighth.”

“No kidding.”  Karen nodded, now watching an old, gray haired and wrinkled part-time crossing guard direct a large group of similar looking kids at the corner, and then saw the long line of waiting cars loaded with even more kids and their smiling, 40 something parents.  She shook her head, stepping into the backed up street, and pulled Daren with her as they walked past the stuck cars, the staring parents and the now frowning crossing guard.

“Careful,” Daren said, seeing the looks and the frowns pointed their way, but didn’t pull her back.  “The crossing guar…”

“I think we can cross the street all by ourselves.”  Karen avoided the crossing guard’s glare, getting to the other side of the street, and then turned to the school again, swallowing and losing her smile.  “I mean, we’re twelve and a half now.”

“Right.”  Daren looked down at his sneakers for a minute, swallowing too, and then noticed half of the students in front of the school sulking.  “That doesn’t look good.”

“No, it doesn’t.”  Karen nodded, noting the droopy faces on the quieter, younger seventh graders and the full smiles and laughter from the eighth graders before turning back to him.  “This is going to suck, isn’t it?”

“I think so.  Yeah.”  Daren half frowned, pulling her forward even more quickly, and then waved back to a larger boy in a brand new Mets cap.  “My mom said seventh grade’s the worst.”

“Great.”  Karen frowned at the larger boy, sighing, and looked again at the rest of the students.  “You’re still talking to Aaron?”

“Yeah, we play soccer together.”  Daren nodded, ignoring her frown, and saw another frowning girl with long legs walking straight toward them.  “Remember this summer?”

“Still?”  Karen stopped them both, nodding to the long legged girl, and shook her at the larger boy.  “It’s Aaron.”

“So what?”  Daren waved away Karen, nodding to the frowning girl too, and then sighed.  “Sharon looks thrilled.”

“Her brother told her seventh graders get beat up the first day.”  Karen sighed too and started them forward again.  “He’s a jerk.”

“Yeah, I know him.”  Daren held his breath as their feet hit the school grounds, started breathing again, and then looked for a path through the hundreds of students crowding around the entrance.  “My dad said that’s just talk, though.”

“Yeah, that’s what I told her too.”  Karen stopped again, watching an even curvier eighth grade girl come their way, and then shook her head.  “But Sharon wasn’t convinced.”

“Nice jacket.”  The eighth grade girl laughed, rolling her eyes at the worn leather jacket, and kept going.  “Get that from you dad?”

“I did,” Karen said with a low voice, pulling her leather jacket closer around her as a taller eighth grade boy looked their way and laughed too.  “And thanks.”

“Yeah.”  Daren glared at the eighth grade boy as Karen pulled him toward Sharon and the crowd in front of the main entrance to the school.  “Her brother might have a point.”  

“He might.”  Karen noticed the even louder laughs from more of the taller and curvier eighth graders closer to the building and held her head up higher.  “But that doesn’t mean we have to put up with it.”

“You’re right.”  Daren held his head up higher too as a different eighth grade girl eyed the leather jacket and them.  “It doesn’t.”

“It’s a whole new world.”  Sharon walked right up to them, frowning even more at the eighth graders, and gave Karen a hug.  “Fun, huh?”

“Just like your brother said it would be, Sharon.”  Aaron showed up with his eyes on the eighth graders too and threw up his arms with a big smile.  “And where we’ll be next year, huh?”

“Shut up.”  Karen stared down Aaron but pointed to Sharon.  “Her brother’s a jerk.”

“Marc is a jerk.”  Sharon rolled her eyes and nodded big.  “You should see him at home in nothing but boxers thinking he’s God’s gift to girls.”  She laughed.  “He’s an idiot.”

They all laughed too, and Daren and Karen shared a last look as the bell rang and they got pulled in different directions with the hundreds of other students around them.

They shared the same look a month later when they found each other again outside of a now familiar drab classroom.

“Fun times.”  Karen sighed, pushing the now longer bangs out of her face, and looked at Daren.  “You know?”

“Yeah.”  He shrugged, reaching for bangs that were no longer there with his shorter haircut, and shook his head.  “The best.”

“At least now you know where all your classes are,” Karen said, pointing to their drab classroom, and then stared back at three approaching eighth graders giving them the eye.  “Finally.”

“Right.”  Daren noticed the eighth graders and nodded to a boy in a matching soccer jersey.  “Yeah.”

“Yeah?”  Karen ignored the stare from the boy and shook her head.  “And who the jerks are.”

“Sort of.”  Daren high fived the older boy.  “Maybe.”

“Have fun in Puleo’s class.”  The older boy pointed into the drab classroom, grinning at Karen, and kept walking.  “I heard he thinks you’re cute.”

“Great.”  She stared back, frowning more, and shook her head.  “He popular on the team?”

“Not really.”  Daren shook his head too.  “No.”

“I’m not surprised,” Karen said and turned back to Daren.  “He seems like…”

“Yeah.”  Daren nodded and followed Karen into the classroom.  “He is.”

“That’s because jerks are everywhere,” Karen said and put on a smile at the scowling, puffy old man watching her and other students from behind a large desk at the front of the classroom.  “Even when they get paid to be here.”

“That’s true,” Daren said, keeping his eyes on the floor, and sat down at the desk next to her.  “So, you going to raise your hand before you call out the answer next time?” 

“Maybe.”  Karen shrugged, pulling out a pencil and notebook from her backpack, and tried to ignore the eighth grade girl sitting behind Daren but staring at her.  “But I was right.”

“At least you got that going for you,” Daren said, talking quietly, and stole a glance at the teacher.  “Mr. Puleo told me I was going to fail the class last week.”

“Good teaching.”  Karen shook her head and then noticed everyone else frowning at the turned over test papers on the desks in front of them.  “That looks like it’s going to be fun.”

“Nice shoes,” the eighth grade girl behind Daren said, clicking her tongue at Karen, and pointed to her feet.  “Stylish.”

“Chucks are making a comeback.”  Daren turned and gave her a look.  “And red ones are the cool…”

“Please.”  The eighth grade girl laughed and flicked the back of his neck with her index finger.  “Like you’d know.”

“I would.”  He turned, rubbing his neck, and pointed to his own red Converse sneakers.  “And you better watch…”

“Yeah, you’re so scary, Daren.”  The eighth grade girl laughed and looked right back at him.  “But we’re not on the soccer field.”  She pointed to the teacher.  “So shut up.”

“Excuse me,” Mr. Puleo said, loudly, and stared right at Daren from the front of the classroom.  “Is there a problem, Mr. Reece?”

The eight grade girl laughed and flicked his neck.

“Sorry, sir.”  Daren rubbed his neck and turned to face the front of the classroom.  “No.”

“Let it go.”  Karen leaned over, speaking quietly, and ignored the eighth grader.  “It’s just a girl thing.”

He saw Sharon nodding at the desk on the other side of Karen.

“Well, if Mr. Reece is done, let’s get to it boys and girls,” Mr. Puleo said, turning away from them as he waved a hand in the air and the whole class turned over their test papers.  “Take a look at how little you’re learning despite my twenty three years of teaching and the benefits of modern technology.”

The whole class groaned, but Daren smiled and held up the 71 on his test paper.  “I passed.”

“Me too,” Karen said, but frowned, flashing her 88.  “Great.”

“That’s not a grade to be smiling about Mr. Reece.” Mr. Puleo looked again right at Daren, pointing to the test paper, and shook his head.  “Worse, it’s probably your high point for the year.”

Daren swallowed, unable to look the teacher in the eye, and the whole class went quiet.

“He’s such a jerk,” Karen said, putting her hand over her mouth, and Daren nodded. 

Sharon too.

“Something you’d like to say, Miss DeMarco?”

“No, Mr. Puleo,” Karen said, putting down her hand, and forced a smile.  “Sir.”

Daren pretended to look at his test as Mr. Puleo stared at Karen for three more seconds and then turned to the rest of the class.

“It’s only nine more months,” Karen said even more softly while keeping her eyes on the teacher.  “Remember that, okay?”

“Yay.”  Daren looked up, ignoring Mr. Puleo, and half stifled a frown.  “So much fun.”

“Trust me,” the smiling youngish woman said at the front of a different and brightly lit classroom as Daren, Karen and the rest of the students looked anywhere else but at the diagram of a woman’s reproductive system on the giant screen in front of them.  “Just remember, it’s all normal, all awkward and it all gets better no matter what your friends say, eighth graders tell you or what you’re thinking and feeling right at this moment in time.”

Karen, Daren and the rest of the students all nodded and didn’t say a word. 

“Look.”  The youngish woman smiled big, stepping out from around the desk, and raised her hands high with an even bigger nod.  “I was 12 and a half once too, you know.  And I remember it being the most awkward, horrible and loathsome year in mine or anybody’s life.”  She laughed to herself with a twist and a shrug.  “But it does get bette…”

“You know,” Karen said very quietly at the desk next to Daren as the teacher kept talking.  “This is even more fun than Puleo’s class.”

“Yeah,” Daren said in an even softer whisper without looking at her and held his breath.  “So much fun.”

The bell rang and 24 students all got up at once.

“We’ll finish this tomorrow,” the youngish woman said, pointing to anyone as they all bee lined it for the door, and she half followed them.  “And maybe Friday too.”

“Never wanted to play soccer so much,” Daren stepped into the hallway, letting out his breath, and kept walking.  “And after that, I don’t care if they put me in goal and I take one in the nu….”

“Right.”  Karen trailed right behind him with half a laugh.  “Because you wouldn’t whine about that too.”

“Yeah, I would.”  Daren kept up his lead without looking back and nodded.  “But at least it’s not Health.”

“Oh kay,” Karen said when they broke out from the rest of the students and hit the first stairwell.  “You know Mrs. Bellows is right.”  She almost caught up to Daren and pointed back to the classroom.  “It is normal.”

“And awkward.”  Daren nodded without slowing down and started taking the stairs two at a time.  “Very awkwa…”

“And I figure you’ve tried it.”  Karen lost ground but kept going and followed him onto the first floor.  “At least once.”

“You figured right.”  Daren turned red, still keeping his eyes in front of him, and moved faster.  “At least once.

“And you liked it?” Karen said, almost catching up, and stretched to tap his shoulder.  “Right?”

“You bet.”  Daren sped up again, swerving around a group of laughing eighth grade girls in the crowded hall, and avoided their looks.  “Can’t stop, actually.”

Karen lost another step to him.  “I think that’s normal, you know,” she said, trying harder to catch up, and almost reached him again.  “And it’s supposed to feel good or nobody would…”

“Yeah, I know.” Daren stopped, turning around all of the sudden as she ran into him.  He looked right at her.   “And you?”  He pointed down below their belts.  “Are you…”

“No.”  Karen looked back, blushing herself, and shrugged.  “No, it’s a little more confusing for us.”  She swallowed, looking down, and half frowned.  “You know?”

“No.”  Daren stared, blinking at her, and half frowned too.  “Not really.”

Karen stared back.  “It just gets a little messy down there,” she said, blushing more, and looked past Daren.  “Lady wise.  Okay?”

“Oh.”  He turned to the floor, getting redder himself, and crossed his arms over his chest.  “What, uh…  When did that happen?”

“This summer,” Karen matched his blush, shrugging again, and moved past him.  “Just before we graduated 6th.”

“Graduated?”  Daren looked up, making a face, and started after her.  “In June?”

“Right.  June.”  Karen walked faster.  “I stayed home for a few days the first time.”

“Oh.  Okay,” Daren said a few steps behind her.  “I wondered why you were sick.”

“Right.”  Karen stopped, turning around, and looked straight at him again.  “I didn’t think you’d want to know.”  She made a face too and threw up a hand.  “It’s, uh, sort of disgusting at first.”

“Um, okay,” Daren said, staring at the floor yet again, and then looked up.  “And you’re the first one?”

“No.”  Karen scoffed and then pointed to all the girls around them.  “No, not even close.”  She laughed and shook her head again.  “No, Sharon started in Miss Clay’s class?”

“Miss Clay?”  Daren made another face and then looked past her.  “In fourth grade?”

Karen looked right at him, taking in a deep breath, and then frowned.  “Don’t tell her I told you that, though.”  She turned to the girl’s locker room and then looked back at him again.  “It’s kind of personal, okay?”  She nodded big, grabbing his arm, and squeezed it.  “Like, really personal actually.”

“Yeah.”  Daren took in a breath, looking at her again, and nodded with a big sigh.  “Of course.”

She nodded too, letting go of his arm, and swallowed.  “Okay.”

“I don’t remember that.”  Daren’s eyes narrowed, looking past her for a second, and then shook his head.  “In Miss Clay’s class?”

“Why would you?”  Karen matched his look.  “It’s not like…”

“Yeah.”  Daren just stood there, shrugging, and nodded.  “Right.”

Karen just stood there too and then shrugged herself.  “I’ll see you,” she said and went into the girl’s locker room.

“Yeah.”  Daren closed his eyes as the girl’s locker room door slammed shut and then opened them later to hear the sidelines roar as the soccer ball hit the back of the net and everyone on the team rushed onto the field.  He turned to see Karen screaming on the sidelines with everyone else when Aaron caught him in a hot and sweaty bear hug from behind and lifted him high.  He roared too as rest of the team shouted his name, hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him to the other side of the field.

“It’s going to be like that for a while.”  Karen laughed, shaking her head at the gathering crowd, and turned back to Sharon.  “And I’m not getting into that mess.”

“They’ve got to calm down, hear from Coach and then clean up.”  Sharon stared at the team, waving a hand in their direction, and then smiled at Karen.  “It takes about 20 or 30 minutes before...”

“It’s not my first game, Sharon.”  Karen half frowned, looking past her as the team put down Daren on the other side of the field, and then noticed a familiar eighth grade girl walking toward him.  Daren raised a hand to Karen and then saw and half smiled at the eighth grade girl.

Karen frowned all the way at his reddening cheeks.

“Come on.”  Sharon noticed, pulling her away as the sidelines broke up into smaller groups, and started them for the parking lot and Sharon’s mom’s car.  “We’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Right.”  Karen watched Daren demonstrate his goal scoring kick to the older girl until Aaron came up from behind him and punched him in the arm. 

“Great.”  Sharon sighed, watching too, and shook her head.  “Let’s go.”

But Karen saw Aaron point Daren in her direction, nod to the eighth grade girl and then yell something she couldn’t make out.

Sharon saw the same thing as Aaron dragged Daren away from the older girl and pointed him toward the coach and the rest of the team.  “He can be such a tool.”

“Yes, he can,” Karen said, and frowned again when Aaron punched Daren in the arm, this time in the school cafeteria.

“Ow.”  Daren turned, steadying his tray with a second hand, and just managed to save his lunch from the floor.

“Daren, what are you slumming with these chicks for?” Aaron said, loudly, smiling big at Sharon, and winked bigger at Karen.  “We’re eating with the team, pal, like coach said we should.”

“Hey.”  Karen stopped in her tracks, turning all the way around, and gave Aaron a look.  “You want to knock that off?”

“Chicks?” Sharon said, making a face next to her, and Aaron laughed out loud looking right at them. 

“You need to back up.”  Karen stepped right up to Aaron with a finger in his face.  “We were talking here, and I don’t remember inviting you into the conversation.”

“Yeah.”  Aaron stepped back, keeping his eyes on her, but laughed out loud again.  “And I don’t remember caring what you think, Karen.”

“Right.”  She chuckled, seeing Daren suddenly step in between them, and looked right at Aaron.  “Are you kid…?”

“Footballers eat together.”  Aaron waved off Karen, pointing to the table of soccer players on the other side of the cafeteria, and turned to look Daren right in the eye.  “That’s what coach said.  Remember?”

“Did the coach tell you to be rude too?”  Karen frowned as Daren half nodded at what Aaron said.  “Because I don’t think...”

“Excuse me?”  Aaron turned back to her.  “I’m not talking to y…”

“Like I care.”  Karen rolled her eyes as Sharon laughed, and then she did too.  “And you need to stop flirting.”  She wagged a finger at both Aaron and Daren and shook her head, with another, louder laugh at both of them.  “Because you’re really bad at it.”

“Flirting?”  Aaron’s face twisted and he stared at her with narrowing eyes.  “What are you…”

“Not with me, dummy.”  Karen stepped back, pointing to Daren, and smiled big at both of them.  “Daren.”  She laughed yet again and then pointed to Aaron.  “Although I thought you liked girls, you know, because you keep staring at us.”  She pointed to her chest.  “Or at least parts of us.”  She saw Sharon nod next to her.  “But whatever team you’re on is fine with me, Aaron.”  She shrugged and gave him two big thumbs’ up.  “Really.”  She nodded too.  “It’s all right.”

Aaron frowned, turning redder, and just stood there for a second before taking a step toward her.

“Okay.”  Daren held up a hand, shaking his head at all of them, and pulled Aaron back.  “Let’s go eat with the team, huh?”  He started them to the table on the other side of the cafeteria.  “Like coach said.”

Aaron went along with Daren, but then looked back.  “You can piss off, Karen.”  He raised a finger.  “That smartass stuff isn’t cute anymore, and I...” 

“I’m so concerned, Aaron.”  Karen raised her own finger.  “As usual.”  She turned to Daren.  “And it was great talking to you this month, Daren.”  She made a face.  “Again.”  She raised the same finger on her other hand.  “For like the second time.”  She shook her head.  “Thanks.”

“Look.”  Daren’s face sank as he kept walking Aaron away from her and then shrugged.  “I’m sorry, but...”

“You should be.”  Karen stopped in her tracks again as her face sank too, and she pulled out one of several books from her satchel, raising it high in the air.  “Because you used to know better.”

“He did.”  Sharon grabbed Karen’s arm as she pulled the book back and she stopped her from throwing it at Aaron.  “But it’s not worth Ms. Dybas’ office, right?”

“Hmm.”  Karen lowered her arm and the book and turned to Sharon with a nod.  “Probably.”

“What?” Daren said, sitting next to her in the principal’s office, and gave her a look.  “What did you say?”

“I said probably?” Karen said, crossing her arms over her chest in one of the dingy plastic chairs used by students, and stared at the ‘Felicia Dybas, Principal’ sign on the office door in front of them.  “I probably wouldn’t have hit Aaron with that book at lunch if Sharon had been here today.”

“Yeah.”  Daren half shrugged and saw the older school secretary in the principal’s outer office shake her head at them.  “That was not smart.”

“He shouldn’t have punched you again.”  Karen turned and looked right at him.  “That’s like the tenth time since your big goal, you have a giant bruise on your arm, and I’d had enough.”

“It’s not a big deal?” Daren said, rubbing his arm, and looked back with a shrug.  “It’s what guys do.”

“Except when you punch him?”  Karen pointed to the secretary and threw up her hands.  “Then you get in trouble.”

Daren saw the secretary nod and turned back to Karen.  “I wasn’t going to let Aaron hurt you, Karen.”

“Please.”  She half laughed.  “He wasn’t going to hurt me, Daren.

“Yeah, okay.”  Daren saw the secretary look at Karen and nod again in agreement.  “Good point.”

“You broke his nose,” Karen said with a big face.  “And got blood all over the place.”

“Yeah.  Another good point,” Daren said and turned back to Karen.  “But you know, Aaron’s scared of girls, right?”

“So what?  So is every other seventh grade boy, Daren,” Karen said, and the secretary laughed, covering her mouth.  “Even you, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him...”

“Aaron’s got a lot going on at home right now, Karen.”  Daren sighed, still looking at her, and threw up his hands.  “You know his parents are splitt…”

“Whatever.”  Karen raised a hand between them and shook her head.  “Look, I appreciate you sticking up for me, but...”

“Like you said, I was protecting him from you, Karen.  Okay?”  Daren made a face and nodded.  “You would’ve knocked him out with that second book, and…”

“That was kind of the point, Daren.”  Karen nodded back.  “Because you need protection too.”

“You’ve been saying that since I was three.”  Daren gave her another look.  “Maybe two.”

“You’ve been pathetic that long.”  Karen smiled and gave him another look back.  “You know?  Since you moved here?

“Yeah,” Daren said and smiled back along with the secretary.  “Well, thanks for joining me.”

“Mrs. Bellows didn’t give me much choice.”  Karen pointed to the rest of the school outside of the principal’s office.  “Which is why we’re here.”

“Yeah,” Daren said, and they both looked at the secretary.  “Well, I guess we’re in a lot of trouble, aren’t we?”

The secretary nodded yet again, hearing something move behind the principal’s door, and turned back to the computer on her desk. 

“At least it’ll up our cool factor.”  Karen gave a thumb’s up but then lost it and her smile as the principal’s door opened, and they both sat up straighter.

“I can explain, Ms. Dybas,” Karen said, leaning forward, and pulled out a book from her satchel.  “You see I was reading this book called The Cider Hous...”

“Yes, Miss DeMarco.”  Ms. Dybas’ face tightened, and her eyes narrowed on Karen and Daren’s sinking faces.  “I’m sure it had something to do with your love of reading.”  She sighed, pointing to the book and then Karen’s satchel.  “It always does.  Doesn’t it?”

“Um.”  Karen swallowed, putting back the book in her satchel, and looked at her shoes.  “I guess.”

“We.  Are.  In.  A.  Lot.  Of.  Trouble,” Daren said under his breath.

“Yes.  You.  Are.  Mr. Reece,” Ms. Dybas said and pointed them forward with a wrinkled finger.  A.  Lot.  Of.  Trouble.”

“I can’t believe you’re still in trouble.”  Karen shivered, standing outdoors behind Daren, and smiled as he plunged a shovel deep into the deep and still falling snow.  “I mean, Aaron…”

“Yeah.  I know.”  Daren ignored her, scooping the snow over his shoulder, and looked at the long, white driveway in front of him.  “Aaron forgave me the two weeks ago, but my parents said I still haven’t learned my lesson.”

“You’re not alone.”  Karen half frowned.  “I mean I’ve…”

“Really?”  Daren glanced back and pointed to the deep snow and long driveway.  “Babysitting doesn’t seem that big a deal.”

“I’m doing it for free.”  Karen frowned all the way, throwing her hands in the air, and pointed to a house down the street.  “And the Shaws have three kids.”

“Yeah?”  Daren looked down the street, grinning, and then laughed.  “Their twins just turned one, right?”

“Plus, a two-year-old.”  Karen nodded, taking in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, and raised three fingers in her wool gloves.  “All still in diapers.”

“That’s got to be a whole lot of fun.”  Daren laughed again and turned back to the driveway.  “Right?”

“Shut up.”  Karen kept watching him.  “And it’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“Right.”  Daren gave her a wink and started shoveling again.  “I heard the first diaper’s the worst.”

“Said by someone who’s never changed a diaper.”  Karen stuck her tongue out at him.  “Please.”

“Well.”  Daren shrugged, throwing up a hand, and grinned more.  “I think you forgot about my grandpa’s.”

“What?”  Karen froze and her eyes went wide.  “Your…?”

“Yeah.”  Daren turned back to her with another, even larger grin.  “That’s right.”

Karen saw him nod big and punched him in the arm.  “Shut up.”  

“Really?”  Daren dropped the snow and shovel and looked right at her.  “That’s what started all this, except with a book.”

She laughed and nodded to the house next door.  “I heard you’re shoveling us out next.”

“Yeah.”  He sighed, picking up the shovel, and started again.  “My dad wants to spread the love.”

“My mom said he’s keeping the money?”  Karen half frowned again.  “Yeah?”

“Until April.  Then I’ll have learned my lesson.”  Daren sighed more and dumped some more snow behind them.  “I guess.”

“At least this should be the last big snow.”  Karen pointed to the world around them.  “Right?”

“Let’s hope so.”  Daren nodded and then turned back to her again with another shrug.  “But my mom also volunteered me at the church pantry every Tuesday and Friday until the summer.”

“Whoa.”  Karen caught a glimpse of Daren’s dad in the front window a few houses down the street and half waved.  “I’d hate to see what they’d do if you really hurt Aaron.”

“You’re telling me.”  Daren saw his dad and added to the pile of snow next to him.  “Because Aaron doesn’t even ca…”

“I know.”  Karen saw Daren’s dad open the front door and give them a look.  “But at least you’ll have some money in April.”

“Yeah,” Daren said, half waving to his dad too, and dug even deeper into the snow.  “Then this will all be worth it.”

“Sure,” Karen said, now avoiding Daren’s dad’s look, and started for her house with a laugh.  “If you say so.”

Aaron laughed too, in Mrs. Bellows’ class, staring right at Daren’s now slicked back hair, and shook his head at the shine.  “You did what with it again, buddy?”  He kept Karen at the next desk in the corner of his eye.  “Shellacked it with like half a bottle of gel?”  He reached out a finger, just dabbing Daren’s head, and stared at the shine now on the tip of his finger.  “It’s practically a helmet, pal.”

“What?”  Daren turned, frowning, and gave him a look.  “Is your problem?”

“You look like a girl.”  Aaron wiped off his finger with another laugh.  “That’s all I’m saying.”  He winked and leaned back in his chair as Karen leaned forward.  “Nothing wrong with girls.”

“I think he looks pretty,” another boy said, nodding, and laughed too.  “A pretty, pretty boy.”

“Excuse me.”  Karen shut up the other boy with a look and turned back to Aaron.  “You want to shu…?”

“He’s right,” Aaron said, laughing more, and tilted his chair back even further away from her.  “Daren is a pretty, pretty boy.”

“It’s called product, you idiots.”  Sharon grabbed a seat one desk over, taking in Daren with a smile, and then stared down Aaron and the other boy.  “It’s stuff you buy if you work to make money like Daren did, and then want to impress girls.”  She chuckled and pointed a finger gun at them.  “It’s something neither of you morons would know about.”  She fired the finger gun twice and shrugged.  “You know, because you’re idiots.”

Aaron and the other boy just stared at her.

“Nice.”  Karen turned to Sharon, and they both laughed. 

“Um.”  Daren turned to her with half a smile and his own shrug.  “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”  Sharon smiled back.  “Happy to help.”

“And it’s certainly better that the bowl cut you’ve got there, Aaron.” Karen pointed to his limply hanging hair as half the class laughed with her.  “You’ve had that since what?  Preschool?”

“Miss DeMarco,” Mrs. Bellows said, raising a finger, but not looking up from the laptop on her desk.  “Do you want to rethink that?”

“Sorry, ma’am,” Karen said, seeing Aaron’s face sink, and took a deep breath.  “Sorry, Aaron.”

“Yeah.”  He swallowed, failing to push back the hair out of his face, and turned away from her and everyone else.  “No problem.”

Karen shook her head and sighed.

“You want to knock that off?”  Daren frowned, shaking his head, and gave her a look.  “I’m fine.”

“Sorry.”  Karen shrugged, looking back, and then noticed an out of place curl.  “And actually, you’re a little off.”

“What?”  Daren kept frowning, glancing up at the curl hanging in his face, and failed to pull it down.  “What is…?”

“You want it to be symmetrical.”  Sharon leaned over, pushing Daren’s curl all the way off his forehead, and smiled right at him.  “Now you look fine.”

He smiled back

“And it’s worth the $9.99.”  Karen gave him a wink and smiled too.  “And the walk to Walgreens.”

“I think that’s enough, Miss DeMarco.” Mrs. Bellows stood up and looked at all of them.  “If you don’t mind.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Karen nodded.  “You’re right,” she said and kept smiling at Daren.

So did Sharon, and Karen noticed it then and now in the large, low lit school cafeteria as she took in the balloons, the snacks and the punchbowl while all the seventh grade girls stood on one side of the dance floor and all the seventh grade boys stood on the other.

Daren noticed Karen with big eyes, giving her a wave, and then patted Aaron on the back.

Sharon saw them and nudged Karen.

She turned, taking in Sharon with her pseudo little black dress under a white cardigan, and nudged her back.  “You look good.”  She smiled at her, noticing the divide between the boys and girls, and then stepped forward.  “But enough is enough.”  She waved to Daren, then stared at the entire population of seventh grade wannabe dancers and started across the cafeteria all by herself. 

“Hey.”  Aaron grinned at on the other side, swallowing hard at the same time, and touched his newly cut and slicked back hair.  “How you doing?”

But Karen passed him by to take Daren’s hand.  “Your mom made you take dance lessons, right?” she said, pulling him forward onto the dance floor with a big look.  “Right?”

“Right,” Daren said, walking with her to the very center of the cafeteria, and took in a deep breath.  “But it was my dad.”  He half smiled and pointed to the hundred seventh graders staring at them.  “He didn’t want me to embarrass myself at my first dance.”  He looked around at all the eyes on them and shrugged just a little.  “Like this.”

“Oh.”  Karen laughed, not looking at all the eyes on them, and shrugged too.  “Good.”  She nodded and half smiled too.  “Smart.”

“Of course.”  Daren nodded back with a bigger smile.  “I think he was counting on you to get us started.”

“Of course, he was,” Karen said, squeezing his hand with everyone watching, and Daren pulled her closer.

They moved to the music without looking at each other, her hands just reaching his shoulders and his hands just on her hips as they stepped back and forth in a slow circle.

“Nervous?”  She finally looked up at him.

“Yeah,” Daren said, looking back, and swallowed, still very aware of all the eyes on them.  “You?”

“No,” Karen said, but nodded again, and found a bigger smile.  “Life’s too short.”

“That’s what my dad said,” Daren said and smiled bigger too, pushing her away from him, swinging her back slowly and then pulling her much closer just as the song ended.  “I think.”

“Nice,” Karen said, holding him even closer for a moment, and then laughed.  “Your dad’s a pretty smart guy.”

“You think?”  Daren caught his breath at their closeness, before seeing other kids come out on the dance floor, and then looked right into her eyes.  “I’m not so sure.”

“I am.”  Karen looked right back, still smiling, and then caught her breath too.  “And you should listen to him more.”

“Right.”  Daren stepped back, still looking at her, and found another smile.  “I’ll see what I can do,” he said as Aaron approached them from one side and Sharon the other.  “Okay?”

“Yeah.”  Karen said through a blush.  “Okay.”

“That was so cool.”  Aaron said, shouting, and spun around, almost falling into Karen.  “Damn cool.”

She frowned as Sharon held out her hand to Daren and then heard.  “Want to dance?”

“Yeah.”  Daren swallowed, still looking at Karen, but took Sharon’s hand.  “Okay.”

Karen watched them smile and stare at each other and then turned to Aaron’s big eyes, wide open mouth and his hand held out toward her. 

“Hey.”  He blushed and shrugged.  “You want to…”

“Fine,” Karen said, sighing, and took his hand, and they smiled too.

Then they all let out a giant shout, bursting through the school’s front doors, with Karen and Daren leading the way. 

“Have a good summer,” Aaron said, shouting again, his fists pumping the air as he ran right by them.  “We are done with seventh grade, losersssssss.”

“Ugh.”  Karen noticed, half turning to him, and shook her head.  “He’s such a…”

“See you at practice,” Daren said, waving to Aaron, and then turned to Karen with a shrug.  “And I know.”

“I am not going to miss him.”  She looked right back at Daren.  “At all.”

“Right.”  Daren laughed, giving her a look, and shook his head.  “You danced with him three times at the May formal.  And one was slow.”

“Yeah.”  Karen half frowned.  “But…”

“She was being nice,” Sharon said a step behind, catching up, and pulled them into a big hug.  “Like I am right now.”

“Right.”  Daren blushed, and Karen hugged her back. 

“See you tomorrow?” she said, nodding to Sharon, and gave her a squeeze.

“Yes.”  Sharon nodded too, heading to her frowning mother in a familiar car, but looked back.  “It’s going to be a great summer.”  She smiled big and waved bigger.  “See you, Daren.”

“See you.”  He looked up, waving back, and smiled big too.  “Sharon.”

Karen laughed at them both as he turned back to her, and she started them forward.

“What?” Daren said, catching up to her at the corner where the gray haired crossing guard gave them a look.  “What are you laughing a…?

“Busy year.”  Karen looked right at Daren, ignoring the question and the crossing guard, and nodded.  “A crazy one, even.”

“Yeah.”  He looked past her and shrugged.  “I guess so.”

Karen shrugged too.  “We learned a lot, grew a lot, and found out...”

“… that we’re not in charge,” Daren said, taking her hand, and pulled her across the street as the guard gave them a wave.  “Not yet anyway.”

“I’m all right with that.”  Karen shook her head, noticing her hand in his, but holding onto it even after they hit the other side of the street.

“You sure?”  Daren kept up.  “Really?”

She didn’t say anything as they kept walking, their hands growing sweaty until they turned at the next corner and she let go, looking him right in the eye.

He looked back.  “I guess we’ll be in charge next year, huh?”

“If we want.”  Karen half nodded and then grinned right at him.  “Yeah.”

“Right.”  Daren half nodded and grinned right back.  “Until then I’ve got about a dozen lawns to mow every week, including his.”  He pointed and then waved to the man sitting on a front porch with two babies in his arms.  “Hey, Mr. Shaw.”

Karen waved too and gave Daren a look.  “If it helps, I’m taking care of his kids all summer.”

“Fun times,” Daren said, and they both laughed as one of the babies spit up all over the man.  “The three-year-old potty-trained yet?”

“No, and I’m so looking forward to it.”  Karen shared a look, shaking her head, but still smiled.  “This time I’m making money, though.”

“Good stuff.”  Daren turned to his house and raised a thumb’s up.  “And soon enough eighth grade.”

“Not too soon,” Karen raised her own thumb, still looking at him, and turned to the house right next to his.  “I’ll stop by after dinner?”

“Okay.”  Daren opened his front door, looking back, and smiled.  “See you then.”

“Right.”  Karen smiled back, raising an eyebrow, and took in a deep breath before heading inside.  “It’s going to be fun.”

Next time: KAREN AND DAREN: 8^th GRADERS IN CHARGE