Science Fiction for Young Readers, grade 4 up
Story by Terry Gibson ©

TABITHA'S SECRET, Chapter 10

     All of yesterday's concerns had flown like 
fluff in the wind, what they were saying about 
her and Mr Player, her secret, the doubts about 
friends, everything, when before she had even 
had breakfast yet, she searched the house and 
by the back door.  In some agitation, she burst 
into the kitchen and said,  "Mom, Muffet's 
missing.  He didn't touch his food!"
     "You know, I didn't see him yesterday 
either." Greg said.  "Old Muff never misses a 
meal."
     Their mother suggested, "Maybe we should 
put an ad in the paper."
     "Good idea," Tab said.
     "Silly," her brother said. "Cats can't read!"
     Tab made a face at him and their mother shot
them a look that closed all discussion.  "I'll
handle it," she said.  "Time to go."  Locking the
door behind them, they set off for another school
day.

     Other than that, it began as an ordinary day
at school.  Ordinary to the point of boredom.
Classes came and went, papers shuffled and books
banged shut.  Somebody's desk squeaked in time 
with his writing, and a couple of kids were talking.
Teachers walked about giving out papers, more
instructions, more work to do.  They were checking
work, teaching lessons, talking, talking, talking.
Boring.
     At recess, Tab saw Maria sitting on a swing.
Hesitantly, she said, "Hi Stranger."
     "Ho Friend."  Maria looked less than thrilled.
     Tab stayed anyhow.  "Haven't seen you around."
     "I've been in class."  The silence lengthened,
with the two girls gently swinging.  Finally bored
with it, Maria asked what Tab thought about the new
boy in class.
     "His name is Akim something.  From Toronto."
     "But what do you think of him?"
     "I don't know him yet, but he seems all right."
Tab hadn't given him much thought.
     "He's a dweeb."
     "Why do you say that?"
     "Well, just look at him.  He just sits there
with his nose in a book."  Maria rolled her eyes,
and went on, "Mark says his family doesn't talk
like we do."  At Tab's surprise, Maria announced,
"It's not English."
     "So?"
     Maria looked annoyed. "Besides, look at his
skin."  How come Tab was so slow? "He's dark.
A Paki."  The stone Maria kicked kept on rolling
a long way down the gentle slope.

     Tab suddenly wondered if she had been like
Maria.  She must have been, or Maria wouldn't
have talked like that about Akim.  She didn't
see what was written in the expression on her
face.  "Frankly," she said, "as far as I'm
concerned, Akim might be the man in the moon!"
She turned away.  What does his tanned skin
have to do with anything?
     Maria had nothing more to say.  She got up
and walked away, leaving Tab alone.  It figures,
Tab thought, and decided to look more closely
at the new boy, Akim, when she got back to class.
     Without actually staring, she inspected him.
He was small, but not the smallest in class;
Marilyn was still the tiny one.  He was neatly
dressed with a white shirt, and tidy in his
habits, and yes, he worked steadily, more so
than she, herself.  At that thought, Tab turned
to her assignment.  The rest of the morning
dragged on, until at last, noon hour came.

     After lunch, to spite Maria, Tab went 
outside to find Akim whats-his-name, and maybe 
see for herself what kind of kid he was.  Only 
trouble, it was okay to look at Akim in class, 
but Tab was too shy to go right up to him and 
talk to him. On her way, she ran into Gregory.
     Fortunately Greg was willing to help.  "Sure,"
he said, "I know who you mean.  He's okay."  After
looking around, he said, "There he is.  Let's go."
     Brothers can be useful, she thought as Greggy
said, "Hi, Akim.  This is my sister."
     "Hello Greg, Tabitha..."
     Tab smiled widely, but no words came out.  
He had noticed her; he knew her name!  She knew 
from class that he was a good student, but what 
a gorgeous smile!  He'd never smiled like that in
class-- Talk about CUTE!
     Greg saved her by saying, "Tab comes out with
some pretty original ideas."
     "I can imagine.  I liked her essay in class on
friendship."  Akim grinned.  "You should read it,
Greg.  She thinks you're okay."
     Tabitha just smiled and smiled.  So far, she
thought, you'd never think I had any ideas at all,
original or not.  "Thank you," she said.  "But how
come you know my little brother?"
     "He just came and talked with me while I was
standing around at recess time.  Actually he's the
first kid who bothered to speak to me at all."
     "Oh.  Were you there when they were all
yelling Tabby Disease?"
     "I was."
     "Well, I'm Tabby."
     "I kind of thought so.  It doesn't take long
to find out who, or why."
     "Aren't you afraid you'll catch it too?"
     "No.  I haven't exactly been overwhelmed by
new friends, so I guess I have some problems of 
my own."
     Greg raised his arms over his head and cried
out, "Pariahs unite!"
     "Pariahs?"  Tab took them by the hand and 
they held the circle high.  "That's an outcast.  
I'm not thrilled to be a pariah," she said, "but 
I think I prefer it to the rabble."  They laughed, 
and talked a lot after that.

     Maria saw them all right, as Tab had hoped.
After watching longer than she could stand, Maria
spun around, tossed her curly ponytail, and with
her freckled nose held high, flounced off toward
Sally and Laurie, who could be counted on to feel
like she did.  She was right.  From time to time,
they looked over their shoulders at the trio, and
their comments were punctuated with giggles.

     If it was intended for Tabitha's benefit, Tab
did not even notice them, but Akim's eyes narrowed.
He knew what was happening, but he said nothing.
He'd know how to treat Maria in future.
     All three agreed that the bell rang too soon.
And better yet, not even once had she thought 
about her personal problems! 

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Choice of Chapters

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