the United States and in Germany for a little while. We spent the last six months in California, and now we’re here to stay, hopefully, at least until graduation.”
“Why here?” one of the girls asks. I look over to see that she’s completely engaged in our conversation now. I expected as much. I’ve been through this before. I’m the new girl. They know everything there is to know about each other, and now they want to know everything there is to know about me. I’m interesting. Until they find out that I’m really not that interesting and that’s when then I fade into the background usually. I’ve always been okay with that.
“Well, my father is from here and there’s a base not that far from where we live.”
“Why would he want a transfer here? It’s such a boring town, and if he grew up here, he knows that.” Libby’s confusion is cute. She really doesn’t get it.
“Well, my grandma was sick so we came to visit a little over a month ago, and when she passed, I asked if we could stay. I like the small town vibe here. It’s nicer than California or any other place I’ve ever lived. He was able to get a transfer, so we’re here for a while.”
Let the inquisition begin. The one thing I’ve learned about small towns … everyone knows everyone.
Libby sits up a little straighter in her chair. She tilts her head to the right and squints her eyes at me as if she’s concentrating really hard. “Thompson.” I nod. She nailed it on the first try. I guess not many people die in this sleepy little town.
“You’re a Thompson,” one of the girls yells. Heads start to turn. People are interested in who she’s talking about, and since I’m the only unfamiliar face, it’s not hard to put the pieces together.
Being known for my last name doesn’t bother me, but the attention it’s warranting right now does. “I’m going to step outside and make a call before class starts. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Wait. I’ll come with you,” Libby hollers and jumps out of her chair. I don’t have a choice in the matter, apparently.
I can feel eyes on me as I make my way across the cafeteria. I understand they’re curious about who I am. I would be curious too if I were in their shoes. No one here has ever heard of me. It’s as if I’ve appeared out of thin air. The granddaughter of Celia Thompson, town hero in many ways. Even if they had never met my grandma, they’ve all heard of her. I guarantee it.
“Sorry about that. Megan tends to be a loud mouth at the most inappropriate times,” Libby apologizes.
“It’s no big deal. People would have figured it out eventually.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure it’s not the one thing you wanted to be known for. Your grandma was a big deal in this town. People respected her. They’ll look at you differently, partially because they know you have money.”
I never thought of that. I’ve always been tagged as a military brat. Once people found out that my father was a Marine, they had a preconceived notion of who I might be. Either they were accepting of that or they wrote me off instantly. Even the other kids with parents in the Marine Corps would have an opinion of me. They were judging me, and they were in the same boat I was in.
Moving as often as we did, it’s hard to fit in. It’s not something I was able to do easily. Libby, on the other hand, is a blessing in disguise. She’s making me feel at home, even though I don’t really think she’s even trying. I like her. She’s nice and doesn’t seem to care that I’m a military brat or from a well-known family who happens to have money.
“What about you. What’s your story? All we’ve done is talk about me today,” I say as we reach my locker and I attempt to open it.
“Born and raised here in New Bern. You already know that I work at the thrift store. My parents own the place. We live down the road from you if you’re living at your grandma’s.” I wait for her to continue but she
“Why here?” one of the girls asks. I look over to see that she’s completely engaged in our conversation now. I expected as much. I’ve been through this before. I’m the new girl. They know everything there is to know about each other, and now they want to know everything there is to know about me. I’m interesting. Until they find out that I’m really not that interesting and that’s when then I fade into the background usually. I’ve always been okay with that.
“Well, my father is from here and there’s a base not that far from where we live.”
“Why would he want a transfer here? It’s such a boring town, and if he grew up here, he knows that.” Libby’s confusion is cute. She really doesn’t get it.
“Well, my grandma was sick so we came to visit a little over a month ago, and when she passed, I asked if we could stay. I like the small town vibe here. It’s nicer than California or any other place I’ve ever lived. He was able to get a transfer, so we’re here for a while.”
Let the inquisition begin. The one thing I’ve learned about small towns … everyone knows everyone.
Libby sits up a little straighter in her chair. She tilts her head to the right and squints her eyes at me as if she’s concentrating really hard. “Thompson.” I nod. She nailed it on the first try. I guess not many people die in this sleepy little town.
“You’re a Thompson,” one of the girls yells. Heads start to turn. People are interested in who she’s talking about, and since I’m the only unfamiliar face, it’s not hard to put the pieces together.
Being known for my last name doesn’t bother me, but the attention it’s warranting right now does. “I’m going to step outside and make a call before class starts. I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Wait. I’ll come with you,” Libby hollers and jumps out of her chair. I don’t have a choice in the matter, apparently.
I can feel eyes on me as I make my way across the cafeteria. I understand they’re curious about who I am. I would be curious too if I were in their shoes. No one here has ever heard of me. It’s as if I’ve appeared out of thin air. The granddaughter of Celia Thompson, town hero in many ways. Even if they had never met my grandma, they’ve all heard of her. I guarantee it.
“Sorry about that. Megan tends to be a loud mouth at the most inappropriate times,” Libby apologizes.
“It’s no big deal. People would have figured it out eventually.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure it’s not the one thing you wanted to be known for. Your grandma was a big deal in this town. People respected her. They’ll look at you differently, partially because they know you have money.”
I never thought of that. I’ve always been tagged as a military brat. Once people found out that my father was a Marine, they had a preconceived notion of who I might be. Either they were accepting of that or they wrote me off instantly. Even the other kids with parents in the Marine Corps would have an opinion of me. They were judging me, and they were in the same boat I was in.
Moving as often as we did, it’s hard to fit in. It’s not something I was able to do easily. Libby, on the other hand, is a blessing in disguise. She’s making me feel at home, even though I don’t really think she’s even trying. I like her. She’s nice and doesn’t seem to care that I’m a military brat or from a well-known family who happens to have money.
“What about you. What’s your story? All we’ve done is talk about me today,” I say as we reach my locker and I attempt to open it.
“Born and raised here in New Bern. You already know that I work at the thrift store. My parents own the place. We live down the road from you if you’re living at your grandma’s.” I wait for her to continue but she
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