I used to have a lot of friends, everyone was my friend. No one talked about me behind my back or left me wondering if I would ever have anyone to confide in. But that all changed when I moved to Oklahoma. I do not ever talk to any of my friends from my old schools because they are too busy and replaced me with other friends.

My whole life I have had to move from state to state, house to house, so I should not have any problem making friends like I normally do. But ever since we moved to Oklahoma, everything changed. My dad told me that I used to never have any problems making friends before, so I will be fine. But what he does not understand is that no one in this school likes me. They think I am weird and do not belong here. They call me names like “weirdo” and “loner.”

It has gotten a little better since the beginning of the school year. They used to call me names, but now they just act like I am invisible. Normally any other person would think that is worse, but for me I am glad that they are not talking about me. I would rather be a loner than be friends with any of them.

It was October 17, a Saturday morning, my tenth birthday. I woke up to my mom shaking me and telling me happy birthday. She had told me to get dressed and come downstairs because her and my dad had a couple things to tell me. Once she had left my room I had done exactly what she had told me: I got dressed and went downstairs into our kitchen. As soon as I had walked into our kitchen I saw my parents standing next to each other behind the counter. My mom told me to sit down, so I did as she said.

I notice my mother’s expression on her face as worrying. But my father looks happy. What are they going to tell me? I wondered. My father starts to speak first, explaining to me that he got a call from his boss. I say okay, then he then gives me a brief explanation about what they talked about. Saying that his boss is going to be retiring and would like my father to take over for him.

Okay, so far it sounds fine, so then why does my mom look so worried? I thought.

I tell my father that I am excited for him. But then ask if we had to move. I told him that I would be fine moving away, but then my mother started to speak. “Uhh honey, we are not moving, that is the thing. We have to stay here and we do not need to move and live anywhere else. Like ever.”

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach, I could not breathe. I noticed my eyes became watery and blurry, so I looked away from my parents faces, and blinked the tears away before they noticed. I slowly looked up, clearing my throat, so the emotions did not come out in my voice.

“That is fine mom, I am just glad that dad is happy.” I try to say slowly to not let my voice crack.

“Oh, that is great!” my father yells, hugs my mom tightly, then runs around the counter to pick me up and hug me.

” Yeah, uh, I am going to brush my teeth.” I tell them and start to walk out, trying to hold back the tears while I am still near them. I was about to step out of the room when my dad told me that they have one other thing to tell me.

I turn around and see them both back in their spot, I sit down. This time they both seem happy. My mom tells me that we are going to celebrate my birthday and my father’s exciting news by going on a five-day cruise. Still holding back tears, I tell them thank you and that I am very excited.

“Okay, now you can brush your teeth,” my father told me. I got out of my chair and half ran out of the kitchen, trying to get out as quickly as possible to hide my tears.

By the time I got to the bathroom and closed the door, it was like waterfalls coming down from my face. Why am I crying? I should be happy that I do not have to move around anymore, I thought to myself. Then I think about school and what they have all said to me and how they act like I am not even there. “You should go back to where you came from. No one wants you here.” It is true. Nobody what me here, but why, though? What did I do?

I finally got myself under control by the time I finished brushing my teeth. I wiped the tears away and made my way out of the bathroom, to my room. When I got to my room, I noticed my mom sitting on my bed. “Oh, hey mom, is something wrong?” I asked her, as I sat down next to her.

“Are you alright, Ava?” she asked me.

“Yeah, why?” I lied.

“Come on Ava, I know you’re not okay. What is wrong?”

I sighed, “Well, I guess-”

“Hey! You guys want any ice cream?” I heard my dad yell.

I jumped up as fast as I could and ran out of the room. I could hear my mom sigh and stand up from my bed. “Yes, please!” I yell back.

I went down and saw my dad had already gotten chocolate ice cream in a bowl for me. My favorite, I thought. As I shoveled my favorite ice cream into my mouth, I saw my mom come into the kitchen with my dad and I. “Would you like any ice cream, Miranda?” My dad asked my mom.

“No, thank you,” she replied.

As we eat our ice cream, my mom sitting next to me, I asked, “So, when are we going on the cruise?”

“Tomorrow actually, so when you are finished eating your ice cream, please go back,” my dad told me, laughing.

“Ok,” I replied.

Once we finished our ice cream, I told my parents goodnight and went to my room to pack. I packed everything I could think of. Once I was finished, I put my bag by my door then went to sleep.

The next morning I woke up, got ready to leave, and grabbed my bag, then ran down the stairs. My parents were already waiting, so as soon as I came down, we all grabbed our bags and put them in the back of my mom’s car. My parents hopped in the driver and passenger seats, while I sat in the row behind them. About an hour went by, we finally made it to the cruise ship. We grabbed our stuff and made our way to the ship.

“Oh, I forgot!” my mom said, she ran back to her car, opened the back and pulled out a crate. She shut the back and walked over to us, handed the crate to me and said, ¨this is your birthday present.¨

I took it from her and looked inside, through the bars. “Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! I love him, he is so cute!” A small Australian Shepherd was inside the crate. “Can we take him on the ship?”

“Yes, I already spoke to the captain, he said it was fine,” my dad replied.

“Yay!” I said as I walked up the platform to get on the ship. We made our way to our room and got everything ready and unpacked.

From the time we got there to the last day, we ate an amazing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sat out in the sun, swam in the community pool, and played many games. It was the best vacation I had ever had…until the very last day. Day 5.

My parents had told me to go swimming, so they could have dinner together, so I grabbed my dog, Tucker, and we swam in the pool for about an hour. I do not know exactly what had happened, but all I remember is someone yelling fire, everyone screaming, and trying to get off the ship. Luckily we were docked and the cruise was over.

I hopped out of the pool and grabbed Tucker as fast as I could, I tried to find my parents, but a family saw me alone and grabbed me, to help me off the ship. By the time everyone was off the ship I still was not able to find my parents. It felt like an hour went by of me looking for them.

Firefighters, police, and ambulances were all here helping everyone. The police were helping figure out how it happened and helped families reunite, firefighters eliminating the fire, and ambulances taking care of anyone who was injured.

Once families were reunited, they had left, so when people started leaving and going home, it was easier to see around everyone, but I was still unable to find my parents. I was so scared, I had no clue what had happened to my parents. After a while, I noticed I was the only one left. A group of police officers walked over to me. They asked who I belonged to and if I was lost. I told them I belonged to ¨Miranda and Dale Foster and I was on the ship that caught fire. I don’t know where my parents went.¨

“What do your parents look like?” a blonde hair officer asked me.

I told him, “My mom has brown long hair like mine, she is tall and so pretty. My dad has short brown hair and is taller than my mom.”

A tall brown-haired officer stepped forward in front of all the others, he spoke very softly and slowly, ¨Oh, I am so sorry.¨

“What? What do you mean? Why are you sorry? What happened?” I asked the officers, half crying.

“Well, we found your parents,” the same officers spoke.

“Really?! Where are they? Can I see them?” I said excitedly.

“Uhh, well, that is the problem. They…” The brown hair officer started to say, but was cut off by another officer.

“Well, they did not make it.” The voice came from behind me. I turned around to see another brown-haired officer. ¨Hello young lady. I am very sorry about your parents.¨

“But…but…” I could not speak, my mouth was dry, and my voice cracked. About a minute went by until I finally found my voice, but I asked a different question than I had planned. “Where do I live now? I don’t have parents now, what do I do?”

The same officer spoke, “We will find you a place to stay, don’t worry.”

The brown-haired officer that talked to me first stepped aside. He whispered something to the other brown-haired officer, then they walked over to the side and started talking and looking back at me. While the other officers stood in front of me awkwardly. Soon the two officers came back over to where we stood. The first brown-haired officer came up to me and said, ¨If you want, you could live with me and my girlfriend. We have an extra bedroom that you can take. Is that okay?¨

“Uh yea, but can I take my dog?” I say, picking up Tucker.

“Yes, that is fine, what is your dog’s name?” He asked me.

“His name is Tucker. Do you like him?” I replied.

“Yes, he is very cute.” The officer replies.

“Ok, our job here is done. Let’s wrap this up and go home!” The second brown-haired officer yells to the others.

I realized that everyone was watching us the whole time. The ambulance, firefighters, and the rest of the police officers.

“Ok, come one, let’s go home.” The brown-haired officer said, taking my free hand.

He had me sit in the back with Tucker. It was a quiet ride home, but once we got into his house, his girlfriend was very talkative. She has brown hair like the officer, and is not as tall as him.