BIRRRING!!……..BIRRRING!! Come on you’ve got to be kidding me. I flop over and turn off the alarm clock. My bluish-green eyes glance at the calendar on my wall.  First day of school I thought annoyed. At least I had completely forgotten it was the first day of school today. If I had remembered, I wouldn’t have gone to sleep until about 5:00 in the morning, I swear. I got up and made my way to the bathroom. Boy did I look ugly, my blonde hair all matted, while my cloths looked like I’d been sleeping for days. I brush my teeth and shower. Then I go into my room to dress in my new Khaki shorts and sky blue t-shirt. Next, I do my hair.  It takes me a full five minutes to get the knots out and smooth it down. “Samson!” Yup, that’s my name alright, Samson Fisher, age 13.

“Yes mom?” I call from my door.

“Hurry up! You don’t want to be late for the first day of school.”

“Darn it,” I say looking at the clock. “I’m coming mom!”

I grab my backpack next to my door and looked inside. School books, notebook, pencil, and anything else you could think that you needed for school. I raced down stairs and probed myself up on a chair. I gulped down my cereal and drank my milk. “Bye Mom, see ya later!” I call behind me as I race out the door. On the bus I sit next to a boy with brown hair and blue eyes. Should I say something to him? I wondered. Luckily he made the first move.

“Hi, I’m Josh”

“Hi I’m Samson; I’m uh, new in town.”

“Cool.”

He sounds nice enough I guess.

“Have you been here long?”

“Since Kindergarten.”

“Wow, where do you live.”

“5040 East Weaver Street, house 10.”

“Really? I live right next to you in house 9.”

“Awesome, I didn’t see you come out your house.”

“I know I was a bit late for the bus.”

“I noticed. I try not to do that on the first day of school.”

“I tried to hurry, but I must have turned a bunch last night because my hair was horribly tangled.”

“That happens to me sometimes too.”

“Glad I’m not alone.”

“Ya,” he said as the bus stopped, “See you at lunch Samson?”

“Ya Josh, see ya at lunch.” I said with I smile.

School went pretty good, but I saw Josh more than I thought I was going to. He happens to me in all my classes except my math class, but we still worked on the same thing in math. It so happens that his name is Josh Fighter so in every class we sit next to each other. Weird right? I am glad I have a friend; at least I think I do. Only time will tell for sure about that.  BIRRRRRRRRRRRING!! That must be the lunch bell. Everyone grabbed their backpacks and headed for the door.  I was last to leave out the door. I hurried to the cafeteria and looked around. I saw Josh at the end of the line. I got in line behind him and watched him get his food. And he got exactly what I was going to get! I got my food and followed Josh to a table it the corner of the room.

We sat with our back facing the other kids in the room. “Hey fishy boy,” said a voice behind me. I turned around to see three kids looking at me. One was tall; he seemed to be the boss. The one who was about an inch under him started chuckling. The smallest one starting cracking up like the older boy had just cracked the joke of the century. I think the taller one is the one that had snickered when the teacher called my name.

“What do you want with us Jake?” Josh said spitting out his name like it tasted nasty just saying it.

“Not much,” said the laughing boy said with a grin. “Just wanted to bring fishy boy some water for his tank.” Then he poured my water all over my food.

“Get lost, and stay lost!” Josh grumbled at the one named Jake. “You can take those laughing numskulls Jordon and Mike with you.”

Before I could speak Josh took his lunch tray with one hand and grabbed my arm with the other. Everyone watches Josh stroll out the cafeteria pulling me alongside him.

“Those guys are the school bullies aren’t they?” I said miserably when we get outside.

“Ya, they are, but don’t let it beat you Sam, they’re cowards at heart.” He says. “There are another group of boys too. Cody, Blake, Jack, and George are the coolest boys in 7th grade.

“Nice, but now I’m going to be hungry for the rest of the day.”

“Here, you can have two of my cookies.”

“Oh thanks Josh. You’re a great…..friend.”

“You know what Sam, that’s just what we are, friends.” He said smiling at me.

“Ya,” I repeated. “Friends.”

BIRRRRRRRRRRRING!! Lunch times over and it was time to get to our next class. Everything else went good for the rest of the day. After school we sat near the front of the bus, yards away from Jake, Jordan, and Mike. Since my house is first we went there. While we were talking on the steps Dad came home.

“Hey kiddo, make a new friend already?”

“Sure did, dad this is my friend Josh.”

“Nice to meet you sir,” said Josh politely

“Now you can call me just about anything. Mr. Fisher, Joe, but please not sir. You make me feel as though I’m 60!” my dad said laughing; he goes into the house and leaves the door open for me to follow.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” says Josh.

“Sure, stop by my house and we can walk to the bus stop together.”

“OK, but don’t be late!” he yells over his shoulder as his mom calls him from the porch.

“See you tomorrow Josh!”

“Right-O.” he shouts as he disappears inside the house.