Eleventh graders are freshman at Conestoga Senior HIgh school. The class mostly consists of the students from tenth grade at junior High School.  So almost all of them know each other. First class in the morning, Alexander entered the classroom  and walked to his his usual seat in the front row . No one took his seat as no one preferred to sit in the front row for Mr. Bees advanced math class. As he settled down in his seat and  pulled the desk bit closer, Mr. Bee made an entry with few books.

       Mr. Bee placed the stack carefully on his table and then walked from behind the desk to front. "We have a new student joining our class," he declared cheerfully. Some turned heads to locate the new student, but Alex continued in the direction of Mr. Bee. "Anika Gusani, would you please come forward and introduce yourself to class?"

          The name rang a bell in Alex's head.  In fact, it caused a sudden  turmoil inside his head and his chest. "Could she be the same Anika from his third grade? Damn! his heart was beating out of his control." He didn't turn to look.

          He was shy by nature.  Being friends with a girl in third grade, no way! They were not friends. They rarely talked, but he competed with her in Math and she always beat him to second place.  It was best to accept that she was  the smartest thing in everything. He liked her, or better put, he had a crush on her. Ya, because she was also the best looking in his class in his eyes. For fourth grade, when students were shuffled to form new class, and she was not in his, he didn't feel good. He kind of missed seeing her in his class. Fifth grade, the final grade of elementary school, he was hoping to have her in his class, but again she was in other teacher's class. She was awarded the best student in their graduating ceremony to Middle School. He had expected to see her there as all the kids residing in same school district area go to same school, but she was nowhere to be seen in his middle school . He remembers how awful he felt when he learnt that she has returned to India and was never coming back now. In Elementary school, even if she was not in his class, he at least got to see her sometimes- in cafeteria or when they had combined classes for certain activities.

   As he lifted his head to look at her, he wasn't sure if he can recognize her. She must have changed and grown all big. It's been many years. 'Darn! same two braids. She always used to wear two braids to school,' voice went in his head as he looked at her.  It was easy to tell, it's her, nothing much had changed. Same big beautiful eyes with long eyelashes, small cute nose, full lips and jet black hair in two braids. A smile curved on his face. He was sure she wouldn't recognize him as he has changed a lot. Blame it on puberty.  She too had changed like girls do, but she was slim like she was then, though pretty tall now.

   "Hello everyone! I am Anika Gusani.  We just moved from Chicago where I did my junior High . I am hoping to make great friends with you all and a great learning with Mr. Bee," she said in the best of her voice. And his head went, 'Hillary Clinton missed, but seems like she won't. 'She was always a confident girl,'  he remembered. 

   He didn't know, but it seemed like the best day of his life. Happiness bubbling within from the long lost dormant source.

1. The Hero

Alexander  Raaf called Alex by everyone

2. Indian Girl

Anika Gusani

3. Lucy Miller

5. Alex's mother Jenny Raaf

Lucy's mom Linda Miller

Lucy's dad Marc Miller

Lucy's brother Riley Miller