So that’s how I found myself, two days later, at school before school has even started, trying out for the cross country team. I felt comfortable in my choice of clothes. I obviously had athletic shorts, and I had just thrown on a t-shirt. I did not feel great about my choice of shoes. I was wearing grandma’s old sneakers again since, apparently, I had only managed to bring sandals during the move. Stacy had reassured me it wouldn’t matter if I was fast. It was the effort that mattered, but I still didn’t want to embarrass myself.
Mom had dropped me off early, and as soon as she was gone, I had darted in to the bathroom. I told myself that it would help my speed to pee first, but really, I knew I was just hiding. I look at myself in the mirror and try to straighten my hair. When I was ge
