Clueless to the Spirit (1970)

Clueless to the Spirit

1970

On the last day of eighth grade Lauren Myers received a sweat shirt of the school she would be attending in the fall. She said good bye to her acquaintances she had made at her last school. When she got home from school she and her parents pilled into their car and hit the road. They followed the moving van to their new home.

It was chili when they arrived and Lauren had to put on the only thing not in a box on and that was the sweat shirt her parents had given her. It didn’t take long for their new neighbors to show up and start welcoming them.

“We have been here for like a second.” Lauren said to her parents when she noticed them running over.

“They are just trying to be nice.” Her dad said.

“I like it.” Her mom said.

It wasn’t long before they realized not all the people running over were technically neighbors. Some did not actually live in the neighborhood at all. All of them brought something. Most were food related. Others were not. One woman brought the worst kind, her daughter.

“I am so happy to see this neighborhood filling up.” Mrs. Hollings said. “Is that your daughter?”

“Yes, this is Lauren.” Mrs. Myers said.

“What grade will she be in?” Mrs. Hollings asked.

“She will be a freshman in high school.” Mrs. Myers said.

“Get out of town, my daughter too!” Mrs. Hollings said. “Mary come here.”

Mary ran over to where the two ladies had been talking.

“Lauren I want you to meet someone.” Her mom said.

Lauren reluctantly walked over.

“This is Lauren” Mrs. Myers said.

“Mary- Sacred Heart! I am going there too!” Mary said.

“Really” Lauren said.

“Yes! I can’t wait for school to start. It is going to be the best four years of our lives.” Mary said.

“Well we will let you guys get settled but we will have to get these girls together over the summer. After all they are both going to be Valkyries soon.” Mrs. Hollings said and the two headed home.

“Thank God that is over with.” Lauren said.


“Hey, she seemed nice.” Her mother said.

Things had died down for a week or two. Lauren’s family had become a regular fixture in the neighborhood. One cool night after dinner Lauren’s dad took her out for ice cream.

“Look its Sacred Heart!” Mary yelled and ran over to them.

“Oh good” Lauren said under her breathe. “And she brought friends.”

“This is my new neighbor.” Mary said to her friends. “She is a member of the class of ’74. I am so sorry, what’s your name again?”

“Lauren” Lauren said.

“This is Elizabeth and Theresa. I am Mary in case you forgot too.” Mary said point to them and her.

“Hello” Elizabeth and Theresa said.

“Hi” Lauren said.

“You girls getting ice cream too?” Mr. Myers asked.

“Yeah, every Wednesday” Mary said.

“Why don’t you girls join us?” Mr. Myers asked.

“Sure” Mary said.

“Where did you move here from?” Elizabeth asked.

“Indianapolis” Lauren said.

“Why did you guys move here?” Theresa asked.

“Dad got a better job.” Lauren said.

“Congrats” Theresa said looking at Mr. Myers.

“Thanks” Mr. Myers said.

“What are your plans for the summer?” Mary asked.

“Summer camp and visiting grand parents” Lauren said.

“Sounds like fun.” Mary said.

“Yeah” Lauren said.

The four girls ate their ice cream and talked about meaningless things. When they were done Lauren and her dad got into their car to go home.

“So glad that is over.” Lauren said.

“They seem so nice. Wouldn’t it be nice to already know people on the first day of school?” Lauren’s dad asked.

“No” Lauren said.

Two days later Lauren left for summer camp. When she returned a couple of weeks later she was grocery shopping with her mom when they ran into Mary and her mother.

“Settling in?” Mrs. Hollings asked.


“Yes, thank you.” Mrs. Myers said.

“Can you believe the summer is half over?” Mrs. Hollings asked.

“Oh I know. We went uniform shopping today.” Mrs. Myers said.

“We are going next week. I can’t believe they are already getting their navy skirts.” Mrs. Hollings said.

“Do you know what classes or teachers you have yet?” Mary asked.

“I got the envelop while I was at camp but haven’t really looked at it yet.” Lauren said.

“Wouldn’t it be so cool if we had some classes together?” Mary asked.

“Yeah” Lauren said.

The Myers and the Hollings chit-chatted for a few more minutes and went their separate ways.

“Its like she is stalking me.” Lauren said.

“Would it kill you to try to be nice and have fun here?” Lauren’s mom asked.

“Yes” Lauren said.

Lauren spent the rest of the summer with her grandparents and cousins.

The first day of school came. Lauren was walking through the third floor freshmen hall. She was realizing that most of these girls went to grade school together and already had a group of friends. Lauren found her locker and started putting her books in.

“Lauren Myers!” Mary shouted. “Please tell me your team room is 210 also.”

“Yeah” Lauren said.

“Awesome. We are so sitting together.” Mary said.

“Ok” Lauren said.

“Do you already have lunch plans?” Mary asked as they walked into the classroom.

“Nope” Lauren said.

“You have to sit with me, Elizabeth, and Theresa.” Mary said and they sat down.

“Ok” Lauren said.

Yes Lauren had a real group of friends to sit with every day at lunch.