First Two Chapters Of Rose's

Daughter
Chapter 1: Arnhille High
Today is my first day of school at Arnhille High. I’m not really ready for school, but I
have to go. My aunt and uncle say that I have waited long enough. They have always
been like this. I guess I just better get used to it. I am living with them now, so I am
going to have to deal with them until I am on my own.
My room is the basement. Their basement is small and no one comes down here
since the laundry room is upstairs. It’s nice since I have my own bathroom and the
closet was originally a pantry so I have a lot of storage space. Plus there is a door at the
top of the stairs, so I do have privacy.
I pull my fluffy dark blue blankets off of me and get up. My feet land on the fluffy rug I
got. All of stuff I have if from my home back in Minnesota. The blanket was my mom’s.
She always loved really fluffy blankets. I normally was too hot for them, but the
basement gets pretty chilly at night. I make my way into the bathroom.
I look at myself in the mirror. My blue eyes stare back at me. I have a tiny scar on my
cheek that my mom would always joke around and tell me I got it because I was always
smiling. My hair is short. It grew pretty fast from when I shaved it off. My mom and I did
that together. My nose looks a lot like hers, but, according to her, I always looked more
like my dad.
The bright color of a sticky not on the corner of my mirror catches my eye. On it is a
picture of a rose with petals flying away from it. My mom’s name was Rose. That’s going
to be my first tattoo.
I smile, before washing my face. After that, I put on a little bit of eyeliner, mascara
and chapstick. I fluff out my short, dark blonde with blonde highlights hair. My mom
always said that she loves how my hair gets natural highlights during the summer. I
decided to save up money to get actual highlights.
I leave the bathroom and go into my makeshift closet. I fixed it so half of it was a
closet, while the other side is storage for my other random things. I hang up almost
everything except my underwear, tank tops, pants and messed up t-shirts I wear to bed.
I grab a black skirt that buttons in the front. It goes to just above my knee. I then grab a
light blue t-shirt with no writing on it. I leave my closet and put the clothes on my bed.
I walk to my dresser and go into the top drawer. I grab a pair of socks that go to just
below my knees and a pair of spandex. I change into my clothes, making sure to put
deodorant on before I put my t-shirt on. I put on boots that when on there is about an
inch or two of my socks showing.
I sit and my mom’s vanity. I have my jewelry set up on it. I grab a ring that my mom
gave me and put it on my left pointer finger. I then put a couple of rings on my right
hand; one on my middle finger and my ring finger. I put on my locket that has a picture
of my mom and me in it. I put on my cross necklace too. It doesn’t go down as much as
my locket. I put my silver watch on my right wrist and a couple of bracelets on the left. I
then put my black beanie on, securing it with bobby pins. At Arnhille High, they don’t
care about hats like beanies.
I grab my backpack and go upstairs. I grab an apple and eat it before throwing it
away. Of course, Judith, my cousin, already left for school. She is a cheerleader and
apparently “always has to be there way early”, aka, she didn’t want to give me a ride. I
go out to the garage and grab my mom’s old bike. We were close in height, so I never
had to adjust the seat.
I brought the bike outside. I know it probably was a bad idea to wear a skirt when I’m
going to be riding a bike, but that’s what the shorts are for. I’m just happy that it’s fall. I
don’t know what I’m going to do in the winter.
The ride to school is short. Maybe, I’ll have to walk in the winter. I lock my bike to the
bike rack. I make my way into the small school and got to the office. This is my first time
going to a new school. My mom taught ASL (American Sign Language) at the school I
used to go to, so we weren’t a family that had to move a lot.
Since this school is pretty small, it’s pretty easy finding the office. The receptionist is
pretty nice and she handed me my schedule. She told me if I got lost to come back to
the office and she can help me out. She also gave me a couple of papers with other
information like my locker number and a copy of the student handbook, which I didn’t
really need because I found it online. I look at my schedule to see it was pretty basic:
1 2 3 4 5
Intro To
6 7 8
Graphi
College College
Adviso Marketin Chemist
US Literatu Precalc ASL c
ry g ry ulus
re Teacher: Design
Day A

Teacher: History Teacher: Teacher: Teacher: Teacher: Mrs. Teacher:

SEMESTER 1

Mr. Teacher: Ms. Lee Ms. Carter Fisher

Mrs. Mr. Mr.
Palmer Ms. Lee Room: Room: Room:
Jonston Palmer Palmer
Room: Room: 912 914 1109
Room: Room: Room:
905 912
906 905 905
College Intro To College Graphi
Adviso Marketin Chemist
US Literatu Precalc ASL c
ry g ry ulus
Day B

Teacher: History re Teacher: Design

Teacher: Teacher: Teacher: Teacher: Mrs. Teacher:
Mr. Teacher: Ms. Lee Ms. Carter Fisher
Mrs. Mr. Mr.
Palmer Ms. Lee Room: Room: Room:
Jonston Palmer Palmer
Room: Room: 912 914 1109
Room: Room: Room:
905 912
906 905 905

I am definitely very my ASL class because I will probably get an A. My mom raised
me with ASL. She believed that everyone should know ASL because you never know
when you might meet someone who can’t communicate by speaking.
I make my way towards the hallway where the Juniors’ and Seniors’ lockers are.
Mine is 182. I follow the lockers down. These lockers are the tall ones. Thank God. At
my old school, we had lockers were there was a top locker and a bottom locker. Having
a bottom locker freshman year sucked.
178...179… 180… SMACK!
I ran into a girl. She was a little shorter than me. She seemed half-japanese and
half-caucasian, but I’m not a hundred percent sure. She had long black hair that was
flowing past her shoulders. Part of her hair was braided and had cool silver hoops in it.
She was wearing dark clothes and had dark makeup on. All in all she just seemed like a
really cool person. She stood up and brushes her pants off and holds a hand out for me
to grab.
“Sorry,” I say, grabbing her hand. She pulls me up. “I’m really clumsy.”
“It’s cool,” she says, waving it off. “I wasn’t paying attention anyways. You new
here?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m Melanie.”
“Nice to meet you,” she says. “I’m Olive. Where’s your locker?” I move down two
lockers and tap 182. “Cool. Mine is 183. Sadly, an idiot is 181. Don’t worry. If he bugs
you, I’ll mess him up.”
“Thanks,” I say. I unlock my locker and put my bag into my locker. I hang up a few
pictures of my mom and me.
“Is that your mom?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” she says. “Why are you heads shaved in that one?”
She points to a picture from a concert we went to. It was a Dream Theater concert. They
are her favorite band.
“She had cancer,” I whisper. “I shaved my head for her.”
“That’s sweet,” she says. “I bet she’s really cool, right?”
“She was,” I say. She is about to ask me what I meant, but she realizes it for herself.
“Who do you have for advisory?” she asks.
“Mr. Palmer,” I tell her.
“He’s so cool,” she says. “I happen to have him, too.”
*****
Olive and I have had three classes and lunch together. I haven’t really made any
other friends, but that’s ok. I go to the bike rack after school and unlock my bike. I throw
my lock into my bag. I decide to walk my bike home instead of riding it.
 Guys ride by me or run by me. I enjoy the autumn air and the beauty of the trees. I
hear Olive’s voice calling me and I turn around.
“Hey,” she says. “Where do you live?”
“Maple Street,” I say.
“D**n,” she says. “Same street as Judith Robinson. Poor you.”
“Yeah,” I say. “It sucks more because she’s my cousin.”
“D**n,” she says. “I could never imagine living with that b-”
“Child,” I say, when I see a blonde boy run by.
“That’s Evan Myers,” she says. “He’s deaf. He wouldn’t have heard me call your
cousin a b**ch.”
“Poor kid,” I say.
“That’s why are school has ASL,” she says. “Three years ago he lost his hearing and
his older brother really wanted to know ASL, so his mom and him pushed for it.”
“Impressive,” I say.
“Well, this is my street,” she says. “Maybe we can walk together tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” I say.
Chapter 2: Oceanview Diner
The best thing about Arnhille is that it is by the ocean. You get the salty air that flows
throughout the small town. Plus living on Maple Street, means that you have a great
view of the ocean. In Minnesota, the closest thing I had was Lake Superior. We lived up
north, right on Minnesota’s biggest lake. It was beautiful, but I think I like the ocean
better.
The school week it officially over now and I decided it was time to really get to know
Arnhille. I ride my bike into town. The first thing I decide to do is get lunch. When I get to
the town line, I stop and open up the list Olive gave me of her favorite places.
Oceanview Diner is her favorite place to eat.
I make my way to the diner. I notice there isn’t a bike rack next to the diner, but there
is one across the street. I am about to go across the street, when a random guy comes
and grabs my bike from me. He jumps on it and starts riding.
“Hey!” I yell. I start to follow. My wallet is in my purse in the basket. Sadly, he crosses
the street and I can’t. By the time I could, he was long gone. At least, I kept my ID in my
phone case and I have my phone in my pocket. I grab my phone and go to call my aunt.
Sadly, it was dead. I swear I charged it this morning!
I sigh. Maybe the diner had a phone. I go back to the dinner and I sit at the counter.
A waitress walks over to me.
“Do you have a phone I could use?” I ask.
“I’m sorry, hon, we don’t,” she says. I nod. I get up to leave, when I’m stopped by a
lady. She has short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She is a bit on the heavier side.
She is definitely a mom by the way she is dressed.
“I’m sorry to bug you,” she says. “But are you related to Rose Walker?”
“Yeah,” I say. “She’s my mom.”
 “Well, I’d be darned!” she says. “Rose was my best friend! You look a lot like her.”
“Thanks,” I say. I’m still a little frazzled by the bike thing.
“Are you alright?” she asks.
“A guy stole my bike,” I say. “It has my wallet in the basket and my phone’s dead so I
can’t call my aunt.”
“Well,” she says. “I have a phone you can borrow.” She pulls out her phone and
hands it to me.
“Thank you so much!” I exclaim. I call my aunt. She is really annoyed and tells me
that since the only thing in my wallet is some money, she’d just pay me back.
“Bad conversation?” she asks. I nod sitting at the counter. “Iris was always like that.
She never really saw an item and connected with it. Yes, things can be replaced, but the
people connected to the item can’t be.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I wish my aunt knew that. That was my mom’s bike.”
“How about this,” she says. “Tuesday, my son isn’t busy. I bet he would love to help
you find your bike. Just come on over after school.”
“Really?”
“Even if he doesn’t,” she says. “I’ll still have him help you. Now, did you eat lunch
yet?”
“No,” I say.
“Whatever you want,” she says. “On the house.”
“I couldn’t,” I say.
“Your Rose’s daughter,” she says, waving it away. “Rose was a saint. Everybody
loves her. I can tell your a lot like her, too.”
“Thank you so much,” I say. “I don’t know how to repay you!”
“Anything for my best friend’s daughter,” she says. And they say Minnesotans are
nice. “Oh how could I forget! I’m Heather.” She puts her hand out to shake mine.
“Melanie,” I say, shaking her hand.