Diary of a Twelve-Year-Old

Copyright 2002

It's not easy being twelve, ya know. I mean, you're too old to be a kid and too young to be a man. My mom says that this too will pass, but I'm not so sure. I mean, I'm in the seventh grade at my grammar school and have one more year left before I go to High School. I moved last summer, so I'm in a new school with all new kids. I still have two months before I turn thirteen and become a 'teenager'.

I was born in Westwood and now live in North Huntington. I tell you, it's a totally different place. We're only ten minutes from the beach and everyone goes to the beach. I went almost everyday since July first, when Mom and I moved into the house.

My Dad died last April. He had a heart attack. He wasn't even forty yet. Mom says he just had a bad heart. It also didn't help that he smoked too much and drank too much. I don't miss the drinking, though. He got mean when he got drunk.

Anyway, Dad had a good life insurance policy and a pension from the Fire Department that was given to Mom and me. I inherited some ten thousand dollars to help pay for college. The way things are going, I don't think I'll make it to college. I want to be a firefighter like Dad was.

I hate my body. It's all long and gangly at times and then I'm bumbling around and feeling fat at others. My doctor says I'm in the middle of a growth spurt and to expect this to last at LEAST four more years.

I hope to be tall like Dad and Uncle Chris. My first name is Christopher, but I go by my middle name to keep down the confusion. My name is Christopher Roy DeSoto. When I grow up and have kids, I'm going to name my first son Christopher, in keeping with tradition.

Mom is calling me for dinner, guess I better go. She worries when I don't eat. I'll be back though.

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School was okay today. I got a B on my Math test and an A in Spelling. School's so easy. My favorite class is English, I love to read. Math is okay, Social Studies and Science I could do without. Although History is interesting.

Brad Singleton got the shit kicked out of him today. He made a crack about Tommy's kid sister so Tommy beat him up. I saw the whole thing. Boy, I'm glad I don't have a sister. I would be fighting every guy.

Tommy's a bully anyway. He tried to take my lunch money the first day of school. I told him I forgot my money and that my Mother makes me take lunch most of the time anyway, so I wouldn't have any. Which was a lie, I had enough money for lunch and to buy what I needed at the school store.

My neighbor, Joanne Hayes is cool. I've known here since I was Ten. We lived next door in the old neighborhood. She moved last year. It was just luck that I moved into her neighborhood. I like her. She's been there for when I needed a friend to talk to or someone to confide in. I hope to marry her someday.

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Today was a bad day. Tommy came after me for not having any lunch money. I keep telling him that I don't have any money, he keeps harassing me. I wish he'd just leave me alone. He's in the Eighth grade and I hope he doesn't get held back again.

I got a C on my Science project. Try as I might, I just couldn't get the damn battery to work. I hope it doesn't pull my grade point too far down. I still have a test in Geography tomorrow. Then it's no homework for the weekend. I'm going surfing this weekend. The last weekend I'll be able to do that as it's getting colder out in the water and my Mom says I shouldn't surf when it's cold. Moms.

I hope next week is better.

**********

I met a new friend today. His name is Mikey. He's taller than me but that's okay. We're the same age and in the sixth grade he won't be 13 until March. He goes to Catholic school but says that next year he's going to public school as the Catholic school only goes to sixth grade. He just moved into the neighborhood yesterday.

He was riding his bike down the street when I saw him. My heart stopped, I swear. I guess it's puberty, but it's kinda scary.

I watched him ride by my house six or seven times before I got up the nerve to talk to him. He's kinda shy and soft spoken. In fact, he doesn't say much at all. But that's okay. We're going to the beach tomorrow with Joanne and his cousin, Monica. This should prove fun.

**********

Just got back from the beach. Something's wrong with me, I think. I couldn't stop looking at Mikey. He wore baggies and a pair of sandals. His tank top was light blue like his eyes and his brown hair had blonde highlights in it.

He tans so well, all I do is burn. Damn red hair. Jo and Monica got along fine. She's fourteen and tall. Has brown hair and blue eyes. She kinda looks like Mikey Stoker.

I think I'll talk to Mom, see what she has to say. I can tell her anything. I'll miss our talks when I grow up.

Well, Mom and I talked for two hours. She said that what I'm feeling for my friend is normal. She also told me not to worry if I don't out grow my feelings. She'll love me no matter how I turn out. I hugged her extra hard when we finished. She made me my favorite cookies too. We ate most of them and went through a whole half gallon of milk. Boy, I love my mom.

It's Sunday night now and I'm feeling anxious about school tomorrow. I just know Tommy is going to come after me. If I'd only grow another two inches or so so that I can take him on. Then he won't bother me so much.

Oh, I passed the Geography test with a 97 so I guess my G.P.A is still intact.

**********

December 1st

It's been awhile since you and I have talked, but here I am. I'm 13 now. Still feels weird, being in the seventh grade and all. Jo and I are sorta dating, although I think I'm going to end up marrying someone else, if I marry at all.

This will be my last entry in this book, as I have run out of pages. I will miss you my friend, but I am starting a new book tomorrow. I'll come back since you are the sum total of my twelfth year.

Christopher Roy DeSoto December 1st 1960

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~end~



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