A Brighter Tomorrow: My Journey with Julie

I can’t stand the idea of making a fool of myself on the court, especially if it means losing the game for Julie. But then, it occurs to me that even if we beat the boys, it still won’t earn her a place on the basketball team at school. I step between Stinger and Julie and tell him she doesn’t need to prove herself to him or anyone else. Girls can do anything boys can do. My face reddens, but I keep going. Julie deserves a place on that team more than anybody, because she’s willing to fight for it.

Stinger stammers, but before he can say anything else, Julie grins and says we should be going. We stride away without looking back.

Once we’re farther off, I lean close to Julie and ask if I was too hard on Stinger. She says no. Stinger is always so cocky, and she’s never seen him speechless before. I tell her I couldn’t stand the idea of watching him strut around like a peacock for much longer. We laugh.

When we pull ourselves together, Julie dribbles her basketball and says we should do something else. I look around the park without a clue. I don’t know where we are, or what else might be nearby.

Julie asks if I’ve seen Golden Gate Park. I tell her I only moved to San Francisco a week ago, and before I know it, she’s dragging me along the sidewalk.

We run down the sidewalk for a couple of blocks. Then Julie slows to a walk and points straight ahead. In front of us is one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. A flower garden surrounds a magnificent white building, its great dome made of window panes like an enormous faceted diamond. It’s the biggest greenhouse I’ve ever seen!

Julie says it’s the Conservatory of Flowers, and we should go inside. We stroll along brick paths lined with lush green leaves, succulents, and brightly colored blooms, admiring the hibiscus flowers, the pink ginger blossoms, and the sunny yellow orchids.

It’s so beautiful that I wish I could bring Mom and Zack here. And then, I realize that I probably can. Golden Gate Park still exists, so this place is probably still here in my time, too. For the first time, I start to think it might not be so bad living here in San Francisco.

Chloe would love to see this place, too. She goes crazy for pretty flowers. Maybe she could visit for spring break, and I could bring her here myself.

Julie interrupts my thoughts. Somebody is coming up behind me: the Water Fountain Girls. I spin around and see three girls our age coming up the path. Julie says their names are Angela, Amanda, and Allison, the Triple-A meanies from her class at school.