Lizzie the Lesbian...

Oh, how I wish that rumor was true. Ever since last year, when Lizzie and Kate were doing a food project, and someone overheard Gordo say "Don't worry, we won't call attention to the fact that you two are out together in public," the wrong idea came about... and well, here's the result.

Then the harassment started. Lizzie, along with Miranda and Gordo by her side, told the principal, however; not before suffering nearly a month of abuse - physical and emotional. A few days later, all forms of harassment was gone. Well, almost all. The Gossip-Rumor Mill never stops.

I was in 6th grade at the time, Hillridge Elementary, and we usually go to the middle schools around this time of year, to see what the school would be like and what we'd experience throughout the first year of middle school. It was advised we take notebooks with us to jot down notes, tips and any other helpful hints, (like secrets) to make our first middle school year all the more easier.

I guess the Sevies who were giving us Soon-to-be-Sevies a tour of the school, had all agreed to tell each and every one of us to jot down in our notebooks that Elizabeth Brooke McGuire was a lesbian, and was available in case one of the guys would like to have a little fun with her next year.

They made sure we wrote it down. So we just stood there in the hallway, writing. Everyone but me. The bigger ones that looked like they were supposed to be in the eighth grade shot me nasty looks, so I quickly and quietly wrote down "I am not a lesbian," hoping it would pass as what they thought I wrote. Unfortunately, I didn't know they were going to check our books.

When they got to mine, the leader of my group, Kyle Whatever-His-Last-Name-Is, forcefully grabbed my notebook out of my hands. I put no effort in resisting, or getting it back. He was twice my size! In height... and possibly in weight too.

"Listen, little girl," he said, threateningly, "write what we say or we'll get you in trouble. I don't think you want that, and considering you're not even registered in this school's system, you'll be off to a bad start next year."

Without giving me time to defend myself, he took out a red permanent marker and scrawled "Lizzie's a f-in lezzie!" in my book. He scribbled something else, then handed my notebook back to me. We continued walking. I took a look at the paper. Underneath my comment about not being a lesbian, he had written:

"Those who only deny do the crime. We all know what your pleasure is, you dyke. Instead of your name being 'Andie' why not just 'Die'? Oh, and that's a threat."

Tears filled my eyes. Who knew Sevies could be so mean? I hope I won't turn out like that.