She stepped out of the locker room with her eyes cast down in fear as she used every part of her being to block out the ear piercing cackles.
Salty tears welled up in her eyes, but before she could give in to the taunting, the words of her grandfather echoed in her memory, giving her hope.
It was a conversation that had taken place at the water's edge almost nine years ago, but his words were still fresh in her mind.
Her senses were suddenly heightened as she felt something crawl down her back, only to realize one of her classmates had managed to slip the class tarantula down the back of her shirt.
She closed her eyes and focused on remembering the sound of her grandfather's baritone in order to sooth her and prevent her from screaming out loud.
Suddenly the sky broke open and started pouring over the children's heads.
They all ran as they were drenched in ice cold water, but she stayed perfectly still, for it was not water drenching her face.
The tarantula tickled her neck as it crawled out from behind her onto her arm where it sat and smiled at into the girl's eyes.
Her grandfather had promised on that day on the beach that one day after he is gone, she would have cotton candy.
For it was not water, but it was fluffy cotton candy that coated her body that day.
Salty tears welled up in her eyes, but before she could give in to the taunting, the words of her grandfather echoed in her memory, giving her hope.
It was a conversation that had taken place at the water's edge almost nine years ago, but his words were still fresh in her mind.
Her senses were suddenly heightened as she felt something crawl down her back, only to realize one of her classmates had managed to slip the class tarantula down the back of her shirt.
She closed her eyes and focused on remembering the sound of her grandfather's baritone in order to sooth her and prevent her from screaming out loud.
Suddenly the sky broke open and started pouring over the children's heads.
They all ran as they were drenched in ice cold water, but she stayed perfectly still, for it was not water drenching her face.
The tarantula tickled her neck as it crawled out from behind her onto her arm where it sat and smiled at into the girl's eyes.
Her grandfather had promised on that day on the beach that one day after he is gone, she would have cotton candy.
For it was not water, but it was fluffy cotton candy that coated her body that day.