Chievous: I Choose Me

By A.A.Sanchez

"Misssssyyyyyyy!"

Every adult I know seems to call my name that way because of something they say I've done. I can't seem to catch a break! But that's better than the nickname I was given, "T for Trouble," which is what I always get myself into.

Hi! My name's Missy Chievous, and I know what you're thinking--yes, it does sound like the word mischievous. I have my parents to thank for that. I have a loving mother, a father who left this earth way too soon, and a dog, Cody, that I swear has been here before. I have no friends, and everyone thinks I'm a pain in the you-know-what. They say I have a habit of getting into trouble every chance I get because I make the wrong choices. I say life's too short not to do or say whatever you want.

Yep, I'm that kid who likes to act first and think about the consequences later. Until I meet someone who would completely change how I see things. Going into his world means that I get to see how others really think about me, and you know what?

They think I'm pretty amazing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662481253

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Chievous

I Choose Me

A.A.Sanchez

Copyright © 2022 A.A.Sanchez

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-6624-8124-6 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-8125-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

About the Author

To God, for using me; to my daughter, who gave me the courage to share my inner child; and to all those out there who dare to choose right from wrong. Choose you!

Preface

This is for all of us—and yes, I do say us because I am still learning—who struggle to make choices that benefit us in the end. No one is perfect, let me just say that. It's the choices that we make that affect us and how we live.

I'm not saying that we always have to make the right choice; Lord only knows it took me a while to know what that even was. I'm just saying when we are faced with a choice we have to think about the entire picture. How is the choice I make going to affect me in the future? Do I really need it right now, or can I wait until it's the right time? Am I trying to gratify myself in this instant? Can it wait?

There are so many other questions I could write, but I won't bore you with them. It all boils down to making decisions that are right for you, not to please anyone or anything. One thing I've learned in all my years of living, and we don't need to go into how many years that really is, is that life is not easy, and it's not supposed to be. But when we make bad choices, we're making things harder for ourselves, and that's where the suffering happens.

My advice: think before you do. Ask those questions that really make you think about the choices you make so that when you do make a choice, you are confident that you made the right one. And if you make a bad choice, learn from it and tell yourself next time it won't happen again. Like I said, no one is perfect, but we were all given the freedom to choose right from wrong so that we could enjoy the benefits of living without much guilt.

Chapter 1

Missssssyyyyyyyy!

This is the story of a little girl. No, wait, I'm not little, so I can't say that. Okay…this is a story of a girl named Missy. Or should I write Misssssyyyyyyy, like my mother says it when I'm in trouble, which is all the time? Okay, no, that is just too many letters to write. Okay, I'll leave it… This is the story of me, Missy. Okay…now what? How do I possibly explain this to you without you thinking I'm weird, like everybody else does? Okay, well, I guess I'll just tell it, and you'll have to see for yourself. Here it goes…

My name is Missy Chievous. Now, I know that sounds like a weird name. Who would name their child causing annoyance? But I don't really think my parents meant anything by it. My real name is Michelle. I actually have people call me Missy, so it's really my own doing. Anyway, I come from a long line of Chievouses. My father, rest his soul, was the last male Chievous, but he was a Junior. My grandfather was a Chievous, but he was from another country, so I don't know too much about him other than the fact that he spoke Spanish. My father, however, was born and raised here. He was the cleverest, most outgoing, and funniest person I knew. He died when I was five, but those were the best five years of my life.

I'm ten years old. I live with my mom, Professor Chievous. Her actual name is Aliah Chievous, but everybody calls her Ms. Chievous outside of her school. She teaches English at our state university. My mom is what you would call special. Everybody loves her. She's beautiful, nice, and people always come to her for advice. They say she has a peaceful soul, whatever that means. All I know is she's my mom and I love her. One thing about her, though, she's patient. She has to be, to put up with me.

Anyway, I am an only child. I actually like it like that. I don't think I could stand having another kid around here nagging my mother when I need her more than it would. And plus I have a dog, Cody. He's all we need to keep us company.

Cody is something special too. He's what I call my support friend. He's always there when I need him and even when I don't. You see, Cody is a talking dog. Okay, not actually a dog that talks, I'm not that crazy, but I know what he's saying even when he doesn't say it. He makes these faces and body movements that say everything.

I go to a really small school. My mother says it's because I need special attention because I'm a different kind of student. I think she's trying to say something else, but we won't say those things aloud. You know…for the sake of my self-esteem. I am very sensitive.

My school is not too far away from where I live, so I walk to and from school every day. Cody walks with me. I think he just wants to make sure I am okay, but I know it's because he doesn't like to see me leave the house. See, I told you—support friend.

Sister Constance Elementary School sits on a high hill. I hate walking up that hill to get to school because it is really steep. There are eight students in my class. I am one of four girls. The rest are boys. No one really likes me, so I have no friends. They say I'm weird, and they do not like weird people. They say I'm loud, and they don't like loud people. They say I get into too much trouble, and they don't like bad kids. But I say they are too judgmental, and I don't like people who judge others without giving them a chance, so I stay to myself.

The school lunch is my favorite because they have hot meals that are cooked in the kitchen. That's one of my favorite things about this school, the food.

Like I said, I walk to and from school. Today was a long day. I got into trouble with my teacher, Mr. Stick, because I made a rude comment. I didn't think it was rude, but you tell me. You see, we were in class, and he turned around to write on the board. My mind likes to wander. I was sitting there thinking, why is his name Mr. Stick? Is it because he is about seven feet tall and has barely enough body fat to be pinched? Is it because he has a stiff walk and when he bends over to pick something up you could place a water cup on his back and the water would never spill? Or is it because he carries around a big wooden stick and uses it to point at everything as if we can't find it on our own?

I couldn't figure it out, but out of my mouth came I know why his name is Mr. Stick! It's because everything his eats sticks to his clothes instead of going into his mouth!

It was supposed to be an inside-my-head thought, but the words came flying out before I could stop them. Everybody in the class looked at me and just started to laugh. I just sat there stunned and embarrassed. I tried to look around and act as if someone else said it, but Mr. Stick was right by my side before I could find a person to blame it on.

Missy Chievous! What did you say? he asked, as he glared at me with those beady eyes.

Nothing, I lied, trying to hide the guilt from my face by covering my mouth. I was wondering who would have said such a thing to such a kind teacher.

Mr. Stick wasn't fooled though. I knew that he wasn't. He knew that I knew that he wasn't. So he just pointed his stick to the door and said, Go.

What? Wait, why? But I just got my tail right out of that seat and walked out of the room, down the hall, and to the principal's office, with my head hanging and my heart throbbing. You would think that a kid like me would be used to the routine by now, but I was truly regretting this talk.

My principal, Sister Shirley, is a serious person. I have never seen her smile, not one time. But she doesn't have a mean face. She always looks like she's very disappointed. Even when she's proud of you. Some kids say it's because she expects too much. I just think it's because we expect too little, and it makes her disappointed that we don't understand that.

Anyway, I walked into the office, right past the secretary's desk, and opened her door. I'm what they call an exception to the rule Please stop at the secretary's desk before entering hanging on the door to the left of her office.

Sister Shirley looked right at me as she was hanging up the phone, saying It's all right Mr. Stick, she's just walked into my office. I will have a talk with her, and she will stay with me this morning. Please send some work down for her to complete so that she does not miss any assignments.

She hung up the phone. She sighed and took a deep breath. I knew where to sit; I have my own little desk in the corner of her office. So I just went over and had a seat facing her.

It was a long morning. I won't bore you with the details because we both shouldn't have to go through all that again. Let's just say I learned the meaning of If you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself.

After school, Cody was sitting outside on the side of the school building as usual, and I decided to walk home past the town. I was in the mood for some Grape-A-Licious gum. I felt I deserved it after being cooped up in the office all morning. I also wanted to treat myself for learning something new today.

Cody, I have been having the strongest craving for some grape-flavored gum, I said. Let's stop by the store to see if they have any.

Cody gave me this side glance, and I knew he was probably saying Now, you know you shouldn't be eating gum, your mother will be mad, but I just ignored him and kept on walking.

I love walking past all the stores in town. They have such nice window displays. I love to see all the changes of the displays to fit the season. It's spring now, so Mr. Garrison's store will have all the bicycles for girls and boys displayed in his window, with the new streamer colors that are bright and that attract the kids ready to buy new bikes.

I don't own a bike. The last bike I owned had uneven training wheels that rocked from side to side when I rode, thick plastic blue-and-white streamers hanging from the handlebars that never wanted to blow in the wind, and a bell that sounded like grinding chains. I don't know what happened to the bike, but it disappeared after I left it outside during a snowstorm. Don't ask.

We walked to Mr. and Mrs. Pete's fruit market. I tried to walk quickly because I didn't want to be asked about my day in school. My mother has always been the kind of parent who believes in the African proverb It takes a village to raise a child. My neighborhood takes that a bit too far. I am always on somebody's radar for trouble. It's like they all want to help raise me but turn their heads when Christmas or my birthday rolls around. And don't think I don't give subtle hints. But let me step out of line one time.

An entire tidal wave of hands and mouths were coming for me. So I hurried past their store, but then Cody decided he wanted a head rub from Mr. Pete, who was already coming toward him. I tried to act like I was in a rush, so I called, Come on, Cody, we can't be late.

And you know what my dog did? He ignored me and walked into Mr. Pete's store. As if I never called his name and he was walking himself. Even though he walks without a leash because he thinks he's part human and can control himself, this was one example of why putting a leash on him is necessary. Traitor. So I walked over to the store and tried to call his name again, and that was when I saw the new candy display at the counter.

I don't know what happened. I saw Cody playing with Mr. Pete and begging for a treat. My mouth started watering as it usually does whenever I get around candy, but my hand reacted before I thought about it, and I walked out of the store with the Grape-A-Licious gum in my pocket before Mr. Pete could see me.

My mind started playing tricks on me, and I was convinced that it was what Mr. Pete would have given me anyway had I begged for it, like Cody did for his treat, so why put him through the motions? He was old and tired from so many years of working that store. So actually, I was doing him a favor and saving him unnecessary time, so really, he should be thanking me. But I will just save him the gratitude and keep it to myself, or