My story I wrote in 9th grade. A Mean Girl's Twist of Fate

Not your typical 1980s teen story - Urwin story turns 40! Happy birthday Urwin

My story I wrote in middle school English class in May 1984. This was originally written in cursive, and I typed it up over the past few days. There have been no adjustments to this writing. It’s hard to believe this is 40 years old. My English teacher saved this to read to future classes.

Origional copy 5/1/1984 l

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I raced down the hall. School was out for the day! Only three more weeks until summer vacation. I couldn’t wait! I loved summer, the beach, guys, parties… I was so glad it was today, not yesterday

It was a Thursday. School was out for the day. I was thinking of the big dance this weekend. What should I wear? I wondered. Maybe I’ll buy a new dress. I’ll look so nice; all of the guys will ask me to dance. Maybe, Gary Stevens will ask me to dance…

“Hey Tessie! Wait up!” My best friend Carla ran up to me.

“Hey, Car! What’s new?” I asked

“Not much. Hey, there’s Urwin, buddy.” Carla shouted

Urwin turned around, his face red. He was the funniest looking kid I ever saw.

“Hey, Urwin Buddy!” I yelled. I kicked his books down the hall

“My aren’t we clumsy today.” I said in a mommy-like voice. Everyone laughed. I loved the attention!

Two big guys were throwing his books back and forth. Urwin jumped up to get the books. Everyone laughed and called him Mildew. Actually, his last name was Milton.

“Hey, Tess! Line drive in center field.” Tim through Urwin’s book to me

“And you’re out!” I said when I caught it.

“Give it back!” Irwin said. He was crying.

“Oh, poor baby don’t cry!” I threw the book at him. “And to show you I’m sorry, I’ll even shut your locker.” I slammed his locker

“I had to get my coat.” he said

“I’m sorry Urwin, honey. I was only trying to be nice.” I said.

He kicked his locker and cried in pain.

“Did you have a hard day, Mildew? Just take it easy.” I walked away still laughing

“Good job, Tess!” Tim said

“We’re out of here!” I called back

Carla and I ran down the school steps, still laughing

“That was a good one Tess.” Carla said when we reached the bottom of the steps.

“I bet he’s still trying to open his locker. It probably took him all day.” I said sarcastically.

“I swear. That kid is the most disgusting, ugliest thing I ever saw!”

“He is pretty ugly. I kind of feel sorry for him. How would you like if you were him?” Carla said.

I looked up at the blue sky. “I’m glad I’m not.” Maybe I was too mean, I thought. It’s fun anyway! I never saw anyone that wore bright green floods, except him.

We cut across the grassy yards. It’s a short cut home. Carla and I were talking about the dance. Carla asked who my date was. I was too embarrassed to tell her Gary didn’t ask me out yet.

Carla glanced in back of us. “Here comes Artie. He’s following us again. He’s probably going to ask you out again.” Carla giggled. If she said anything to embarrass me, she’s going to die I thought.

I decided to find out what he wanted. I mean, I like attention from guys, except it they’re Artie!

“Uh. hi. Tess. Walk you home.” he asked his face red.

I tried hard not to laugh. “Carla’s walking me home.”

Carla laughed. I almost felt sorry for him.

“Well, how about the dance?” he put his hands in his pockets. He looked very uncomfortable. I loved making guys uncomfortable.

“What about it?” I asked knowing exactly what he meant

“Would you like to be my date.” he asked. His face grew redder.

“I’m sorry, Artie. Maybe some other time.” I said.

“How about a soda after school tomorrow?” Gosh this kid was really taking his chances. I decided to say yes to get rid of him.

“Great! See you tomorrow!” he said. He couldn’t stop smiling. He ran down the sidewalk

“Why did I say I’d get a soda?” I questioned myself

“That’s you’re problem.” Carla laughed.

We crossed a busy intersection.

“I think he’s kind of nice.” Carla said after we crossed the intersection

I stared at her. “Carla are you on heavy drugs! You even feel sorry for Urwin!”

“Well, just because you’re popular doesn’t mean you have to act like a snob!” Carla yelled

“Look at yourself, Carla! You’re the snob! You’re not any fun! You’re such a goody-goody! Go ahead, go back and cry with Urwin. Why don’t you go out with both Urwin and Artie! You’d probably bore them both.” I said angrily. I ran down the street.

“Tessie! I’m sorry!” Carla yelled.

I ignored her. I felt so mean and terrible, but I didn’t care. I walked the rest of the way home alone.

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When I got home my brother was raiding the refrigerator

“Hey, Tess! Where’s Carla.” My brother Pete asked.

“Probably with Urwin! Sometimes I can’t believe she’s my best friend.

“I believe it!” he said.

“Oh, shut up Pete!”

“You’re grumpy today. I heard they’re going to elect you junior high prom queen.” he said

“So, what! Big deal! It happens every day!” I said snobbishly

“I’m getting sick of you! You think you’re so great! You think you’re the greatest in the junior high.”

“Oh, poor thing! You probably wanted to Jr prom queen”.

“Shut up Tess! You won’t be popular for long with your attitude. No wonder Gary Stevens doesn’t like you. It’s because you’re so mean!” he said

“Shut up! I doubt it’s true!”

“Someday everyone is going to turn against you. They will find out what you are really like!” Pete said

I shivered. “That will never happen, and you know it!”

“I wish it would!” he picked up his baseball bat and was out the door. Pete thinks he’s so great and he’s going to be a famous baseball player. That will be the day!

I turned off the tv several hours later. It was almost 11 so I decided to go to bed. I laid there and thought about what Carla and Pete said. Maybe I was too mean. Wouldn’t it be terrible if I was Irwin? What a nightmare! I thought and turned over and fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning and realized I was late. I threw on anything and went out the door.

I walked into the school yard. “Hey, Carla! Wait up!”

Carla gave me the dirtiest look. Oh well. I thought. If she’s going to that way, so am I! I have other friends.

I walked up to a bunch of girls. “Hi girls! What’s new?”

They all giggled. “You’re pants sure aren’t! Where did you find them?” Georgia said. They all walked away their heads high. I stared at them in disbelief. Nothing was wrong with my pants! How dare they say that! I looked down and my pants. Oh my gosh! I never knew I had pants like Urwin!

Maybe no one will notice. I hoped.

“Hey Mildew, Buddy!” I’ll give you a hand I pushed Urwin over. Everyone stared at me.

“Who do you think you are?” he said. I blinked in surprise. He looked too good to be Urwin, but it was.

“I’m Tessie Mc Dunna! Class president! Head cheerleader.” I said convincingly confident

“You mean MC Dummy? You’re not Tessie! Tessie was never this ugly.”

“You know, it looks like a girl in the form of Urwin.” Urwin said, but it wasn’t Urwin. I’m Urwin! I thought. No, it can’t be true!

“Come on Artie. Tell them who I really am!” I said knowing Artie would tell them who I really was.

“Get away from me, leech.” Artie said.

I stepped back. I couldn’t believe it

“Come on guys! The joke is over.” I said shakily.

“This is no joke.” Carla said coldly

“Yes, it is!” I said almost in tears.

“Oh, poor baby. Don’t cry.” Tim said in a high voice.

I was furious! I hated the way they sounded. They sounded just like me only I was Urwin!

blonde haired girl getting bullied at school by others

“No! Stop it all of you!” I cried

“This is what you get for being mean to all of us.” Pete said

“I’m sorry! I’ll never be mean again.” I pleaded.

“It’s too late now! Let’s throw her in the swamp!” Tim said.

“Yeah!” Everyone said.

“No! Don’t! I’ll be nice! Please give me a chance.” I said in tears

“She’ll probably drown. I bet she can’t even swim.” Artie said.

“Let’s throw her in!” Urwin tried to toss me in. I kicked him, but he was too strong. I could feel myself falling into the swamp.

“Help! Stop it!” I yelled waking myself up.

“Tessie! Shut up if you know what’s good for you!” my brother yelled.

It was only a dream. I was too relieved to yell back. I got up and looked in the mirror. I sighed in relief. It was me. It would be terrible if I looked like Urwin. Thankfully I’m not

I got dressed and went to school. I even walked in with my brother, which is very unusual for me.

I was so glad it was only a dream.

“You’re in a good mood this morning. Are you sure you’re feeling alright?” Pete asked.

“I sure am!” I said

“You’re actually being nice; you didn’t yell once.” Pete said.

Carla joined us. “Hi Tess. I’m really sorry about yesterday, I…”

“That’s alright, Carla. I was the one that started it. I’m sorry.” I said feeling good.

“Hey there’s Urwin buddy!” Pete shouted

I opened my mouth to say something but didn’t. I wouldn’t like it if I was Urwin

Several kids pushed him down.

“Hey, Tess! Catch this!” Tim threw Urwin’s book to me. I gave the book to Urwin.

Everyone stared. “What is this be nice to Urwin day?” Tim said laughing.

“It’s not funny, Tim! None of you are! How would you like it if someone did that to you?” I said surprising myself more than everyone else.

Everyone was silent. Urwin stood there looking so pitiful. I felt sorry for him.

“What got into you Tess! Your no fun.” Tim said.

“Well, if you want to be that way you can, but not when I’m around.” I said bravely.

“Oh, I’m really scared.” Tim said. He really did sound afraid.

“You are Tim. Admit it.” Carla said.

“Just get out of here unless you're going to be nice to him.” Gary Stevens said.

Tim stared at him

“Just beat it.” said big Al. “The only way you get attention is by picking on people.”

I started to pick up Urwin’s books. Carla joined me. Gary started to help.

“Go ahead! Help the nerd!” Tim said and then he ran fast.

“Tim, you die after school.” Al said

Everyone laughed, even Urwin.

The bell rang.

“Well, we’re late now.” Carla said.

“Let’s kill time.” Gary said. Everyone laughed. Gary even smiled at me.

“I guess all of us will be late together.” I said.

We all walked into the school. I didn’t care if I was late. I didn’t care if I got laughed at because of Urwin. These were my real friends.

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Written by – Jane Fox (Deegan) May 1^st, 1984

Was I like any of the characters? I have been Urwin, and I have also been Tess. Not proud of that part of that part of me. We can’t change the past though. I don’t think the character Tess was ever bullied, but maybe she was at home. I was bullied at school when I was young, and I think that’s why I turned it outward as a teen. I did not want to be the target ever again. That doesn’t make it right, ever.

“Jane at 14 or 15?” with my dad and brother