New Girl On The Block

New Girl On The Block is the fourth episode of the first season of Tales From Starlet City.

Summary
A new girl named True moves into the neighborhood and joins the class, which makes the kids excited.

Story
One Saturday afternoon, Gil, Goby, Oona, Casey, Hopsalot, and Joan were walking home from the movies after seeing Christopher Robin.

"That was a great movie," said Gil.

"I'll say," said Goby.

"I can't wait until it comes out on DVD or on Netflix or Redbox," said Oona.

"Neither can I," said Joan, "I loved Winnie The Pooh when I was younger. I still kinda do."

Just then, they saw a moving van parked in front of a futuristic-style house across the street from Joan's house.

"Hey, looks like someone's moving into that house," said Gil.

"That house has been on the market for a long time," said Goby.

"Everyone in Starlet City loves that house," said Hopsalot.

"Hey, everyone in Starlet City has that house," said Goby.

They all shared a laugh.

"But who's moving in," Gil then asked.

"I don't know," said Oona, "but I'm sure we'll find out soon."

The answer came the following Monday while the kids were at school. They walked into the classroom and took their seats. The teacher, Ms. DiMartino, spoke up.

"Good morning, everyone," she said.

"Good morning, Ms. DiMartino," said all the students.

"Before we begin, I have an announcement to make," said Ms. DiMartino, "A new student will be joining our class."

Ms. DiMartino then winked, and a girl rose from her seat and walked to the front of the class. She was fair-skinned and had blue hair kept in two heart-shaped pigtails, blue eyes, a white hairband with a blue, yellow and red bow, a white shirt, a backpack comprised of yellow, blue, and red circles with a yellow shoulder strap with a round white button with a red border, and red, blue, and yellow circles, a magenta skirt, magenta leggings, and yellow boots covering rainbow-colored socks.

"Everyone, meet True Goldsmith," said Ms. DiMartino.

"Hello," said True.

"Hello, True," said everyone else.

True then took her seat and class began. Later, at lunch, the kids sat down, and then noticed True walking around the cafeteria with her tray, as if she was trying to find a good seat.

"Hey, True," said Gil, "come sit with us!"

"Okay," said True.

True went over to the table Gil, Goby, Oona, Casey, Hopsalot, and Joan were at and sat down.

"So, True, where are ya from," asked Goby.

"I'm from Colorado Springs," said True, "Me, my dad, and my older brother Adam moved here recently and bought this really cool house that looks like it was from the 70's."

"Cool," said Gil.

"Say, what about your mom," asked Goby, "Doesn't she live with you?"

Well, at that question, True just hung her head sadly. A couple of tears ran down her cheeks.

"My mom died last month," said True.

"Oh, wow," said Gil, "True, we're so sorry!"

"Yeah, I know exactly how you feel," said Hopsalot, "My dad died of stomach cancer when I was six."

"And my dad was killed in a car accident just two weeks after my sixth birthday," said Joan.

"Wow," said True, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," said Joan, "Besides, we can all agree that they're in a better place now."

"Yeah," said Gil, "Anyways, tell us a little bit about yourself, True."

"Well," said True, "since my mom is no longer living, my paternal grandmother moved in to help take care of me while he works. Also, I really like art. I made my hairband, my backpack, and the button on my backpack's strap all by myself."

The other kids were astonished.

"No way," said Gil, "Really?"

"Yup," said True.

"How'd you do it," asked Casey.

"For the bow," said True, "I just took a white bow and painted it red, blue, and yellow. After the paint dried, I glued it to a white plastic headband. The backpack itself was made with some round cushions I found at the dump. My grandma helped me make them into the bag."

"Cool," said Gil, "What about the button?"

"Adam takes a 3-D printing class at school," said True, "and he's got a 3-D printer in his room at home that he lets me use." I printed the shape out in white, then painted it."

"Nice," said Goby.

"What else do you like besides art," asked Joan.

"Well, I'm also a fan of pop music from the sixties and seventies," said True, "like The Jackson 5 and The Osmonds."

"Cool," said Joan, "For me, it's rock music from the British Invasion, mainly bands like The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones."

"Sweet," said True, "Adam loves The Rolling Stones."

"Nice," said Joan.

Just then, Gil thought of something.

"Hey, True," he said, "how'd you like to come over to my house for dinner tonight? You know, as a "Welcome To The Neighborhood" gesture."

"Sure," said True, "just let me ask my grandma."

With that, True got out her cell phone, called her grandmother, and asked if it was alright if she had dinner at Gil's house. Sure enough, she said yes, and they hung up.

"She says I can come," said True.

"Great," said Gil, "I hope you like meatloaf, because that's what's on the menu."

"Yum," said True.

Later that evening, True arrived at Gil's house, where she was greeted warmly by his mother, Sonya.

"Hi there," said Sonya, "You must be True! Gil told us you were coming! Please, come inside!"

True did just that, and Gil came down to greet his guest.

"Glad you could make it, True," said Gil.

"Me too," said True.

"Gil, why don't you and True go hang out in your room while I cook dinner," asked Sonya.

"My thoughts exactly," said Gil, "Come on, True, let's go!"

With that, they went up to Gil's room and Gil opened his games closet.

"Wanna play a game," asked Gil.

"Yeah," said True, "My favorite is chess if you have it."

"As a matter of fact, I do," said Gil as he got out a chess game.

He set the board down on the floor and got out the pieces.

"Wanna play the light side or the dark side," asked Gil.

"Light, please," said True.

"Okay then," said Gil as he gave True the light pieces.

Soon, the board was set and the game began. It eventually ended when True voluntarily resigned when it got to the point where checkmate was inevitable.

"Good game," said Gil.

"Dinner's ready," they then heard Sonya say from downstairs.

"Perfect timing," said True.

After Gil and True put the game away, they washed their hands and went down to the dinner table, where Gil's father, Gil Sr., had joined them. Gil's older brother, Ralph, was working the night shift at the local Pizza Planet.

"Would you like to say grace, Gil," asked Gil Sr.

"Sure," said Gil.

With that, they all bowed their heads and closed their eyes.

"Dear God, bless this food we are about to receive," said Gil, "Give bread to those who hunger, and charity and justice to us who have bread. Amen."

"Amen," said Gil Sr., Sonya, and True.

They then began eating, and Mr. and Mrs. Hall decide to strike up a conversation with their guest.

"So, True, you're Doug Goldsmith's daughter, aren't you," asked Gil Sr.

"Yeah," said True, "How do you know my dad?"

"Me and your dad were best friends from fourth grade to tenth grade," said Gil Sr., "He moved to Colorado Springs after tenth grade."

"Cool," said True.

"I didn't even know that," said Gil.

"Well, now you do," said Gil Sr. with a laugh.

Everyone else joined in the laughter. After dinner, True helped the Halls clean the dishes, then she and Gil played Connect Four until it was time for her to go home. As she walked along home, she thought of Gil and the other kids.

"Those are really nice kids," said True, "I really hope I'll get to spend more time with them outside of school."

The End