Jane and I spent a great amount of time in silence. We just drank coffee, while she gave me weird glances. I just tried to maintain my confidence. If she were to see any weakness, her trust in even herself could fall.

  Eventually we exchanged goodbyes, but I still had business in the shop.

  I walked over to Mr. and Mrs. Drake, they looked at me unusually normal.

  “Did you need something dear?” Mrs. Drake asked.

  “Are you not still angry with me?” I asked, doubtful.

  “Not at all. Kaede already told us everything.” Mrs. Drake answered. How much was everything?

  “Even from the beginning we were never mad. We just wanted you to move forward. As old as we are we have learned too much, and where you were then could have led to a path you would regret forever.” Mr. Drake said very deeply. His eyes showed a deep emotion I guessed was reserved for people who have been far through life.

  “I see.” I said, and felt happy. They didn’t hate me.

  “You talk to Kaede alot.” I said, trying to change the subject.

  “Yes, we have some pleasant conversations, sometimes about you.” Mrs. Drake teased.

  “What do you talk about?” I spouted out without thinking.

  “What do we talk about?” Mrs. Drake said as if she was confused. I was slowly getting embarrassed.

  “Nevermind, I want to ask you something that might be a little personal.” I said.

  “What is it? Don’t be shy. There is nothing you can’t share with us and nothing we can’t share with you.” Mrs. Drake spoke without hesitation. They really didn’t see me as an outsider.

  “Have you ever done anything wrong in your life?” I asked. Both of the old pair looked at me with surprise.

  “Why do you ask?” Mr. Drake asked curiously.

  “It’s important…” I spoke but hesitated.

  “Remember you can tell us anything.” Mrs. Drake added.

  “Have you ever done anything wrong?” I repeated. Mr. Drake let out a deep sigh, looking at me with eyes tired and depraved.

  “Of course we have done some bad things in our lives, it is impossible to go without.” Mrs. Drake responded.

  “Then how do you feel about them now?” I asked again.

  “They are just another part of our life and history. We will not feel guilty about them, but we won't regret them either. It is all a part of our spectacular life that we lived together.” Mrs. Drake said with a sparkle in her eyes that told me she was reliving happy memories.

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  “I see, thank you.” I said, words of truth.

  I felt closer to that answer, to the thing holding me back all this time.

  What was a sinless person, in the eyes of the power doing something bad didn’t necessarily make it a sin. There are no sinless people, no innocent people.

  “Remember you can tell us anything.” Mr. Drake said again.

  “One day I will.” I replied and it was the truth.

  “We don’t have that much time left.” Mr. Drake muttered under his breath.

  The next day finally arrived. Nothing was different with my schedule. Wake up, cook, go to school, avoid bullying. However today there was no bullying, or intense glares, name calling, or the rest of it.

  They must be holding back because of their parents, I thought. However there are two sides to every coin, someone would surely try something.

  There were too many people at school today. The sound of casual chatter filled the air. It seemed some even gossiped about me to their parents.

  I sat down without thinking and pulled out a book for my first class. Sitting casually while students and parents arrived. Knowing full well today I would be embarrassed for being alone.

  Eventually everybody arrived and school began. Parents would be welcome for as long as they wanted, but many would leave after lunch.

  Several minutes after the bell, that signified the start of the first class, I felt something weird like an instinct. I looked into my desk to find a snake.

  In the past I had to do a big assignment on reptiles so I knew this was just a garden snake. Garden snakes are not poisonous and usually non-confrontational, that is if you don’t threaten them.

  I raised my hand slowly and the teacher called on me. “What do you want?” Rudely.

  “Everybody take my words carefully, don’t make any sudden movements or yell.” I said in a small voice that could still reach the end of the classroom.

  “What do you want?” The teacher repeated meanly.

  “There is a snake in my desk, so please be quiet and don’t make any sudden movements.” I repeated in a minimal voice.

  A couple people jumped back, and many parents shivered. Some people even let out a weird yelp.

  I told them not to make any loud noises, but they still did.

  I relaxed my muscles and slowly leaned back, this allowed the snake some room to move. The snake slowly slithered out of the desk and onto my lap. I kept my concentration as many people slowly moved back away from me.

  I slowly lowered my arms to the sides of my lap, the snake seeming slightly interested made its way over to them. I sat as still as I could as it made its way to my right arm. Why the right arm? I asked myself. It would have been much easier if it was on my left.

  While this was happening everybody was just staring at me. Students, parents, and the teacher all looked at me without making any movement.

  The snake slowly wrapped around my right arm. I reconfirmed it was a garden snake with a much better view of it. It was more than two feet long, larger than a normal garden snake.

  I forced my entire body to relax, tenseness might put off the snake or trigger some type of instinct.

  The snake made it up my arm and onto my shoulder. There was now a 10 foot circle around me that nobody dared to enter. I made sure to keep my face emotionless, animals can read fear I had learned.

  The snake wrapped around my neck and stayed there for a minute. During this time I slowly positioned my left arm. I lifted my left shoulder slightly trying to catch the snake's attention.

  It did not seem to attract the snake, but it moved to my left shoulder anyway. It slowly wrapped around my left arm and moved down. My left hand was flat with my fingers together. The snake's head moved toward my hand and slowly got off of it.

  I planned all of this in the few seconds after seeing the snake. My hand was positioned over my backpack, and once the entire snake was inside I slowly but firmly zipped it shut.