An interview with Parker, our main character

I recently sat down and thought, "How would my characters react in an interview setting?" Here's the first attempt at answering that question!

• Me: Hello, Ms. Parker, thank you for meeting with me today.

• Parker: Of course! I'm happy to help.

• M: Down to business: Why don't you tell us all a little bit about yourself? I understand that you're the first scholarship student at St. Andrew's Academy in three years, that must be pretty exciting.

• P: It is... I guess. Here she shrugs. To be completely honest with you, I'd really rather stay with my old friends at the county school.

• M: Oh?

• P: Yeah, but after talking it out with Mom and Dad, they managed to convince me this was a good thing. I just don't want to have to make new friends again.

• M: I get that. I had to do that often when I was younger, too. How does the thought of being in a new school make you feel? Are you anxious at all or are you feeling pretty confident?

• P: I guess I'm feeling neutral about it now. She starts playing with a bracelet she's wearing with a butterfly charm. I was pretty nervous early on, but I've been able to get used to the idea. I think it'll be good.

• M: Well, that's good to hear. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about while I have you here?

• P: Her face lights up. Can I talk about my friends?

• M: Of course! I'm sure everyone would love the chance to get to know your friends.

• P: Okay, so my best friend Bailey. She's speaking faster now, obviously excited. She's really outgoing and I know she'll have my back no matter what. She's loud and willing to throw down if anyone gets out of line. Then there's Jack. She blushes a little. He's my other best friend and he's just the opposite. He's super quiet and reserved, but he's always there for me whenever I need him. And then there's his cousin, Spencer. You wouldn't be able to tell they're cousins by looking at them, they both take after their dads, but they're pretty much brothers. It's funny how opposite those two are, too. Spencer is more of a joker and loves to pull pranks on all of us with one of our other friends, Jordan. Jordan and her sister, Hailey, are twins. Jordan's also really smart and could have probably gotten into St. Andrew's, too, but she wouldn't have taken it. Hailey's the girliest-girl of the bunch. She loves clothes and makeup and both her and Jordan go to the nearby gym during the summer. They're the ones most likely to get in a fight for any of the rest of us, but Bailey would definitely join in if she felt they needed help. Before I got here, Bailey and Hailey were always hanging out. Everyone called them HaiBai back then. She gives a chuckle.

• M: You mentioned "before you got here" just now. Can you tell me more about that?

• P: Her smile falls and she looks down at the table. We moved here after elementary school, in the sixth grade. She pauses for a long moment, as if trying to figure out what to say. She's pulling on the butterfly charm on her bracelet harder now. Something happened at my old school in Knoxville, and we had to move.

• M: If you're uncomfortable talking about it, we don't have to.

• P: She gives me a grateful smile. Thank you.

• M: I believe that's all the time we have for today, but I'd love to have you back around winter break, if that's alright.

• P: Sure! Sounds like a plan.

And there we have it. I hope you enjoyed this short interview with our main character, Parker!