𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 — 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚-𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

❝ 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩 ❞

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"The Statue of Liberty," Matthews started, "the Great Lady of New York has been speaking loud and clear since 1885. Anybody know what she's trying to say? Maya?"

The girl in question lifted her head up and just smiled at her teacher as she gave him no answer.

Farkle sighed, "should I just talk?"

"No, I'm sick of people thinking Farkle's smarter than I am."

"Here comes fun," Riley smiled.

"Name one thing about the Statue of Liberty that you know that I don't."

"She was a gift of friendship from—"

"C-Cathy."

"We got her right after—"

"Cathy didn't want her anymore."

Amanda Matthews chuckled under breath as she watched the two go back and forth.

"What does she stand for?"

"Because Cathy took her chair."

"Boy, that Cathy, huh, what a hoot."

"She's not real, genius, I made her up," Maya scoffed, "I'm so smarter than you."

"You are," Farkle said with a bright smile, "you really are."

"Welcome to Cultural Week, people," Matthews announced, "the school is throwing a cultural fair to celebrate who we are and where we came from. Anybody here taking part?"

Nigel raised his hand, "my grandma's gonna have a booth at the fair, Mr. Matthews."

"That's great, Nigel. What culture will you be celebrating?"

"She was originally from Cambodia, she escaped and lived in the Philippines, then she came here."

Amanda turned to her friends, "did you guys know that about him?"

Maya shook her head, "it surprises me when any of these guys talk."

"And that's exactly what makes America so unique," Matthews pointed out, motioning to the class, "we all come from exotic locales with fascinating traditions."

Riley perked from her seat, "well, where are we from," she asked her dad, pointing to her cousin as well.

"Philly."

"...What's our fascinating tradition?"

"Cream cheese."

"So, I'm the great lady of cream cheese," Riley deadpanned, "I want a better tradition, please."

"Funny you should say that."

"Funny, 'haha' funny, or funny..." the girl groaned, "'yay' funny?"

Matthews smiled before addressing the class again, "here's your assignment. Everybody look around," the class did as instructed, Mandy chuckling at Maya who was using her hands as binoculars, "do we know each other's stories? Do you know your own? Our stories are what make us a part of a community. I want you to come in tomorrow and share your heritage with us. Share your story."

Many felt her heart pound with anxiety. As far as she knew, she didn't have a heritage. At least, nothing from her mom's side. And not knowing anything about her father was a downside. She didn't know what she could do for this assignment.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

Amanda Matthews didn't know why she was considering what she was considering... but she was. Her parental figures had made it very clear to her that she wasn't to know anything about her father. But maybe contacting him or a family member on his side wouldn't cause any harm. She just has questions about his side of the family. What was his religion? How did he grow up? If Amanda was going to do this, she would need some help, and she knew exactly who to go to.

"Please," Mandy drawled to her boyfriend, who wouldn't budge to the favor she asked of him. They were together in her room after a long day of school.

Lucas scoffed with a smile at his girlfriend, "darlin', absolutely not. What you're asking me to do is gonna get me killed."

"You're so dramatic!"

"Mandy, you want me to break into your Uncle's room, which is across the hall, look for your fathers information, and help you contact him," the Texan boy relayed, "you're gonna get me killed. Your Uncle would kill me."

Mandy pouted, "well, when you put it like that..."

"Besides, I thought you didn't want anything to do with your dad," Lucas said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, "what is this really about, darlin'?"

The Matthews girl groaned dramatically, got up from her seat at her bay window, and started pacing, "I'm always kept in the dark! I have no idea who my dad is, or anything about his side of the family! Do I have any other cousins? Maybe aunts and uncles who have no idea I exist? I'm just so sick of this 'keep Mandy out of the know' stuff! Because, you know what Bubba? I'm getting older. I am in high school—"

While she ranted, Lucas gazed at her with complete adoration in his eyes, thinking of how cute she was when she was all 'fired up'.

"—I don't want to live my whole life without a father. Who's gonna walk me down the aisle? Or do anything a dad is supposed to do? Of course, I have my Uncle but I'm not taking him away from Riley, that's just selfish of me..."

Mandy trailed off from her rant with a tightness in her chest. Finally letting out her thoughts made them much more real then they were in her head.

Seeing the inner battle with herself, Lucas got up as well, and held her hands tightly, looking down at her, "Mands, I understand, okay? And if you want me to help you... I will."

The only response she gave him was a squeal of joy and jumped into his arms in excitement. She knew she could count on him for anything.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

It was the next day and Mandy and Lucas came up with a solid plan that would take place after school. Mr. Matthews had a couple meetings after school, so it would be the perfect opportunity for the couple to look around for any contact information regarding the other side of Amanda's family. She just had to make it through the school day first. She also had to see why her boyfriend was dressed like he came out of an old cowboy movie.

The Matthews girl sat in her usual seat in History class, watching her two best friends in the front.

"Okay, here's my story," Riley started with a beaming smile, "once upon a time... nothing. I'm completely American. My people never even left the house. I'm not even cream cheese. I'm American cheese. I'm individually wrapped. Here I come," her smile dropped completely and started to pelt cheese slices at her fellow classmates. Mandy was just glad none of the slices hit her.

"Oh, that's the worst report I ever heard!"

"Oh, you don't want one?"

Matthews shook his head at his daughter, "no, I do want one."

"You made me this," Riley exclaimed before chucking a slice at her father.

"Great news, Maya," their teacher spoke as he unwrapped his cheese, "your report couldn't possibly be any worse."

"You don't know me," the blonde chuckled, before starting her report, "turns out Clutterbucket is Irish! I'm Irish!"

Mandy couldn't help but smile at her best friend, "you're adorable."

Maya blew her a kiss before continuing, the green hat still on her head, "know why I'm a short stack of pancakes, Huckleberry? 'Cause I'm a leprechaun! Here have a potato!"

Yogi caught the potato with ease.

"That's what you brought? Potatoes?"

"No, that would be a stereotypical ignorant cliché. I also brought our national soap," with a sly smile, Maya held up a box that said 'Irish Soap'.

Matthews sighed, "Maya, Ireland has a rich, deep cultural history. You show us something authentic right now!"

Maya paused in thought, then smiled and started making her way toward Yogi's desk.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna Riverdance all up on Yogi's head."

She didn't get very far in her dance before Matthews stopped her. "sit down," he got back to the front of the class, "both of you have just squandered an opportunity to show us who you are. Lucas, Zay, show us who you are."

"Oh, boy," Mandy muttered.

The two boys were ready to go with their big hats and ropes, along with full cowboy outfits.

"You sure about this," Lucas asked his best friend.

Zay smirked, "we look good."

The two boys got up from their seats and held up foam fingers that said 'Don't Mess With Texas'.

"Texas!"

"Texas!"

Matthews shook his head disappointedly, "sit down."

Mandy watched with an amused smile as her boyfriend and his best friend went back and forth.

"You lied to me!"

"Don't mess with Texas."

"You're not from Texas," Matthews argued.

"He lived right down the street from me."

Matthews pointed at Lucas, "you're not from Texas, either."

Zay cut in, "he lived right down the street from me."

"Sit down," the two boys sat with defeated faces and stopped Maya from playing the bagpipes no one knew where she got from, playing it off key, "no! Bagpipes are Scottish, not Irish."

"Potato—potato."

Matthews caught an incoming potato, "what a bunch of jerks."

Riley shot her hand in the air, "Daddy?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Daddy?"

"No!"

"Daddy?"

"What?!"

"You gave me a stupid story, Daddy."

Matthews sighed, "you all have great stories. That's what makes this world such a beautiful place."

"No, it's not," Lucas scoffed. "there's conflict everywhere."

"You mean cultures clash with each other?"

"Yeah. All throughout history."

"Good boy, Lucas."

Mandy smirked playfully, "good boy, Bubba."

"There's conflict 'cause we live in a world full of different kinds of people," Zay added.

"Right. Unfortunately, people have always fears the other."

"The other what?"

"The unknown," Matthews answered his daughter, "anybody who isn't like you. From a different country, a different religion, a different look. And our first reaction to the unknown has always been fear. Farkle?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Did you do the assignment?"

"I did, sir."

"Did you find the story of your ancestors?"

"I found something out, sir."

"Well, Farkle, at least you have a heritage," Riley said, "I'm Riley McCheese. What could be worse than that?"

"There are worse things than that, Riley," Farkle smiled close lipped at his friend.

"You ready to share something with us, Farkle?"

"Not yet, sir," the boy answered, "I don't have it all yet. I need to dig a little deeper."

"More to discover?"

"A lot more."

"That's the only authentic things that's been said today," Matthews said, "we all need to dig deeper than potatoes and soap and stupid hats. This is a week about discovering who you are. This is a week to understand that culture isn't found at a souvenir shop. Riley, what's culture?"

"Our stories."

"Find yours. Learn from each other. Otherwise, we don't stand a chance."

The bell rang, signaling for everyone to pack their things, and they did in thought. Once Mandy was ready to leave, with Lucas by her side, she was stopped by her Uncle.

"Niece, I expect a report this Friday."

She nodded with a gentle smile, her hand squeezing her boyfriends, "I won't let you down, Mr. Uncle."

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"Where do you think he would keep a contact book or something?"

It was finally after school and Mandy and Lucas didn't waste any time to start their search. Class today had Mandy thinking and she knew for sure this was the right thing to do. She just hoped it wasn't all for nothing. Her friends were all at Topanga's with her Aunt, catching Andrew up on classes he missed today. He had to help his parents with things he didn't explain to anyone, and no one questioned him.

Amanda and her boyfriend got to work on going through her Uncle's desk and drawers. She felt bad and felt like she was invading his privacy, because she was, but she knew it was worth it to get the answers she needed. After around thirty minutes of searching, Mandy stumbled upon a brown leather book. Intrigued, she opened it and was met with names and numbers. She knew this was it. It was time to look through and start researching.

Betty Johnson. That was the name of her Grandmother.

It started when a man in her Uncle's book said the name Greg Johnson with 'Amanda's father' in parentheses. From there, Mandy and Lucas started looking for anyone with the same last name. And found her grandmother. Her name, number, and email.

Mandy was overwhelmed. She didn't know what to do with the information now that she has it. Does she call? Does she email? How would she start a conversation with someone she has never met or didn't even know existed until now?

Taking a big sigh, she stared at the page and said, "let's do this."

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

It started with an email. She introduced herself and why she was reaching out to the woman so randomly. Mandy explained her assignment and told her grandmother about how she doesn't really know who she was or where she came from. It was Friday morning, before school, did she finally get a reply.

Riley and Maya got the opportunity to share their stories again, but with more feeling and research. Amanda was proud of them that they tapped into their heritage and get to be proud of it.

"Wise niece of mine," Matthews called, "you're up."

Amanda took a deep breath, glancing at her boyfriend who gave her a reassuring smile, and walked up to the front.

"This project was a tricky one for me because I don't really know anything about my heritage," the girl started, "I never got the chance to get to know my father's side of the family, but with a little research and reaching out to someone, I learned a lot. It turns out, I'm half Jewish. My great-grandparents escaped Russia during the Holocaust and found freedom in America. Then they had my grandparents, who had my dad. It has opened my eyes to all the things I could've experienced. A Bat-Mitzvah, for example. Where a thirteen year old girl gets to become a woman surrounded by her friends and family. I'm sad I won't get to experience that but I'm glad I now know what I'm apart of. And I can't wait to learn more."

Her class-mates clapped for the girl, her friends the loudest, happy for her and what she discovered. Her Uncle looked surprised, and a little curious as to how she found out all that she did.

At the end of the day, Amanda Matthews didn't regret a thing she did to find out more about her life and where she came from. Even if she would get a stern talking to from her Uncle afterward.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

edited: 2 march 2021