Savannah, Georgia Clark House Sept 2002

Penny is happy and somewhat scare that the first day of school have finally came. She woke up around around 5:30am, get off her bed and heads to her closet. She took off her pjs and change into short sleeve lavender shirt, blue khakis, and white socks. Peny brush her hair a few times before putting on her tennis shoes. Mercy woke up when Penny gets out her bed and change her clothes. Penny then grabs her backpack and exit her bedroom. Mercy also exit the bedroom with Penny. As they enter the kitchen, Isaac made some breakfast.

"Morning Grandpa." Penny says to him.

"Morning. Do you want some eggs, Penny?" Isaac ask.

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, but please feed Mercy first."

"Okay."

As Isaac puts eggs on the plates, Penny and Mercy heads the backyard. Penny pour some dog kibble in the dog bowl and put some clean water in the water bowel. As soon as Mercy began eating her breakfast, Penny quickly heads back inside and sat at the dinner table. As Penny and Isaac ate their breakfast, Isaac spoke up.

"Here is the 2nd pair of house keys." Isaac says.

"Why you gave them to me?" Penny ask.

"Remember I have afternoon classes, Penny?"

"Yes....."

"That is pretty much why I am giving them to you. I also want you lock the door before you go to bed and don't answer the phone. Let the phone machine pick it up, alright?"

"Yes, grandpa."

"Another thing.......Cristina is going to check on you alright?"

"Yes, grandpa."

Cristina Otriz is the next door neighbor of Penny and Isaac. She lives with her husband, Bert. Their three children are currently in college. Anyway, once they finish eating their breakfast, Penny wash the dishes before she grabs her backpack. She heads to the backyard and calls Mercy. Soon enough, Penny, Isaac, and Mercy exit the house, got in the car, and left the house. Its a 10 minutes drive from the house to the Savannah Art Academy. Once they finally at the school, Penny says her goodbyes to her grandpa before she and Mercy get out the car and heads to the school. As Penny and Mercy enter the front office, they are approach a lady in her 40's.

"Hello. Are you Penelope Clark?" lady ask.

"Yes but I want to be call Penny." Penny reply.

"Got it. Do you remember me? My name is Sally Wood. I am going to be your aide until you graduate from Savannah Art Academy."

"I did met you with grandpa."

"Good. This must be your dog right? What its name?"

"Her name is Mercy. She has to come with me."

"I know. On your paperwork, its says that you also have dyslexia. Is that correct?"

Penny just simply nod yes.

"Anyway, I have already inform your teachers and they already understand your situation. Another thing, your grandpa already sign you up for a after school program. Its front 315pm to 430pm. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ms. Wood."

"Alright then. Here is your class schedule. Good luck like on your first year at Savannah Art Academy."

"Thank you."

Penny says her goodbyes to her aide before she and Mercy left the office and heads to her first class. When lunch finally came, Penny and Mercy heads the corner of the cafeteria. Penny sat on the chairs as Mercy sat next to her, She gave her dog 2 bowls of dog kibble and water before she ate her own lunch. As they ate their lunch, one studdent approach them.

"Hi Penny." a brunette female student says to her.

"Hi......" Penny says quietly.

"I'm Abigail Richardson. I was in the Art History earlier today. Remember?"

"Yea..."

Abigail has wavy medium brown hair(goes to her shoulders), blue eyes, and light tan skin. She's wearing bright yellow short sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes.

"Can I sit with you and your dog?" Abigail ask.

"Go ahead." Penny reply.

As Abigail sat at the table, she began petting Mercy.

"What is your dog's name again?"

"Her name is Mercy."

"Cute name. Anyway, how you came in this school?"

"I show them my photographs."

"You did? What type of photographer you want to become, Penny?"

"What do you mean, Abby?"

"Well......are you talking pictures for fashoin or weddings or portraits or just simply for art?"

"Don't know."

"Well, you got 4 years at this school. You'll figure it out sooner or later."

"Alright then."

Penny, Abby, and Mercy ate their foods until the bell rang. Once the final bell rang, Penny and Mercy heads straight to room 307. Penny met up with her aide again. When 4:30pm has finally came, Penny says her goodbyes to the aide and other students, she and Mercy began walking to her home. Its a 20 minutes walk from the school and to her home. Just a few minutes after they got in, the main phone began to ring. Penny check caller ID before answering it.

"Hello, Mrs. Ortiz." Penny says to her.

"Hello, Penny. Did you and Mercy came home safetly?" Christina ask.

"Yes, I did."

"Well......do you want to come over for dinner, later?"

"Sure."

"Come over around 6pm."

"I will, Mrs. Ortiz."

They says their goodbyes before they hang up their phones. Penny and Mercy heads to the backyard. Penny put some dog food in the bowl before went back inside. She heads upstairs to her bedroom and place her backpack in her bed. She grabs her camera before exiting her bedroom and heads to the kitchen. As she took out the juice carton from the fridge, she heard the front door open and close. Its Penny's grandpa.

"Hi grandpa." Penny says to her.

"Hi Penny. How is your first day of school?" Isaac ask.

"Its alright."

"Did Mercy behave?"

"She did behave."

"Good then. Anyway, I have a 6:30pm class. I won't be home until 10pm. Remember to lock the front and back door ok?"

"Yes grandpa."

Isaac heads upstairs to his room and Penny heads to the living room and watch some tv. After 20 minutes or so, Isaac came back downstairs, says his goodbyes to Penny and left the house. Penny stay in the living room for another 10 minutes before turning off the tev. She and Mercy left the house and lock the door before heading to Mrs' Ortiz's house. Once they're there, Penny knock the door a few times before Mrs. Ortiz open the door.

"Hi Penny. Please.....come in." Christina says to her.

"Thank you for having me." Penny says to her.

Christina has shoulder length dark brown hair, light tan skin, and brown eyes. She's wearing short sleev maroon shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes.

"You're welcome, dear. Please sit down at the dinner table."

"Okay."

Penny heads to the dinner table and sat down. Mercy heads to the backyard and realx near the bushes. As Christina serve Penny some food, Bert enter the kitchen. Bert nod Penny before sitting at the dinner table.

"Hi Mr. Ortiz." Penny says to him,

"Hey Penny." Bert reply.

Bert has short black hair, brown eyes, and light tan skin. He's wearing long sleeve gray shirt, blue jeans, and sandals. As soon as Christina serve herself, Bert, and Penny some food, she sat down with them and ate dinner with them. Christina became happy whenever Penny came over for dinner. To her, it like having one of her kids came back from college. As for Bert, he doesn't mind that Penny came over, as long as she doesn't talk to him. Once dinner is over, Penny help Christina with the dishes before she and Mercy heads back home.

As soon as Penny and Mercy heads inside their home and lock the front door behind her, Penny heads upstairs to take a shower. After her shower, she puts on her pjs, consists long sleeve lavender shirt and pj bottoms before heading downstairs to the living room. She watch tv with her dog for 2 - 3 hours before turning off the tv. She lock the back door and check the front door before heading upstairs to her bedroom.

For the next two weeks, Penny have pretty much get along with her teachers and most of the students. Even her dog, Mercy, made a couple of friends with Penny's classmates and teachers. When Saturday came around, Penny woke up around 9:30am. She exit her bedroom and heads downstairs to the kitchen. She find her grandpa making breakfast.

"Hi grandpa." Penny says as she sat the table.

"Morning, Penny." Isaac reply. "Did you make any new friends at school?"

"I made friends with Sarah Rios, Diana, and Freddy."

"Are they being nice to you?"

"Yes, grandpa."

"That is good. Go and eat your breakfast."

"Ok."

Penny and Isaac ate breakfast together. Once they're finish, Penny clean the dishes and put them away. Isaac heads to his bedroom as Penny heads to the living room and watch some tv. A hour an hour or so, Penny heads upstairs to her bedroom and change into her clothes. She's now wearing short sleeve red shirt and black khakis. As she puts on her socks, her grandpa knock the door a few times before entering her bedroom with Mercy.

"Penny......I have a couple of errands to do. Are you be okay being all alone?" Isaac ask.

"I'll be okay, grandpa." Penny reply.

"Alright then. Call me if you need anything."

"Got it."

Penny exit the bedroom and Mercy climb onto Penny's bed. Once she puts on her slippers, she heads to the bathroom and began brushing her for a minute or so. She then heads downstairs to watch some tv. Mercy follow her and lay on the couch. They stay in the living room for an hour before Penny decide to leave the house. Penny return to her bedroom and put on her shoes. She puts her camera and cell phone in her messenger bag before exting her bedroom. She and Mercy soon left the house and lock the front door.

Penny and Mercy soon heads to the park. Once they're there, Penny took some pictures as she walk Mercy. Once she's finish taking pictures, she her dog heads to to the local convience store. As they enter the store, they says hi to the owner, Bernard Wilson.

"Hi Penny. How is school?" Bernard ask.

"Its alright. I had fun." Penny reply.

"Are you going to get your usual?"

"Yes sir."

Penny grab her soda bottle, bubble gum and potato chips. She knows that the stuff she grabs are not healthy, but she loves this stuff. Once she brought her stuff, Penny says her goodbyes to Bernard before she and Mercy heads home. As soon as they enter the house, the main phone began to ring. Penny quickly heads to the phone and answer it.

"Hello? Clark Residance." Penny says to the caller.

"Hello Penny." Isaac reply.

"Oh. Hi grandpa."

"Did you behave while I was gone?"

"I am, sir."

"Good. I will be home in an hour so okay? Call me if you need anything."

"Yes sir."

They says their goodbyes and hang up the phones. Penny and Mercy heads upstairs to her bedroom and close the door behind them. Since she uses a digital camera to take pictures at the park, she grabs her laptop and turn it on. She manage to upload her pics into the laptop. Even though she suppose to have a lack of curiosity, Penny took a interest of taking pictures since she was around 11. That is pretty much the main reason why her grandpa sent her to a art high school. Once she finish, Penny and Mercy heads back downstairs to the living room and watch some tv. After an hour or so, Isaac came home and brough some lunch for Penny and himself.

"Hey Penny. I brought some lunch for us. Do you want to eat right now?"

"Yes, grandpa, but let me feed Mercy before I can eat."

"Alright."

Three of them heads to the kitchen. As Isaac place lunch the counter and began setting up the table, Penny took Mercy to the backyard. She gave her dog some clean water and can of dog food in the dog bowls before heading back inside the house. Soon enough, Penny ate lunch with her grandpa. After 20 minutes, they're finish and as Penny puts away the food, Isaac began talking to her.

"Penny.....I will be in my bedroom, checking on my students' homework and tests.....can you stay quiet for an hour or so?" Isaac ask.

"I will stay quiet, but what happened if the phone start ringing or someone is knocking on the front door?" Penny ask back.

"Let the machine pick up the messages and check through the peephole to see if you regonize the person or not. Got it?"

"Yes grandpa."

Isaac then heads upstairs to his bedroom and began doing his work. Once Penny finish putting away the food, she open the back door and let Mercy inside the house. They head heads to the living room. Penny sat on the couch to watch some tv and Mercy lay next to Penny's feet to check on the dog toy. When Monday came around, as usual, Penny meets up with her aide before her morning classes.

"Penny.....your Algebra, Art History, World History and English teachers are telling me that you're currently having a hard time on your quizzes, papers, and reports." Sally says to Penny.

"Its hard, but I am trying." Penny says to her.

"I know. I heard you had a B on your quiz in your Algebra test."

"Yea.....I can already do some math in my head."

"I know but your Algebra teacher want you to write down how you got the answers."

"But I end up scribbling....."

"Sorry....but try your best okay?"

"Yes Mrs. Wood."

Penny and Mercy quickly heads to her first class when the warning bell rang. Sally let out a sigh before heading to the office. As she heads to the lunch room, she is approach by the school principal, Larry Tilton.

"Having a little hard time with Penny Clark?" Larry ask.

"Not much, but she's still struggling with her classes." Sally answer.

"Maybe we should take her out of her classes or something....."

"No sir, please don't do that. Penny will become sad if we did that to her."

"Alright then."

"I think there might be a chance that she might be chance that she might be a savant."

"I thought that syndrome usually occur with people who have autism."

"True but I read some reports that kids who are like Penny could be savants. I know she have a good memory and a artistic ability."

"But still.....she sometimes forget to write her reports and few other things."

"You know that she has dyslexia....you know that she have a hard time to read her books and math problems."

"Fine, but you need to help her with her dyslexia. Got it, Sally?"

"Yes sir."

Mr. Tilton heads to his office as Sally heads to the library to look up some books.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Penny has mild Mental Retardation. Because of it, she has a certain level of lack of curiosity and quiet behavior. Penny had Listeriosis, which it suppose to killed her. Instead, she managed to stayed alive and caused her to have mild case of Mental Retardation. She was also diagnosed dyslexia when she was in specialized Preschool and kindergarden school for kids with mental disabilites. Her mother, Grace, was rape when she was only 16. By 17, she gave birth to Penny. Grace blamed herself for Penny's disability, so that is one of the main reasons why she killed herself. I know she suppose to have a quiet behavior but she talks little more than usual that she knows like her teachers and aide at school, Mr. Wilson, her grandpa and his co workers.