Stanley's Struggles

This is it. Today is the day. I knew this was coming. I’ve prepared for this day for ages now. I’ve got my suit of armor, my supplies, and my not so trusty stead is on the way. Even with all of this, I still don’t know if I am ready. My target is clever and influential amongst the people. I also have no idea what he is planning or if he will even show up when expected. I have done all that I can to prepare though. I have consulted with the best minds available to a warrior such as myself. Now I must face my fears and try to win the fair maiden’s favor.

“Sweetie, the bus will be here soon! You don’t want to miss your first day of 1^st grade!” My mom yells.

“Coming!” I yell back.

As I walk down the stairs I check to make sure everything is in place. I’ve got my suspenders on underneath my clothes, my brand new flip phone that everyone will envy me for, my list of insults provided by my sister, and the reassuring note my mom gave me. I better make sure to hide her note deep in my bag though. I don’t want anyone finding that. As I walk outside I hold my breath as the big, obnoxiously bright yellow bus pulls up. Even with me holding my breath the nauseating smell of the exhaust fills my nose.  My heart pounds as I prepare to face the evils that are inside. The doors swoosh open and a deep rough voice tumbles out.

 “Morning, kid.”

Hearing that voice makes the memories of it all rush back with even more detail and force than before.

 It was just last year at the end of kindergarten. It was two days before the start of summer break. My mom had driven me to school all year long up until that point. But then she decided that riding the bus would be good for me. She told me it would be an opportunity for me to learn and meet new people. Little did she know that riding the bus would mean the worst thing in the history of my existence would ever happen. Back then, I was a mere kindergartner, a weakling. I didn’t have the knowledge of a 1^st grader. I had only been exposed to other kindergartners. I had no clue of the animals that dwelled in the rest of the elementary school. But of course on my first day on the bus I decided to sit next to Randal, the worst animal of all. I thought it would be cool to get to know one of the older kids. To the blind eye Randal looks almost kind. It started with me asking if I could sit next to him. All the other kids were giggling as I sat down. It started out like any normal conversation by asking what your favorite color is and asking who you think the cutest person in the room is. I told him green and then I picked out the most beautiful creature I had ever seen in my life. Of course I revealed all of my secrets to a stranger. I was such a 5 year old.

“You like Nancy Newlyn!?” Randal screamed.

He screamed so loud that even all the way at the front Nancy could hear. I stood up to shake my head and make sure no one thought it was true. As I was shaking my head Randal pulled down my pants and pushed me into the floor just as the bus was stopping. I can still remember her face. I can also remember the high pitched horrific sounds of laughter from the other kids on the bus. And to make it worse the 2^nd graders started singing the song about London, France, and my Pokémon underpants. I have never been able to look at a picture of the Eifel Tower the same way ever again. The bus driver was too busy listening to his pop music to even notice the atrocities that were happening behind him. As I was getting up, the bus made it to the school and the kids behind me knocked me back down trying to get off the bus. They ended up breaking my finger, and I luckily was able to go home after that. I told my mom what happened and she told me to not worry about what other people think and to just brush it off. My sister told me that next time it happens I should call them names so mean that they go home crying. My best friend Joey told me that there is nothing that I can do know. That I will forever be known as Poképants unless I get a flip phone and grow 10 inches over the summer.

“You going to get on the bus or not?” the bus driver says exasperated waking me up from my flashback of the nightmare.

 “Oh, no. I can’t do this,” I think to myself.

I try breathing deep to calm myself down.  I know I have my suspenders so they can’t pull down my pants again. Also, if they try anything I have new insults I can throw at them that I learned from my older sister. And I’ve grown 3 inches and got a flip phone. This is it. I can do it. I walk with my head held high onto the bus. I look around at the faces gauging the best place to sit. Wait a second, “Where is Randal?” I ask the bus driver.

 “He isn’t on my route anymore. They changed things up this year. Now sit down and take a seat before you make us late!” the bus driver says aggravated. Knowing that Randal wouldn’t be here was a weight off my shoulders, but I really want to get pay back. I look around and the only familiar face I see is Nancy Newlyn’s. She looks amazing with her shiny red hair in two pigtails. I hope she doesn’t remember what happened.

As I walk by trying not to make eye contact she calls out my name, “Stanley! Do you want to sit next to me?”

 I am in shock. Why does she want me to sit with her? Does she want to make fun of me? If I don’t then I would be made fun of for not sitting next to her.

 “Sure,” I say.

 Ok, play it cool.

“Do you want to see my new flip phone?” I ask.

 “No, I am okay. If the bus driver sees it he will take it up.”

“Oh, that’s true I guess,” I mumble.

What will I show her to make her think I am cool now?

 “So I saw you like Pokémon,” Nancy shrugs.

 “What? No! I don’t know what you are talking about!” I say nervously.

So much for playing it cool.

 “Really? Because I love Pokémon. My favorite show is Pokémon Indigo,” Nancy says as she starts unzipping her backpack.

Taken aback I say “What? I love Pokémon Indigo. That is the best Pokémon show ever made.” “Isn’t it?” Nancy says as she pulls out pieces of paper out of her bag.

 “Sometimes I like to draw my favorite Pokémon. Here is Squirtle and here is Charmander,” she says as she hands me her drawings.

Wow, these look really good. I can’t believe she even likes Pokémon. I mean she capture Squirtle perfectly.

“Squirtle, Squirtle,” I say mimicking the sounds Squirtle makes.

“Chaarmander,” Nancy says laughing.

 “You are such a nerd,” I pick at her.

 “At least I don’t wear Pokémon underwear,” she gabs back.

We both laugh as I hand back her drawing and get ready to get off the bus.