The boy who found himself

As the sun rose over the lake across from my boston, Massachusetts house, all I could think of was how tomorrow was my last day of Junior High. It would then be summer. But any summer, the summer before I started High School.

My name you might ask? Is Charlie, Charlie Anderson. I am a typical teenager who doesn’t have a whole lot of friends. Also, I don’t even stand close to the popular crowd. But I guess I could say I am pretty lucky because I have the greatest friend I could ever ask for. His name is Jimmy Grant. He is about the same age as me. I have known this kid since we were still in diapers. He truly is a nice guy to have as a friend.

I planned on seeing Jim at the bus stop, the place where we would play cards for about twenty-five minutes in 30 degree weather, considering it was winter in all. When I saw him walking out from around the corner, I could see his dark green glasses pinching his freckled nose right away.

“Hey charles! What’s up?” I hated when he called me that.

“Nothing much,” my teeth were jittering from the cold, “so do you want to come over my house after school? My mom bought me the new ‘Zombie Killer 3x’ video game…”

“No way! That is one of the best games out there!” he was a pretty crazy gamer, “Sure, I’ll come over!”

My day had basically went exactly like any other day before. Except something out of the ordinary did happen… I had been gathering my baseball equipment outside when David Munch, the most popular guy in school, walked up to me and just started talking. “Hey… ugh, charlie right?”

“eehh… yeah,” I stuttered with confusion.

“Man, you’re pretty good out there on the field.”

“Wow thanks, I appreciate it!”

“So I was wondering if you’d want to come to this party my brother is having saturday? I mean it’s going to be awesome, everyone is going, and my brother said he might even be able to get beer!” Once he said it was his brothers party, I knew that there would be alcohol involved. I also knew that I would never drink if I were to go to this so called party. With a lot of thought and consideration, I told him… “Yeah! I mean.. sure, sounds cool,” I tired playing it relaxed so I didn’t look like a total loser.

“Cool man! See you there then.” When he walked away, my jaw was still dropped down to the floor. I could not believe that I just got asked to go to a high school party. I couldn’t wait to tell Jimmy.

           

“You’re not going though right!?” Jimmy was obviously concerned about this.

“What do you mean ‘I’m not going’? of course I am. This is our shot to get in with the popular crowd. To not get pushed around like little kids!”

“Oh, I don’t know Charlie, I have a bad feeling about this,” I could tell he was nervous when  he started wiping his hands on his pants, “I mean what about your mom, She’s definitely not going to let you go.” Then at that moment I played out my plan… I would tell my mom that I was going to sleep at Jimmy’s house that night. Jimmy would tell his parent that he would be sleeping over at my house. But then once the party is over and we both go home, we will tell each of our parents that we just felt like coming home because we didn’t feel good. “Well then, if you have it all figured out then I guess there’s no need to worry,” he said this like he just wanted to be done talking about this party.

“Okay great! Then we will both go to the party Saturday!” I was wicked excited to be honest.

            We didn’t talk about the party anymore for the rest of the night. We just sat there playing ‘Zombie Killer 3x’ until my mom interrupted my thoughts. “Hey boys! Dinner is almost done. We are having burgers and pasta salad,” this made me realize that I was actually really hungry. I loved my mom's cooking. She works at this restaurant called ‘Dave’s Pizza’ and she has been there for about ten years now. It has really made her a great cook. Dave’s Pizza is like her home away from home. She doesn't have too many friends except for this lady named Gloria, who I practically call my aunt, so this pizza place is really important to her. Other than Gloria, and me of course, she doesn’t really have anyone. My parents split up when I was maybe two years old, so I didn’t really get to meet my dad. I try to help out as much as possible when my mom really needs me.

            The burgers were delicious just as I had expected. Jim’s face seemed really pale. I mean everyone was pretty pale now since it was winter, but he was abnormally pale. I was hoping that he wasn’t still worried about that party. When we were all done eating, Jim helped me with the dishes. By 8:00pm, Mrs. Grant came to pick him up. “ See you tomorrow! Our last day of Junior High!”I was sort of jumping up and down, but when I noticed that I was, I stopped.

“Yeah…ugh, see ya,” there was definitely something the matter with him.

            My last day of school, a Friday, was filled with cheering and laughing. Everyone was really happy to be experiencing the last day before the beginning of summer vacation. I actually didn’t see Jimmy much today at all, except at lunch and in art class.

            Later that night I called Jim to see if he was okay. He answered and sad he was busy and hung up saying he would call me tomorrow. I laid there in my bed wondering if it was a total bad idea to go to this party tomorrow. I then thought I would just make an appearance, say hello, and then leave before anything bad could happen, whether I was with Jim or not.

            I woke up to the sun streaking through my curtains in my room. Once I was up and ready to go,  I called Jimmy. “Hey Jimmy! Whatcha doing?”          

“Not too much, I just got back from church,” he sounded a lot more normal than he had yesterday. “So are we still going to that party tonight?”

“I am going, you can too if you want to. But you don’t have to,” I felt bad that I had pressured him into going so much.

“No, I will come with you. I wouldn’t want you to go alone.” I could still feel his anxiety deep down. I ended the call by saying that I would meet him at the bus stop. We were going to walk to David Munch’s house because it was only around the block.

The air got pretty cold when the sun was not visible. It was so dark that all I could hear was Jimmy’s converse sneakers slapping against the pavement.

            On our way there, Jim was actually in a great mood, singing and everything. When we arrived at the house, there was already trash all over the yard. All I could think about was how they would have to clean up all of that tomorrow. I guess I am pretty lame.

            At first nobody noticed us, until I met eye contact with Jennifer Stanford. She welcomed us and offered us drinks but we said no thanks.  We promised each other that we wouldn’t make any stupid decisions. Everything had been going actually really good, even Jim seemed like he was having the time of his life. But then something bad just had to happen… Billy Gileager. The schools most mean and absolute jerk; bully of the century. I mean if there was an award for the biggest jerk in the world, he would get his name cemented into its plaque.

“Hey Jim-bob!” Billy stomped over to us and grabbed Jimmy by his Shirt collar. “What’s up little wimp?” What do you think your doing here?” I was so scared that I almost peed my pants. Jimmy looked over at me for the sake of trying to get someone to help him. I couldn’t believe that I was just standing there. I was frozen like a deer in headlights.

            Billy finally dropped him, but then placed his foot on Jimmy’s stomach, bending over toward his face. “If I ever see you at one of these parties again I am going to smash your face in!” Jimmy was practically shaking. Billy then plowed through the crowd of people, soon out of sight.

“Jimmy!! Are you okay!? I am so sorry!” I had no idea of what to say or do.

“You know what Charlie?” Oh he was mad, “You are the absolute worst person in the world and I wish I had never known you. And to think I called you my friend! Thanks for nothing!” He almost broke the door on his way out. I just stood there In the mist of people still frozen and sort of shaking. I felt like screaming. He had warmed me that it was a bad idea to go to this dumb party. Oh I wish I could go back in time and do the right thing. I don’t know why I always have to try and be someone who I’m not…

            Sunday came in a very slow flash. I decided I would give Jimmy a couple days to cool off. I would go to his house Wednesday morning and see if he really did hate me for good, Which I was hoping not.

                        When I woke up and it was Wednesday morning, I knew what needed to be done. I figured it would be better to just get it done with. So I got dressed and headed out, down the road. I walked slowly up Jim’s walkway. I lifted my fist and knocked on the green-wooden door. It opened and a face appeared. “Hi.”

“Hi Jimmy, I know you’re mad at me but I really need to talk to you.” I said it with a very calm tone. He stepped out onto his porch and closed the door behind him. We sat on his front lawn. At first I didn’t say a word; either did he. “I am so sorry that I didn’t stand up to billy when he was harassing you. I am so mad at myself for pushing going to that ridiculous party in the first place.” I tried that first to see how he would react.

“Well, I am pretty upset about Billy still, it’s not exactly how I pictured starting my summer before high school,” I totally understood where he was coming form and I agreed, “I just wish you didn’t always feel the need to be ‘cool’, I mean I think you are a pretty great guy when your just being yourself and not trying so hard. That is what makes a person ‘cool’, not the friends they have, nor the clothes they wear; it’s when a person knows how to be themselves.” I sat there on the light green grass, listening to my friend, and man was he smart. The smartest person I knew. He was right, I was being a total fake. From then on I promised to myself that I would be my true self and not let a word like “cool” interfer.

            From there we called each other friends once again and forever afterwards. We ran to the nearby park where we played baseball until dark. It was really great to have a friend who likes me for who I am.

 

Reviews

[Tsubaki Kuro]

really good story. There are very good details in this story. keep up the good work.

[Annie Nicole]

Wow thanks! i didn't think it was that good.

[Tsubaki Kuro]

it's pretty good. don't sell yourself short.