The girl who moved in the house in front of ours and new friend, maybe….
A girl and her family moved to the house in front of me. She and her family looks different from the rest of us and others in the neighborhood. My dad says that they come from a different country. I don’t know what a co-un-try means but it seems that they came from a far away land. Whenever I see the girl I get this weird feeling.

I heard from my older brother that the family that moved in, in front of our house, got ripped off. Well it does seem like it, the house is all worn down. The window seems to be broken from what I see. Why did they get that house? What do they do in that house? Are they similar to my family? I hear someone outside every time, I wonder who it is?

Oh, it’s the same girl playing outside every single day. Why doesn’t she go to school? My mother says that she is probably too young or is getting registered in the school nearby. Everyday before I go to school, I always see her playing outside. She’s weird. I’m gonna go talk to her when I’m done with school.

Hello. Hi, she says back. Why are you playing outside everyday? Oh, it’s because this is the only time I get to play until I do my homework. Wait, you go to school? Yes she says back. But I don’t see you walk or drive to school. It’s because I ride my back there. A bike? Yeah a bike she says with a happy expression. That’s cool! I know right as she smiles with a grin.

James! It’s time for dinner, get back inside and do your homework! Ok mom. What’s for dinner, mom? It’s pork and veggies. Again? “Yes you need it for your body to grow strong,” she says with a stern voice.

Pork tastes weird, I don’t like it. Also veggies, why do those exist? Do they want to bring me pain? It looks like the girl went back inside. I wonder why. What does she do inside that house? She goes to school but I don’t see her there. Why don’t I see her at school, She stands out from everyone that goes to my school. Maybe different school. I’ll ask her next time after school when I have the chance. James! Do your homework, it’s getting dark, don’t want to get a bad grade in class. Ok Mom!

Why does homework exist? Just to make me suffer like veggies. Why do veggies and homework exist? My work is math for today, unlike English yesterday. Guess I have to work now. Stupid homework, stupid veggies. Wait what does our family do? It’s not like we are distanced from each other, it’s just. I haven’t seen my mom’s side of the family, she doesn’t really talk about it. I see my dad’s family side all the time. We do all the holidays with my dad’s family.

Since September, school has barely started. I don’t have much to do. I already just finished my homework.
Maybe homework isn’t really that bad. But veggies are really bad. It should not exist. But I just have to live with it. After all, I get to see that girl outside everyday, maybe it isn’t so bad just to endure some veggies. But it’s sti

The girl who moved in the house in front of ours and new friend, maybe….
A girl and her family moved to the house in front of me. She and her family looks different from the rest of us and others in the neighborhood. My dad says that they come from a different country. I don’t know what a co-un-try means but it seems that they came from a far away land. Whenever I see the girl I get this weird feeling.

I heard from my older brother that the family that moved in, in front of our house, got ripped off. Well it does seem like it, the house is all worn down. The window seems to be broken from what I see. Why did they get that house? What do they do in that house? Are they similar to my family? I hear someone outside every time, I wonder who it is?

Oh, it’s the same girl playing outside every single day. Why doesn’t she go to school? My mother says that she is probably too young or is getting registered in the school nearby. Everyday before I go to school, I always see her playing outside. She’s weird. I’m gonna go talk to her when I’m done with school.

Hello. Hi, she says back. Why are you playing outside everyday? Oh, it’s because this is the only time I get to play until I do my homework. Wait, you go to school? Yes she says back. But I don’t see you walk or drive to school. It’s because I ride my back there. A bike? Yeah a bike she says with a happy expression. That’s cool! I know right as she smiles with a grin.

James! It’s time for dinner, get back inside and do your homework! Ok mom. What’s for dinner, mom? It’s pork and veggies. Again? “Yes you need it for your body to grow strong,” she says with a stern voice.

Pork tastes weird, I don’t like it. Also veggies, why do those exist? Do they want to bring me pain? It looks like the girl went back inside. I wonder why. What does she do inside that house? She goes to school but I don’t see her there. Why don’t I see her at school, She stands out from everyone that goes to my school. Maybe different school. I’ll ask her next time after school when I have the chance. James! Do your homework, it’s getting dark, don’t want to get a bad grade in class. Ok Mom!

Why does homework exist? Just to make me suffer like veggies. Why do veggies and homework exist? My work is math for today, unlike English yesterday. Guess I have to work now. Stupid homework, stupid veggies. Wait what does our family do? It’s not like we are distanced from each other, it’s just. I haven’t seen my mom’s side of the family, she doesn’t really talk about it. I see my dad’s family side all the time. We do all the holidays with my dad’s family.

Since September, school has barely started. I don’t have much to do. I already just finished my homework.
Maybe homework isn’t really that bad. But veggies are really bad. It should not exist. But I just have to live with it. After all, I get to see that girl outside everyday, maybe it isn’t so bad just to endure some veggies. But it’s still bad and it should disappear from my life.

The old man next door and his trash yard.
It’s the start of October, and the start of the old man’s ranting. Every year for as long as I can remember, which is 3. Around this time of year is when the old man is angry and loud. Since the girl that moved in front of my house a few weeks ago, the old man has gotten angrier than before. Maybe because the girl and her family have different skin color. All the kids in the neighborhood call him Nockey because the old man went crazy in the head.

Nockey always gets mad at anyone who walks near his front yard. Even though his front yard is not even a yard. It’s just a bunch of junk like the junkyard nearby. My mother says he is a war veteran, whatever that means. He fought in world war 2 when he was 30 and now he’s what’s called a hand-de-cap person. He lost his left leg from a bomb from what I heard. His son is in another big war right now. I can’t pronounce the name because it’s hard for me.

And there is the kid again. His name is Brandy, or we call him patch. He always wants to start a fight with the old man. I wonder why. He’s just standing in front of the old man’s yard trying to get him mad. Why does he do that? I’m gonna ask him when he’s done.

Hey patch. Yeah? Why are you trying to get the Nockey mad? Because it’s fun. Why is it fun? I just like seeing him get mad for something so meaningless. Can I try? Sure go ahead, Just stand near his yard and he’ll get mad.

I did as he said and Nockey was yelling at me and patch. I jump away from his yard a bit scared but patch just stands there. How is he not scared of his yelling? It made me scared. Patch walks away and goes to me. Meet me here at night and I will show you something cool.

He’s a interesting person. I don’t know if I should go. But he said he will show me something cool, ok i will meet him here at night to see this cool thing. I guess I’ll wait till night time happens, it’s gonna be awhile because it’s still bright and early, so it’s gonna be a long time.

When it’s dark, its dark. The stars that I hear so much about from mom are not there. Just a black endless void in the sky. I’m in the front yard of Nockey and I don’t see patch. Maybe he lied, he always likes to lie. Oh there he is. I guess he didn’t lie this time. Well he’s like that one boy that always lied and no one believed him until he actually told the truth but no one helped him. I forgot what that is called. Anyway lets walk over to patch.

Hey James, over here. Ok. Now let me show you something cool. Ok, so what is this cool thing you wanted to show me. Just wait and see, it’ll have you looking at it for ages, like you can’t stop, it’s a magazine, something special is in that magazine, you just have to wait.

I guess he’s actually gonna show me something. Lets see what he has in Nockey’s front yard. I guess I expect bad since its patch but what he showed changed the way I see things. I guess what I saw is what I wanted from it. I wanted it but I couldn’t because it didn’t belong to me. This magazine has something that I want. But I can’t explain it. I guess same for Patch too, he can’t stop staring like how I’m staring. These girls are very hot, I want them. But I can’t steal this magazine or Nockey will find out and get us in trouble.

Nockey has a keen eye on his things and if one thing is missing from his trash of stuff in his front yard he’ll make a neighborhood meeting about why you shouldn’t steal. I guess somethings I can’t have right now, maybe when I’m older. I’ll get all the magazines with girls on it. Then my life will be better. But what would happen in the future? Will I be able to get the magazine I want, the one I see right now or will I live a bad life? I guess I have to wait and see. Anyway I’m just gonna stare at that chest for a little longer. These girls are very pretty.

I remembered something from my past… I want to forget it.
As i wake up on a Friday morning. A day from my Uncle’s birthday.. I remember something. Something I want to forget forever. I want to get it out of my head. It haunts me like it’s a scary ghost. Why won’t i forgot this thing. I keep hitting my forehead… that hurts. I eat my breakfast that my brother made for me. I changed into newer clothes. I wait for my brother who takes forever. He gets on his bike and I sit behind him. I hold on to his body so I don’t fall off and I wait. While I remember the thing from my past… remembering it.

My brother is a fast biker so it makes it easier for My mother to not drop me off at school so she can make it to work on time. My brother was the one with– never mind… it’s nothing important.. I don’t want to remember it. It won’t get out of my head. My brother’s name is Hans. I’ve never heard of anyone famous that had a similar names as his but it’s unique.

We make it to school and Hans rides his bike to his school he goes too. I stand in front of my school remembering something I don’t want to remember. Why won’t it disappear from my head?? I walk to my first class. Math… it’s ok. But it’s annoying.. Having to write everything down to show work. But I can’t focus on class because I remembered something from my past. It’s such a hassle.

The day goes by long. It’s lunch time and I’m eating with my school friends. A troublemaker similar to Patch named Oliver. He’s similar height to me and he has the messiest hair i’ve ever seen. Its entire forest on his head but no one pays mind to it. The other is Robert. Hes a bit chubby on the body but hes fine. Not much people notice it at first. They eat food from the school cafeteria. No one does that except if they can’t have their own lunches. I mean no one judges anyone if they get cafeteria food. But it shows that they live from a poor background and no one really hangs out with them. I try to eat to get that thing out of my head. Remember? The One from my past. Its a real sucker that its not gone yet.

Oliver and Robort argue for a bit and they go to laughing. Argue. Laughter. Argue. Laughter. Argue. Eating. Argue. Laughter. Its a cycle that never ends with them. I join in on their conversation a few times to at least interact with them. But it’s still lingering behind the back of my head. My bad decision I made– I think I was saying too much. I was about to say it out loud here to my school friends. I need to get out of my head.

Lunch ends and i’m back to classes. I made it to my final class. P.E. Its dodgeball for today. Meaning im gonna get pummeled if im unlucky by this one 6th graders that look like a highschooler. His name is Lincoln. He goes easy on the girls, especially his crush. Lia. If Lincoln and Lia get on at the same time he protects her the entire game. Even if its something like basketball. I think they might be secretly dating. As i get hit by a 10 ton super ball by Lincoln… I don’t forget… I can’t forget it. My past.

My nose bleeds and I go to the nurse. The nurse isn’t there so I sit on one of the chairs there and wait. I slowly doze off and I dream. I walk into school. I’m in 4th grade. Its my first day of school. I met up with some of my school friends at lunch and they wanted to do something fun. I like fun so I joined them. Red… appears on a teacher… yelling… sirens hearing in the distance. My friends nowhere to be seen. I’m all alone. With the teacher on the floor… with their eyes closed… getting their final sleep for the rest of the day. Red… keeps on spreading and people in white and red clothing standing near the teacher on the floor. The teacher moves up and down from the machine that is used on the teacher. I get asked a bunch of questions. I lie… I don’t know why I lied… But I lied… I didn’t want to get in trouble… but it wasn’t my fault… it was an accident… if my friends didn’t get annoying I wouldn’t had—-

I wake up and the nurse is standing in front of me. I slightly smile and tell her what happened with my bloody nose. Maybe…I shouldn’t forget it. I should just let it remind me of it. Haunting me. Let it just be there in my mind. It will appear again. I won’t forget. I will never.

Lincolns such a Jerk.

The man in the fields…
There is this guy in the fields… The people call him Chicken Dan. He owns this big plot of field. People in suits want to take his land but he says no. Why does he say no? He could get money. But he tends to his chickens in the coop and repeats himself every single day. His fields are near the school, on the left side of the school, front of the school.

I ride by his land on Han’s bike every single day to school. He just stands there in his fields. Waiting for something. Rumors about him are everywhere in school. Akira thinks he’s waiting for his loved one. So thats why he doesn’t sell his field. Akira always makes good reasoning, so cool. Patch says he’s waiting for aliens to take him away. That’s stupid patch…. I agree with Akira here. Anyway Oliver and Robort both had the same thing. He’s lonely. Then they go back to arguing like always.

I look to my side and look at Akira for a bit. She’s beautiful. As I look at her we make eye contact.. Wait, we make eye contact? Oh shoot. I look away embarrassed that happened like I just only had my underwear to school. I hear Akira giggle. It’s a nice sound. Makes you want to listen to it forever. Patch yells to us with his patchy voice. We should go visit that old man. Chicken Dan? Akira says. Yes Patch replies. But why should we meet him? I say. Patch says with excitement, for stories of aliens. That line gets Oliver and Robort to stop arguing and look at each other like they heard the most stupidest thing of their life. Oliver says sure, let’s do it.

Once school ended. We walked toward the field. Its pretty musty. The plants are tall. Taller than ever me. And even I am considered tall for my age. The plants are wheat. Chicken Dan is also a farmer. He’s the last remaining farmer in Coven City. Once we make it more into the field We see him standing there. He immediately and his gaze makes me scared. I can’t move, I stand there as if i was some scarecrow. Patch the only one not scared walks up to him. Talks like how patch always does and Chicken dan does not say a thing. He smiles and goes back to watching his field. Waiting.

I guess that’s the go ahead to let us look around. His gaze softens and I’m not scared anymore. I’m able to move. like he got rid of his spell on me. We explore his field, it’s like a maze. We see chickens every now and then and as I explore, I’m left alone with Akira. That’s probably my chance to talk with her. So Akira… what do you think of this place?

She replies with a smile, it’s interesting to say the least. Yeah… it is. There are chickens everywhere, I guess it was true I say. She chuckles softly and looks at me, like she’s looking past my eyes. I get nervous from her stare and I don’t know what to say. But something gets in the way even if I was gonna say something. Chicken Dan stands in front of us. He tells Akira to leave and tells me to stay. I get a bit worried why he wants me to stay but it’s hard to stand up against him when he’s twice my height.

Oliver, Robert, Patch, and Akira are forced to leave. I’m left alone with Chicken Dan. He talks.. His voice is musky like his field, anyone can tell he doesn’t go out much except for his field. He doesn’t directly look at me but I can tell he doesn’t want to look at me. Why? I let it go not wanting to anger the man. He speaks and says, your eyes saw death.

I don’t do anything and wait. A bit curious about what he means. He talks again and says, i’ve also seen death, the death you’ve seen must have been different since your eyes are still showing hope, Ive seen death on the battlefield, where did you see your death? I get a bit scared… Does he know something about my past.. That thing I want to forget.. I let it haunt me but chicken Dan increased it 10 fold. He speaks again, so it haunts you, I guess you think it was your fault.

He slaps my back and the haunting disappears. How did he do that? He calmed me down by a slap. Chicken Dan talks in a caring voice this time his musk is still there, If you let it haunt you, you’ll never live past the age of 20, you’ll probably go insane. Let it go and you’ll feel better than ever before. It probably wasn’t your fault, I can tell. That death was probably important to you, I don’t know what they meant to you, but just let it go. Their death shouldn’t let it haunt you.

A person’s death is meaningless to people that don’t know them, I realized that when I was fighting in the second world war. Those people who risk their lives are meaningless since there are just more coming to replace them. If you personally knew them, their death will stick to you like a moth attracted to a light. Let out the light and the moth will disappear. As Chicken Dan says this, it clicked… will.. it somewhat does. He speaks again, My real name is Danny Martey. You kids call me chicken Dan probably because of my chickens. He chuckles and smiles. He talks in a concerned voice now, just let it stop haunting you, let it get out of your head, the deaths I cause are still watching me, but I don’t let it bother me because they can’t touch me. I get it rid of it like a cloud, simple, just blow it away.

I nod. I barely know what he means but I get some of it. He lets me go and I see the others left me behind, except Patch. He asked me a bunch of questions about what we were talking about but I just brushed it off. Maybe Chicken Day was right. Just let it get off you. But how…

How…

The History teacher is a bit loose… I think
My new school, new people, new teachers, and new stories to hear. Like ones from my history teacher. He likes to talk. If I got a dollar from every time he told a story, I would be able to buy a cheap used car. Mr. Breaker. He teaches class in an interesting way. He brought a TV to school. He watches that while he gives work to do after he teaches us a few things. He’s laid back and doesn’t yell at us. So the other students just do nothing in the class and mess around.

And my luck always comes when it wants to. How does Akira get in the same class as me. She also sits next to me. How is this possible? Who knows. But in this class, I have to do the work or i’ll not pass this class. The others just don’t do anything. The teacher turns off his TV and tells another story. He talks about how is dog ate some horse poo and threw up that same horse poo on his carpet.

The dog then dies of a disease that was in the horse poo. That is weird.. But I let it slide since his other story was about two lovers that both cheat on each other. It’s interesting but then they both end each other’s lives because the other cheated on them. Are these stories even true? I don’t listen and I go back to writing about my work for this class. But A story that catches my interest from him. Something about a boy meeting a beautiful mermaid, then that mermaid was a siren, I guess that story was fake.

As those days pass in his classes. He keeps telling all these stories. Even during our test times. But I was able to pass his test at least. I stand outside the School, Wearing a coat and a scarf from the winter. I let my hair grow a bit and I’m growing a bit of a mustache too.

I guess being close to the age of 16 changes a person. I stand near the front gate of the school waiting for the school to open. I see Mr. Breaker, my history teacher walks out of his car and walks over to me. He smiles and tells me a story he doesn’t usually say in class.

He talks about how he could have been bigger if he didn’t make this one mistake. Following this girl. He loved this girl and wanted to be with her. He did everything and he realized none of it worked and he was a wreck. But he was able to save himself by taking this history teaching job for highschool. I don’t pay attention to that story much

Why would I pay attention? I mean it’s a story to learn from someone’s mistake but that could never happen to me. I won’t let that happen. I could never.. Right? The school guard opens the door as he sips from his coffee. Me and Mr. Breaker walk inside and we go our separate ways. I go to the library and I meet up with Akira, Patch, Oliver and Robert all waiting for me. We all talk and study. I guess everyone changed too. Akira has lost her asian accent. Patch stopped being curious about things. Oliver and Robert don’t argue with each other anymore.

I… did I really change… I can’t tell. I look at them and I smile. I sat down with them. I guess maybe I have changed. I’ll see it soon enough. I can always come back, definitely..

Definitely