Chapter 1.
It was a normal, hot, humid day in Alabama. You know that boss in Mario, where the sun is trying to kill you? That’s Alabama in the summer. The leaves were starting to change, but if you walk outside for five minutes one is drenched in sweat, when my eldest brother left for University. I sat on the front porch, and watched him get into his car. I was sulking, and disappointed that my life was changing so fast. First my brother going to University, and then the changing of schools for middle school; I had no friends at this new school. And what’s worse is that now I can’t talk to anyone about what to do. I can’t talk to my mother, who was raising four boys. I didn’t want to burden her, my youngest brothers would laugh at me, and my oldest brother was leaving me. I was all alone now. My name is Jeong. I skinny little twig that some could snap in half like a potato chip, without exerting themselves so hard.
Except I had the comfort of my books. These are now the only people that I know that would understand. Even if all the authors are now dead, and decaying in earth; the flesh being consumed by worms. Books are the only comfort in my life. Well, that and food. There is a special bond between words written that can’t be expressed orally, just like when preparing well-crafted food. Food always makes me feel better, like books, when it is prepared properly.
I waved at my brother, and walked back into the house, and sat on my bed, and opened my book, and began reading in silence, holding back my tears.
I have been reading for three hours straight, locked up in my room, when my mother called me for Lunch. I sighed, and placed a bookmark gently into my book, and slammed it shut. I walked into the kitchen, where she beautifully placed some chicken atop some white rice, and a medley of vegetables. I never learned Chinese, although I wish I did. My brother tried to teach me, but he would end up distracted, and I’d end up frustrated by him being distracted. I ate with chopsticks in silences.
"How’s school going?"
"It’s alright."
"Just alright? " She smiled at me, and tried to get me to talk more.
"I wish it was more intensive. Especially in history." I grimaced.
"Well. There is the history club, and isn’t there that history tournament coming up? Why don’t try to join?"
"Maybe." I said trying to concentrate on eating my food.
My youngest brother, who was a messy eater, said with a mouthful, that he wanted to play soccer with his friends at some club. I didn’t catch the name of the club because I was too busy trying to eat. I was too busy thinking of my food, and my book to really pay attention to anything around me.
I finished my lunch, and took my dishes to the sink, and walked into the living room, and sat on the couch. I pushed my long fringe from my eyes. I looked out the window, and started to daydream about what my brother was doing right now, who he was talking to, and wondering what the people in the history club was doing right about now.
My brother came and jumped over the back of the couch, and tackled me. He jolted me out of my daydream.
"Let’s play some video games!" He said setting his DS on the table.
I shrugged." Sure Tai. Why not? What do you want to play?"
"Let’s play Mario Kart!"
"Okay."
We turned on the Wii, and grabbed the controllers. I chose Yoshi, and Tai chose Mario, after he threw a fit, when I chose him, and heaven forbid I choose the one he wants. That’s how younger brothers are though. They want whatever the older brother has, and screams and cries till you want to blow your brains out.
We played for what seemed like forever of Tai screaming that I was playing unfair because I was winning for most of the time spent playing. Little brothers have to be in the right, you know. I didn’t let him win. Should teach him some humility in losing, but that’s a hopeless cause.
"I’m bored now. " He huffed and threw the remote down. That was his way of saying that he’s a sore loser. Little brothers are so annoying.
Sunday came and went, and I just stayed in my room reading, except for the occasional food break.
Monday morning, I got out of bed at 5 am. I made me some eggs with some potatoes. I sat and drank my milk, and ate my breakfast. I brushed my teeth, and got dressed. My little brother was really hard to get out of bed. Tai refused, and we barely made it on time for school. I made it to my first period class: History. I had to sit in the back of the class with the degenerates. Great. Reiterate the annoying little brother testimony.
English this semester is focusing on American literature, and we had some weeks of Greek mythology. Great. I love this stuff. All of it really. Next period was Math. My worst subject. I didn’t understand any of this stuff, but somehow managed to make into Honors. I blame my mother and her harassing calls to the school. Oh well, I’m just a kid, and how can I possibly swim against this raging current. I had Spanish next, and all we did was learn to sing the alphabet, and count to 20 in Spanish.
Lunch was next. Thank god. I sat next to Edward. He was one of the nicest, and warmest people there. Plus, he’s really intelligent in Military history, and Math. He helps me understand all these Math lessons that leave my head spinning.
I sat there as Edward and others laughed, and ate. Edward had this certain charisma about him. He’s definitely more outgoing, and spontaneous, and he loves debating. I am the opposite. I like to live in harmony with others, and try to keep out of harm’s way. I have the charisma of a brick wall though My greatest virtue is candor. I can be as blunt as a spoon, but I try to be nice about my candidness
I had study hall in the Library today, instead of French because the teacher was out sick. Thank god. I good finally read my book in peace without being disturbed by the damn teachers or other ignorant morons that are students. The problem with most schooling is that teaches you textbook problems and answers, but life is never like that. I finished reading the 4th book in the Artemis fowl series that period. I checked out a few history books to read over the week as well. Over Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, and the Hittites, and Ancient Egypt. We have to write a two page report on what we are learning, and find interesting, and I plan on writing on everything.
Then was German. German is a hard language to grasp, but I loved the way that it sounded. The teacher is a major hardass. The teacher always assigns us to write out the vocabulary at the end of each chapter three times, and gives us reading assignments that are long, and boring. The teacher was bald, and wore a suit almost every day.
My mother picked me up after she picked up my brother, and we drove home.
"I heard from your brother at University today." She smiled, and looked over at me.
My heart fluttered. "Oh yeah. What did he say?" I was grinning ear to ear.
"He said he is taking a history course that you will love, and that he is taking a world literature course covering Chinese literature"
"That sounds awesome. I wonder if I should call him when we get home? "
" He said you can have the textbook when he is done, and that he wants to bring you to the library on campus. "
"O my god, mom, I want to see him so bad. " I sounded a bit sad, but also my voice carried a happy tune in that sad echo. I looked out the window, and wondered what University was like. "It has only been a couple of days but.. " My thoughts trailed of.
"I know baby. " She said reassuringly. " I miss him too. It isn’t quite the same at home without him there. "
We parked in the garage, and carried my backpack to my room, and flopped down on my bed, and wondered if I should call Alexander, my Big brother.