The car cruising past was a blue Honda Accord. An old lady was inside blasting Katy Perry songs through her speakers. Six cats poked their heads out of the windows, their ears and eyes flapping in the wind.
What's with old ladies and cats anyway? Always feeding any puss they come across. Maybe its loneliness. No one knows and I'm afraid no one ever will.
Most of the kids had took buses home and the place was halfway deserted. But some of them weren't ready to face the chores they were sure was waiting for them at home. The popular kids. They hung around discussing their latest clothes, the hottest boy in class, which show they'd attend on the weekend.
Another carπ parked in the school's parking lot. Principal Rockwell was sitting on the foot of the fountainβ². He looked up to see who it was. He was wringing waterπ¦ out of his shoesπ. He looked down and saw he was wearing mismatched socks. His left leg was clothed with a pink sock and bright red hearts was doodled on it. The door of the door slammed closed and a smart lady and a young boy stepped out.
It was the guidance counselor, Miss Tyson. She was holding the boy's hand. The kid had a fringe haircut and his bangs fell in front of his eyes. He was wearing a red T-shirt and navy shorts. He wore brown sandals on his feet.
The boy ran forward and stuck his hands out for a handshake. "Hi. I'm Chirag Kumar. Are you the principal?" His words came out with an Indian accent".
"Yes. I am the principal". The principal remembered he looked dishonorable. He gave Chirag's hands a waggle.
Miss Tyson asked "Sir, why are you wet? And why do you have paint splattered on your clothes? Why are the students outside?
"Its a long story". The principal sounded defeated.
"Hello principal! I like your school. So many bright colors!" Chirag said, referring to his spoilt suit which he was intending to give away to charity when he got home.
"Who is he?" He asked Miss Tyson. She'd dropped his hands and he went over to some nearby students. The populars. He was gesticulating wildly. They they laughed. Principal Rockwell looked at him and back at Miss Tyson. She was tall and sported long, wavy dark hair. She was wearing a short sleeved green blouse and a matching black skirt.
"He's the foreign exchange student from India, remember?" The principal shook his head sideways.
"I don't think I do" he replied.
"Well, he's supposed to fill out some forms in your office today. Could we fill them today?"
"No. I need to refurbish the school first. Then I'll binge watch some romance movies when I get home".
"You watch those?" She asked, surprised.
"What? Anything wrong?"
"No. But you should probably hit the showers first. Did you take a bath today?" She asked, scrunching up her nose.
"No. I was too busy".
"Too busy to even take a bath?
"Yeah. There's this dude who's always running up the block every morning. Everyday. I think he's watching me. So today I followed him"
Then he stopped to heighten effect. "And then?" She prompted.
"I didn't have enough time to bath and then chase him so I carried my suit and chased after him in my boxer shorts. Then I hide behind a car and wore my suit and the trousers. The trousers wouldn't pass though, because I was wearing shoes. We keep running up and down. Up and down. Like that".
"And then?"
"This one time I was sure he saw me but I was behind a street lamp so he couldn't have saw me. He went back to his neighborhood and I came here".
"And what happened here?
"I'm too tired to say". He said, raising himself up. "I think I'll fill my bathtub with ice and lie in it for two hours". He closed his eyes, trying to conjure up the image in his mind. "Too bad. I didn't even bring my car".
He walks away. His shoes make squelchy sounds as he walks. Miss Tyson watches him and shrugged. "I don't know what's wrong with him". She muttered to herself. Chirag laughs behind her.
"Why are you laughing?" She asked Chirag.
"I like him. He's funny". He said, chuckling lightly. She smiles but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
They stand silently and watch as the principal tries to furtively stop a cab. Anyone he waves forward, slows down, take in his present state and drives along. He remembered that he had his phone with him. He brings it out and tries to call an Uber. His phone doesn't power on. He hits it repeatedly over the palm of his head. A few drops fall out, and nothing more.
Greatly vexed, he smashes it against the hard, tarred road. He jumps and stomps on it and flaps his hands around. He looks like a flapping turkey.
Satisfied, he stalks off towards the direction he thinks is his house. Miss Tyson chuckled, greatly amused. So does Chirag.
The principal stalks off to the other direction, hitting his leg on a fire hydrant.
They laugh louder. Chirag is clutching his ribs from laughing too hard. "Why are you laughing?" She asks.
This time, he doesn't have an answer.
π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄
Its almost three o clock. Josh emerges from the cafeteria where he'd been scrubbing the utensils clean. His hands are raw and bloated from too much washing. The janitor and some plumbers are trying to fix the water problems. The floors are slippery. He almost feels his feet slide under him but he clutches a door just in time.
Outside, he squints at the sunlight. The cafeteria lights had been dimmed so when he stepped out side, the lights hurts his eyes.
His dress is in his backpack. He walks home.
He doesn't see Hunter's bike leaning against the foot of the oak tree.
ππππππππ
Hunter watches him from atop the tree lining the driveway. He'd been searching for Josh everywhere. He'd called Josh's mom and asked Zoey and his geek friends. They hadn't seen him anywhere.
He had a hunch he should check their school.
Now Josh was walking home. And why was he still at school when school let out a long while ago? Why wasn't he at home, doing his seriously weird science stuff? Hunter thought.
He slithered down the tree. Then he picked up his bike and made to cross the road. Walking past, his leg hit something metallic. It bounced screeching on the tarred road.
On the peices of the phone, he bent over and saw a memory card sticking out. He removed it and slipped it into his pocket.
He continued walking home.
Hunter cycled lazily on his bike. He mostly kept to the bicycle lane, careful to avoid traffic. The cars and motorists moved slowly, typical of Californian street roads. Honks and curses interchanged each other as they flowed, a never ending stream of rude remarks and quippy quotes.Hunter watched the world wheeze by his bike. He watched a woman wheeling a baby cart down the street. He saw a child playing outside on the lawn. He saw the billboard advertising a generic soap. He saw the troops of people moving into the movie theater.He saw a traffic warden sticking tickets on the cars who'd over stayed their parking pass. He saw the laughing trio of girls, shopping bags hooked under the crevices of their arms. He saw the black man ahead helping an elderly lady into her house. He saw the police officer parking his car on the street, moving towards them.He braked and his bike jerked forward and he stuck his foot out to ste
The whole class was eerily silent unlike class fifteen, the class known for being the most loud compared in comparison to the other classes.All the students leaned forward in their desks and anticipated the ending of the historic program they were watching on the projector.Josh adjusted his prescription glasses as they slipped from the bridge of his nose. He didn't normally put on glasses at school because if he wasn't mocked for being a nerd, then it'll be knocked off his eyes. But he'd come late to history class and the only available seat was at the back of his class so he couldn't see clearly.Fregley pushed himself forward in his de
Presently, all the cool kids had jumped up on their chairs. Hunter almost laughed out loud. Josh scoffed. Zoey looked amused. Chirag was offended."Get it away!" Michelle was screaming.Chirag pushed back his chair and marched to their table. "What're you doing? Come back!" Zoey called. But Chirag was determined and took nine short paces to the table.With a jab, he yanked the lizard out of the sauce and laid it reverently on the ground. Nearby kids scampered away in fear."Don't come near me!" Linda said, shooing him away with her hands. "I h
"Detention's over. You're free to leave". The podgy teacher announces.Hunter doesn't hear whatever she said because he's asleep, drooling at the mouth. The other kid shakes him awake and he rubs his eyes, trying to wake himself fully."Let's go, detention's over". The boy repeats. Hunter stands up hurriedly, slamming his head to the kid's forehead."Ow!" He cried, jumping on one foot. "You did that on purpose!" He accused."No i didn't. It was a mistake". Hunter apologized. "I'm sorry". He slung his bag over his shoulder. "Let's get out"."OK".They're about to leave the room when the teacher said "Feel free to visit anytime". Hunter and the kid run out of the building."I'm Carl". He said, holding out his hand. His cheeks are rosy from running too much. His blond hair is disheveled and almost covers his eyes. He looked about
Zoey breezed into Hunter's yard, jumping off her bike, almost crashing her bike and Josh.She bent down on the gravelled driveway and picked up some smooth pebbles which she thought would be enough for signalling Hunter."What are you doing?" Josh asked."I'm going to throw these at his window, dummy". She replied."You're really out to break windows, aren't you?" Josh brought his phone out of his pocket. "Why don't we text him".Zoey smiled. "You know, since I've known you, that's the only sensible thing you've said". She taunted.Josh scowled."Sent that text yet". Zoey asked, keeping herself busy by removing dirt from her nails. Josh peered into his phone, not seeing much because he'd dimmed the brightness."Scoot over". Zoey said. Josh scooted a bit on the steps. "Hey, why is your phone so dark?" She asked,
It was AP Geography. Mr. Lance Gilbert lectured on and on about longitudes and latitudes. Most of the students in the class weren't paying attention.But Hunter was.Ashley wasn't taking this period so his focus was totally on the teacher. The other students were sending notes to each other, whispering about the latest TV series or exchanging a kiss or two when they thought the teacher wasn't looking.Hunter noticed that Josh had bent his head down on his desk and was slipping his hand into his bag pretty often. A small, satisfied smile flickered on his face every now and then.The queen bee, Bianca was resting her hand on her desk, supporting her shin as she stared at the teacher, absorbing all the information. Small dark bags were on her eyes and her eyes d
The door opened just as Hunter was about to finish his sentence. A tall, lanky nurse stepped into the room. She was dressed in a knee length, nurse uniform complete with a matching flat cap. She didn't look friendly."Is he awake?" She asked.Zoey nodded yes."I'll have to ask you girls to wait outside. I want to do some checkups".Reluctantly, Zoey pushed up from her seat. Ashley wasn't ready to go out yet but the stern look on the nurse's face simulated her body upwards.
Hunter is already at Hunter's treehouse earlier than they agreed thinking about nothing and everythingSchool... His scholarship...His friends....Their life in grinding poverty...Finding a jobThe thing was, times were tough and jobs were scarce. He'd wanted to look for a job before but the neighbourhood grocer, Mr Miller had discouraged him, saying he was too little to get a job.But then, he'd seen Kenny, a neighbour kid who was exactly his age and who lived one block away riding his bike every morning delivering newspapers to people's doorsteps, his search intensified.It didn't have to be a well paying job, if he was at least able to take some pressure off his mom, then he was okay with it. Only the Lord knows how hard it is for her. A single mom with three kids.The ladder leading to the penthouse leaned and rattled and Hunter forced his thoughts away from his troubles to the entrance of