May 20th, 1987
Mike
“Hey Bill, wanna go to the swings tonight?” Mike asked Billie Joe while they were walking down the hall towards their classroom. Mike didn’t feel like having band practise tonight and he missed the playground; they hadn’t been there for a while.
“Nah, sorry man, I can’t. I have to help mum clean the house. Grandma and grandpa are coming over, you know.” Billie Joe said and sighed. It didn’t seem like he was looking forward to it. Mike shrugged.
“I guess I’ll just ask Jason then.”
“What, if he wants to go to the swings with you?” Billie Joe snapped, bursting out in sudden anger. Mike frowned and held up his hand as to protect himself.
“No, I was going to ask if he wanted to hang out in my van.” Billie Joe calmed down and muttered an answer. “Come on man, lighten up! Is it really that bad that your grandparents are coming?” Mike said.
“No. It’s just that, you know, you’re working all the time nowadays and today when you do have time I have to be at home. And when I thought that you and Jason were going to the playground… that’s just our thing, you know?” Billie said just as they arrived to class. Mike nodded. He was just going to say ‘yeah, I know’ when they stepped inside the classroom but he was cut of by the teacher before he could start.
“Pritchard, Armstrong, you’re late again. What’s your excuse this time?” Mike began smiling and waited for Billie Joe to start; it was his turn to think of something this time.
“Well you see sir,” Billie Joe started in his most sarcastic voice “we were on our way here, we were running actually, to really make sure that we would get here on time, but, you know, then we ran straight into – did I say we? I meant Mike, I’m not that clumsy – so Mike ran straight into a big monster. A huge, green monster! And the monster said… um Mike, what did he say again?” Billie Joe said and turned to Mike who was more than willing to take over.
“He had me captured in his gigantic, green arms and he said ‘Billie Joe, if you want your friend back you have to be late for Mr. Lawes class!’ And Billie Joe threw himself to the floor” Mike made a wild gesture as Billie Joe threw himself to the floor to illustrate just what he did. “and begged the monster on his bare knees; ‘No, not Mr. Lawes class, please! I’ll do anything, just not Mr. Lawes class!’ And the monster said that he had to think about it-“
“Yes, okay Mr. Pritchard, I think we get the picture. Just please take your seats, will you?” Mr. Lawes said and sighed; he was starting to get used to Mike’s and Billie Joe’s stories by now. Billie Joe grinned and got up from the floor and put the litter bin that he’d used as the monster back where it belonged. Then the two boys made their way to their usual seats at the back. When they were all settled and Mr. Lawes started speaking about art during the 1600th century Mike leaned in and whispered in Billie Joe’s ear;
“Do you think he fell for it?”
“Hell yeah, this story was so much better than the one with the headless paladin or the one with the aliens. I mean aliens, Mike? What were you thinking? That’s like the most common excuse in the world!”
“Um, excuse me, but it was you who came up with the alien excuse, I just played along.”
“Na-uh! I came up with the one about the zombie toy, and the aliens were the time after that one, so you must have come up with the aliens.”
“I did not! I came up with the train that appeared out of nowhere in between the zombie toy and the aliens, so you must have come up with the aliens!” Mike hissed, their voices were growing louder now.
“No, I came up-“
“Armstrong and Pritchard!” Mr. Lawes interrupted. “Is there something you would like to share with the class?” Billie Joe opened his mouth to tell another amazing story but was cut of before he could start. “Oh never mind, just be quiet, will you?” Mr. Lawes said and sighed. Billie Joe was about to say something again but Mike quickly put his hand over his mouth.
“Of course, Mr. Lawes! We won’t say another word!” Mike said and smiled widely.
“Why’d you do that for?” Billie Joe hissed as soon as Mike took his hand from Billie’s mouth.
“Shh, do you want to get detention?” Mike hissed back and shot another lovely smile towards Mr. Lawes. Mr. Lawes looked at them with piercing eyes.
“Oh, and by the way Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Armstrong, you’ve got detention. Both of you.”
söndag 2 augusti 2009
torsdag 23 juli 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 22
May 4th, 1987
Mike
“This present is from me and Steve.” Ollie said and smiled towards Mike. She didn’t have a present in her hands, so Mike wondered what she meant. “Come on, let’s go outside.” She said and rose.
“What? Why are we going outside?” Mike asked and put down the bass he’d gotten from Billie. He had been unable to put it down since he got it, but now he was confused. Yesterday Billie had told him that he was getting a tree, which of course had been a joke, but now Mike feared that it hadn’t. A tree in the Armstrong’s garden, how wonderful… Mike looked at Billie Joe who winked at him, Mike’s eyes widened and he mouthed ‘no way’ towards Billie. Billie Joe nodded and mouthed ‘yes way’ back. Mike followed Ollie and Steve and everybody else followed him, except for Brad of course; he probably didn’t think Mike’s birthday was worth going outside.
They stepped out the door and onto the front porch. They continued down to the driveway where Ollie told him to stop.
“Close your eyes now.” Mike did as she said. “Billie, make sure he doesn’t peak.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.” Billie Joe said with delight and Mike felt Billie’s warm hands on his face, covering his eyes. “And Jason, if you'll cover his mouth…” Billie Joe said and Mike immediately felt Jason’s hand cover his mouth. “And maybe David could go and get the rope.” Billie Joe joked and Mike laughed against Jason’s hand, which quickly disappeared. “Nah, I’m just kidding man.” Billie Joe laughed.
“Yeah, I kind of guessed.” Mike answered and put his hand backwards to try and find Billie Joe’s hair to ruffle it. What he did find was Billie Joe’s eye.
“Ouch, what the fuck are you doing?” One of Billie Joe’s hands disappeared from Mike’s face and Mike guessed that it was to cover Billie’s own eye.
“Shit, I’m sorry man.” Mike breathed out. “Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not, I’m fucking blind! Aaah, I can’t see a thing on my left eye! Mum, MUM! Mike just poked my fucking eye out!” Billie Joe shouted. “Oh no wait, it was just closed that was all. There, now I can see again.” Mike laughed; Billie Joe and his sick jokes. “There’s no need to be worried, I’m all right!” Billie Joe stated, but nobody answered so Mike guessed that nobody except him had believed Billie to begin with. Billie Joe’s hand came back and covered Mike’s eye again.
“So, how are you feeling? Excited about your tree?” Billie Joe said in Mike’s ear. Mike jumped; he hadn’t been ready for it.
“You have no idea.” Mike said. “What can it be, an oak? A pine tree? Or maybe even an asp!” Mike heard an engine being turned on, it sounded like it came from the Armstrong’s garage. Then he heard a vehicle of some sort coming closer, Mike guessed that the engine he’d just heard belonged to the vehicle. The vehicle stopped, and without shutting the engine off somebody stepped out of it. Mike heard the door of the vehicle shut at the same time as he heard his stepfather’s voice;
“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” Billie Joe’s hands left Mike’s face and Mike opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the bright sun. He then caught sight of a van standing on the Armstrong’s driveway. It was the van he had planned to buy. Mike’s jaw dropped; they couldn’t have…?
“How do you like your tree, Mike?” Billie Joe grinned towards Mike when he saw his face. Mike pushed Billie Joe aside without taking his eyes of the van and Billie Joe stumbled to gain balance again.
“Okay Mike, here’s the deal; Mrs. Armstrong and I have bought this and it’s yours now, but you’ll have to pay for half of it yourself. Sounds okay?” Steve said. Mike nodded in amazement.“And Mike,” Ollie continued. “you’ve got a job at Rod’s Hickory Pit now!” she said and clasped her hands together. Mike smiled widely. “But just because you’ve got your van now, doesn’t mean that you can live there all the time. You can live there until David moves out, but then you will come to live with us, just like we’ve said.” Mike blinked at her. This was definitely the best birthday he’d ever had.
May 4th, 1987
Jason
Jason came home from the Armstrong’s house and Mike’s birthday party around 11pm. He still had a smile on his face and he was humming a tune from London Calling, the present he had given to Mike. He could still see how Mike’s face had lit up when he opened the gift and saw what Jason had given him. They had been listening to it all afternoon; Mike and Billie just couldn’t get enough. Jason though that the record was alright, but not the best thing he’d ever heard. Not that he knew what the best thing he’d ever heard was, but he did know that it wasn’t London Calling.
He opened the door and stepped inside, thinking of nothing in particular. He took of his jacket and shoes and started to whistle. He walked into the living room towards the kitchen to get a sandwich before he would go to bed. He never got to the kitchen.
A light was lit in the living room as soon as Jason stepped inside. Jason stopped in his tracks and saw his father sitting on the sofa, facing him.
“Where have you been?” his father asked and Jason swallowed hard, trying to fight the urge to run.
“I was at a friend’s place. It’s my friend’s birthday today. I told you yesterday that I would be gone, remember?” Jason said faintly. His father rose and started to circle around Jason, like a raptor trying to decide how to kill its prey.
“Friend you say?” he stopped behind Jason. Jason shivered and clenched his fists tight. “Since when do you have friends, Jason?” his father asked. “Who on earth would want to spend time with you?” Jason didn’t answer. “That’s right, no one.” his father whispered, Jason swallowed. “So tell me Jason, since you don’t have friends, where were you?”
“I’ve already told you, I was at a friends place.” Jason said and closed his eyes, waiting for what was to come.
“It’s really cute that you’ve got imaginary friends and all, but you can’t let them keep you from doing what you are supposed to.” Jason felt his father’s hands on his shoulders. A single tear formed in Jason’s eye and slowly ran down his cheek as one of his fathers hand travelled from Jason’s shoulder to his head and gripped his hair.
“Please don’t.” Jason whispered.
Mike
“This present is from me and Steve.” Ollie said and smiled towards Mike. She didn’t have a present in her hands, so Mike wondered what she meant. “Come on, let’s go outside.” She said and rose.
“What? Why are we going outside?” Mike asked and put down the bass he’d gotten from Billie. He had been unable to put it down since he got it, but now he was confused. Yesterday Billie had told him that he was getting a tree, which of course had been a joke, but now Mike feared that it hadn’t. A tree in the Armstrong’s garden, how wonderful… Mike looked at Billie Joe who winked at him, Mike’s eyes widened and he mouthed ‘no way’ towards Billie. Billie Joe nodded and mouthed ‘yes way’ back. Mike followed Ollie and Steve and everybody else followed him, except for Brad of course; he probably didn’t think Mike’s birthday was worth going outside.
They stepped out the door and onto the front porch. They continued down to the driveway where Ollie told him to stop.
“Close your eyes now.” Mike did as she said. “Billie, make sure he doesn’t peak.”
“It’ll be my pleasure.” Billie Joe said with delight and Mike felt Billie’s warm hands on his face, covering his eyes. “And Jason, if you'll cover his mouth…” Billie Joe said and Mike immediately felt Jason’s hand cover his mouth. “And maybe David could go and get the rope.” Billie Joe joked and Mike laughed against Jason’s hand, which quickly disappeared. “Nah, I’m just kidding man.” Billie Joe laughed.
“Yeah, I kind of guessed.” Mike answered and put his hand backwards to try and find Billie Joe’s hair to ruffle it. What he did find was Billie Joe’s eye.
“Ouch, what the fuck are you doing?” One of Billie Joe’s hands disappeared from Mike’s face and Mike guessed that it was to cover Billie’s own eye.
“Shit, I’m sorry man.” Mike breathed out. “Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not, I’m fucking blind! Aaah, I can’t see a thing on my left eye! Mum, MUM! Mike just poked my fucking eye out!” Billie Joe shouted. “Oh no wait, it was just closed that was all. There, now I can see again.” Mike laughed; Billie Joe and his sick jokes. “There’s no need to be worried, I’m all right!” Billie Joe stated, but nobody answered so Mike guessed that nobody except him had believed Billie to begin with. Billie Joe’s hand came back and covered Mike’s eye again.
“So, how are you feeling? Excited about your tree?” Billie Joe said in Mike’s ear. Mike jumped; he hadn’t been ready for it.
“You have no idea.” Mike said. “What can it be, an oak? A pine tree? Or maybe even an asp!” Mike heard an engine being turned on, it sounded like it came from the Armstrong’s garage. Then he heard a vehicle of some sort coming closer, Mike guessed that the engine he’d just heard belonged to the vehicle. The vehicle stopped, and without shutting the engine off somebody stepped out of it. Mike heard the door of the vehicle shut at the same time as he heard his stepfather’s voice;
“Okay, you can open your eyes now.” Billie Joe’s hands left Mike’s face and Mike opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the bright sun. He then caught sight of a van standing on the Armstrong’s driveway. It was the van he had planned to buy. Mike’s jaw dropped; they couldn’t have…?
“How do you like your tree, Mike?” Billie Joe grinned towards Mike when he saw his face. Mike pushed Billie Joe aside without taking his eyes of the van and Billie Joe stumbled to gain balance again.
“Okay Mike, here’s the deal; Mrs. Armstrong and I have bought this and it’s yours now, but you’ll have to pay for half of it yourself. Sounds okay?” Steve said. Mike nodded in amazement.“And Mike,” Ollie continued. “you’ve got a job at Rod’s Hickory Pit now!” she said and clasped her hands together. Mike smiled widely. “But just because you’ve got your van now, doesn’t mean that you can live there all the time. You can live there until David moves out, but then you will come to live with us, just like we’ve said.” Mike blinked at her. This was definitely the best birthday he’d ever had.
May 4th, 1987
Jason
Jason came home from the Armstrong’s house and Mike’s birthday party around 11pm. He still had a smile on his face and he was humming a tune from London Calling, the present he had given to Mike. He could still see how Mike’s face had lit up when he opened the gift and saw what Jason had given him. They had been listening to it all afternoon; Mike and Billie just couldn’t get enough. Jason though that the record was alright, but not the best thing he’d ever heard. Not that he knew what the best thing he’d ever heard was, but he did know that it wasn’t London Calling.
He opened the door and stepped inside, thinking of nothing in particular. He took of his jacket and shoes and started to whistle. He walked into the living room towards the kitchen to get a sandwich before he would go to bed. He never got to the kitchen.
A light was lit in the living room as soon as Jason stepped inside. Jason stopped in his tracks and saw his father sitting on the sofa, facing him.
“Where have you been?” his father asked and Jason swallowed hard, trying to fight the urge to run.
“I was at a friend’s place. It’s my friend’s birthday today. I told you yesterday that I would be gone, remember?” Jason said faintly. His father rose and started to circle around Jason, like a raptor trying to decide how to kill its prey.
“Friend you say?” he stopped behind Jason. Jason shivered and clenched his fists tight. “Since when do you have friends, Jason?” his father asked. “Who on earth would want to spend time with you?” Jason didn’t answer. “That’s right, no one.” his father whispered, Jason swallowed. “So tell me Jason, since you don’t have friends, where were you?”
“I’ve already told you, I was at a friends place.” Jason said and closed his eyes, waiting for what was to come.
“It’s really cute that you’ve got imaginary friends and all, but you can’t let them keep you from doing what you are supposed to.” Jason felt his father’s hands on his shoulders. A single tear formed in Jason’s eye and slowly ran down his cheek as one of his fathers hand travelled from Jason’s shoulder to his head and gripped his hair.
“Please don’t.” Jason whispered.
fredag 17 juli 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 21
May 4th, 1987
Mike
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…” he heard his stepfather sing outside the room as he pushed the door open with his foot and stepped inside the room, carrying a tray in his hands. He finished the song next to Mike’s bed with his rough voice and Mike wished he wouldn’t have sung at all; it was too early in the morning to be awakened by such a voice. Mike rolled over to his side and pulled his pillow over his head.
“Hey, buddy, wake up!” Mike’s stepfather Steve said and sat down next to Mike on the bed. Mike grunted as Steve lit the lamp above his head. “Come on, you’re fifteen now! Don’t you want to enjoy that feeling?” If Mike’s eyes had been opened he would’ve rolled them.
“I’ve got a whole year to do that, so I think I’ll pass today.” He grunted. Steve sighed. He put his hand on Mike’s shoulder and shook him gently.
“Oh come on now. We’re going to the Armstrong’s soon. So just eat your breakfast now. I’ve made it myself, you know. And when we get to the Armstrong’s you’ll get your presents, how does that sound?” At last Mike opened his eyes, but immediately closed them again; that damn lamp was too damn bright! He opened them again, more careful this time. He blinked a few times and slowly started to try to sit up. To wake up this early on a weekend could not be healthy.
“Yeah, sure.” Mike yawned and finally got up completely. Steve put the tray with Mike’s breakfast in his lap. Mike smelled Steve’s wonderful pancakes and he started to feel like this day could be something after all. That was one thing that was great with Steve; he was a fantastic cook, and he’d taught Mike everything he knew, which meant that Mike was quite good too.
“So…” Mike said with his mouth full. “What did you get me?” Steve laughed and shook his head.
“Oh no, you’ll just have to wait! But the sooner you finish your breakfast and get ready, the sooner you’ll find out. But there’s no need to be stressed. Just take your time; we’ll get there when we get there.” Steve laughed when he realised that those last words hadn’t had any effect at all on Mike; he was eating faster than ever.
“Wow, are you really that anxious to have your presents?” Steve asked but Mike shook his head.
“No.” he said with his mouth full. “I just want to see Billie. Jason is coming too, right?” Steve nodded. Mike smiled. “I just want to see Billie and Jason.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Yeah sure, I mean, it was such a long time since you saw them last.” He said and grabbed one of Mike’s pancakes.
“Yeah, must be like… 10 hours ago, it’s a mystery that I’m still alive.” Mike said and chuckled. He gave the tray back to Steve and climbed out of his bed.
“I’m off to take a shower, then we can go.” He said and grabbed the same clothes that he had worn yesterday off the floor. Steve nodded and walked out the door to go and do the dishes.
Mike opened the door to the Armstrong’s without knocking, just like he always did, only this time he was met by a song. Happy Birthday was sung towards him from all directions. Ollie with her low, cosy voice, and Billie Joe standing right next to her. His voice was pretty much drenched by his mother’s so Mike couldn’t hear him very well. Then three of Billie Joe’s siblings, David, Allen and Marcy, standing in various places on the stairs leading into the living room. Even Brad was there, although he wasn’t singing. Mike couldn’t se Jason anywhere, but he could hear his high-pitched voice and he guessed that he was somewhere behind all the Armstrong’s. Mike didn’t really know what to do, so he just stood there and listened. Soon, he felt his stepfather’s hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to him and smiled and Steve smiled back and Mike was sure that they were both thinking the same thing; Mike would be coming to a great family.
Mike
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…” he heard his stepfather sing outside the room as he pushed the door open with his foot and stepped inside the room, carrying a tray in his hands. He finished the song next to Mike’s bed with his rough voice and Mike wished he wouldn’t have sung at all; it was too early in the morning to be awakened by such a voice. Mike rolled over to his side and pulled his pillow over his head.
“Hey, buddy, wake up!” Mike’s stepfather Steve said and sat down next to Mike on the bed. Mike grunted as Steve lit the lamp above his head. “Come on, you’re fifteen now! Don’t you want to enjoy that feeling?” If Mike’s eyes had been opened he would’ve rolled them.
“I’ve got a whole year to do that, so I think I’ll pass today.” He grunted. Steve sighed. He put his hand on Mike’s shoulder and shook him gently.
“Oh come on now. We’re going to the Armstrong’s soon. So just eat your breakfast now. I’ve made it myself, you know. And when we get to the Armstrong’s you’ll get your presents, how does that sound?” At last Mike opened his eyes, but immediately closed them again; that damn lamp was too damn bright! He opened them again, more careful this time. He blinked a few times and slowly started to try to sit up. To wake up this early on a weekend could not be healthy.
“Yeah, sure.” Mike yawned and finally got up completely. Steve put the tray with Mike’s breakfast in his lap. Mike smelled Steve’s wonderful pancakes and he started to feel like this day could be something after all. That was one thing that was great with Steve; he was a fantastic cook, and he’d taught Mike everything he knew, which meant that Mike was quite good too.
“So…” Mike said with his mouth full. “What did you get me?” Steve laughed and shook his head.
“Oh no, you’ll just have to wait! But the sooner you finish your breakfast and get ready, the sooner you’ll find out. But there’s no need to be stressed. Just take your time; we’ll get there when we get there.” Steve laughed when he realised that those last words hadn’t had any effect at all on Mike; he was eating faster than ever.
“Wow, are you really that anxious to have your presents?” Steve asked but Mike shook his head.
“No.” he said with his mouth full. “I just want to see Billie. Jason is coming too, right?” Steve nodded. Mike smiled. “I just want to see Billie and Jason.” Steve rolled his eyes.
“Yeah sure, I mean, it was such a long time since you saw them last.” He said and grabbed one of Mike’s pancakes.
“Yeah, must be like… 10 hours ago, it’s a mystery that I’m still alive.” Mike said and chuckled. He gave the tray back to Steve and climbed out of his bed.
“I’m off to take a shower, then we can go.” He said and grabbed the same clothes that he had worn yesterday off the floor. Steve nodded and walked out the door to go and do the dishes.
Mike opened the door to the Armstrong’s without knocking, just like he always did, only this time he was met by a song. Happy Birthday was sung towards him from all directions. Ollie with her low, cosy voice, and Billie Joe standing right next to her. His voice was pretty much drenched by his mother’s so Mike couldn’t hear him very well. Then three of Billie Joe’s siblings, David, Allen and Marcy, standing in various places on the stairs leading into the living room. Even Brad was there, although he wasn’t singing. Mike couldn’t se Jason anywhere, but he could hear his high-pitched voice and he guessed that he was somewhere behind all the Armstrong’s. Mike didn’t really know what to do, so he just stood there and listened. Soon, he felt his stepfather’s hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to him and smiled and Steve smiled back and Mike was sure that they were both thinking the same thing; Mike would be coming to a great family.
onsdag 8 juli 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 20
March 22nd, 1987
Mike
Mike and Jason were lying on their backs on the grass in Jason’s backyard. They were watching the stars, talking. Jason still hadn’t told Mike what it was that he wanted to show him. Mike didn’t mind though, he was sure that Jason would show him eventually. He wasn’t cold anymore, Jason’s jacket was warm, and it smelt nice. It smelt like Jason.
“What are you thinking of?” Mike asked Jason; he had been staring out in space for a while now. Mike didn’t expect him to answer, he knew that it was pretty much impossible to get in contact with Jason when he was thinking; therefore Mike was very surprised when Jason did answer.
“The stars.” Jason said quietly, Mike nodded.
“Yeah, they’re beautiful.” he said softly.
“You know something?” Jason said without taking his eyes of the sky. “Everybody has got a star. Your very own star, which represents you. And when we die, we become a part of that star and we watch over those who are still on earth.” Jason fell silent for a couple of seconds; Mike looked up at the sky wondering which star was his. “My mum is up there.” Jason said quietly. Mike turned his head to Jason, trying to make out what he was feeling. Jason had often talked about his mother and Mike had known that she wasn’t around anymore but he hadn’t known why she wasn’t. Mike had always assumed that she had left to live somewhere else, just like his mum had. It had never occurred to him that she might be dead.
“I’m sorry.” Mike said, not really knowing what to say.
“That’s her star, right over there.” Jason said and pointed, not answering Mike. “She’s watching over us from there.” Mike crawled closer to Jason and put his head next to his so he could see which star Jason was pointing at. It was a small but bright star to the left which seemed like it was glittering towards them. He blinked rapidly three times and when he looked again, the glittering was gone. The star shone just like stars usually do.
“How do you know which star is your own?” Mike asked, his eyes sweeping across the sky trying to find his. Jason shrugged, as if to say that it’s obvious.
“It’s just a star that you feel connected to. It doesn’t have to be the biggest, strongest or most beautiful star, just a star that you feel connected to.” he said. Mike nodded to say that he understood.
“Which one’s yours?” Mike asked. Jason’s eyes darted from his mothers star to the opposite side of the sky and yet again he put his arm out to point.
“That one.” He said, this time Mike didn’t have to move his head closer, it was right beside Jason’s already. At first Mike had problems to see which star Jason was pointing at; Mike couldn’t see anything there but darkness. But then he saw a very small and weak star that barely shone, not easy to catch sight of, but Mike thought that it was a star that you would never forget when you finally had found it.
“Wow.” he whispered. “It’s beautiful.” Jason nodded.
“Yeah, I know. “ Jason was whispering as well. “So, which one’s yours then?” Mike let his eyes wander across the sky until they stopped at a small, but very bright star right next to a big and strong star that probably would steal anybody’s gaze from the smaller star. Anybody’s gaze but Mike’s.
“That’s the one.” He whispered and pointed towards the small, bright star. Jason nodded.
“Of course…” he whispered, but it did not seem as if he was talking to Mike.
“’Of course’, what?” Mike whispered back. Suddenly he wondered why they were whispering, but he didn’t want to break the magic.
“Oh nothing…” Jason whispered and made a small shrug. “It’s just that I think I know who the big star is.” Mike stared at him and then at the star.
“You do?” he whispered, sounding very impressed. “Who is it?” Jason frowned.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he said. Mike frowned as well and stared at Jason, trying to find the answer in Jason’s eyes.
“No.” he finally breathed out.
“Well then, I’m sorry but I can’t tell you.” Mike nodded. Usually he would have been annoyed and tried to get it out of Jason, but tonight was different. He didn’t know why, but he thought that this night was special. Mike turned his gaze towards the sky again. Mike studied his very own star, watched it shine towards him and he felt that he had found a piece of himself that had been gone for a very long time.
Mike
Mike and Jason were lying on their backs on the grass in Jason’s backyard. They were watching the stars, talking. Jason still hadn’t told Mike what it was that he wanted to show him. Mike didn’t mind though, he was sure that Jason would show him eventually. He wasn’t cold anymore, Jason’s jacket was warm, and it smelt nice. It smelt like Jason.
“What are you thinking of?” Mike asked Jason; he had been staring out in space for a while now. Mike didn’t expect him to answer, he knew that it was pretty much impossible to get in contact with Jason when he was thinking; therefore Mike was very surprised when Jason did answer.
“The stars.” Jason said quietly, Mike nodded.
“Yeah, they’re beautiful.” he said softly.
“You know something?” Jason said without taking his eyes of the sky. “Everybody has got a star. Your very own star, which represents you. And when we die, we become a part of that star and we watch over those who are still on earth.” Jason fell silent for a couple of seconds; Mike looked up at the sky wondering which star was his. “My mum is up there.” Jason said quietly. Mike turned his head to Jason, trying to make out what he was feeling. Jason had often talked about his mother and Mike had known that she wasn’t around anymore but he hadn’t known why she wasn’t. Mike had always assumed that she had left to live somewhere else, just like his mum had. It had never occurred to him that she might be dead.
“I’m sorry.” Mike said, not really knowing what to say.
“That’s her star, right over there.” Jason said and pointed, not answering Mike. “She’s watching over us from there.” Mike crawled closer to Jason and put his head next to his so he could see which star Jason was pointing at. It was a small but bright star to the left which seemed like it was glittering towards them. He blinked rapidly three times and when he looked again, the glittering was gone. The star shone just like stars usually do.
“How do you know which star is your own?” Mike asked, his eyes sweeping across the sky trying to find his. Jason shrugged, as if to say that it’s obvious.
“It’s just a star that you feel connected to. It doesn’t have to be the biggest, strongest or most beautiful star, just a star that you feel connected to.” he said. Mike nodded to say that he understood.
“Which one’s yours?” Mike asked. Jason’s eyes darted from his mothers star to the opposite side of the sky and yet again he put his arm out to point.
“That one.” He said, this time Mike didn’t have to move his head closer, it was right beside Jason’s already. At first Mike had problems to see which star Jason was pointing at; Mike couldn’t see anything there but darkness. But then he saw a very small and weak star that barely shone, not easy to catch sight of, but Mike thought that it was a star that you would never forget when you finally had found it.
“Wow.” he whispered. “It’s beautiful.” Jason nodded.
“Yeah, I know. “ Jason was whispering as well. “So, which one’s yours then?” Mike let his eyes wander across the sky until they stopped at a small, but very bright star right next to a big and strong star that probably would steal anybody’s gaze from the smaller star. Anybody’s gaze but Mike’s.
“That’s the one.” He whispered and pointed towards the small, bright star. Jason nodded.
“Of course…” he whispered, but it did not seem as if he was talking to Mike.
“’Of course’, what?” Mike whispered back. Suddenly he wondered why they were whispering, but he didn’t want to break the magic.
“Oh nothing…” Jason whispered and made a small shrug. “It’s just that I think I know who the big star is.” Mike stared at him and then at the star.
“You do?” he whispered, sounding very impressed. “Who is it?” Jason frowned.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he said. Mike frowned as well and stared at Jason, trying to find the answer in Jason’s eyes.
“No.” he finally breathed out.
“Well then, I’m sorry but I can’t tell you.” Mike nodded. Usually he would have been annoyed and tried to get it out of Jason, but tonight was different. He didn’t know why, but he thought that this night was special. Mike turned his gaze towards the sky again. Mike studied his very own star, watched it shine towards him and he felt that he had found a piece of himself that had been gone for a very long time.
söndag 5 juli 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 19
March 22nd, 1987
Mike
Jason had got his shoes and jacket on before Mike and he walked out the door. Mike tied his left shoe slowly; he did not want to go outside. He hadn’t really thought that much before he rushed off to Jason’s, so he hadn’t taken a jacket with him. He had been running almost the entire way to Jason’s house, so he hadn’t been cold, but going out now would be freezing.
He was finally done tying his shoe and he couldn’t let Jason wait much longer. Mike took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped outside. He immediately regretted it. He wrapped his arms around himself and walked up to Jason, who was looking up at the sky. He stopped behind Jason and stamped his feet impatiently.
“What was it that you wanted to show me?” Mike said, and sounded a lot more annoyed than he had intended to. Jason turned around to answer him but didn’t say anything when he saw what Mike was wearing.
“Don’t you have a jacket?” Jason asked, eying Mike’s t-shirt.
“Yes I do, but it’s at home, so can you please hurry up and show me that thing?” Jason shook his head.
“It’ll take some time. You can borrow one of my old jackets, come on.” He said and walked back inside. Mike sighed; he didn’t want to borrow a jacket, he wanted to go back inside. He followed Jason and watched him looking for something in the closet in the hall, muttering things Mike couldn’t make out what they were. After a minute or two Jason pulled out one of the ugliest jackets Mike had ever seen. Jason held it out towards him, looking very proud of himself for finding it. Mike frowned and eyed the jacket. It was bright orange with a cap in a darker shade of orange, almost red, that did not go along with the rest of the jacket’s colour at all. Mike did not take the jacket from Jason.
“I’m not wearing that.” Mike said, this time Jason frowned.
“Why not?” he asked genuinely surprised. Mike rolled his eyes; wasn’t it obvious?
“Because it’s ugly.” Jason frowned even more and didn’t look all too happy; Mike hoped he hadn’t hurt his feelings. But then Jason studied the jacket himself, turned and twisted it and a smile appeared on his face.
“Yeah it is, isn’t it?” he said as he looked up at Mike. Mike laughed.
“Yup, very.”
“You can take my jacket then, and I’ll take this one.” Jason said and shrugged. “Unless you think this jacket is ugly too?” Jason asked and nodded towards his grey jacket he had thrown to the floor while he was looking for the orange one.
“No, yours is fine!” Mike said and picked it up.
“Good.” Jason said and put on the orange one. Mike tried to stop himself from laughing; Jason looked hilarious. Jason rolled his eyes.
“Come on. And don’t you dare laugh!” That was it, Mike burst out laughing and Jason soon did the same.
Mike
Jason had got his shoes and jacket on before Mike and he walked out the door. Mike tied his left shoe slowly; he did not want to go outside. He hadn’t really thought that much before he rushed off to Jason’s, so he hadn’t taken a jacket with him. He had been running almost the entire way to Jason’s house, so he hadn’t been cold, but going out now would be freezing.
He was finally done tying his shoe and he couldn’t let Jason wait much longer. Mike took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped outside. He immediately regretted it. He wrapped his arms around himself and walked up to Jason, who was looking up at the sky. He stopped behind Jason and stamped his feet impatiently.
“What was it that you wanted to show me?” Mike said, and sounded a lot more annoyed than he had intended to. Jason turned around to answer him but didn’t say anything when he saw what Mike was wearing.
“Don’t you have a jacket?” Jason asked, eying Mike’s t-shirt.
“Yes I do, but it’s at home, so can you please hurry up and show me that thing?” Jason shook his head.
“It’ll take some time. You can borrow one of my old jackets, come on.” He said and walked back inside. Mike sighed; he didn’t want to borrow a jacket, he wanted to go back inside. He followed Jason and watched him looking for something in the closet in the hall, muttering things Mike couldn’t make out what they were. After a minute or two Jason pulled out one of the ugliest jackets Mike had ever seen. Jason held it out towards him, looking very proud of himself for finding it. Mike frowned and eyed the jacket. It was bright orange with a cap in a darker shade of orange, almost red, that did not go along with the rest of the jacket’s colour at all. Mike did not take the jacket from Jason.
“I’m not wearing that.” Mike said, this time Jason frowned.
“Why not?” he asked genuinely surprised. Mike rolled his eyes; wasn’t it obvious?
“Because it’s ugly.” Jason frowned even more and didn’t look all too happy; Mike hoped he hadn’t hurt his feelings. But then Jason studied the jacket himself, turned and twisted it and a smile appeared on his face.
“Yeah it is, isn’t it?” he said as he looked up at Mike. Mike laughed.
“Yup, very.”
“You can take my jacket then, and I’ll take this one.” Jason said and shrugged. “Unless you think this jacket is ugly too?” Jason asked and nodded towards his grey jacket he had thrown to the floor while he was looking for the orange one.
“No, yours is fine!” Mike said and picked it up.
“Good.” Jason said and put on the orange one. Mike tried to stop himself from laughing; Jason looked hilarious. Jason rolled his eyes.
“Come on. And don’t you dare laugh!” That was it, Mike burst out laughing and Jason soon did the same.
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 18
March 22nd, 1987
Jason
The phone rang, again. Jason did not pick up, again. He was sure that it would be Mike, and he just didn’t feel like explaining his actions. Mainly because he hadn’t thought of a good explanation yet; he knew that Mike wasn’t going to be happy with the explanation about the cells Jason gave him yesterday. Jason had called in sick today. He just could take another day of avoiding Mike. Besides, he had to clean the entire house before his father came home from God knows where, tomorrow.
Ever since the time when Mike should have come home from school the phone had rung. Once every tenth minute, driving Jason crazy. But he had not picked up; he was not going to lose this fight.
Fifteen minutes later he heard the door open; Jason froze. Was his father home already? His felt sweat staring to run along his spine. Jason swallowed hard, continuing to do the dishes, but his hands were shaking so bad that he could barely hold on to the plate. He heard steps approaching the kitchen; Jason dropped the plate. Luckily it landed in the sink and didn’t break, but Jason hadn’t even noticed he’d dropped it. He continued cleaning what he though was in his hand, staring into the wall, trying to ignore the steps that now had stopped in the kitchen, only a few steps away from him. He heard somebody breathing in the room. Jason swallowed again and closed his eyes, waiting for his father to speak.
“Jason, why are you cleaning the air?” Jason’s eyes widened. He looked down on his hands and realised that he had nothing in them but the dish-brush. He let out his breath that hadn’t noticed he’d held.
“Mike, what the fuck do you think you’re doing, just walking straight in like that!? You almost gave me a heart attack!” Jason said, trying to sound angry, but he didn’t do a very good job; he was glad it had been Mike and not his father. Mike grinned.
“Well, I missed my best friend, that’s all. Why weren’t you in school today?” Mike said. Jason didn’t answer, he just stared at Mike. Had Mike just called him his best friend? Jason’s stomach started to bubble and he smiled. Mike chuckled, took two steps towards Jason and knocked on his head.
“Hello, is there anybody in here? I asked you a question!” Mike said. Jason’s smiled grew wider.
“I’m sorry, what was it?” Jason said, still smiling. Mike sighed.
“You know, sometimes I wish you could take me to this fantasy place of yours. It must be amazing, since you go there all the time. I just asked why you weren’t in school today.”
“I’m not feeling very well.” Jason said and shrugged, but he was still unable to stop smiling.
“Yeah, I guess you don’t, seeing as you try to clean the air and don’t listen to what I say… No wait; those are absolutely normal things to do when it comes to Jason Relva!” Mike laughed and Jason’s smile became a laughter as well.
“Yeah, I guess they are, huh?” he said and winked at Mike. “Hey, you wanna go out and do something?”
“Like what? It’s already dark outside. I should’ve come earlier… I guess I just hoped that you eventually would pull yourself together and answer the phone.” Jason swallowed; he had forgotten why Mike had come here to begin with. “Why didn’t you?” Mike finished.
“Well, I… I didn’t know you had, I guess our phone must be broken or something.” Jason said and shrugged, but he could tell that Mike didn’t believe him.“Come on, let’s go outside. I want to show you something.” Jason said and started walking towards the hall. He heard Mike sigh behind him, but he did follow him.
Jason
The phone rang, again. Jason did not pick up, again. He was sure that it would be Mike, and he just didn’t feel like explaining his actions. Mainly because he hadn’t thought of a good explanation yet; he knew that Mike wasn’t going to be happy with the explanation about the cells Jason gave him yesterday. Jason had called in sick today. He just could take another day of avoiding Mike. Besides, he had to clean the entire house before his father came home from God knows where, tomorrow.
Ever since the time when Mike should have come home from school the phone had rung. Once every tenth minute, driving Jason crazy. But he had not picked up; he was not going to lose this fight.
Fifteen minutes later he heard the door open; Jason froze. Was his father home already? His felt sweat staring to run along his spine. Jason swallowed hard, continuing to do the dishes, but his hands were shaking so bad that he could barely hold on to the plate. He heard steps approaching the kitchen; Jason dropped the plate. Luckily it landed in the sink and didn’t break, but Jason hadn’t even noticed he’d dropped it. He continued cleaning what he though was in his hand, staring into the wall, trying to ignore the steps that now had stopped in the kitchen, only a few steps away from him. He heard somebody breathing in the room. Jason swallowed again and closed his eyes, waiting for his father to speak.
“Jason, why are you cleaning the air?” Jason’s eyes widened. He looked down on his hands and realised that he had nothing in them but the dish-brush. He let out his breath that hadn’t noticed he’d held.
“Mike, what the fuck do you think you’re doing, just walking straight in like that!? You almost gave me a heart attack!” Jason said, trying to sound angry, but he didn’t do a very good job; he was glad it had been Mike and not his father. Mike grinned.
“Well, I missed my best friend, that’s all. Why weren’t you in school today?” Mike said. Jason didn’t answer, he just stared at Mike. Had Mike just called him his best friend? Jason’s stomach started to bubble and he smiled. Mike chuckled, took two steps towards Jason and knocked on his head.
“Hello, is there anybody in here? I asked you a question!” Mike said. Jason’s smiled grew wider.
“I’m sorry, what was it?” Jason said, still smiling. Mike sighed.
“You know, sometimes I wish you could take me to this fantasy place of yours. It must be amazing, since you go there all the time. I just asked why you weren’t in school today.”
“I’m not feeling very well.” Jason said and shrugged, but he was still unable to stop smiling.
“Yeah, I guess you don’t, seeing as you try to clean the air and don’t listen to what I say… No wait; those are absolutely normal things to do when it comes to Jason Relva!” Mike laughed and Jason’s smile became a laughter as well.
“Yeah, I guess they are, huh?” he said and winked at Mike. “Hey, you wanna go out and do something?”
“Like what? It’s already dark outside. I should’ve come earlier… I guess I just hoped that you eventually would pull yourself together and answer the phone.” Jason swallowed; he had forgotten why Mike had come here to begin with. “Why didn’t you?” Mike finished.
“Well, I… I didn’t know you had, I guess our phone must be broken or something.” Jason said and shrugged, but he could tell that Mike didn’t believe him.“Come on, let’s go outside. I want to show you something.” Jason said and started walking towards the hall. He heard Mike sigh behind him, but he did follow him.
lördag 16 maj 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 17
March 21st, 1987
Jason
Jason slowly approached his locker, making sure that Mike wasn’t there waiting for him. Not that he expected him to; Mike was rarely there. When Jason had made sure that Mike was nowhere nearby he quickly walked over to his locker, took out the books he needed and headed off to his first class. For once he actually hoped he wouldn’t meet Mike at all that day, he just didn’t feel like trying to explain his bruises again. Jason might be clumsy, but him walking into doors or falling down the stairs constantly just wasn’t believable in the long run. Jason knew he had to think of something new, but he just didn’t feel like it. Somewhere deep down Jason wondered if he actually did want Mike to know. Jason quickly shoved those thoughts away and entered the classroom and sat down at the front. That way he could imagine that it was just him and the teacher there; he hated others.
Now Jason only had one class left before the day was over and he had to go home. Somehow, the thought of going home didn’t appeal to him. He had successfully avoided Mike and Billie the entire day. Jason didn’t know if this was a good thing or not. He had a strange feeling, as if something was missing. He felt alone. The fact that Mike hadn’t tried to find him was depressing as well. Jason was sure that if Mike had wanted to find him, he would have found him. Jason sighed and made his way towards his locker to get his books.
March 21st, 1987
Mike
Mike sighed loudly while walking towards his locker.
“Oh come on!” Billie said. “You’ll get to tell Jason that you’re moving tomorrow!”
“Yeah but what if he’s ill then too? …I guess I’ll just call him tonight.” Mike said and sighed yet again. Billie Joe shrugged. Mike sighed again.
“Oh come on! Cut it out, man!” Billie Joe blurted out, Mike guessed that he was getting tired of hearing Mike’s sighs. “You know, Jason being ill is not the end of the word!” Billie snapped and Mike shrugged.
“You now what, I think I’ll pass by his locker just once more before we go to class.” This time it was Billie Joe who sighed.
“Sure, but we’re going to be late, you know.” Billie Joe said, Mike eyed him.
“Since when do you care about being late?” Mike said, truly surprised. Billie Joe just muttered something and followed Mike towards Jason’s locker. At first Mike couldn’t see Jason anywhere when they got there, but then he saw Jason turning around the corner at the opposite side of the hall. Mike started running and didn’t have time to think of why Jason hadn’t come to see them in the entire day.
“Hey Jason!” Mike shouted. “Jason, wait up!” he rushed around the corner only to find Jason way ahead of him, running as well. Mike rushed after him, not thinking of anything but to catch up with Jason. This of course caused Billie Joe to be left behind. Mike heard him swear behind him and then heard another couple of feet starting to run. Mike turned around the next corner just in time to see Jason disappear through a door which led to the stairs. Mike rushed through the door as well and he noticed that he was gaining on Jason now; Mike guessed he didn’t have those long legs for nothing.
“Jason, you are aware that I know that you’re running from me right?” Mike said, not as loud this time, since Jason was close enough to hear him anyway. Jason stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Mike. Mike managed to stop just in time.
“Oh, hi Mike!” Jason said, panting. “I was just wondering where you were.” He said, as if nothing had happened. Mike raised an eyebrow. “And I wasn’t running from you.” Mike rolled his eyes; Jason was a terrible liar. “I was just trying to be on time for my next class.” Jason said and shrugged.
“You are aware that you next class is two floors down and that it’s still ten minutes left before it starts, right?” Mike said and crossed his arms.
“Yes, but…” Jason’s eyes started to flicker. “we’re going to be in another classroom this time… because we’re going to look at cells!” Jason finished.
“Why on earth would you look at cells on a French lesson?”
“We’re going to learn the French name for cell!”
“And you have to look at them to learn the word for cell?”
“Yeah, obviously the teacher thinks we do! And now I really have to go, or I’ll be late!” Jason said, sounding kind of annoyed that Mike didn’t believe him. “Bye!” He said as he continued running up the stairs. Mike shrugged and then turned around to go back down the stairs. He decided to deal with Jason later.
Jason
Jason slowly approached his locker, making sure that Mike wasn’t there waiting for him. Not that he expected him to; Mike was rarely there. When Jason had made sure that Mike was nowhere nearby he quickly walked over to his locker, took out the books he needed and headed off to his first class. For once he actually hoped he wouldn’t meet Mike at all that day, he just didn’t feel like trying to explain his bruises again. Jason might be clumsy, but him walking into doors or falling down the stairs constantly just wasn’t believable in the long run. Jason knew he had to think of something new, but he just didn’t feel like it. Somewhere deep down Jason wondered if he actually did want Mike to know. Jason quickly shoved those thoughts away and entered the classroom and sat down at the front. That way he could imagine that it was just him and the teacher there; he hated others.
Now Jason only had one class left before the day was over and he had to go home. Somehow, the thought of going home didn’t appeal to him. He had successfully avoided Mike and Billie the entire day. Jason didn’t know if this was a good thing or not. He had a strange feeling, as if something was missing. He felt alone. The fact that Mike hadn’t tried to find him was depressing as well. Jason was sure that if Mike had wanted to find him, he would have found him. Jason sighed and made his way towards his locker to get his books.
March 21st, 1987
Mike
Mike sighed loudly while walking towards his locker.
“Oh come on!” Billie said. “You’ll get to tell Jason that you’re moving tomorrow!”
“Yeah but what if he’s ill then too? …I guess I’ll just call him tonight.” Mike said and sighed yet again. Billie Joe shrugged. Mike sighed again.
“Oh come on! Cut it out, man!” Billie Joe blurted out, Mike guessed that he was getting tired of hearing Mike’s sighs. “You know, Jason being ill is not the end of the word!” Billie snapped and Mike shrugged.
“You now what, I think I’ll pass by his locker just once more before we go to class.” This time it was Billie Joe who sighed.
“Sure, but we’re going to be late, you know.” Billie Joe said, Mike eyed him.
“Since when do you care about being late?” Mike said, truly surprised. Billie Joe just muttered something and followed Mike towards Jason’s locker. At first Mike couldn’t see Jason anywhere when they got there, but then he saw Jason turning around the corner at the opposite side of the hall. Mike started running and didn’t have time to think of why Jason hadn’t come to see them in the entire day.
“Hey Jason!” Mike shouted. “Jason, wait up!” he rushed around the corner only to find Jason way ahead of him, running as well. Mike rushed after him, not thinking of anything but to catch up with Jason. This of course caused Billie Joe to be left behind. Mike heard him swear behind him and then heard another couple of feet starting to run. Mike turned around the next corner just in time to see Jason disappear through a door which led to the stairs. Mike rushed through the door as well and he noticed that he was gaining on Jason now; Mike guessed he didn’t have those long legs for nothing.
“Jason, you are aware that I know that you’re running from me right?” Mike said, not as loud this time, since Jason was close enough to hear him anyway. Jason stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Mike. Mike managed to stop just in time.
“Oh, hi Mike!” Jason said, panting. “I was just wondering where you were.” He said, as if nothing had happened. Mike raised an eyebrow. “And I wasn’t running from you.” Mike rolled his eyes; Jason was a terrible liar. “I was just trying to be on time for my next class.” Jason said and shrugged.
“You are aware that you next class is two floors down and that it’s still ten minutes left before it starts, right?” Mike said and crossed his arms.
“Yes, but…” Jason’s eyes started to flicker. “we’re going to be in another classroom this time… because we’re going to look at cells!” Jason finished.
“Why on earth would you look at cells on a French lesson?”
“We’re going to learn the French name for cell!”
“And you have to look at them to learn the word for cell?”
“Yeah, obviously the teacher thinks we do! And now I really have to go, or I’ll be late!” Jason said, sounding kind of annoyed that Mike didn’t believe him. “Bye!” He said as he continued running up the stairs. Mike shrugged and then turned around to go back down the stairs. He decided to deal with Jason later.
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 16
March 20th, 1987
Jason
“Haven’t you made dinner yet!?” Was the first thing Jason’s dad screamed at Jason when his dad came home from work. Jason knew it was the first of many screams he’d hear that night.
“No, I haven’t had the time yet.” Jason said weakly. “I’m cleaning the house right now, like you told me to yesterday.”
“Well then, why didn’t you think of that earlier?” he came up to Jason and grabbed his neck. He leaned in and whispered;
“You see; when I come home from the work that supports you and gives you the money to survive, I’m very tired and hungry. And when I’m hungry I want to eat. I’ve told you this many times, but you still don’t seem to get it. Why is that, Jason? Huh, why is that?” Jason shivered, but he knew better than to answer. No matter what he said his father would be mad. His fathers grip around his neck hardened before he roughly pushed Jason down on the floor.
Jason was ready for it and managed not to hit his head, but his arms ached from having to stop the fall. He breathed heavily and got to his knees.
“You never answered the question; why is that?” His father said calmly while he took a step closer to Jason. Jason whimpered but stayed where he was; moving would only make things worse. His father bent down and grabbed Jason’s short hair and pulled to get Jason to his feet. Jason quickly stood up.
“You see, when somebody asks you a question, they expect you to answer it!” he yelled and yet again threw Jason to the floor. This time Jason could not avoid hitting his head. He hit it hard.
“It’s because I’m worthless sir. I’m worthless.” Jason said in desperation; he had to get him to stop. His father slowly walked towards Jason and stopped right beside him. Jason shut his eyes tight. He could feel sweat slowly run down his forehead but he did not wipe it away.
“Exactly.” His father said, not doing anything. Jason carefully opened one eye to see if his father possibly was going to be happy with just that. His father wasn’t; just when Jason opened his eye he kicked Jason hard, right in the stomach. Jason lost his breath and felt a burning pain starting from his stomach, making him unable to move.“Now, go make dinner, and hurry up!” His father said and walked away. “Don’t you dare make any noise; I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when dinner’s done.” And with that he left, leaving Jason sobbing on the floor. After a minute Jason finally managed to get to his feet and make his way to the kitchen. His stomach and head hurt, as well as his heart. But dinner had to be done.
Jason
“Haven’t you made dinner yet!?” Was the first thing Jason’s dad screamed at Jason when his dad came home from work. Jason knew it was the first of many screams he’d hear that night.
“No, I haven’t had the time yet.” Jason said weakly. “I’m cleaning the house right now, like you told me to yesterday.”
“Well then, why didn’t you think of that earlier?” he came up to Jason and grabbed his neck. He leaned in and whispered;
“You see; when I come home from the work that supports you and gives you the money to survive, I’m very tired and hungry. And when I’m hungry I want to eat. I’ve told you this many times, but you still don’t seem to get it. Why is that, Jason? Huh, why is that?” Jason shivered, but he knew better than to answer. No matter what he said his father would be mad. His fathers grip around his neck hardened before he roughly pushed Jason down on the floor.
Jason was ready for it and managed not to hit his head, but his arms ached from having to stop the fall. He breathed heavily and got to his knees.
“You never answered the question; why is that?” His father said calmly while he took a step closer to Jason. Jason whimpered but stayed where he was; moving would only make things worse. His father bent down and grabbed Jason’s short hair and pulled to get Jason to his feet. Jason quickly stood up.
“You see, when somebody asks you a question, they expect you to answer it!” he yelled and yet again threw Jason to the floor. This time Jason could not avoid hitting his head. He hit it hard.
“It’s because I’m worthless sir. I’m worthless.” Jason said in desperation; he had to get him to stop. His father slowly walked towards Jason and stopped right beside him. Jason shut his eyes tight. He could feel sweat slowly run down his forehead but he did not wipe it away.
“Exactly.” His father said, not doing anything. Jason carefully opened one eye to see if his father possibly was going to be happy with just that. His father wasn’t; just when Jason opened his eye he kicked Jason hard, right in the stomach. Jason lost his breath and felt a burning pain starting from his stomach, making him unable to move.“Now, go make dinner, and hurry up!” His father said and walked away. “Don’t you dare make any noise; I’m going to sleep. Wake me up when dinner’s done.” And with that he left, leaving Jason sobbing on the floor. After a minute Jason finally managed to get to his feet and make his way to the kitchen. His stomach and head hurt, as well as his heart. But dinner had to be done.
måndag 13 april 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 15
March 20th, 1987
Billie Joe
Mike was having dinner with the Armstrong’s, again. Billie Joe felt like Mike pretty much lived with them. Not that he minded; he loved having Mike around. Steve wasn’t there tonight either, which made dinner much more pleasant.
“How are things at home, Mike?” Billie’s mum asked. She was always concerned about Mike, seeing as his mum was gone and Mike and his stepfather hadn’t gotten along in the beginning. Somehow she just couldn’t see that they were friends now.
“Well, things are good, I guess.” Mike said, hesitating. It seemed like he didn’t know whether or not to tell Ollie something.
“I’m moving out.” He finally said. Ollie dropped her fork as well as her jaw.
“What? Why? Where are you going to live? Aren’t you a bit too young for that, dear?” Ollie looked very worried.
“Don’t worry about it Mrs. Armstrong, I’ll be fine. I’ve found a van for a reasonable price that I can live in. I just… need to get the money.” Mike said, and laughed, as if not having the money to buy it was funny.
“What? You have?” Billie Joe said, staring at Mike. “You haven’t told me you’d found something!”
“Well, I was going to, right after dinner.” Mike said. He didn’t seem to like the way this dinner had turned out.
“But honey, you can’t live in a van.” Ollie said and shook her head. “Besides, what are you going to live of?”
“I’ll just have to get a job, I guess.” Mike said and shrugged.
“But why do you want to move?” She asked, still shaking her head.
“I don’t want to be a burden to Steve anymore. It’s not fair that he has to pay for me when I’m not his kid, and besides, I can take care of myself now.” Mike said.
“Of course you can, dear. But you can’t live in a van.” Yet again she shook her head. “And I’m sure Steve doesn’t mind having you around, I thought the two of you got along now?” Mike started to fiddle with his napkin.
“Yeah, we do. But I just don’t want to… bother him.” Mike said and shrugged again. Ollie sighed.
“Well, I guess you’ve made up your mind. You will definitely need a job if you’re going to live alone. You know what; I think my boss mentioned that we need a dishwasher at Rod’s Hickory Pit. I can put in a word for you, if you want to.” She said, now determined to help Mike. Billie Joe’s mum was always like that; if she found someone who needed help, she helped them.
“Really? Wow, thanks Mrs. Armstrong! That’d be great!” Mike said with a huge smile. Billie Joe smiled as well; he was glad things were turning out well for Mike.
“Oh please Mike, call me Ollie! Being called Mrs. Armstrong makes me feel so old. How many times do I have to tell you?” she said. Both Billie and Mike giggled quietly. Luckily, Ollie didn’t notice.
“But I still don’t think you should live in a van…” Ollie said, thinking of a way to solve this.
“Now I know!” she said and clasped her hand together in her typical Ollie-way. “David is moving out soon, in half a year or so, aren’t you David?” Ollie said and turned to David who nodded. “Billie Joe is going to get his room then, which means that the basement where Billie Joe’s room is now will be available! You can live there then!” Mike’s eyes widened and Billie Joe’s heart skipped a beat. That would be perfect!
“Are- are you sure, Ollie? I mean, me living in your house?” Mike said, kind of looking like he was expecting to wake up any moment. Ollie nodded and clasped her hand together once again.
“Of course I am! You’re here all the time anyway.” She said with a smile and started to clear the table. Mike quickly rose and started to help her. Billie Joe rolled his eyes and stayed put.
“Besides, I think Billie Joe will be happy to have you here the few extra hours that’ll give.”
“Thank you, Ollie, thank you so much! I’ll pay you of course! And if I don’t get the job at Rod’s I’ll just find something else, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh you don’t worry about it Mike.” She said and patted his shoulder. “You’re a good boy…” she said and wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye. Billie Joe rolled his eyes; typical his mum to get all sentimental. Luckily Mike knew her well already; otherwise Billie Joe would have been really embarrassed right now. He rose from his seat.
“Come on man, let’s go and continue practicing.” He said and started walking out of the kitchen. But when he got to the doorway he stopped and turned around and walked up to his mother.
“And mum, thank you for letting Mike stay here. You’re the best.” He said and kissed her cheek.
Billie Joe
Mike was having dinner with the Armstrong’s, again. Billie Joe felt like Mike pretty much lived with them. Not that he minded; he loved having Mike around. Steve wasn’t there tonight either, which made dinner much more pleasant.
“How are things at home, Mike?” Billie’s mum asked. She was always concerned about Mike, seeing as his mum was gone and Mike and his stepfather hadn’t gotten along in the beginning. Somehow she just couldn’t see that they were friends now.
“Well, things are good, I guess.” Mike said, hesitating. It seemed like he didn’t know whether or not to tell Ollie something.
“I’m moving out.” He finally said. Ollie dropped her fork as well as her jaw.
“What? Why? Where are you going to live? Aren’t you a bit too young for that, dear?” Ollie looked very worried.
“Don’t worry about it Mrs. Armstrong, I’ll be fine. I’ve found a van for a reasonable price that I can live in. I just… need to get the money.” Mike said, and laughed, as if not having the money to buy it was funny.
“What? You have?” Billie Joe said, staring at Mike. “You haven’t told me you’d found something!”
“Well, I was going to, right after dinner.” Mike said. He didn’t seem to like the way this dinner had turned out.
“But honey, you can’t live in a van.” Ollie said and shook her head. “Besides, what are you going to live of?”
“I’ll just have to get a job, I guess.” Mike said and shrugged.
“But why do you want to move?” She asked, still shaking her head.
“I don’t want to be a burden to Steve anymore. It’s not fair that he has to pay for me when I’m not his kid, and besides, I can take care of myself now.” Mike said.
“Of course you can, dear. But you can’t live in a van.” Yet again she shook her head. “And I’m sure Steve doesn’t mind having you around, I thought the two of you got along now?” Mike started to fiddle with his napkin.
“Yeah, we do. But I just don’t want to… bother him.” Mike said and shrugged again. Ollie sighed.
“Well, I guess you’ve made up your mind. You will definitely need a job if you’re going to live alone. You know what; I think my boss mentioned that we need a dishwasher at Rod’s Hickory Pit. I can put in a word for you, if you want to.” She said, now determined to help Mike. Billie Joe’s mum was always like that; if she found someone who needed help, she helped them.
“Really? Wow, thanks Mrs. Armstrong! That’d be great!” Mike said with a huge smile. Billie Joe smiled as well; he was glad things were turning out well for Mike.
“Oh please Mike, call me Ollie! Being called Mrs. Armstrong makes me feel so old. How many times do I have to tell you?” she said. Both Billie and Mike giggled quietly. Luckily, Ollie didn’t notice.
“But I still don’t think you should live in a van…” Ollie said, thinking of a way to solve this.
“Now I know!” she said and clasped her hand together in her typical Ollie-way. “David is moving out soon, in half a year or so, aren’t you David?” Ollie said and turned to David who nodded. “Billie Joe is going to get his room then, which means that the basement where Billie Joe’s room is now will be available! You can live there then!” Mike’s eyes widened and Billie Joe’s heart skipped a beat. That would be perfect!
“Are- are you sure, Ollie? I mean, me living in your house?” Mike said, kind of looking like he was expecting to wake up any moment. Ollie nodded and clasped her hand together once again.
“Of course I am! You’re here all the time anyway.” She said with a smile and started to clear the table. Mike quickly rose and started to help her. Billie Joe rolled his eyes and stayed put.
“Besides, I think Billie Joe will be happy to have you here the few extra hours that’ll give.”
“Thank you, Ollie, thank you so much! I’ll pay you of course! And if I don’t get the job at Rod’s I’ll just find something else, don’t worry about it.”
“Oh you don’t worry about it Mike.” She said and patted his shoulder. “You’re a good boy…” she said and wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye. Billie Joe rolled his eyes; typical his mum to get all sentimental. Luckily Mike knew her well already; otherwise Billie Joe would have been really embarrassed right now. He rose from his seat.
“Come on man, let’s go and continue practicing.” He said and started walking out of the kitchen. But when he got to the doorway he stopped and turned around and walked up to his mother.
“And mum, thank you for letting Mike stay here. You’re the best.” He said and kissed her cheek.
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 14
March 15th, 1987
Mike
The three boys where sitting by their usual table in the school canteen. Nobody was eating anything; Billie Joe hated the food, Jason wasn’t hungry and Mike was too busy staring at all the bruises on Jason’s face.
“Um, Jason… Do you always walk into doors?” Mike finally said. Jason stopped pushing his food around on his plate and met Mike’s eyes. Jason frowned.
“What kind of a question is that?” he asked. Mike shrugged. “And no, I don’t. Right now for instance, I’m not walking into a door right now.”
“Well, that’s because you’re sitting down.” Mike said, answering Jason’s sarcasm with some more. “And what I was thinking of was all the bruises. You always have those and the old ones barely have time to disappear before there are some new ones. If they’re all from your walking into doors habit I think you might need glasses. Or we could just remove every door in the world, that could work too.” Mike said and finally took a bite of his food, to make his conclusion more dramatic. Not that it really became much more dramatic, seeing as it wasn’t very dramatic to begin with.
“Well… I… I’m clumsy, so what? Does it bother you? And I don’t walk into doors all the time, sometimes I fall down the stairs too.” Jason said, trying to seem proud of being clumsy. He did not seem proud of being clumsy.
“Yup, it does bother me actually. It was pretty fun the first time, but it’s not that much fun that your friend is hurt all the time.” Mike said while chewing on his food. He then caught Billie Joe staring at him with amazement at the same time as he was looking kind of grossed out. Mike assumed that Billie right now was wondering how the hell he could eat that stuff. Mike started to chew with his mouth open.
“Ew! Cut it out! We don’t want to see that!” Billie Joe said and shut his eyes, he looked like he was about to throw up. Mike laughed and doing so, he caused some food flying out his mouth. Billie Joe, who opened his eyes just in time to see this, gagged. He quickly put his hand over his mouth.
“Ew!” He said again, picked up some food with his fork and threw it at Mike. With a big ‘splash!’ it landed on Mike’s chest. Mike looked down and his eyes widened when he saw what had happened.
“Billie!” he said shooting him an evil look. Billie winked at him, as if to say ‘come and get me, then’. Mike sure did. He picked up his own fork and with great precision he threw the food right in Billie Joe’s face. Billie quickly wiped it away and threw some more at Mike. This time, Mike was ready for it and he ducked just in time. But Billie Joe had learned the same thing, and Mike’s next shot missed too. Well, it missed Billie Joe at least, but it hit Jason, right in the face. And so, Jason was in the food fight as well.
Later that day, the boys had a pretty interesting talk with the principal, as well as a detention. Jason’s bruises were long forgotten.
Mike
The three boys where sitting by their usual table in the school canteen. Nobody was eating anything; Billie Joe hated the food, Jason wasn’t hungry and Mike was too busy staring at all the bruises on Jason’s face.
“Um, Jason… Do you always walk into doors?” Mike finally said. Jason stopped pushing his food around on his plate and met Mike’s eyes. Jason frowned.
“What kind of a question is that?” he asked. Mike shrugged. “And no, I don’t. Right now for instance, I’m not walking into a door right now.”
“Well, that’s because you’re sitting down.” Mike said, answering Jason’s sarcasm with some more. “And what I was thinking of was all the bruises. You always have those and the old ones barely have time to disappear before there are some new ones. If they’re all from your walking into doors habit I think you might need glasses. Or we could just remove every door in the world, that could work too.” Mike said and finally took a bite of his food, to make his conclusion more dramatic. Not that it really became much more dramatic, seeing as it wasn’t very dramatic to begin with.
“Well… I… I’m clumsy, so what? Does it bother you? And I don’t walk into doors all the time, sometimes I fall down the stairs too.” Jason said, trying to seem proud of being clumsy. He did not seem proud of being clumsy.
“Yup, it does bother me actually. It was pretty fun the first time, but it’s not that much fun that your friend is hurt all the time.” Mike said while chewing on his food. He then caught Billie Joe staring at him with amazement at the same time as he was looking kind of grossed out. Mike assumed that Billie right now was wondering how the hell he could eat that stuff. Mike started to chew with his mouth open.
“Ew! Cut it out! We don’t want to see that!” Billie Joe said and shut his eyes, he looked like he was about to throw up. Mike laughed and doing so, he caused some food flying out his mouth. Billie Joe, who opened his eyes just in time to see this, gagged. He quickly put his hand over his mouth.
“Ew!” He said again, picked up some food with his fork and threw it at Mike. With a big ‘splash!’ it landed on Mike’s chest. Mike looked down and his eyes widened when he saw what had happened.
“Billie!” he said shooting him an evil look. Billie winked at him, as if to say ‘come and get me, then’. Mike sure did. He picked up his own fork and with great precision he threw the food right in Billie Joe’s face. Billie quickly wiped it away and threw some more at Mike. This time, Mike was ready for it and he ducked just in time. But Billie Joe had learned the same thing, and Mike’s next shot missed too. Well, it missed Billie Joe at least, but it hit Jason, right in the face. And so, Jason was in the food fight as well.
Later that day, the boys had a pretty interesting talk with the principal, as well as a detention. Jason’s bruises were long forgotten.
tisdag 24 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 13
January 8th, 1987
Mike
Mike arrived to Jason’s house long before Billie Joe did. Mike’s legs were much longer, which meant Mike was faster than Billie. Usually Mike waited for Billie to even things out, but today he didn’t. He wanted to show Billie Joe that he wasn’t as great as Billie thought he was, and he couldn’t think of a better way. At least not right now.
He rang the doorbell and took a few deep breaths so he would be able to speak when Jason opened. He was still panting from running. He heard steps from the inside but no one came to open. He frowned and rang the bell again, longer this time. After a few seconds he heard a man’s voice shouting something from inside, but he couldn’t make out the words. Then he heard quick steps approaching the front door. Mike took a step backwards to make room for the door to swing open. He heard someone grab the handle from the other side, and then the someone opened the door and revealed himself to be Jason. Jason looked surprised to see Mike.
“Hi there buddy. Care to join me and Billie for school?” Mike said.
“Yeah sure. Where is Billie?” Jason said searching with his eyes for Billie.
“Oh he’s coming, we had a competition and…well… besides, he doesn’t really know the way to your house. But he’ll be here eventually. Let’s go inside and wait.” Mike said and took a step towards the door to go inside. From out of no where Jason’s arm came to stop him.
“My dad is home. He’s not… he’s not very good with people.” Jason said and pushed Mike backwards. Jason stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
“What do you mean ‘not good with people’? I want to meet him! You know, it’s pretty weird that we’ve been friends for like, almost a year now and I still haven’t met your father!” Mike said while stepping towards the door again, stretching out his arm to grab the handle. Jason slapped Mike’s arm away and shook his head.
“You’re lucky you haven’t. Trust me Mike, you don’t want to meet him.” Jason said, grabbed Mike by his hand and dragged him off of the porch.
“Come on, let’s go find Billie.” Jason said and continued to drag Mike by the hand. Mike pulled his hand back.
“I can walk on my own, you know.” He said. “And what’s so bad about your father?”
“Nothing.” Jason said. Mike was just about to continue questioning Jason when Billie showed up. When he saw Jason and Mike standing outside Jason’s house he stopped, bent over and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
“Your such a…” pant. “good friend, you know” pant. “Mike.” pant. “Leaving me…” pant. “like that…” pant. “when you know…” Billie finally caught his breath. “that I don’t know the way to Jason’s house. What if I had got lost? Huh? Did you think of that?” Billie stared at Mike, who didn’t answer, he just stared back.
“Fucking moron…” Billie muttered under his breath and walked the last steps to where Mike and Jason were.
“Are we going to school or what?” he snapped “or were you planning on standing here all day?” he said and crossed his arms. He was not looking at Jason, he was staring straight into Mike’s eyes and Mike got a feeling that this was going to be one of those days when Billie Joe ignored Jason. Billie Joe did that sometimes, when he felt that he was left out in some way. Mike sighed.“Yeah, let’s go. Come on, Jason.”
torsdag 19 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 12
January 8th, 1987
Mike
Mike left his house long before he had to. His stepfather, Steve, was having breakfast and Mike didn’t feel like talking to him. Therefore Mike had left about an hour before he had to. He decided to go on a walk. He stuck his hand deep down the pockets of his only pair of jeans. He quickly left the house behind him, walking towards a playground he used to play at as a kid. He shivered from the cold and regretted only putting on a t-shirt. Mike needed to think, and he needed to think alone. He knew he was a burden to his stepfather and he didn’t want to bother him, seeing as he actually wasn’t his kid. But he hadn’t been able do much but stay with him when his mum had left, and Steve couldn’t just leave Mike. They did get along nowadays though, they hadn’t when his mum was still in the picture. But they were pretty much forced to get along now, since they only had each other. Mike had had to admit that Steve wasn’t as bad as he had thought. Mike hadn’t been much more than a kid when his mum left, even though it wasn’t much more than two years ago. Mike wasn’t a kid anymore. He might not be an adult, but he was definitely not a kid and he knew he could take care of himself.
Mike arrived to the playground as he stated this. He slowly walked over to the swings and sat down on the one to the left. Mike always sat on this swing, and Billie always sat on the right one. This was their playground. When they occasionally did do something else but play their music they went here. They didn’t speak much when they were here; they just sat and enjoyed the silence. This was also Mike’s thinking place. He liked the silence and the four trees that never seemed to care if there was no wind; they were always swaying. Kids didn’t come here often, Mike didn’t know why. He remembered that he had loved playing here as a kid. Maybe it was because there weren’t many families with kids in this area anymore.
Mike was staring at the ground, thinking about his problem when he heard steps behind him. He knew who they belonged to without having to look up. The steps came closer until they were right next to him. Mike avoided looking at the person, who sat down on the right swing.
“Hi Bill.” Mike said, still not looking at the person.
“Hi.” Billie Joe’s voice answered. “What are you doing here this early?” he continued.
“I needed to think.” Mike said and raised his head to meet Billie Joe’s gaze.
“About what?” Billie said and turned his head away and set his swing swinging.
“I’m gonna move out.” Billie stopped his swing and turned to Mike again. “It’s not fair that Steve has to pay for me. I can take care of myself now, so I figured…” He didn’t finish the sentence; he knew that Billie would get what he meant. Billie didn’t answer at once; he seemed to be thinking things over.
“Where are you going to live?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know. Yet. But I’ll think of something soon enough, don’t worry about it.” Mike said with confidence. Billie shook his head with a smile.
“You’re not moving before you know where you’re going to live, I hope?” he said, still smiling.
“Of course not! I’m not that stupid you know.” Mike said and slapped the side of Billie’s head. Mike returned Billie’s smile and then they went silent for a couple of minutes, until Billie Joe broke the silence again.
“How are you going to… survive? You know, what are you gonna live by? Are you going to get a job or something?”
“I guess… There’s not much else to do, is there?” Mike said with a shrug. Billie Joe sighted.
“What?” Mike said and frowned.
“No, I just… You know, sometimes I just wish I was more like you.” Billie Joe said. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Billie, you don’t want to be me. Trust me.” Billie shook his head and stared at Mike in disbelief.
“No, but you’re always kind, like now for instance, you think about your stepfather instead of yourself. You know that you will have a hard time living by yourself, having to earn your own money, but still you want to do it, because you want to help another person.” Mike opened his mouth to answer but Billie cut him off.
“No, I’m not finished yet! So, you’re self-sacrificing, and on top of that, you’re smart! You could get great grades in school if you wanted to; I never could no matter how hard I try. And-“ Mike cut him off.
“That’s not true.”
“See, you’re humble as well!” Billie Joe blurted out.
“Oh come on, cut it out already!” Mike said and rose from his swing, taking a few steps away from Billie. “Let’s go and get Jason, then we can go to school.” Billie sighed and rose from his swing as well and walked over to Mike.
“Besides…” Mike said “you only said those things so I’ll like you.” He said, hit Billie’s shoulder and started running.
“Last one to Jason’s house is a dead chicken!” he shouted.
“No, Mike! You cheated! Hey, wait up!” Billie said and rushed after him.“Wait up you fucking cheating moron!”
Mike
Mike left his house long before he had to. His stepfather, Steve, was having breakfast and Mike didn’t feel like talking to him. Therefore Mike had left about an hour before he had to. He decided to go on a walk. He stuck his hand deep down the pockets of his only pair of jeans. He quickly left the house behind him, walking towards a playground he used to play at as a kid. He shivered from the cold and regretted only putting on a t-shirt. Mike needed to think, and he needed to think alone. He knew he was a burden to his stepfather and he didn’t want to bother him, seeing as he actually wasn’t his kid. But he hadn’t been able do much but stay with him when his mum had left, and Steve couldn’t just leave Mike. They did get along nowadays though, they hadn’t when his mum was still in the picture. But they were pretty much forced to get along now, since they only had each other. Mike had had to admit that Steve wasn’t as bad as he had thought. Mike hadn’t been much more than a kid when his mum left, even though it wasn’t much more than two years ago. Mike wasn’t a kid anymore. He might not be an adult, but he was definitely not a kid and he knew he could take care of himself.
Mike arrived to the playground as he stated this. He slowly walked over to the swings and sat down on the one to the left. Mike always sat on this swing, and Billie always sat on the right one. This was their playground. When they occasionally did do something else but play their music they went here. They didn’t speak much when they were here; they just sat and enjoyed the silence. This was also Mike’s thinking place. He liked the silence and the four trees that never seemed to care if there was no wind; they were always swaying. Kids didn’t come here often, Mike didn’t know why. He remembered that he had loved playing here as a kid. Maybe it was because there weren’t many families with kids in this area anymore.
Mike was staring at the ground, thinking about his problem when he heard steps behind him. He knew who they belonged to without having to look up. The steps came closer until they were right next to him. Mike avoided looking at the person, who sat down on the right swing.
“Hi Bill.” Mike said, still not looking at the person.
“Hi.” Billie Joe’s voice answered. “What are you doing here this early?” he continued.
“I needed to think.” Mike said and raised his head to meet Billie Joe’s gaze.
“About what?” Billie said and turned his head away and set his swing swinging.
“I’m gonna move out.” Billie stopped his swing and turned to Mike again. “It’s not fair that Steve has to pay for me. I can take care of myself now, so I figured…” He didn’t finish the sentence; he knew that Billie would get what he meant. Billie didn’t answer at once; he seemed to be thinking things over.
“Where are you going to live?” he asked.
“I… I don’t know. Yet. But I’ll think of something soon enough, don’t worry about it.” Mike said with confidence. Billie shook his head with a smile.
“You’re not moving before you know where you’re going to live, I hope?” he said, still smiling.
“Of course not! I’m not that stupid you know.” Mike said and slapped the side of Billie’s head. Mike returned Billie’s smile and then they went silent for a couple of minutes, until Billie Joe broke the silence again.
“How are you going to… survive? You know, what are you gonna live by? Are you going to get a job or something?”
“I guess… There’s not much else to do, is there?” Mike said with a shrug. Billie Joe sighted.
“What?” Mike said and frowned.
“No, I just… You know, sometimes I just wish I was more like you.” Billie Joe said. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Billie, you don’t want to be me. Trust me.” Billie shook his head and stared at Mike in disbelief.
“No, but you’re always kind, like now for instance, you think about your stepfather instead of yourself. You know that you will have a hard time living by yourself, having to earn your own money, but still you want to do it, because you want to help another person.” Mike opened his mouth to answer but Billie cut him off.
“No, I’m not finished yet! So, you’re self-sacrificing, and on top of that, you’re smart! You could get great grades in school if you wanted to; I never could no matter how hard I try. And-“ Mike cut him off.
“That’s not true.”
“See, you’re humble as well!” Billie Joe blurted out.
“Oh come on, cut it out already!” Mike said and rose from his swing, taking a few steps away from Billie. “Let’s go and get Jason, then we can go to school.” Billie sighed and rose from his swing as well and walked over to Mike.
“Besides…” Mike said “you only said those things so I’ll like you.” He said, hit Billie’s shoulder and started running.
“Last one to Jason’s house is a dead chicken!” he shouted.
“No, Mike! You cheated! Hey, wait up!” Billie said and rushed after him.“Wait up you fucking cheating moron!”
söndag 8 mars 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 11
September 12th, 1986
Mike
“Yo, Jason!” Mike said and punched Jason’s shoulder a bit harder than he had intended to.
“Ow! What the fuck Mike? That fucking hurt!” Jason said, rubbing his shoulder. Mike shrugged.
“Whatever man, you’ve got two of ‘em. Anyways, Billie and I have got a name for the band now!” Mike said and leaned against Jason’s locker, shutting it while doing so.
“Oh well that’s just fantastic, now get the fuck away from my locker, will you? You see, some of us can’t be rock stars and therefore have to go to school, to get a good education and become lying lawyers.” Jason said in his most sarcastic voice. Mike raised an eyebrow, Jason didn’t seem too happy today. Mike studied him, trying to make out what was wrong. A bruise on his arm and a small cut right above his left eyebrow caught his sight. Jason often had bruises and small cuts; he had had several the first time they met too. Mike had assumed that they were the doing of John, and he had never realised that the bruises and cuts hadn’t stopped appearing after John started to leave Jason alone.
“Hey, what’s up with the cut?” Mike nodded towards it. “I thought John had stopped bugging you?” Jason’s hand rose and gently touched it.
“Oh, he has. This is from… I walked into a door.” Jason said and looked straight into Mike’s eyes as if to challenge him to believe him or not. Mike did believe him; somehow picturing Jason walking into a door wasn’t very hard. It wasn’t even hard to picture him walking into several doors. Or walking straight into the same door several times. Mike smiled; Jason walking into a door several times was a pretty hilarious thought.
“What’s so great about it? You try walking into a door and you’ll see how much fun it is!” Jason snarled. Somehow, Mike thought the idea of both of them walking into the same door several times was even funnier; he started to laugh.
“What the fuck is wrong with you man!?” Jason shouted. Apparently he couldn’t see the funny side of it.
“No… but it’s… just…” Mike said gasping for air. “you know… like, a door… and we…” Mike bent over and held his stomach. Jason pushed him aside, causing Mike to fall since he didn’t see it coming.
“Whatever man.” Jason said and grabbed the books that he needed from his locker which he had pushed Mike away from. He closed it, shot another glare at the laughing Mike on the floor, locked his locker and started walking towards the classroom, muttering how stupid Mike was.
September 12th, 1986
Billie Joe
Mike had gone to tell Jason about the new band name and Billie Joe had gone to be on time for the first class for once. But when he was outside the classroom door he didn’t feel like being on time anymore, and he decided to join Jason and Mike in the joy they must be feeling over the band name. Or at least the joy Mike must be feeling, for some reason Jason didn’t really seem all that interested in their band.
Billie Joe came around the corner into the hallway in which Jason’s locker was located only to find Mike lying on the floor, doing something that Billie Joe didn’t really know if he wanted to know what it was. Jason was nowhere to be found. Billie Joe walked over to the shaking Mike and poked him with his foot.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Billie asked. Mike looked up at him and now Billie could see that he was laughing.
“Jason… the door, and he…I…” Mike gasped. Billie didn’t understand a thing.
“Okay, just pull yourself together man. Jason walked through a door, or what are you saying?” At ‘through’ Mike started laughing even more. Billie sighed.
“I’m waiting” he said. Mike sat up, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he was completely calm.
“Jason said that he had walked into a door and I saw before me how he walked into a door over and over. And then he said that I should try walking into a door, and then I saw us walking into the door together.” Mike said.
“Well that is pretty hilarious” Billie said, with a smile. Mike nodded with an even bigger smile.
“It is, isn’t it? But Jason didn’t think so; I think he’s pretty mad at me right now. But it’ll pass, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mike said and rose.
“What do you say about us walking into a door- I mean go to our class?” Mike said and nudged Billie. Billie laughed.
“Sure man, let’s go.”
Mike
“Yo, Jason!” Mike said and punched Jason’s shoulder a bit harder than he had intended to.
“Ow! What the fuck Mike? That fucking hurt!” Jason said, rubbing his shoulder. Mike shrugged.
“Whatever man, you’ve got two of ‘em. Anyways, Billie and I have got a name for the band now!” Mike said and leaned against Jason’s locker, shutting it while doing so.
“Oh well that’s just fantastic, now get the fuck away from my locker, will you? You see, some of us can’t be rock stars and therefore have to go to school, to get a good education and become lying lawyers.” Jason said in his most sarcastic voice. Mike raised an eyebrow, Jason didn’t seem too happy today. Mike studied him, trying to make out what was wrong. A bruise on his arm and a small cut right above his left eyebrow caught his sight. Jason often had bruises and small cuts; he had had several the first time they met too. Mike had assumed that they were the doing of John, and he had never realised that the bruises and cuts hadn’t stopped appearing after John started to leave Jason alone.
“Hey, what’s up with the cut?” Mike nodded towards it. “I thought John had stopped bugging you?” Jason’s hand rose and gently touched it.
“Oh, he has. This is from… I walked into a door.” Jason said and looked straight into Mike’s eyes as if to challenge him to believe him or not. Mike did believe him; somehow picturing Jason walking into a door wasn’t very hard. It wasn’t even hard to picture him walking into several doors. Or walking straight into the same door several times. Mike smiled; Jason walking into a door several times was a pretty hilarious thought.
“What’s so great about it? You try walking into a door and you’ll see how much fun it is!” Jason snarled. Somehow, Mike thought the idea of both of them walking into the same door several times was even funnier; he started to laugh.
“What the fuck is wrong with you man!?” Jason shouted. Apparently he couldn’t see the funny side of it.
“No… but it’s… just…” Mike said gasping for air. “you know… like, a door… and we…” Mike bent over and held his stomach. Jason pushed him aside, causing Mike to fall since he didn’t see it coming.
“Whatever man.” Jason said and grabbed the books that he needed from his locker which he had pushed Mike away from. He closed it, shot another glare at the laughing Mike on the floor, locked his locker and started walking towards the classroom, muttering how stupid Mike was.
September 12th, 1986
Billie Joe
Mike had gone to tell Jason about the new band name and Billie Joe had gone to be on time for the first class for once. But when he was outside the classroom door he didn’t feel like being on time anymore, and he decided to join Jason and Mike in the joy they must be feeling over the band name. Or at least the joy Mike must be feeling, for some reason Jason didn’t really seem all that interested in their band.
Billie Joe came around the corner into the hallway in which Jason’s locker was located only to find Mike lying on the floor, doing something that Billie Joe didn’t really know if he wanted to know what it was. Jason was nowhere to be found. Billie Joe walked over to the shaking Mike and poked him with his foot.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Billie asked. Mike looked up at him and now Billie could see that he was laughing.
“Jason… the door, and he…I…” Mike gasped. Billie didn’t understand a thing.
“Okay, just pull yourself together man. Jason walked through a door, or what are you saying?” At ‘through’ Mike started laughing even more. Billie sighed.
“I’m waiting” he said. Mike sat up, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again he was completely calm.
“Jason said that he had walked into a door and I saw before me how he walked into a door over and over. And then he said that I should try walking into a door, and then I saw us walking into the door together.” Mike said.
“Well that is pretty hilarious” Billie said, with a smile. Mike nodded with an even bigger smile.
“It is, isn’t it? But Jason didn’t think so; I think he’s pretty mad at me right now. But it’ll pass, there’s nothing to worry about.” Mike said and rose.
“What do you say about us walking into a door- I mean go to our class?” Mike said and nudged Billie. Billie laughed.
“Sure man, let’s go.”
fredag 30 januari 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 10
September 9th, 1986
Billie Joe
“Here” Billie Joe said, handing Mike a paper. “I’ve written a new song.” Mike took the paper without a word and started reading. They were sitting on the floor in Billie Joe’s room with their instruments, like they always did when they had band practise. And like they always did when they just hung out; hanging out and band practise were the same thing to Mike and Billie.
Mike’s eyes were fixed on one spot on the paper and he seemed to be far off in thoughts.
“Yeah… that’s good. That’s really good…” He mumbled
“Really? You think? I didn’t think it was anything special.” Billie Joe said, genuinely surprised. Mike seemed to have forgotten that Billie was still there and jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Wha..? Oh, not the song, or I mean the song’s fine but nothing special, just like you said. What I was talking about was this.” He said and pointed at the title. Sweet Children it said. Billie still didn’t understand what he meant.
“What’s so great about it, you know, those words are in the chorus.”
“No… I mean yes, they are! But…” Okay, now Billie was confused.
“What the fuck are you on man?”
“It’s not good as a title… or it is! I mean, it’s fine, but what I was thinking of was a name. You know… like a name for a band?” Mike said, finally getting to the point. “Don’t you think it’s pretty good?” Billie Joe took the paper and studied the title. He said ‘Sweet Children’ out loud a few times, to try how it would sound.
“We don’t have a name for our band, so, what do you think?” Mike said, scribbling down the words on a paper next to him, to see how they would look. Billie Joe nodded.“I think that our band has got a name!” he said, getting excited. He raised his hand into a high five.
Billie Joe
“Here” Billie Joe said, handing Mike a paper. “I’ve written a new song.” Mike took the paper without a word and started reading. They were sitting on the floor in Billie Joe’s room with their instruments, like they always did when they had band practise. And like they always did when they just hung out; hanging out and band practise were the same thing to Mike and Billie.
Mike’s eyes were fixed on one spot on the paper and he seemed to be far off in thoughts.
“Yeah… that’s good. That’s really good…” He mumbled
“Really? You think? I didn’t think it was anything special.” Billie Joe said, genuinely surprised. Mike seemed to have forgotten that Billie was still there and jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Wha..? Oh, not the song, or I mean the song’s fine but nothing special, just like you said. What I was talking about was this.” He said and pointed at the title. Sweet Children it said. Billie still didn’t understand what he meant.
“What’s so great about it, you know, those words are in the chorus.”
“No… I mean yes, they are! But…” Okay, now Billie was confused.
“What the fuck are you on man?”
“It’s not good as a title… or it is! I mean, it’s fine, but what I was thinking of was a name. You know… like a name for a band?” Mike said, finally getting to the point. “Don’t you think it’s pretty good?” Billie Joe took the paper and studied the title. He said ‘Sweet Children’ out loud a few times, to try how it would sound.
“We don’t have a name for our band, so, what do you think?” Mike said, scribbling down the words on a paper next to him, to see how they would look. Billie Joe nodded.“I think that our band has got a name!” he said, getting excited. He raised his hand into a high five.
söndag 25 januari 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 9
April 11th, 1986
Billie Joe
They hadn’t said as much as ‘hi’ to each other since their fight. Today was the last day before the weekend. Billie knew that they wouldn’t see each other then. He also knew that Jason and Mike would. And he knew that he would be spending his weekend in his room, alone with his guitar.
Right now he was considering skipping lunch since he knew that both Mike and Jason had lunch at the same time as he did. But his stomach was screaming, and it’s hard to say no to food when you’re hungry. Billie sighed and started walking towards the canteen. Hopefully he wouldn’t see them.
Billie Joe did see them.
Billie was pushed over.
“Watch were the fuck you’re going, moron!” Billie shouted.
“Watch it yourself!” Billie Joe heard Mike’s voice say. All the sudden Billie felt very cold. He looked up, expecting Mike’s blue eyes. They weren’t there; Mike had already started walking away with Jason beside him. Billie watched them leave, Jason watched Billie Joe stand there. Jason walked straight into a lamp post. Billie Joe laughed. Mike looked at Billie angrily and pulled Jason to his feet. Jason held his head. Mike told Jason that he was stupid, Jason agreed. Billie Joe continued to laugh. Mike told him to shut the fuck up. Billie continued laughing, just to annoy Mike. Mike started walking again, Jason did not. He stood between them, looking from Billie Joe to Mike, then back to Billie and so on. Mike realised that Jason wasn’t with him.
“Are you coming or what? Or would you rather stand there all day and watch that monkey?” Mike said, with a nod towards Billie.
“I don’t know…” Jason said, looking very unsure. Mike sighed loudly.
“You know what? No, I’m not.” Jason said, looking very sure all the sudden. Mike looked gob smacked.
“What?” he said, staring at Jason.
“I’m not leaving until the two of you are friends again. I know that you’re both pretending to hate each other right now, but I also know that what you really do is miss each other. Mike,” he said and turned his back on Billie Joe, to face Mike “you haven’t been yourself since whenever that happened, you barely laugh, you barely speak and you barely eat. And Billie…” he now turned to Billie Joe “you’ve been all alone, although you do have other friends than Mike. Why, I’ve asked myself. And now I know. It’s because nothing’s really fun without Mike, is it?” Billie Joe looked across the yard towards Mike and a pair of blue eyes met a pair of green. “I’m not going to lie and say that I wasn’t happy that you weren’t friends, because I was at one point. But you know what? I’m not anymore, not at all. Both of you are unhappy, so why don’t you both just swallow your pride and apologise?” Jason finished and took a deep breath; he had spoken without any breaks, probably because he was afraid that somebody would interrupt him.
Magical, blue eyes were looking straight into Billie Joe’s green, and Billie knew that nothing needed to be said.
Billie Joe could not hate Jason anymore.
Billie Joe
They hadn’t said as much as ‘hi’ to each other since their fight. Today was the last day before the weekend. Billie knew that they wouldn’t see each other then. He also knew that Jason and Mike would. And he knew that he would be spending his weekend in his room, alone with his guitar.
Right now he was considering skipping lunch since he knew that both Mike and Jason had lunch at the same time as he did. But his stomach was screaming, and it’s hard to say no to food when you’re hungry. Billie sighed and started walking towards the canteen. Hopefully he wouldn’t see them.
Billie Joe did see them.
Billie was pushed over.
“Watch were the fuck you’re going, moron!” Billie shouted.
“Watch it yourself!” Billie Joe heard Mike’s voice say. All the sudden Billie felt very cold. He looked up, expecting Mike’s blue eyes. They weren’t there; Mike had already started walking away with Jason beside him. Billie watched them leave, Jason watched Billie Joe stand there. Jason walked straight into a lamp post. Billie Joe laughed. Mike looked at Billie angrily and pulled Jason to his feet. Jason held his head. Mike told Jason that he was stupid, Jason agreed. Billie Joe continued to laugh. Mike told him to shut the fuck up. Billie continued laughing, just to annoy Mike. Mike started walking again, Jason did not. He stood between them, looking from Billie Joe to Mike, then back to Billie and so on. Mike realised that Jason wasn’t with him.
“Are you coming or what? Or would you rather stand there all day and watch that monkey?” Mike said, with a nod towards Billie.
“I don’t know…” Jason said, looking very unsure. Mike sighed loudly.
“You know what? No, I’m not.” Jason said, looking very sure all the sudden. Mike looked gob smacked.
“What?” he said, staring at Jason.
“I’m not leaving until the two of you are friends again. I know that you’re both pretending to hate each other right now, but I also know that what you really do is miss each other. Mike,” he said and turned his back on Billie Joe, to face Mike “you haven’t been yourself since whenever that happened, you barely laugh, you barely speak and you barely eat. And Billie…” he now turned to Billie Joe “you’ve been all alone, although you do have other friends than Mike. Why, I’ve asked myself. And now I know. It’s because nothing’s really fun without Mike, is it?” Billie Joe looked across the yard towards Mike and a pair of blue eyes met a pair of green. “I’m not going to lie and say that I wasn’t happy that you weren’t friends, because I was at one point. But you know what? I’m not anymore, not at all. Both of you are unhappy, so why don’t you both just swallow your pride and apologise?” Jason finished and took a deep breath; he had spoken without any breaks, probably because he was afraid that somebody would interrupt him.
Magical, blue eyes were looking straight into Billie Joe’s green, and Billie knew that nothing needed to be said.
Billie Joe could not hate Jason anymore.
torsdag 8 januari 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 8
April 8th, 1986
Billie Joe
Billie Joe was sitting by his and Mike’s usual table, alone. Mike wasn’t there yet, and Billie was starting to get worried; where was he? The teacher had started to check who was there and who wasn’t, and he was almost were Mike’s name was. Billie was fidgeting and couldn’t get his eyes of the door.
“Mr. Pritchard?” the teacher asked, and Billie’s heart missed a beat.
“Mr. Pritchard?” the teacher said again, this time a bit louder.
“Mr. Armstrong, where’s Pritchard?” the teacher asked Billie Joe.
“He’s not here.” Billie Joe said, not taking his eyes of the door.
“Yes, well I can see that. But where is he then?” The teacher seemed to be taking for granted that Billie Joe always knew exactly where Mike were; this annoyed Billie. Not that he blamed him though; most people did take this for granted.
“You know, I don’t know sir, I’m sorry.” Billie Joe said, forgetting to be impolite. Being rude wouldn’t be as much fun without Mike anyways. The teacher muttered something and continued calling out names. Billie Joe felt his heart sink. Mike wasn’t going to come.
During that class Billie didn’t do anything but scribbling down various lines of things that could become songs, if he wanted them to. He didn’t want them to. He didn’t want to write songs if Mike wasn’t there to read them. Afterwards he slowly walked towards the school canteen, wondering whether or not to go there. When he finally got there he stood outside, staring at the doors, trying to figure out what to do. All the sudden somebody pushed him.
“Get out of the way moron!” a guy Billie didn’t know said and walked past him. Billie then realised that he was standing right in front of the doors, blocking the way for others. He quickly made his way into the canteen. He got his food which looked grosser than ever and walked around the entire room, scanning it. He did not see anybody that could possibly be Mike. He knew that Mike wasn’t there but he walked another lap around the room anyway; still no Mike. He sat down by their usual table, slamming down his plate. Not much food was left on the plate after that but Billie didn’t give a damn.
Billie Joe ate his lunch alone.
Billie Joe
Billie Joe was sitting by his and Mike’s usual table, alone. Mike wasn’t there yet, and Billie was starting to get worried; where was he? The teacher had started to check who was there and who wasn’t, and he was almost were Mike’s name was. Billie was fidgeting and couldn’t get his eyes of the door.
“Mr. Pritchard?” the teacher asked, and Billie’s heart missed a beat.
“Mr. Pritchard?” the teacher said again, this time a bit louder.
“Mr. Armstrong, where’s Pritchard?” the teacher asked Billie Joe.
“He’s not here.” Billie Joe said, not taking his eyes of the door.
“Yes, well I can see that. But where is he then?” The teacher seemed to be taking for granted that Billie Joe always knew exactly where Mike were; this annoyed Billie. Not that he blamed him though; most people did take this for granted.
“You know, I don’t know sir, I’m sorry.” Billie Joe said, forgetting to be impolite. Being rude wouldn’t be as much fun without Mike anyways. The teacher muttered something and continued calling out names. Billie Joe felt his heart sink. Mike wasn’t going to come.
During that class Billie didn’t do anything but scribbling down various lines of things that could become songs, if he wanted them to. He didn’t want them to. He didn’t want to write songs if Mike wasn’t there to read them. Afterwards he slowly walked towards the school canteen, wondering whether or not to go there. When he finally got there he stood outside, staring at the doors, trying to figure out what to do. All the sudden somebody pushed him.
“Get out of the way moron!” a guy Billie didn’t know said and walked past him. Billie then realised that he was standing right in front of the doors, blocking the way for others. He quickly made his way into the canteen. He got his food which looked grosser than ever and walked around the entire room, scanning it. He did not see anybody that could possibly be Mike. He knew that Mike wasn’t there but he walked another lap around the room anyway; still no Mike. He sat down by their usual table, slamming down his plate. Not much food was left on the plate after that but Billie didn’t give a damn.
Billie Joe ate his lunch alone.
fredag 2 januari 2009
And the Stars up Above - Chapter 7
April 8th, 1986
Mike
Jason looked gob smacked. His mouth was open and he was staring at something an inch or two above Mike’s right shoulder that Mike was quite sure that nobody else could see. At least Mike had no idea what could possibly be so amazing about the spot one or two inches above his right shoulder. Slowly Jason’s expression started to change; his mouth closed, his eyes got a bit less distant and it seemed like he was coming to a conclusion of some sort. Mike waited, he had begun to get used to Jason’s sudden moments of thinking. Moments when nothing could seem to reach to him. Jason’s thinking expression was now completely gone and was instead replaced with a smile and relief. Mike couldn’t help but to smile himself.
“What now?” he said, nudging him.
“Sorry, what? I was kind of spaced out.” Jason said, still not really focusing on Mike.
“Yes, I kind of noticed. Are you done thinking now?”
“Yes, I think I am.” Jason said, looking very proud of himself. Mike rolled his eyes.
“You know what? Let’s skip the first class! I don’t feel like having French at all. No! NO! I’ve got an even better idea! Let’s skip the whole day!” Jason said almost jumping with excitement and joy.
“Okay, now this is scary. Who are you and what the fuck have you done to Jason?” Mike asked with a playful smile. Mike knew that Jason never would skip a class, or even be late for one and he actually thought it was hilarious that Jason had lied about the detention thing the first time they met.“Oh, nothing. I’ve just realised that it doesn’t matter what I do so, let’s go!” Jason grabbed Mike by the hand and ran, and Mike had no other choices but to run along or be dragged behind. Mike chose to run.
Mike
Jason looked gob smacked. His mouth was open and he was staring at something an inch or two above Mike’s right shoulder that Mike was quite sure that nobody else could see. At least Mike had no idea what could possibly be so amazing about the spot one or two inches above his right shoulder. Slowly Jason’s expression started to change; his mouth closed, his eyes got a bit less distant and it seemed like he was coming to a conclusion of some sort. Mike waited, he had begun to get used to Jason’s sudden moments of thinking. Moments when nothing could seem to reach to him. Jason’s thinking expression was now completely gone and was instead replaced with a smile and relief. Mike couldn’t help but to smile himself.
“What now?” he said, nudging him.
“Sorry, what? I was kind of spaced out.” Jason said, still not really focusing on Mike.
“Yes, I kind of noticed. Are you done thinking now?”
“Yes, I think I am.” Jason said, looking very proud of himself. Mike rolled his eyes.
“You know what? Let’s skip the first class! I don’t feel like having French at all. No! NO! I’ve got an even better idea! Let’s skip the whole day!” Jason said almost jumping with excitement and joy.
“Okay, now this is scary. Who are you and what the fuck have you done to Jason?” Mike asked with a playful smile. Mike knew that Jason never would skip a class, or even be late for one and he actually thought it was hilarious that Jason had lied about the detention thing the first time they met.“Oh, nothing. I’ve just realised that it doesn’t matter what I do so, let’s go!” Jason grabbed Mike by the hand and ran, and Mike had no other choices but to run along or be dragged behind. Mike chose to run.
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