I was thinking that I should call someone some time soon, so at least they know about my idea and don’t end up doing something else (yeah, guess what? I learnt that they had a game of football and didn’t invite me again. Typical). However, I never had the chance. The “
” guys called me first. They wanted to know if I wanted to go swimming. Now, know that I really want to do this “Death by Chocolate” thing, but like I said, I don’t favor one group over the other (although I must admit, this one does seem to like calling me up to do stuff more), so I said I would.
Well, I went swimming. What else can I say? I went to an outdoor, unheated apartment pool. It was a nice day, a nice pool, and a bunch of crap from the trees was blowing into the water. It was fun until the wind picked up (after all, it is September). Seriously though, the wind chill in conjunction with wet bodies is one of the most unpleasant things a person can be subject to. I mean, next to the “atomic wedgie”. Okay, so I’ve never gotten one of those, but just the thought of someone pulling your underwear over your head while you’re still wearing it is quite chilling, isn’t it? Aaaaaaanyway, long story short, we went home.
Once I got home, I realized that when I let my hair fall backwards after I got into the pool for that “slicked-back” look, I forgot to change it back to normal before it dried. So you know those busts of Beethoven? Well, that’s kinda what my hair looked like. Of course, mine is black and isn’t a wig, buy ya know. Just as I got home with my new hairdo, my mom was just leaving with some of her friends.
“Ernest,” she starts, “I brought some take-out home for you and your brothers to eat for dinner.” I replied with my “okay”, and she left to play her golf. Well, needless to say, dessert after dinner always works, so I gave Craig a call.
“Hello?” He says.
“H’lo,” I say, “how are ya?”
“Pretty good,” he answers.
“Yeah. So school starts again tomorrow, eh?” I heard him stifle a groan. “Yeah, me too.” Well, I called, so I guess I should say something first. “Ya know something?”
“What?”
“I really want to do something right now. Ya know? Just as one more big thing before summer ends.”
“Like what?” I answered solemnly,
“ . . . Death by Chocolate. I mean, isn’t that the ultimate ending to the summer?”
“Yeah, I guess,” he agrees
half-assedly, “But I’m not going.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m having a barbecue tonight,” he feeds to me. So we talked a bit about how that kinda sucks, how I should try Jason, and that we were going to meet early tomorrow at the “old lockers” to get our “new lockers”.
So I tried Jason. He said he didn’t want to spend money. Now, I know I should’ve tried everyone else. I should’ve called Robyn. I should’ve called Meg. I should’ve called Tony. And I DEFINITELY should have called Jody. But frankly, I’m chicken-“sheet”, and I just don’t think they would do it either. Yeah, so I guess this is YET another great idea that shall fizzle to ash in my brain.
Ya know something? I guess it’s only kind of fitting that this is how my summer will end. Me loafing around at home, eating microwaved dinner, and watching wrestling just before I go to sleep. Again. Okay, I really understand that I did more than I give myself credit, but still . . . . . I wish I did a little more. Okay, not so much that, but I wish I did something in particular. What is it? I’ll put it this way:
I’ll give you 3 guesses, ya only need 1. Yes. I wish I said something to Jody that I wish I said earlier.
And I’ll let you guess what THAT is.
Okay, I know I should stop writing now that the summer is over, but I suppose a bit of the first day of school is in order.
I woke up early and on time for the first time in about 2 months. I got through my before school morning-routine in what I consider a really good time, and quickly poured myself a bowl of Frosted Flakes. All of this was done while everyone else in the house was still sleeping. God, that cereal was really starting to get gross. I don’t think I could eat the crud much longer. I decided to dump the last bit of soggy flakes and left. I recreated my other before school routine of opening the door, tossing in the paper, and leaving.
Boy, I forgot how cold September mornings were. It was pretty chilly. Here I was, wearing a black T-shirt, a pair of khakis, and a really big backpack. I didn’t even have worthwhile pockets to put my hands in (the pants seem a little too low). But I must say; the walk was . . . invigorating. It sure was much pleasanter than the heat of August. Well, needless to say there weren’t many people at the school at 7:30. Only the teachers, the people with a lot of time, and myself were there. Okay, them, and 3 other guys I know quite well.
I found Craig, Jason and Tony standing around where the old lockers were. No girls whatsoever. Typical. We waited about 10-15 minutes until someone came along. Guess who?
Jody came down the hall next. She looked as good as usual (of course, that’s just me). Eventually Tina came along too. After a brief bit o’ chitchat, we all went to claim our new lockers. After we found just the “right ones”, we slapped on the locks and took down the numbers. About a minute afterwards, Meg and Robyn walked by. They in turn got their lockers.
Okay, so it’s pretty pathetic how I’m putting all this. I’m not really saying anything that you wouldn’t know by common sense. I guess I can just point out the “interesting” stuff. In no particular order:
People start filling up the hall, Jason follows Tina off somewhere (go fig.), got the same Social Studies teacher as last year (and the year before), ran into Jody on her way to her class, walked with her to it, went to Chemistry, saw Tina there, ate vending machine lunch, saw more old friends, accidentally walked into the wrong science class, used the washroom during break, watched Tony flirt with Jody, saw Jody return the flirt, I run into several more old . . . what did I say? Oh no! I REALLY don’t think that’s too good of a sign. Damn! At that very moment, I felt myself shrink a little (no, not in THAT way).
You see, that’s one of the big tricks with close friends. You say something shattering like “I have a crush on you” and they don’t return it, it can potentially ruin the entire friendship. And I really don’t want that. I mean, I recall something she once wrote to me in a message (on paper). I remember she said something along the lines of “I’d rather have a really good friend than a boyfriend”. I understand it completely, but still . . . “
I can’t stop this feelin’, deep inside of me; girl, you just don’t realize, what you do to me . . .” No, I won’t finish the song. I’m a terrible singer.
Well, during the day, I found myself in a lot of nice classes, I have friends in all of them, and my teachers seem pretty good. Only thing I could ask for now is bare-bone homework, but seeing as I’m now in grade 11 (I’m still not feeling it), I highly doubt that one. Yeah, I guess this year could be okay. I guess just one more thing could make it better (and like I said before, I’m sure you know what that is).
Looks like you’ll have to search for your happy ending somewhere else. It just happens that way in real life, ya know. There is no guarantee on how something’s going to turn out. If this was simply a script I could change it, I could make it end with Jody & I disappearing into the sunset, but it’s not gonna happen that way. There’s not a lot I can do. You can’t force a person to like you, and remember: if you already know, don’t hesitate. Just investigate (okay, maybe just saying “say something” would fit better, but “investigate” rhymes nicely). Well, until I hear otherwise, I guess I’ll just have to get used to Jody and Tony. That’s life.
I guess I should just tell her, one way or another. It’s just proper, ya know. Hmm. Kinda ironic, isn’t it? The hero didn’t get the girl. But then one asks do I really deserve the girl? I mean, did I actually save the day? Did I really “kill the bad guy”? Matter of fact, who was the bad guy? Was there even a bad guy? Sheesh. I’m in grade 11 English and I can’t even figure out the antagonist. Or is it one of those damn “man vs. himself” conflicts? Well, I’ll leave that one for the questions at the end of the chapter.
Kidding, kidding! Well, I suppose this DOES leave a touch of room for a sequel now, doesn’t it? Yes. I can see it now:
“Tales of An Eleventh Grade Nothing”.
