Note : This is not the kind of story with happiness and romance around every corner.
I am strong. I can do it. I can do more than sitting around being useless while everyone else does things.
I will go to school.
Yes. I will.
Probably.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
I can't. But I know that I have to.
Just because I'm smaller doesn't make me bad.
I am Zim!
But the school year started months ago. I feel sick. I feel scared. But I have to how I'm not worthless. My brothers. I don't know their actual names.
They never said to me.
Thy told me to call them these:
"Red" and "Purple".
They say that others wouldn't want me. That's true.
I'm sure it is.
They act nice a lot.
I like them.
They care about me. But they still punish me.
Maybe I'm better off without them.
No, that's fake.
People told me that before. I haven't seen them since.
I know they were lying,
I will tell Red and Purple I'm going to school tomorrow.
It's too late in the day now.
I run into one of them. I don't know who. They yell something at me, and then the other comes.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I quickly apologize.
"I want to go to school!" I add on, hoping that the apology will be enough for me.
I am Zim! It doesn't matter if I'm small.
Or it might.
I'm told it matters.
It must matter.
I can't let myself think otherwise, or I'll be risking punishment.
"You?" Red laughs.
"You're a weak, small, ugly boy!" Purple adds on.
I want to cry.
But it's really fine.
It's normal. I shouldn't behave bad, it's my fault if they do anything,
"But I can do it!" I say. I'm sure that I can.
What did I expect them to say, though?
I have to go to school.
I'd prove my worth, and become the best student ever.
I'd no longer be seen as a boy with a skin condition.
I'd be seen as an amazing person.
"But I have to! I must go!" I beg. Red and Purple just laugh.
Now I really want to cry.
"Just let me! I'll be so good and you're going to be so proud of me!" I added hopefully.
"Maybe."
I don't know what to say. I go to my room to think about the response.
I might go!
I might get to go to school!
I take my little dog stuffed animal, GIR, and squeeze him.
"GIR, I might go," I whisper. I wish he could talk to me.
"GIR, if I don't go, what will I do? Maybe I'll just die if I don't go."