Chapter 1

My name is Percy Jackson. I was born August 18, 1920 in Manhattan, New York to Sally Jackson. But my story starts several months after the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929 marking the start of the Great Depression. I had just turned nine years old and was starting fourth grade. But in March 1930, five months after the stock market crashed, my mom lost her job. That may have been okay if I had two parents…but I didn't. My father left my mom before I was born.

You see, my father was in the military. He was a navy captain from World War I and was sent on a mission abroad. My mom and dad weren't married so he left her in order to continue doing what he loved doing without her worrying he wouldn't come back alive. And he never did come back. He never kept contact. He never even came to make sure we were okay. And I hated him for that.

Anyway, I dropped out of school at nine years old to look for a job so my mom and I wouldn't get thrown out of our little home. I worked for a guy that had a huge apple factory that shut down and needed a bunch of people to help get rid of all the unpacked apples before they went bad. I instantly volunteered getting paid nine cents a day. In the afternoons I would sell newspapers. I got paid forty cents a day for that. So in total I got paid forty nine cents a day. It wasn't enough. We lost our little house and we were forced to live on the streets for several months until my mom came up with an idea to keep me safe.

"Percy, hun, um…I need to talk to you." My mother told me.

"Yes?"

"I'm…going to need to send you away."

I stood there shocked. Frozen. Away? She's going to send me away? "Wh-where?" I asked.

"To a family in upstate New York. I went to school with the woman and I told her about our situation and she offered us a home but I decided not to go."

"What about you? Where will you stay?" I asked.

"Here," she sighed. " Percy, don't worry about me. You'll love it. She's married. She has two sons and a stepdaughter that's your age. And, the best part, they live near the beach." My mom tried to soothe me.

I sighed a shaky breath. She looked like she wanted to cry, but she was being brave. I needed to be brave too.

"Okay. I'll go." I said, after I decided.

"Thank you, Percy. "

"When will I be going?"

"Tomorrow."

"But that's so soon."

"I know, but the sooner you leave, the better it will be for you. You can continue your education-"

"But how will I see you." I interrupted.

"I-I'll visit as soon as I can. I promise."

"Okay."

My mother and I packed the little things I did own: a picture of my mom in a nice peach dress and my dad in his navy uniform, a golden pen I called Riptide, and some random pictures of beaches from around the world. We slept that night and went to the train station the following morning.

"Percy, I want you to be strong and brave for me. Remember what I taught you. Remember your manners and you will do just fine."

I just nodded, not being able to say anything because of the lump forming in my throat.

"There she is. Helen Chase."

She's here already? That was the trigger. This lady's arrival. I burst into tears and held onto my mother as tight as possible. I did not want to let go.

"P-Percy. Please-please let g-go of me," she struggled to say. "I know this is hard but you must do this."

I nodded into her stomach and let go. I looked at the lady named Helen Chase. She was pretty, an Asian with black hair and chocolate brown eyes.

"Hello, Percy. Nice to meet you. I'm Helen Chase." She introduced herself and held out her hand.

I shook it. "Percy. I'm Percy."

Author's note:

Ok, I know it's kinda short. But I have a lot of ideas in store. This is not the first story I have ever written, but it is the first Percy Jackson fanfic I've written. I'll probably update on Monday. I won't ever update on the weekend. I'm too busy. Oh yeah, let me know if this is going too fast. I'll slow it down.