Just to explain how this is going to work…these are going to be journal entries of our favorite characters writing about their lives. When they write a memory, they will write like they are actually there.
Jasper's Journal: 1st entry
I was born on March 23rd, to the dismay of my parents. From the moment of my birth I was not desired, although I didn't take it personally, my older brother was dispised just as much as I was. It was thanks, almost entirely, to Levi that I survived my early childhood at all. If left to my incapable mother, I would have died of neglect very early on. Levi told me that it wasn't always like this, a manically depressed mother and alcoholic father. He said that he could remember a time that they were a happy family, but this was when he was a young child…before Dad lost his job…before Mom lost her mind.
We lived in a very rual part of Washington state, closer to Canada then to the closest American town. Our house was the only one for about three miles, and it sat, decrepit, on a long forgotten farm. I like to believe that my mother tried her hardest, but she just wasn't strong enough. Some of my first memories are of Levi, they are some of my only memories from my very early childhood.
May, my fouth year of life:
Our country is a great place, Levi told me so, and I know Levi's right because he's already sixteen years old. He says we should be happy to live in such a great place, that there are kids starving in far away places, but I'm pretty hungry now. I haven't had anything to eat today; my punishment for wetting the bed last night. Right now I'm lying out side under the sun, trying to see the shapes in the clouds. I wish Levi was here, he can see all sorts of things I can't. But Levi's at school, and I'm home with Mom. I don't really see Mom much, I miss her though. I wish I could make her smile. Instead, she stays in her room all day, sometimes sleeping, sometimes crying. The wind rushes through my blond bowl cut hair, and I start to sing to myself America, the Beautiful. The clouds continue to roll over head as I try to sing above my grumbling stomach.
Suddenly, I hear my Dad's truck coming down the street. I quickly roll to my stomach and hop to my feet, then sprint to the house as fast as my little legs will take me. As soon as I'm inside, I run straight to me and Levi's bedroom and climb in the closet shutting the door behind me. I know to keep quiet, if he doesn't see me, he might not get mad. Too soon I can hear him open the door and stumble inside. I know that he's angry, I can tell by listening to his footsteps. Hopefully, he'll just take more money and leave…I try to keep my breathing quiet as he continues to move around. I can't help but get scared, and tears well up in my eyes. I wish I was brave like Levi, I wish Levi was home. I try to remember how many hours were left until Levi comes home…Two more hours, I think, and my heart sinks. I keep praying that I'll hear the door shut again, but the seconds go by…
"BOY!" Comes my father's voice from the kitchen. "GET OUT HERE!"
I hastily wipe my eyes, and run out to where he's calling from, knowing that it'll be worse if I stay hidden. I cautiously come around the corner and go to where he's standing. His blond hair is starting to gray, and it hangs unattractivly to his shoulders. The angry face staring at me is unshaven, his cold blue eyes unforgiving. His smell of alcohol has already permeated the room. He sways slightly on the spot as he points a shaky finger at me.
"Where've you been?" he slurrs slightly.
"In my room, sir." I answer quietly. He kneels down to my level, I inwardly cringe.
"Speak up!" He shouts, and I jump.
"In my room, sir!" I say loudly, my shaky voice gives away my fear.
He grabs my worn and frayed overalls, and pulls me toward his yellowed teeth. "THEN WHY ARE YOU ALL DIRTY, YOU FILTHY LITTLE SHIT?"
I'd forgotten to brush the dirt and grass of my back…Tears well to my eyes and I brace myself.
"QUIT CRYING!" he yells, and his free hand slaps my face. My head is so much smaller than his hand that it hits the entire left side of my head. I really start to sob, and my father throws me to the ground disgusted. I lay on the ground, trying to stop crying, curling up in a ball. My father kicks me hard in the back, and I can't breath, but the pain is so intense that I scream.
"IF I EVER CATCH YOU LYING TO ME AGAIN, I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU'RE DEAD!" he practically screams, and stomps back out the door to his truck. I'm still crying on the floor, tasting the blood from my lip that split when he threw me to the ground, when Levi comes home. I hear the door open again, and stop crying, settling for snifling instead. The pain has left and I want to be strong like Levi would be.
"Jasper?" Levi calls out in a half whisper, he knows better than to shout and wake my mother. I hear his slow footsteps come into the kitchen, and he kneels down next to me. "Hey, buddy, you're okay, I'm here. Nothings going to happen now."
He carefully lifts me into his arms, I cry out from the pain surging in my ribs and back. He softly shushs me, and carrys me into our room and lays me on his bed. He leaves and comes back with a wet washcloth. He slowly and carefully cleans up my lip.
"What happened, bud?" he asks as he finishes wiping my lip and continues to clean my face.
"D-d-d-dad ca-ca-came hom-me," I stutter, still crying. I take a breath and try to calm myself. "I ran inside, and hid, but he called me and I went out, and he yelled and hit me, and I cried, and cried."
"Shhhhhh…" he whispered, nervously looking out the door. "It's okay buddy, it's okay, I'm here now."
He sits with me, soothing me and stroaking my hair. I calm down, and just lay there. "I wish I was strong like you, Levi."
"You are, and one day you'll be just as big and tall as I am!"
"I love you Levi."
"I love you too, buddy."
And I slowly fell asleep.
So, yeah, pretty depressing, but I need to set up each characters background before they meet. SO YEAH, there is Jasper. He's so cute. It's sad, I know. Read and Review…Tell me if I'm wasting my time.