As days turned to weeks, and weeks into months, Sam and I became close friends
Posted on: April 8, 2008
FC: Welcome back readers! I'm happy to say I'm back with a vengeance!
Kylan: uh… whatever
FC: Well it's longer, shinier, and I haven't run myself into the ground!
Kylan: Oh brother…
GEIST
Summer Falls
As days turned to weeks, and weeks into months, Sam and I became close friends. She came over to Vlad's house every day. We would usually go outside on the patio, or by the creek, and then we'd sit and talk. My English improved greatly with her help, and she finally had someone she could call her friend.
Despite her parents high status in the community, Sam was different and a bit of a rebel. She liked dark cloths (even in those summer months), dark make-up, and was fascinated by the paranormal. She didn't have any close friends, although a few acquaintances in school. They were mostly involved in the Art club and Drama Guild. Sam had a passion for the arts, music, and literature. Sam especially loved Edgar Allen Poe. I recall her favorite poem by him was Then Raven.
She read the poem to me with a passion. She got more animated and into the poem more as she read on. I sat on the cool grass listening and watching her. If I could have captured her emotion it would have been the most untamed beauty one has ever laid eyes on.
Sam also introduced me to television. Goodness what an experience. I'll never forget that fatefully hot July day.
"It's a box…" I told her. Sam insisted we stay inside and do something that July day. It was unbearably hot out and I agreed.
"Danny, you silly thing, it's a television! You watch movies, and TV shows on it."
She laughed at my confused expression. She picked up a smaller thinner box, a remote I later learned, covered with colorful buttons. She press the biggest on and the screen flickered to life. A jarring roar poured out of the television set. We both jumped and I dove behind her for safety. I had NEVER heard such a sound.
"Relax Danny, it's just a movie. It's Jurassic Park, the one with the dinosaurs."
I was shaking and clung to her arm. She shut the Television off, and hug me reassuringly. "It's okay, it wasn't real."
Dinosaurs, thank god for extinction. (1)
Those days I was not burdened by my life, I was just another carefree teen. Just another person without much of a purpose or a pan for the future. I didn't need it. I had everything. That was until the end of summer came.
I had arrived in America about a week after Sam's school let out for the summer. She and I spent every day and moment we could together. I didn't understand that this was about to change when school started up again. I knew instantly that School was not something good. It would take Sam away from me.
I knew I had to act, but what to do? Vlad wanted to wait to enroll me until my English was stronger and I was a bit more acclimated to new life. I would have my way though.
"Vlad? I want to go to school." I told him one night at dinner.
He looked thoughtful and asked, "Why?"
I blushed and tried to think of a reason other then to be with my only friend, but Vlad had my intentions figured out.
"I signed you up already. You and Samantha have homeroom together."
I stood up and gave him a grateful hug before I picked up my plate and took it to the sink. "Thank you Vlad!"
Oh how I regretted my decision.
September came in a whirlwind of rich colors, smoky scents and the fifth circle of hell as I learned to call it. School, I hated it with a passion. Milk white walls, fluorescent lighting, and lockers, the most evil creation I had ever met, next to the TV of course. They have three random numbers ranging from 0 to 35 put into a combination. Learning how to unlock them was no easy task.
Two full turns to the right to clear it, once right, twice left, once right again. It was confusing. Plus, mine tended to stick making it more of a hassle.
So yes, school, eleventh grade. It was new to me. The whole of the High school experience, it was a shock. So many people, one long and narrow hallway, two floors, five stairwells, one courtyard, one gymnasium, one cafeteria, one library, fifty-six classrooms six of which were science labs, four more were computer labs, two art rooms, one culinary lab, a choir and band room and a huge auditorium made up Casper High, home of the Ravens.
Sam was my guide, self appointed by the way. I knew where the decent water fountains were, where the main office, nurse's office and guidance counselors' office was located, and my homeroom. My home room consisted of 19 of my peers, 12 boys and 7 girls, Sam and myself included. Our teacher was kind young woman, Ms. Blake. She taught chemistry, physics, and biology.
My first week was… informational to say the least. Sam was in my homeroom and first three classes which were History, Algebra, and Biology. After which we went our separate ways, Sam went to German IV, and I went to P.E. I made some new friends in that gym class. It was full of jock type guys and cheerleader type girls. It was a nightmare come to life.
My first 'friend' was Dash Baxter, jock and star of the football team. He decided since I was tall but skinny, I was a perfect target. He found it great fun to kick the soccer balls at me, not because I was in the goal, but because I was now his new punching bag.
Kwan was my next new friend. He was also on the football team. He was followed by Paulina, a pretty Hispanic girl with the cruelest soul I had the misfortune to meet. Then there was Star, also known as Paulina's satellite. She did follow Paulina everywhere…
"How was gym?" Sam asked as I sat beside her at the lunch table. We both had the sense to pack our lunches. The cafeteria food looked like toxic waste or something along the same lines.
"I made some new friends… Sort of." I said bitterly glaring at the jocks.
"Oh… don't worry about them." She said lightly
I sighed and continued to pick at my food. The bell rang after a while, signaling to go to the next class. Sam and I pick up our bags and headed to English. An out of shape balding teacher named Mr. Lancer taught that. Sam said he was one of the few teachers who cared about the subject they taught.
"Good Afternoon class. I am Mr. Lancer, Welcome to English 11 College Prep. This is the year you will take state tests and the SATs." He paused for the collective groan. "We will be studying Poetry, Shakespeare and we will be teaming up with your history class later in the year for a combined unit on World War II." Mr. Lancer paused for a longer collective groan. "Lord of the Flies! People, stop groaning and grow a backbone. English is only boring in the eyes of the beholder."
I sat in the left side of the room by Sam, near the windows. I was bored out of his mind and I wasn't following Mr. Lancer very well.
"I also would like to introduce to you a new student this year. He doesn't speak much English, but I'm sure you all will welcome him and help him. Daniel? Could you please raise your hand or stand up?"
Sam nudged me out of my daydreaming with her elbow "Danny! He's talking to you!" she hissed.
I jumped and fell out of the chair, which was attached to the desk. So chair, desk, and myself toppled to the ground.
"Thank you Mr. Masters…" Mr. Lancer said heaving a sigh, great another comedian…
1 I'd like to point out how portrays both Darwin's theory of evolution AND Christianity. It's a pun!