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To Z.H. and J.H., the best roommates I ever had

The Next Dragon Warrior
Chapter 10
"Roommate Talk"

I trudged into the room I shared with Po. Park's words had been stuck in my head all day. I was just barely able to pay attention to Crane's lesson this afternoon today on blocking. I lied down my cot and pulled a piece of parchment out of my knapsack. I hadn't let anyone else know about this, not even my foster parents, just in case they thought it was weird too.

I occasionally wrote poems. I don't know why I did it. I didn't know if I even liked doing it. Either way I still did it. It helped get out what I was thinking.

So I pulled out a pencil and started writing.

Who I am

Again I'm here
I haven't won what I sought for
I'll never make my dreams
It's what I feared
My dreams have fallen apart
Now It's clear
If I were to see what I really am
It would only crush my heart
What is this image I see?
I hate the fact that it's me
Why am I not enough
For everyone else
To show love?
When will who I am be
What they want of me?
When who I am be
Who I want to be?

I finished the poem with my signature at the bottom right side of the page. Jo Dakota Crevan

There was a floor creak outside. I quickly stuffed the paper into a leather folder in my knapsack right as Po opened the door. He could tell I had just done something in haste before he walked in.

"Hey, Wahtcha doin'?"

"Just writing something." I tried to sound casual.

"Writing what?"

"Nothing." I said too quickly for it to not sound nervous.

"Alright." he said happily unconvinced. His shamrock-colored eyes saw deep. It was strange how his eyes seemed to smile when he smiled.

He flopped down on his bed (the room shook a little) obviously tired. "Making soup for this many kids can be exhausting." he said staring at the ceiling. "Learned that working at the restaurant."

"Well, you're pretty good at it. All the campers seem to like it."

"Well I've been making soup since I was 3. I always guessed my dad wanted to start me off at an early age."

"You're dad taught you?" It was the first time Po had really talked to me about his past. Well, his past before he was the Dragon Warrior.

"Yep, he always says" he made his voice more high-pitched "'Po, we are noodle folk, broth runs through our veins!'"

I laughed. "He sounds funny."

"Yeah, but me and my dad just don't seem alike, almost like we're not even related. You ever felt like that?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, but it's because me and my parents aren't related."

"Huh?"

"I live with my foster parents... well there my adoptive parents. They took me in when I was just three. That's when I came to the Valley of Peace."

"Oh, do you remember anything about your life before you came here?"

"Not much."

"Do you know where you were born?"

"Never asked." I thought for a second. "Ya think I should?"

"I don't know." he shrugged. "I probably would have. Are they...ok."

"Can't really complain. I mean, it's just 'not all there,' if you now what I mean, but I can tell they try. I know; I've heard the stories about foster parents that treat their kids terribly and all that stuff. Nothings ever happened like that, I know they love me, and I love them too, but... I don't know, it's hard to explain.

"It's like there's a piece of you missing, right?"

"Yeah that's it. Just couldn't put it into words. Howdyou come up with that?"

"Can I tell you a secret Jo?"

"Yeah, sure."

He jokingly looked around as if to make sure no one was listening. "Sometimes I secretly think my dad adopted me."

"Really?"

"Well, a lot of people think I don't notice this but... he's a goose."

"He's a what!? Wait, that goose who owns the noodle shop is your dad? I just thought he was your boss."

"He's my boss and my dad."

"Did he go crazy when he heard you were the Dragon Warrior?"

He laughed "I guess 'crazy' pretty much sums it up, but he wasn't crazy excited. I think he thought Master Oogway was crazy. I had never really told him about my passion for kung fu before then, But eventually he grew to admire my decision."

"That's good. I know it's a lousy feeling thing when you're really into something and other people don't support it" Or people tell you, you have no chance at it "Well, was he proud when he saw you defeated Tai Lung?"

"Yeah, he definitely was..." He turned himself over so he was resting on his elbow facing me. "Jo, can I ask you something else?" His voice gave an impression of un-confidence.

"Sure." His change in voice had made me a little nervous.

"Why am I your hero?"

Second awkward question asked today. Isn't it obvious? Wait, Is it obvious? I didn't exactly know how to answer that question. Maybe I should just start from the beginning.

I sighed. "Po, the first time I saw you, you came crashing down to earth in a flash of light. I can't really explain it but when I saw you... I don't know... you inspired me. I wanted to be like you. And then you defeated Tai Lung. I'd heard all the stories about him. Everyone was freaking out when we were evacuating. I guess you could say that 'sealed the deal.' And then that night when... you found me out there by the peach tree. You were the first person who seemed to know what I was going through. That night, you seemed to know the answer to everything."

His ears turned puce (which I guess with black ears was as close to red as they would get). "Jo, I don't know everything. Heck, I don't even know half of everything. I just remember wise sayings from wise people."

I smiled.

He let out a deep yawn, heaved himself up, walked over to the light and put it out. Some where in the darkness, he said "G'night."

"G'night" I said back. "Thanks again."

"What are heroes for?"

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