Chapter 1: The Dream and the Bullies
Most of you wont believe me when I tell you what I have to tell, but I will tell you anyways. Have you ever-Have you ever had a dream so vivid and so real that you actually thought it happened. That's what my story is about. Dreams. Its about a boy who's head is always in the clouds. A boy with an overactive imagination, who loves to read, and that boy is me. My name is Quasimodo Frollo, and this is the story of how I learned to believe again. It's the story of how a book made a magical difference in my life.
"Turn around"
"Look at what you see"
"In her face"
"The mirror of your dream"
"Make believe I'm everywhere"
"Hidden in the lines"
"Written on the pages"
"Is the answer to"
"a neverending storyyyy"
"Ahh, ahh, ahh"
"Neverending story"
"Ahh, ahh, ahh"
"Reach the stars"
"Fly a fantasy"
"Dream a dream"
"And what you see will be"
"Rhymes that keep their secrets"
"Will unfold behind the clouds"
"There upon the rainbow"
"Is the answer to
a neverending story"
"Ahh, ahh, ahh..."
"Neverending story"
"Ahh, ahh, ahh."
A hand slammed down on the alarm clock as the song ended silencing it. The boy stretched as he got out of bed to start the day. He'd had another dream about his mom again. He wasn't sure whether or not he should tell his father about it. His mother had died from cancer a year ago he was still in shock from her death. His father especially missed her.
He looks to the picture near his bedside. It was a picture of a smiling red-haired women with green eyes she sat in front of a dirty green van covered in peace signs. His mom had met his dad when they where young she had been hippie; she definitely had an odd name that was for sure. Not that he wanted to think about it right now. Better get downstairs and have breakfast. He thought getting up from his bed.
A while latter he sat in the kitchen making his breakfast, when his father walked into the room. "Morning Quasimodo." Morning dad. The grey-haired man ruffled the boys red hair affectionately. He did love the boy. Truly in his own way. The boy was the only thing left of…of her. He had been a different man back then the name he had given his son was a cruel one it meant half-formed. He felt guilt for that. He had been an acholic back then as well.
He had promised her he'd quit alcohol all together and then…the cancer finally took her. Right then and there he promised he would stop drinking and would be a better father to his son. However, it can be hard to move forward. The lawyer sighed glancing over at his son.
"Dad." Yes son? "I had another dream last night." About mom. Frollo sighed. Not again. "I understand son, but we have to get on with things, right?" The boy looked down at the floor. "Quasimodo, we each have responsibilities." We can't let Mom's death be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right? Quasi half-heartedly smears butter on his toast not meeting his fathers gaze. Frollo sighs and approaches the table.
"Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk." I got a call from your math teacher yesterday. "She says you were drawing horses in your math book." Unicorns. "They were unicorns." He mutters. What? Nothing, the boy says with a sigh. "She also says that you haven't been turning your homework in on time." And I'm very disappointed you didn't even try out for the swim-team.
The boy flinched. He hadn't been back in the water since his mom died. He used to love swimming. Now it just reminded him of her. "As for those riding lessons you've been wanting you say you love horses, yet you seem to be afraid to get on a real one." "Now, Quasi, you're old enough to get your head out of the clouds and start keeping both feet on the ground. all right ?" Ok, he says.
"Stop daydreaming and start facing your problems." Ok ? He asked ruffling his hair. Ok, he said giving him a half-hearted smile. Ok. "Right I think we've had a nice little talk we should have more." "Have a nice day and don't be late to school again," he said before heading for the door. But yesterday I wasn't…he turns around, but his father is gone. "late"
A while later Quasimodo is walking down the street when he notices a group of kids from his school. "Oh no!" he tries to walk away but its to late, they noticed him. "Hey look it's the ugly freak from school." "Hey freak, got any cash for us today ?" Quasimodo gulped and slowly backed away; His mother used to give him money for lunch, but he used it to bribe the bullies that tormented him daily into leaving him alone.
But know that his mom was dead. He didn't have any money! He turned and ran. Hey! "Get him!" "That's it freak." "You can't get away you jerk!" "You're dead chicken!" He runs into an alleyway only to realize to late that he's cornered. The older boys grab the ten-year-old, holding him hostage. "Where's you're money man ?" "I don't have any!"
"No money?" "Momma's little boy is holding out on us." "You ain't got any money on ya, you go in the garbage can." All three of them lift him and throw him into a nearby dumpster. Maybe chicken can lay an egg in there, one of them laughs as they run away. He lifts the dumpster lid a while later and jumps out brushing the garbage off his clothes and walks out onto the street.
However, the bullies are still there waiting for him. "Hey man, who said you could get out of the garbage ?" "Get back in there." They smile at one another wickedly as they run towards him. "Oh no not again." "No not again!" He shouts as he takes of running. "Where can I hide?!" He thinks wildly to himself as he runs down the street. Suddenly he sees a door that leads to a book store nearby. Here goes nothing. He runs for the door yanks it open and ducks inside.