Josh sprawled out across his bed. It had been a long first day. He never remembered things ever being this complicated. He lifted himself up and walked over to his desk. He opened the drawer and pulled out a black journal.

His dad had given it to him the day before the first day of junior high. He wrote it in, occasionally, but usually at when he was feeling weird. Good weird or bad weird, either way. This book contained so much. His first fight with Teddy, his first funeral, his first kiss. So many firsts. Josh flipped to the page with a paperclip on the top of it, and began to write.

"It's weird how many 'firsts' we experience in our lives. You think of 'firsts' as being things you do as a babyyour first time walking without your parents, your first word. But the reality is, you could be 105 and still be experiencing a first. Sometimes firsts are onlys, but think of all the people who will never experience it. And how variable they can be. Sure, a first can be the product of hard work, but what about coincidence? Luck? Fate? People rule them out, but why? Because they're not plain and simple logic. Some things can't be explained, and that's the way they're supposed to be. All of this is going to be babble to me in a couple of months. Journal, I'm at a breaking point. But I can't tell what it'll be. For better? For worse? Or will I be the same when I come out of it? You can never really be sure."

Josh slipped back into bed, and soon fell asleep.

~~~~~~~

In the morning, when most of the kids were about to go to 1st period, the PA system came on.

Over the PA: Students, please report to the auditorium as soon as possible.

Huh? It's not like Principal Morris to have impromptu assemblies.

On his way there, Josh ran into Teddy.

Teddy: Hey, Josh. What do you think this is about?

Josh: I have no clue. But it's probably pretty pointless for us to go. Because we didn't do anything and we're not doing anything they want us to do.

Teddy: I hear you, dude. But what if someone pulled a wicked prank, and we missed hearing about it?

Josh: That'd suck.

They both headed into the auditorium. Surprisingly, they were almost the last people in there. The last seats, unfortunately, were in the first row. After a couple boring minutes, Principal Morris took his place at the podium, obviously pissed at something. Or someone. Everyone saw this, and shut up.

Principal Morris: Good morning, BOYS and GIRLS.

Josh leaned over closer to Teddy, and whispered.

Josh: Somebody's gonna die today.

Principal Morris: I am very sorry to inform you that an intolerable act was committed yesterday, between the hours of 7 AM and 4 PM. SOMEBODY spray-painted an inappropriate message on the wall of the boy's bathroom.

Josh leaned over towards his friend again.

Josh: This guy's not one for beating around the bush, eh?

Teddy whispered back.

Teddy: Dude, if you haven't noticed already, we're in the front row. He can probably hear you.

Josh looked up at the principal, who, indeed, was staring at him. But it wasn't just because he was talking. Mr. Morris continued to glare at Josh while he spoke to the whole school.

Principal Morris: Although the culprit has not been caught yet, we have our suspects. I have called you all hear to let you know that acts like this will NOT be tolerated. Any destruction of property of this school will result in suspension. At this time, I would like to see Cyrus Young. The rest of you may return to your 1st period classes.

The room returned to its regular loud volume. The two boys walked towards the hallway.

Josh: Poor sucker. In trouble already.

Teddy: I wonder what she wrote.

Josh: What? Oh. Oh, yeah. They're never gonna tell us, though.

Teddy: Uh, dude? We could always go look ourselves.

Josh: They'll have people taking fingerprints and police tape around it by then.

Teddy: True.

Josh: See you at lunch.

Teddy: Later.

Josh opened the door to the classroom and took his seat. Another boring day of history. Why do we need to learn about history, anyway? What is the significance of history? Why can't we concentrate on now? The education system is a skewed one.

Something hit him on the shoulder. It was Max.

Max: They're calling you.

In his mess of a mind, Josh thought he was talking about Mr. Spaller. He spoke loudly.

Josh: Yes?

People giggled.

Max: No, the principal. The principal called you to his office.

Josh turned red.

Josh: Oh. Okay.

He stood up, uncomfortable. He hadn't even thought about why the principal wanted to see him. But then it hit him. The writing on the wall.

I had NOTHING to do with that. Nothing. What do they want with me?

As he walked down the empty hallway, the principal's office door opened and closed quietly. Who else could it be, but Cyrus.

Josh: Hey, Cyrus.

Cyrus just sneered at him Josh couldn't understand why.

He opened the door to find the principal sitting at his cluttered desk, eating a jelly doughnut. Obviously not able to speak, he motioned his hand towards the seat.

Josh: Does this have anything to do with the spray paint in the boy's bathroom? Because I swear to God, I did nothing

Principal Morris swallowed the remnants of the jelly mess. He had a little dribbled on his chin.

Josh: Uh, sir, you uh, have a little

But the old man just ignored him.

Principal Morris: It seems to me, Joshua, that you were not listening while I was giving my speech in the auditorium. So I will repeat what I said there. Destruction of the school's property is strictly forbidden.

Josh: But I swear I didn

Principal Morris: Please do not interrupt me. I find it very kind of you to express your feelings for Miss Young, seeing as how she is new and probably very uneasy about her new living situation, I am going to have to ask that you save your artistic expression for the art room.

Josh sat, dumbfounded. I don't care who did this. Whoever they are, I'm going to kill them. They will be dead by the end of the day.

Principal Morris: BUT--

Josh sighed. There's a "but".

Principal Morris: Because I'm sure you were not AWARE of the rules, I'm giving you a break. This time, though. Next time it happens, you will have no such luck.

Josh still felt like arguing, but he resisted the urge.

Josh: Thank you, Mr. Morris.

Principal Morris: You are welcome.

The jelly still lay there on the man's enormous chin.


Josh: Uh, sir, you still have a little

Principal Morris: You may LEAVE now, Joshua. I am a VERY busy man. I'm sure it can wait.

Josh gave up.

Josh: Yeah, it can.

As Josh walked back towards his classroom, he was burning up with anger, that he might explode at any second.

I'm going to kill them.

------------------------------------

[A/N: Eep! Who really wrote the message on the wall? Will Josh really kill the person? And will Principal Morris ever realize he's got a big glob of jelly on his chin? Find out next chapter, on Joshua Gordon.]