Chapter 9
Jesse sat in his chair, looking at the inedible pile of muck in front of him. He looks up at Stanley with a what-am-I-supposed-do-with-this look. Stanley shrugged like he was sorry, "sorry man, that's all we get" he said and dove back into his food. Jesse looked back down and hopelessly dove in. It didn't taste too bad, kind of like cold, wet crackers. Jesse almost gagged on it. Everyone at the table looks at him. "So man, what'd you do"? X-Ray asked. Jesse looked up at him like he didn't know what he talking about, his food hanging out of his mouth. "What"? He asked. X-Ray and Armpit laughed. "You know, what'd you do to get here"? Asked a Hispanic boy. Jesse stopped eating and looked at everyone, Stanley and Zero didn't, they just ate their food. "I don't think he wants to talk about it" the Hispanic boy said tauntingly. Jesse looked back down at his food and started eating again. "Yeah, I think he it makes him sad. Its okay man, you can talk to me about it" he said again laughing. Stanley glared at him, "shut up Magnet" he said, "Jesse, I forgot to introduce you to the guys" he said. "This is Magnet, he said pointing to the Hispanic boy. "And that's Zigzag" he said pointing to a tall boy with extremely wild hair. "And that's Squid" he said pointing to a tall boy with a toothpick in his mouth. "Sup"? Said Squid. "And you already X-Ray and Armpit and Zero" he said. Jesse nodded.
In the Wreck Room, Jesse watched everyone play pool and watch TV. He sat in the corner all by himself. For a while he watched Zigzag, Squid, X-Ray and Magnet play pool. Zigzag and Squid were winning. "Yeah man, we're kicking your guys' asses" Squid said. "Shut the hell up" X-Ray said, looking like he was about to punch him. Jesse figured he was a sore loser. He turned over to Stanley and Zero, sitting on the couch. Stanley was holding many pieces of paper and Zero would read them off. Jesse figured he couldn't read. It made him think differently of him. There was nothing else to do. He tried to keep his mind off Katie as much as possible. He didn't want to cry again. But what he'd give to just to see her again. Hear her voice again. He kept shaking his head to lose the sad thoughts. It didn't work well. "You okay there Jesse"? Asked Stanley from across the room. Jesse came to life as we was spacing out. "Yeah. I'm fine" he lied. "Come on guys. Time for bed" Mr. Pendanski said.
Jesse layed in bed, looking at the ceiling. X-Ray and Armpit were laughing hysterically and talking very loudly. "Man guys. Shut the hell up" said Squid from right next to Jesse. They didn't stop. Their laughter echoed the room. "No man, tomorrow, let's put a fake lizard in that new guy's hole" said X-Ray. "Dude, he can hear you" Armpit aiming his head at Jesse. They both looked at him. Jesse didn't move, he stared at the ceiling. "Rex. Theodore. Go to sleep" said Mr. Pendanski. They did so. Jesse continued to stare at the ceiling as if he was in a trance. He thought about Katie. The first time they met. And when they would meet every night in Katie's backyard and watch the stars. He remembered the first time they held hands. The first time they saw a movie together. It was 8 years ago they met. Wow, has it really been that long? Jesse thought. They were both 7 years old, at the park. They spotted each other. Jesse thought she was very cute and walked up to her.
"Do you want to play tag"? He asked her. Katie looked up at him and smiled, "sure. Can I Mom"? She said. "Yeah, go ahead" her mom said. Katie got up and tagged Jesse, "you're it"! She said running away. "Okay" he said and began running like wild and missed several times before he got her. "HA, got ya"! H said. They continued for several minutes. Jesse stopped to catch his breath but was suddenly forced onto the ground. "Got ya" Katie said. Jesse slightly groaned, "wow, you're really strong for a girl" he said. "Thanks. You're really weak for a boy" she said laughing. She let go of him and fell on the grass and so did Jesse.
"Look at that cloud! It looks a potato"! Jesse said, pointing to it. Katie looked at him like he was crazy, "they all look like potatoes! Potatoes have no shape"! she said laughing. Jesse joined her and laughed too. "So what's you're name"? Jesse said after he was done laughing several minutes later. "Katie. What's yours"? She said. "Its Jesse" he said. They both smiled at each other. "what school do you go to"? Katie said after a while. "Lake Hills" he said. Katie dropped her mouth, "I'm going there in the fall"! I'll see you there"! she said. "Cool"! Jesse said. They both smiled at each other again, the picture froze. Jesse didn't let it go.
How much he missed Katie. There was an empty hole in him. He thought there was nothing to fill it. He didn't think he'd be happy again. He didn't want to remember any more. It'd only make him sadder. The whole tent was silent except for the sound of Jesse crying. They went into his mouth, they were salty. He wished someone would take him out of this terrible place. Less then a day, he'd been there and already he was miserable. Katie wasn't there. The hole in him was empty and there was nothing to fill it. Nothing.