Chapter 1:

The Door that is Red

People have always thought me weird for living with my teacher. It is a bit weird, however. I don't blame them. Not a bit. But when strange people that probably know my teacher from somewhere come over to visit, they don't use words like "strange". Instead, they use "charming" or "cute" though they're probably just talking about the house itself. It is a good house that people say look nice to live in. They stay and stay and touch our furniture without permission. Every now and then, a strange person who smells like cat fur or is wearing a shirt that looks like it's on backwards comes up to me and tells me that I should feel thankful for living in such a nice place and then they tease me saying that there is no need to run away this time. Each time I'm usually too caught up in the person's abnormality to hear much of what they are saying, but I still smile and nod because they think I'm a good boy.

The door to my teacher's house is red. It is traditionally a color that is inviting and pleasing to the eye. That is what teacher tells me. However, I really hate the door because it is red. It is one of the things I hate about this house that everyone says looks nice to live in. I don't hate all things that are red, though. I once had a red balloon that teacher brought me, and I loved it forever until it eventually popped in my hands. It's just that this door reminds me of shirts. The last shirt I remember seeing my father wear was red. And so, I hate our door that is red. I once asked my teacher to change its color and I didn't think he heard me, but he did.

"Red doors are welcoming," he says, "they make people want to come in."

Well, I hate it for that reason, too.

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Author's Notes: Okay, I won't lie to you. When I was first conceptualizing this story, it had nothing to do with Eva. So why did I change my mind? well,

1. I've been wanting to do an Evangelion story for a really long time.

2. Shinji fits as the lead character perfectly.

3. I wanted people to read this story.

Anyway, this story details Shinji's life from when he is 9 to when he's 14 (it'll be shorter than you think). Think of them as sort of diary entries...or...memories. Whichever. The chapters will usually be pretty short, and will mostly focus on Shinji. Hopefully, some of them will even make you think a little. My goal is to provide a sort of background to the actual series (or at least to Shinji), and if I'm successful, I would have carved the image of a child that hates the color red into the Shinji we know today. If I could, I'd like to do one about Asuka, too......but maybe not.

Hrmm... what else is there to say?

Well, I'll try to finish this soon, and thank you for deciding to read this (or at least kill some time by giving it a try). =b

Now go ahead and read some more chapters, but for now, ja.

-- serendipity do da