Dear readers: I am so sorry that it takes me so long to update this story. Hopefully, I will continue updating more quickly over the summer vacation. Unfortunately, I don't have much free time during the school year because I am in soccer, dance, pep band, theatre, speech, mock trial, and I try to throw some snowboarding into the mix over winter break, not to mention I take 4 honors courses… So basically, I pretty much suck at life during the school year, but hopefully I will maintain a good update-rate over the summer! -
And to anyone who will still read my story: I truly love you! 3
Santa Fe Lover: I'm glad you enjoy my story, and I really hope that I didn't disappoint you with this next chapter.
Midnight Blue 88: I'm so glad that you enjoyed chapter 2! I really hope I don't disappoint you with this chapter, and between you and me, I had a harder time writing this one.
Brave Wolf: I'm really thrilled that you enjoy the chapters to be more informal and chatty, I tried to write as how I truly thought Bender should be portrayed, and he came out like me, chatty and almost completely unpredictable. I really hope you enjoy this chapter!
Dark o'Bender: I'm so ecstatic about your reviews! They make me feel so important! I love you!
Dark Hearts Collide: Thank you so much for the review! Sometimes, even more than constructive things, we need just a little encouragement and a self-esteem boost, and that's what you do for me!
Lazaefair: First off… I thank you for your review, the second paragraph really stated exactly what I'm trying to portray, and I'm so very glad that my story reflects it. But I don't really think that I have a "quota for reviews". Not in the way that some people do. I only ask for one review before I post my next chapter, so I know if the chapter was liked it or if it wasn't. I'd hate to post multiple chapters written in a way that was boring or uninteresting, and I really feel more comfortable after just a little bit of feedback. I don't think that one review total per chapter is ridiculous, and that's all I ask for. I'm sorry if that frustrates you, but it's the way I write. If you don't feel like reviewing in the future, then please don't. But I want you to know that every review I get is very much appreciated. I hope you continue reading my story, I hope you like it, and I hope you review. But it's entirely your choice.
JB Fan: I'm so happy that you enjoy my style of writing, and I'm glad you find it suitable for a character like John Bender. It happens to be the only way I'm capable of writing, so I'm glad it fits.
Witch Goddess: Finally someone who understands me! You get an extra cookie! (.:.) (chocolate chip) I'm very pleased that you have been excited for this chapter, and I hope I didn't disappoint you with it!
Dani: I was a little disappointed with your threat of stalking me… you never did, silly! I was not disappointed, however, to know that you have loved my story thus far. I hope that affection continues through this chapter! -
TW Basket Case: I love you. I seriously do. You are my inspiration for writing.
blank reviewer: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you like my story. And I like the name you left for me! -
Sango AR: I'm glad you like it, and I'm very pleased that it got you to think a little more about the pre-detention John. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Libster 59: I'm happy you love it. I love you for loving it. Maybe the world isn't so imperfect. -
ANGELS and DEMONS: Good book, by the way. I'm glad you love it and I hope I didn't make you or anyone else wait too long. But then again, I probably did. Oh well.
Sky High Fan: I'm glad you think so! -
Philipa Aleshre: I finally did update… just for you. (not really, I updated for everyone… but you are included in everyone… don't worry) I think it is so cool that you read my story, because I clicked on your page and I saw that everything was in Spanish. And that made me getting thinking… hey, I have a bilingual reviewer! Sweet! So thank you so much for reviewing, and thank you so much for enjoying my stories.
To all my reviewers, especially those mentioned above: Thank you so much. I couldn't write this story without your encouragement, compliments, and constructive criticisms. I love you all dearly, and I am as anxious to read your next reviews as (I hope) you are to read this chapter. And without any more delay, here is Chapter Three. Yey!
Bender's Book
Chapter 3: Worthless Me
So, where was it that I left off? Oh yes. The beginning of Saturday detention on March 24th, 1984. The detention that changed everything; Mr. Vernon, the entire school, my entire life.
I sat down in my usual seat, and I noticed that most of the regulars weren't there. Jack, Steven… even Becky wasn't there; and Becky had been a regular to detention before I had. It was only Alison and yours truly.
At about five minutes after seven, Principal Vernon came in and looked around at all of us. He spoke, sounding as if it offended him to have to speak with us (or maybe it offended him to speak to me). "Well… well. Here we are. I want to congratulate you for being on time." He said the last sentence with such utter sarcasm; it couldn't have been more obvious if Carl, the janitor, was standing next to him holding a sign that read, "He's sarcastic" in big, bold letters.
The little princess girl decided that things would work out better for her if she interrupted him. This little action showed that she had clearly never been to a detention ever before. She raised her hand and told Mr. Vernon, "Excuse me sir? I think there's been a mistake. I know this is detention, but I don't think that I belong in here!"
Dick decided to just ignore Cherry (that's what I called her from then on, because her hair was as red as the cherries you buy from the grocery store; as red as the paint I spilled in the garage). He continued talking down to us, speaking like he would speak to a group of five-year-olds. "It is now seven-oh-six. You have exactly eight hours and fifty-four minutes to think about why you are in here. To ponder the error of your ways."
I was getting a little annoyed with Mr. Vernon. It wasn't just that he was being so disrespectful, but he was repeating the same pre-Saturday-detention speech he gives every weekend. To get my annoyance to be felt across the room, I leaned back in my chair, spit, and caught it in my mouth. Maybe it wasn't appropriate, but I don't really care. You get what you give. Dick didn't give any respect, so he didn't get any respect. That's life.
In my head, I started following along with Dick's speech. You may not talk. You will not move from those seats. And you. I looked up at him, and sure enough, he was a foot away from my face. "Will not sleep." He said, as if it was a dramatic sentence that would torment me for the next eight hours and fifty-four minutes.
"All right people, we're going to try something a little different today." Essay. Was the first thing that popped into my mind. "We're going to write an essay." By "we" does he include himself as well? Because, grammatically speaking, he does.
"Of no less than a thousand words." Is he planning on counting every word of all five essays? And does he honestly expect 1,000 words to fit on one piece of notebook paper?
"It will describe who you are." He said, drawing it out.
"Is this a test?" I asked him. Obviously, I wasn't referring to the essay itself, but rather the topic. Describe who you are, what was this, a test of character? It's not as if anything we say will change what he thinks of us. I could imagine the look on his face if he were to ever read an essay of what I thought about myself.
My name is John Bender Jr. I am an only child, but I've always wished that I had a younger sibling. A responsibility to worry for. A reason to live. Who would expect that? No one, I guess. Maybe that is because no one expects anything from me. I've always been told that I'm worthless, by my parents, by my friends, and by you, Dick. But worse than that: I have even told myself that I'm worthless. I could describe my looks to you, brown hair and brown eyes. I could describe my home environment for you, broken down and shitty. But to describe who I am, well, you already know my answer. Worthless. It takes only one word, not one thousand. But that one word that I would use, would have more impact than any number of words strung together. Because I, John Bender Jr., am truly and utterly worthless.
I'm going to take a break from my story to tell you something about that paragraph. Yes, it's true. Every word of that was tied in with every fiber of my being. I thought that about myself. But I don't anymore. I feel needed now; I feel important. But I can't tell you exactly what changed me yet; it'd ruin my story. And mine is one that is much too good to ruin.
A/N: Well, there it is. I made the next chapter and I hope it fits. And let me talk to you about something that I have experienced over the months that I spent not working on this story. It's called instant karma. If you do something bad, such as not reviewing, something bad happens to you. I let you imagine or experience (but hopefully you won't) all the terrible things that could happen to you, and after a moment of thought, you should come to the correct decision of not taking a chance with karma. Review please, my homies.