So it's been a while I know... but I was sick from school for a few days and I had to make some things up. I have a speech due tomorrow and a big history test on the French Revolution which I didn't pay attention to... The only thing I remember is that Napoleon Bonaparte was only 5'3'... and I'm not even sure....
Anyway... I hope you guys continue to bare with me and read and review.
I'm really trying to present a man that made a mistake that he had to deal with by going to prison and now he has to start his life over without friends, the same neglectful family he was sent away from, and without real love.
But he's been changed to view his life differently, seeing potential.
Walking out of prison on that sunny June day, I viewed the world differently.
I watched on the other side of the prison gates as they closed on everyone else inside while I went home, I was free. Life wasn't just some playground that I could just stomp all over and hope that I can still play on it later. I decided then that I wanted more in life, and that I would stop drinking.
I didn't have anywhere to go that day, except back to my parents' house, so I did. Mom was happy to see me, and dad wasn't home, it was like I never left. Then, when I went to my room, I realized that I missed my senior year of high school.
When I was thrown in jail, my friends ditched me, but I don't care. I just hope that they stop their drinking and driving so they don't end up in prison like I did.
There were three things that I needed to do: get a job, graduate high school, and complete my 400 hours of community service.
I was surprised at how fast the first week of my freedom went, and soon I was in an orange vest on the first of many Saturdays, cleaning up trash on the side of the road. Two hours went by as I collected my complete freedom by picking up little pieces of trash when I bumped into another man, he was the head of this trash duty, a volunteer.
"Hey man," the light skinned African American man nodded to me, a bushy afro swaying from the front to the back.
"Hey," I replied, going back to work.
"You're the drunk driver eh?" he asked quietly, not looking up at me, "you know, I was in your graduating class."
At the remark, I looked at him closely and recognized him, "Yo Chad, how are you doing?" Yes, I had known him. I met him sophomore year, right before I started drinking and started hanging out with the wrong crowd.
"I'm doing well," he smiled lightly at me and shook my hand as we continued to work on the task at hand, "trying to make a living, ya know?"
"I hear that man," I agreed with him with a chuckle, "but what are you doing here?"
"I've done a lot of bad things in my life," Chad grinned a lightly as the comment slipped out, "nothing major, but I feel like giving back."
"That's noble dude," I stabbed a piece of paper and lifted it to the wastebasket.
"The Mrs. and I serve food to the homeless on Sundays too," he looked proud of what he does to help others.
"You married?" I asked; we were only twenty-two.
"Yea, I found the perfect woman for me," Chad smiled widely at the thought of his wife, "we're very happy… What about you? Any lady friends?"
"Nah man, I just got out of prison Monday," shrugging, I shuddered at the thought of ever going back, "I need to get a life again before I look for someone ya know?"
"I got it man," Chad went back to his job as did I and before I knew it, four hours had gone by and I was exhausted. It was finally time to leave around three and I wanted out. There were ninety-nine more Saturdays to complete, great.
I checked my watch and noted that I still had a few hours to look for a job so I left in a hurry and went searching. I checked a music store, a gas station, and a few fast food joints, but no one was hiring, until I found a small grocery store. The pay wasn't great but it was enough to help me save up to be something or do something with my life.
The man running the store, Mr. Rover, told me that I could start on Monday.
Monday was the first real day of my new life because it was going to be about real work and determination. I started my job like anyone else and quickly became a pro at stacking cans and bagging produce. It was only a few days in when a new girl showed up. I was told that she was the niece of Mr. Rover. I didn't see her around until one day when I found her trying to stack a few boxes on the top shelf and her footing slipped, causing her to trip down with only enough time for me to be beneath her and catch her. Shaking a little, she gripped onto my shirt tightly. Her dark brown hair curled down her shoulders and she was so light that I barely flinched as I held her completely off of the ground.
Stuttering, she looked up at my face and froze slightly, "thank you."
I watched her chocolate brown eyes stretch over mine and nodded a silent, 'you're welcome.'
And she just staggered away from me without another word and looked back as she dodged around a corner. I thought to myself that it was strange that such a gorgeous woman would be so shy towards me, but then I concluded that she must have heard about the accident and is scared of me.
I wondered about her for about a week until I officially met her. That time, she was on her own feet, touching the ground.
It wasn't until about ten when the store closed that I found her carrying a few glass bottles, "hey."
She spun around on her toes and dropped two of the four bottles to the ground, "who are you?"
"Relax," I spoke softly and chuckled, "My name is Troy," I extended my hand to her to shake, which she did, timidly.
"Gabriella," she studied my face curiously and took her hand back from mine.
"It's very great to meet you Gabriella," her name rolled of my tongue easily and flew to create a new, brighter atmosphere.
"You too Troy," she smiled, sending a clammy feeling to my palms.
"We should probably clean this mess up," I looked down at the liquid seeping everywhere and the glass shards that were jutting out of the small puddle.
"Oh my gosh," she realized how bad it was and rushed off to find a mop. I looked at the largest shard of glass and read the label. It was an inexpensive white wine.
"I don't like hard liquor," she started mopping but I took the stick from her and did it myself.
"Good," I muttered to myself mostly.
"Why? You like girls that don't drink?" she smirked and giggled a little.
I grinned at the cute laugh and chuckled myself, "yea."
"You're a very different guy," she joked a little and started picking up the larger pieces of glass.
"I've had a very different life," I stared at her continuously without neither a twinge of a smile nor a hint of a frown, we just gazed at each other.
After what felt like a hundred years, she furrowed her eyebrows and concentrated on my face, whispering, "Different isn't always bad."
"It isn't always good either," I told her in a soft voice.
"Do you want to go get coffee with me?" she asked quietly, gazing up at me, "I mean it's the least you can do for breaking my bottles."
"Okay," I nodded slightly and we walked the mop back to the storage area before we headed out together, "you have a car?"
"Not here," she followed me to the parking lot.
"Do you like motorcycles?" I questioned slightly afraid that she wouldn't come with because of my bike.
"Never ridden one," I knew it, she wouldn't do it, "but I'll try."
"Really?" I asked incredulously, looking straight at her and let my eyes drift down over her curves, approving her body and her looks.
"Yea why not?" she shrugged as I handed her a helmet.
"Alright," I smirked, lifting my leg over the seat and starting it, waiting for her to hop on.
A moment later, I felt heat creeping up my back and then her arms wrapped around my waist, "wow you have abs Troy."
"Yea I," I paused, I didn't think that it would be a good idea to tell her straight away about my prison experience, "I work out a lot."
"That's cool," she accepted the excuse and held on tighter.
"Ready?" I asked squeakily, her arms working a sort of magic on my waist.
"Yea," she squeezed even tighter as I kicked up the kickstand and held the accelerator down as we started up right and got on the road.
And the list gets longer.
Alan Klien, Latanya and her husband, Mandy, Harry, Jessica, Beth Anne Hoyme, and David
Jesus is the truth, the way, and the light. Whoever comes to him, will not perish, but have eternal life.
So join me today, and be with me forever in heaven.
Hey new people, you're welcome to post more names, make the list longer.
Tell me what you think.... can you guess who he hit? (I'm not telling.)
