Very rarely did I ever do my homework alone. Howard and I always went over to each other's homes after school whether there's homework or not. Today, Wednesday evening, the Weinerman's went out to eat for his father's birthday. His family likes me for the most part, (I'm not sure about Heidi. Tolerate might be a better word.) but they are eating at a Chinese restaurant and I don't like Chinese much.
Anyway, Mr. Bannister had introduced the mythology unit Monday and had assigned a paper due tomorrow and I really need to do it. It just needs to be a paragraph or two about Norrisville myths and or legends. Apparently in order to understand the past cultures myths, we needed to know how ours started or something like that. My first thought was Mudfart, a previous student a long time ago named Jason Myers who drowned in the swamp after embarrassing himself in front of the whole school. It's a pretty good campfire story that I have entirely memorized.
The unfortunate thing is that there had been a sign-up sheet and all the familiar stories had been taken; we were supposed to sign up last Friday. Some of the options were Catfish Man who lives in the Norrisville forest, the lonely cowboy ghost who wanders the streets, the typical ghoul types in the graveyard and so on so forth. The last ones left were the evil deity that lives in the sewers and something called Sosarah. I had never heard of the last one before and since I was going to look it up out of curiosity anyway, I figured I might as well do my report on it.
I type the word into the search box; absolutely nothing. I tack on 'Norrisville' at the end and press the enter button. The second link down seems to be relevant. The webpage has a dark purple background and the header reads: THE SUPERNATURAL PAST OF NORRISVILLE USA. I nearly hit the back arrow after reading the description. It looked like some conspiracy blog with the most recent entry "Attack of the Killer Potatoes", but the subcategories were promising.
HUMANOIDS/ CREATURES/ UNEXPLAINED EVENTS/ LOCATIONS
SEARCH:
Not knowing what a 'Sosarah' even is, I use the search function. An article comes up with the same name.
SOSARAH
During the 1880s the first Japanese settlers arrived in America and, eventually, the town of Norrisville. With them they brought their folklore, part of which were the Yōkai. Yōkai (妖怪, "apparitions", "spirits" or "demons") are a class of supernatural monsters that cover a board range of characteristics. In this case, there is a sub-category of han'yo (half-demons) where an Yōkai and a human produce offspring.
During the eighties Norrisville was a small, rural town prone to superstition. They told the story of a han'yo that secretly lived among in human form. If angered, it would transform into a terrible monster and kill the offender. There are many Yōkai that "transform into something horrific and grotesque usually during an extremely emotional state (source)" but this one was unique in that it had a special power to temporarily force its transforming ability on to normal people. This story likely spread to encourage neighbors to be friendly to each other.
The tale eventually caught on with English speakers and they added their own elements to it. First of all is the name. Sōsarā is how the Japanese Kanji are pronounced; in English it was spelled 'Sosarah' with an H at the end. As time went on, Sosarah morphed into 'Sorcerer' because of the similar pronunciation. After this the figure became more of a shape-shifting magician with a magical belt that used people's life force for power. The Sorcerer became popular when an author with the initials P.P wrote a short story where the most influential family of Norrisville (the Norisu's,) challenged the Sorcerer to a duel and defeated him; burying him alive in a now forgotten chamber beneath Norrisville.
The article went on to report supposed sightings and how the myth was forgotten over the years… but holy cheese. I sat there stunned for a moment. It just explains so much. The only part the article left out was the ninja scarf. It seems likely that the scarf and Sorcerer are related. Was the Norisu family the original ninjas?
I write my English paper as quickly as possible with my bruised hand. There had been a stanking today; Pradeep, a French horn player, had transformed when someone played a prank on him involving spiders. The incident was minor, but he stepped on my sword hand aka my writing hand. I scroll to the bottom of the page. The author's name is Mac Antfee; I've never heard of him but I'll keep it in mind. There's still a lot more I want to know. My next thought is that I have to tell Howard of what I learned; maybe he will have some ideas.
Well I did enough homework for one day, time to play videogames.
That next morning I overslept my alarm, which in turn gave me no chance to talk to Howard before school began. In my first hour class, Algebra, we sit on opposite sides of the room which made science class our first chance to talk because were sit at the same table.
"Cunningham! Where were you?" Howard whispered angrily.
"He he… sorry. But I have something really important to tell you!" Mrs. Driscoll asks everyone to pull out our worksheets. Whoops. There were worksheets? "The Sorcerer is real!"
"Um? We kinda know that already, unless you think you got your chicken wings from Santa Claus." He said irritably.
"No not like that and they're not chicken," I hate chickens, "chickens can't fly."
"You can't either."
"I… kinda can." Howard rolled his eyes. "What I meant was that I found historical proof! And I think I know why he's interested in Norrisville and our school!"
He was about to say something when a human skeleton appeared between us.
"Is there something you would like to share with the class?" Its jaws moved, but it was actually the teacher speaking. Jerry, the skeleton, is her late husband and she carries him around for some reason. I really hope that isn't his actual bones; that'd be schnasty.
"No… sir." I replied. We also have to pretend like he's alive.
"Just make sure you pay attention." Mrs. Driscoll placed some papers on our table and walked to the front of the room.
"Now class, two weeks from now we are going on the annual freshman field trip to McFist industries. Make sure you have your legal guardian sign the slip by then." Mrs. Driscoll was now the one talking.
"Now then, Dave. What is your answer for number one?"
On the way to PE, I fill Howard in on the specifics of the webpage. "I think THE SORCERER IS TRYING TO TAKE OVER NORRISVILLE."
"Pfft, are you pulling my cheese." Howard laughs. He actually laughs I cannot believe this.
"He killed the other ninja and now he's after me! Why else would his magic be in the school?"
"I don't know; I just don't understand how you think he wants to rule the world. Having a grudge against ninjas, ok, but world domination?"
"I never said the world, just the town." Alright, maybe that is a little drastic, but why else would he be after the Ninja?
"Hey, you might be right, but I don't want you to be distracted over nothing tonight." He says with a wicked smile.
"What's happening tonight?"
"Tonight… Tonight we TP P Slimz house." Now it was my turn to laugh.
"C'mon! That is sooo three years ago." We enter the locker room, continuing the conversation in hushed tones. Toilet papering people's houses used to be the thing, but everyone and their brother has done it. Only a shoob would do something so un-cool.
"Just hear me out. This will probably get school wide coverage. My sister would cover it on her show." Howard leans closer. "You know how OCD he is. He might not even show up to school, trying to clean up the mess. And do you know what tomorrow is?" I shake my head, not sure where he was going with this. "Math test! P Slimz wouldn't leave that for a substitute."
"Ahhhh." I say in understanding. Maybe this won't be un-bruce afterall. "I like it. I like it. So how'd you think this one up?"
By now we had dressed in the white and blue gym uniforms. Most wore shorts and a t-shirt, but there's also an alternate long sleeve and sweatpants combo. I have to wear long sleeves. Even though the strange ninja tattoos on my arms aren't always around, the wings come past the sleeves on a t-shirt. I'm glad it's fall now, because summer is going to be a killer.
"First of all, I am the Mastermind of Schemes," I nod. Howard does come up with ingenious plots- occasionally. "and second… it actually wasn't my idea. Der Monster Klub talked to me about this morning which you wouldn't know 'cause you were LATE."
"Say what now?"
"Don't deny it Cunningham. You were so late that-"
"I meant the club thing." The question was too late. Coach Green was already telling us about the new, exciting, and totally dangerous PE event for the day.
"You'll see at lunch."
I'm still confused, but today's game of 'hopscotch with a flamethrower' keeps my mind otherwise occupied.
When lunch rolls around and Howard starts walking away from our normal table I become a little concerned.
"Howard, where are we going?"
"We're meeting the Klub."
"What Kl-" I begin, but it's painfully obvious who this 'club' is. In the far corner, four students sit conspiratorially. They are Julian, Dave, Juggo and Theresa, some of the most unpopular kids in my grade. Although, I had never really thought of Theresa as unpopular, she was just one of those people who faded into the background. You know? People who aren't part of the student council or a sport like football or gymnastics, who aren't a trouble maker and are quiet in class? That's Theresa. I think we did a project once in middle school together.
And Howard was willingly sitting here? He must be really unprepared for this math test. I mean, I am too, but we have a rep to keep up here. Or at least, we want to have a rep. It's only the second week of high school after all.
"Heeello gentlemen," He winks at Theresa, "And lady. You guys ready for the prank of the year?" Howard loves being dramatic. He sits closest to Julian, who is in a chair at the head of the table; I sit between my best friend and Juggo. Theresa is across from me.
"Indeed," Julian grins… evilly? He may dress like an eccentric undertaker, but 'evilly' may be too extreme a description. "Dazzle us with your brilliant plan," he continues with dramatic hand gestures.
"Okay. First we-" I cut Howard off.
"For the love of cheese can someone explain what's going on here! Do you guys not want to take the math test either?" Juggo draws a breath as if to answer, but it is Julian who gives the run down.
"No. We have much greater purpose in mind! Have you heard of the recent monster attacks?"
"Um, yeah?"
"Though the school publicly denies this, students are turning into monsters and no one knows the cause. The Monster Klub has come together," Julian leans across the table, "to learn how to harness that power for ourselves."
My jaw drops. I look at Howard and he is equally shocked.
"Unfortunately, we haven't figured it out yet. Our plans for revenge nonetheless must go on." I choke out a response.
"Revenge for what?"
"Stevens plays the sad trombone every time I mess up my juggling." Juggo looks down at the table sadly, which is ironic because he's dressed as a clown.
"And Bash makes fun of my accordion playing." Dave adds.
A fist banging on the table startles us.
"PRINCIPAL SLIMOVITZ BROKE UP MY TWIRLING TEAM." Theresa glares at me as if I had something to do with it. "He did it to pay for the damage the monsters did." Well, maybe it kinda is my fault. She still has her twirling baton even though the principal had asked for them to be returned.
"So that's why we're TPing P Slimz? Sounds legit." Howard is back to his usual unfazed self. Julian nods.
"What about you Julian?" My voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Hm? Oh, I just want to help my friends here. If we learn how to transform ourselves it would make revenge so much easier."
"Okay. We're going to need at least twenty rolls and I think ten p.m. will be the best time to pull it off." I can't believe Howard is still going to help them plan this.
I've totally checked out of the conversation. Julian is insane! If he had ever seen the chimeras he would have seen that they had no control. Anyway, TPing a house is pretty harmless; what would he do as a couple hundred pound animal?
"Hey, Randy." Theresa isn't as mad looking now. "You okay? You look a little pale."
"Nah. I'm fine."
"I think we should fork his lawn too." Howard declares. There are murmurs of agreement.
"Don't you think it's a little suspicious the Ninja showed up the same day of the attack?" She's talking to me again.
"Well…"
"I guess we wouldn't need a ninja without the monsters but still. I wonder if knows the secret behind them." Theresa says thoughtfully.
"Do you blame him then? For the monsters showing up, I mean."
"No. I actually think he's pretty cool. I wish I could have seen him this week, all I saw were pictures."
"Really?"
We spend the rest of lunch discussing Ninja theories. I make stuff up or just agree with what she says. Howard and Julian finalized their plans for tonight and I'm going to join them even though Julian creeps me out. It's not like I can leave Howard alone with them and… I wouldn't mind talking to Theresa again.