1. Runaway by Kiwi_R0x
2. Sal, Chan, Jake, And Rachel by Kiwi_R0x
HERE’S WHATCHA NEED TO KNOW:
ALRIGHT GOOD TO GO:
It’s been nine days since my mother ran away, my father always said she’ll come back, but I’m not to sure anymore. I want to keep thinking she’s working late; or missed her train, maybe on a business trip. She wouldn’t just leave me, would she? She loves me so much, and daddy too. There’s no way she’d just leave, without saying goodbye to me in person. The last day I remember so well, She kept wanting me to get out of the house with her, I suppose it was Mother/Son time again on the calendar, and me being my 13 year old self, with homework, friends, and that new ‘Go Away Parents’ non-written rule buzzing through my mind…Couldn’t she see I didn’t want to be with her that one day? Out of the rest 364 days, I’d want to, but I was in a bad mood; and usually it’s sunny when she wants to go outside with me; but it was pouring down outside. I got really mad at her, and I kinda shouted at her… You see, it went like this…
(The day before Yumi ran away) February 19th
(The day before Yumi ran away) February 19th“Come on now, Sam!” Mom called to me.
“Not now ma! Kinda busy at the moment!”
“Alright, Alright.”
My momma was pregnant with my baby sister, and only 2 months into it…My parents told me that if I was “a good boy” I’d have the honor of naming her. I actually wanted to do that, have a tighter friendship with my sister than most brothers have.
It was a drizzle Saturday morning; when my daddy didn’t work. By work, I mean, on the “farm” we had on the side of our house.
The land was HUGE that we actually owned! We had 20,000 acres of land for us to use, and us alone.
Our house was usually quiet; it was a small humble 2 story house in the wonderful plains of Texas.
Our backyard wasn’t really the big part, it was the rest. We had a few trees here and there, and this one tree.
Ooh, I liked this one tree. I KNOW! It sounds weird! Me, a 13 year old boy, supposing more interested in girls is here, talking about trees, but this one tree. Oh, man. The best tree ever. One of a kind; I loved it. Ever since I was three years old I climbed it, swung on it, or just chilled up there. I had no tree-house, I’d just sit on a limb and read, do my homework, listen to music, or just look up to the great sky or stars above me, looking so close I could easily grab them in my palm.
It was a maple tree; and probably the biggest tree we had on our land. There was a couple in better shape, a couple with brighter leaves, most of them looked like they were happier, but I was drawn to that tree, and so was my momma, but my daddy didn’t really care for it. He would never cut it down or anything, he’d just never sit with me on that tree, or lie beneath the tree with me.
In fact…my daddy did almost nothing with me.
It was always “Your momma needs this” or “Business is going great” or “Not now son, I’m busy” and then he comes in five minutes later asking ma if she had anything for his bored self to do.
I always felt that my daddy never loved me, and is just in that house because of momma. He probably didn’t care for me either, and knew that if he abused me, Momma wouldn’t love him anymore, and off she would go.
I didn’t give a care, nope. Dad can be like that if he wants, because I sware, that tree was for me more than he’ll ever be. Oh. My. God. That tree was my lover; my best friend; my parents; my pet; my angel, all mixed together in a plant mother nature put perfectly in the land my name owned.
Other than that tree, I had other beautiful things in that yard; the rose bushes, the rabbit hut; the birdhouse. Everything you could ever imagine we had in that not-yet back yard.
I don’t really know what happened to my daddy’s parents, Daddy never told me, and I really think he never will. Momma doesn’t even know, and that’s not a very good topic to pick on, because she will possibly scream at him why she can’t know, and Daddy would just get up, and walk away, not to be seen for another hour or so.
One time, he wasn’t seen for a week. He said he came back because he loved her. He said nothing about me. Just her, and that was it.
On the OTHER side of the family, Granny Salamanca, and Grand pop Chanhassen were great nature lovers, and that actually loved me. More than daddy ever will. I bet that tree loves me more that he will even pretends to love me.
I was just sitting at my desk, trying to finish this book for English class that I already forgot the name of. I was so…so…close….when-
“Ricky dear! You know you should probably get something for us to eat tonight, I don’t have enough for all of us to have a proper mean tonight.” I heard mom walk away from my door, and then I heard footsteps come back up.
“Sonny?”
“Dad?”
KNOCK
“Can I come in?”
“Sure Dad.”
Daddy swung the door open with a pretend loving look on his face,
“Would you like to come with me to pick something out to eat tonight?”
“…I don’t know dad…I have to read this book for English before Wednesday or-“
“…How long is that book?”
“…245 pages.”
“What’s today again?”
“Saturday…”
“And what page are you on?”
“…twenty-five.”
“Meaning you’d have 220 pages to read afterwards huh?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Aww, sonny, we haven’t done anything for the longest time! Besides, let’s give mom her space.”
Ooh, ‘give mom her space’ is a big deal, and I knew what that meant.
Mom was going to smack us if we didn’t do what she said, with her being pregnant and all, she needed to be alone sometimes; just to think about that new…cute little girl she’ll bring into the world.
Ew, okay…back to story.
”Yes, sir! Right away sir!”
And what exactly did he mean for ‘the longest time’? Hello! Daddy, you can just say since I was born! We’ve done NOTHING since that day! NEVER!
Alright, what kinda annoyed me is…I sware my daddy doesn’t even know my own name. It’s always “Sonny” Or “Buddy” OR “Little Boy” (When I’m in trouble) or, “Mister Stern.”
Mister Stern was used when my daddy was talking about me getting married or anything about the future.
Mr. Stern the president, Mr. Stern the famous doctor, Mr. Stern the best actor in America! He ALWAYS had to over do me. Always.
I put my shoes on and watched my mom and dad swat some spit for about five minutes, and who KNOWS where that would’ve gone if momma reminded my daddy I was standing in the room.
“Go on now, boys.” She said to me and kissed my cheek, “Us girls will be just fine. Just…don’t hook up with any girlfriends, my Sammy boy, I wanna meet the girlie first.”
OH I HATED THAT! They seriously believe I’m gonna pick up some real girls with my dad next to me? Ha! Ha! Ha! NO!
“Of course, Momma.” I smiled at her, “Don’t forget about Blackberry.”
Okay, I’m not quite sure about the whole plant deal in my family, it’s just…we have this huge urge to name everything a plant or fruit (Except Daddy, of course) and Blackberry was our best bunny rabbit. Remember? We don’t have a rabbit hut for NOTHING!
Blackberry was a black rabbit with white spots on his left eye, right tip of his hear, a huge spot on his back, and a huge…glob like thing on his tail.
…I didn’t name him! Mom did! Know that NOW!
“Of course…”
Blackberry was also a girl…so the ladies ruled the household.
Big time.
So me and daddy walked down the steps to his big blue pickup truck.
“Where are we gonna go daddy?”
“Just down the street to Benvards.”
“…I don’t like Benvar-“
“YES you do, now- wait, you don’t?” My daddy closed the door for me, and opened his.
“No, I don’t.” I answered, looking at the door, Mommy wasn’t there.
“Since when?”
“…Ever…”
“Really? So why did you always eat it when I brought it home?”
“Because…I thought….you’d be mad at me if I didn’t.”
“Are you okay Sonny?”
“Sam.”
“What?”
“My name is Sam.”
“Something bothering you, Sam?”
“…Yes, dad. Yes.”
“What is it?” He said driving, looking at the road and then glancing at me.
“You.”
“Me? What did I ever do to you?!”
“THAT’S JUST IT DAD! You’ve never done anything with me! You don’t even PRETEND to care about it anymore!” I wailed.
I felt the car stop; and I knew we weren’t at Benvards yet. And then a palm on my shoulder.
“ I know I’ve been fussing for awhile, son.” He told me, “But I love you…”
“No. You love Momma.”
“Yes, I love her too.”
“Just- can we get going?”
“I’m sorry sonny.”
“That okay, Ulrich.”
My dad let out a grump.
He didn’t like being called by his first name it was “Ricky” or “Mr. Stern” and for some lucky ladies “Baby” and I’m saying “lucky ladies” as in, not just my momma.
The trip back was totally dead silent.
It kinda scared me. He’s planning my death! ALREADY!
We came back, and put the food on the table.
…We went to Henlands, a chicken place other than Benvards, a cheaper place in prices and food.
Momma was on the couch watching TV, but jumped up hearing us open the door.
“Hello there my two favorite boys.” She kissed my dad once more, and hugged me, Blackberry in her other hand.
“Blackberry missed you, Sammy boy.” She said handing me, my pet rabbit.
“Blackberry.” I smiled and looked at my bunny, as she licked my nose, “I missed you too.”
“Now, how about you bring that bunny wabbit outside and we-“
“Mom, it is RAINING outside, don’t you see I just don’t want to go? When you realize that, you let me know.” I know it sounded like random rudeness, but I was already on my bad side with my dad.
I heard my mom sigh, but it wasn’t a regular one, it was a saddened one.
Daddy, now known as Ulrich, cuddled her and whispered to her.
But by the next morning, my momma was gone.
She left a note:
Dear Family,I just need to get away, I’ll be back quite shortly, give me a week or two, life’s being mean again to me. Don’t worry though, I’ll be back. I promise.
Love,
Momma
Promise my foot.
Promise my foot.Ulrich came running to me with the note tears in his eyes.
“Sonny, Yumi’s ran away.”
“Oh dear, the one and only person you love in the world has gone away, now you have nothing but the rabbit you hate, and the son you can’t stand.” I replied.
He gave me a look.
“I already knew, I woke up three hours ago.”
Ulrich looked at the clock.
“At four this morning?”
I shrugged.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“..Oh…”
Ulrich turned back and walked to the kitchen,
I could tell this was for the worst.
Something bad was gonna happen.
Well, Journal. That’s pretty much all I can tell ya for now. I have to go now. Dinner Time!
My daddy left a week ago, and successfully made it to his destination, New Hampshire. Why New Hampshire? Maybe because it’s a pretty far distance from me and my daddy.
How did she expect to come back…in a week?
From Capital to Capital, Austin Texas, and Concord New Hampshire, there was 1,694 miles of road and whatnot all the way.
Yeah, I did my research. AND luckily, I found out we’re a little closer than that. My daddy and I rented our house (By we, I mean him) and we moved to Florida. Which makes the new record: 1,127 miles.
I am in the car with Sal and Chan when I remember…this…story…about Jake. Oh, this is a story I wanted to share.
“Jake?” Sal asked, as she turned to look at me.
It would have been scary if Chan wasn’t driving.
“Yes, Jake. He was my best friend…You know, Here, in Florida...” I answered.
“Didn’t you say you had this story about him?”
“…Well yeah.”
“Then tell us, Sammy Boy.” Chan looked at my from the mirror, and looked back at the road, “Don’t feel like you’re gonna run outta time, cuz trust your old man here. It’s gonna take awhile.”
“Remind me why we’re going in a car?” Sal asked.
“Dearest!” Chan shouted, “Let’s see this part of ‘Mmmerica with our favorite grandson.”
“I’m you’re only grand son.” I reminded him.
“And the best.” Chan winked at me, “Now, go on. What about Jon?”
“…Jake…”
“Yeah, Jake, that’s what I said.”
“Yeah, well…”
Right after my momma left, daddy and I didn’t talk to each other much after that whole note thing.
Right after my momma left, daddy and I didn’t talk to each other much after that whole note thing.I couldn’t tell if it was because my momma “left him” or if it was because he was stuck with me. The one he doesn’t like to very much.
I went to school, and I never talked to anyone about my mom. They didn’t need to know.
Emerald missed me. I know she did. I feel like an idiot namin’ that tree, Emerald, but I didn’t wanna say “That tree” through the entire thing, but I down right made up the name.
I didn’t climb Emerald for the two weeks after my momma left. I locked myself in my room, afraid of the outside world.
Finally, three months later, Daddy told me two words I’ll never want to hear again: “We’re moving.”
Moving?! MOVING?! What if momma comes back, huh? What is she is coming back right this second and we’re gone! She’ll have no idea where we went!
“MOVING?!” I shouted, “Nah ah. Not happenin’.”
“Sonny, this isn’t your decision, I’m the adult in this household and I what I say goes. We’re moving, and I really don’t care you don’t like it.”
“But…
“Listen, Little boy…”
Oh, I’m in trouble now.
“I know you’re in pain, I know you don’t want to leave, but your momma haunts this place, she’s in everything. The plants, the books, I can hardly look at you without crying.” He stated, hugging me.
I pulled out of the huge quickly.
“What if she comes back?” I asked.
Ulrich came and held me close and whispered to my ear,
“...Son- Sammy Boy. Yumi isn’t coming back.”
“OH!!!” Granny Sal yelled, and also interrupted my story, “Sorry to interrupt Sammy, but we’re in good ‘ol Georgia, now!”I looked out the window and sure enough I saw the Sign:
Say Goodbye to Florida! You’re in Georgia!
“I wanna see that river every-dang-body was talking so smoothly ‘bout.” Chan said.
“Altamaha?” I asked. Or…I…think I said it right…
“That’s the one!!”
I sighed and rolled my eyes, that’s my grand-pop for ya.
“Oh, okay. Continue you’re story.” Sal stated.
“Alright…”
So, off we went out to Florida and on the 2nd day there, Daddy got a job, and I went to school.
So, off we went out to Florida and on the 2nd day there, Daddy got a job, and I went to school.…I hate being new. I hate all the attention.
“Well, class. My wonderful 3rd period class.” The female teacher swooned, “We have a new student.”
I walked inside, oh my gosh. Were all classes this small?
There was twenty living things in that classroom. Subtract 1 for me, 1 for the teacher, 3 for the plants, and 4 for the hamsters I saw in the back of the room.
That’s right. 11 students looked at me. What a small class…I could like this.
“Tell us you’re name!” A kid shouted at me…or maybe I’d hate this for the rest of my life.
“Sam. Sam Stern.”
“Well, Sam. Take a seat next to Rachel. She’s a nice girl.”
Rachel waved at me with a smile on her lips.
If I didn’t know any better I’d say she had a crush on me. Already.
I sat between Rachel and Jen, behind Jake, and in front of Darla.
Ahh! There was wayyyy to many girls in that classroom!
All the dang HAMSTERS were girls.
“Well, I am Ms. Clincher.”
“Clincher?” I repeated, “Doesn’t that mean…kiss of death?”
She laughed at me, but nodded.
“Yes it does.”
“You never told us that!” Rachel bellowed.
“You never asked!”
Oh dear. A teacher that acts like this just creeps me out.“Okay, so welcome to my best class, Sam. They’re my favorite class. My 3rd period class.”
“Okay, so welcome to my , Sam. They’re my favorite class. My 3rd period class.”“Ummm…okay.”
“We’re her favorite class because we’re the smallest.” Jake informed, “Hey, I’m Jake, by the way.”
He stuck his hand out and I shook it. Jake was brunette, like me, but he had blue eyes as I had green. He had shorter hair than I, and it seemed clobbered with gel, as I let mine go any which way it wants to.
Everyone said I looked like my dad. Oh my god, am I really THAT ugly inside?!
“That’s not true, Jake.” Ms. Clincher stated, “You’re my favorite class because you’re my favorite students. Now, take out your journals.”
Jen shot her arm up.
“Yes, Jen?”
“That’s not fair. Sam wasn’t here. He didn’t have to do it.”
“Oh, he will.” Ms. Clincher said in a little of a creepy voice.
Jen’s the whiner. I already knew that, but, oh, was she pretty. She had shoulder length blonde hair that complimented her slightly round chin, her figure was almost model-like, her eyes were light blue, and..Ohh…did I mention her model like figure?
“She’s Jen.” Jake told me, “That’s Darla you sit in front of…and, well, Rachel, you know her.”
“Well, instead of making you turn in your journals today, I’ll let you write something to Sam, here. Something you want him to know about you, and for his journal, he’ll write you all back.”
“That’s a lot of writing…” a kid on the other part of the classroom stated.
“That’s alright.” I answered, “I like writing.”
“Good, then you’ll like my English class.” And with that, Ms. Clincher walked behind her desk and what looked like, scribbled on papers.
I just sat there…talking with some people that were already talking to me.
Okay, so here are the people in my class: Rachel, Darla, Jake, Jen, Blake, Will, Jess, Heather, Gloria, Anna, and Lara.
I told you there were too many girls.
Jen, Heather, and Lara…I hate to admit, were really pretty.
Rachel was super smart, and I liked her light brown hair and the layers it was cut it, it made her…kinda…well…cute.Darla was the 7th grade cheerleading captain, so you can just imagine what she’s like. Jess was the tom-boy, she liked skating, talking with guys, and the other girls in that class didn’t seem to like her.
Darla was the 7th grade cheerleading captain, so you can just imagine what she’s like. Jess was the tom-boy, she liked skating, talking with guys, and the other girls in that class didn’t seem to like her.Anna and Jake were twin brother and sister. Anna was older by three minutes, and she really liked to use that against him.
Gloria was the gothic person I’ve ever seen, but she was very nice. I liked that, I mean, she wore all black, her eyeliner, and ragged hair style….but a super kind person.
Blake was the…well…player of the classroom, I could tell, by the way he would just flirt with the girls kinda sickened me.
The teacher’s right in front of you.
Don’t make out in a classroom; it doesn’t make the teachers too happy.
Trust me.
I’ve tried.
Will was an actual shy boy to me, and I was the one that had to invite him to the conversation, but after we got on the subject of “Worst and Best teachers” he had a lot to share.
I liked my classroom.
And it figures, that English lasts 2nd period. Or almost 2 hours.
Ms. Clincher would look up at us every once in awhile maybe hoping to hear her name for ‘a good teacher’.
And I felt kinda bad that the only teacher we didn’t say much about her, and there we were, sitting in her classroom.
“Well, I know I haven’t been here for more then an hour, but I’ve seen a lot of teachers, and Ms. Clincher seems to be my favorite.”
“Yeah, she’s a pretty good teacher…”
I glanced over at her, hoping she heard me.
I saw her smile, but she was looking at her papers, she didn’t want us to know she was listening to us.
“Guys.” I whispered, “Ms. Clincher is listening, so tell me all the good things about her.”
“Well, she’s my favorite because she’s nice and kind.”
“She’s got a good fashion sense.”
“I mean just look at her!” Jen pointed to our teacher, and she looked at Jen.
“What about me?” She asked, pretending like she didn’t know.
“How could she not be your favorite teacher? Look how pretty she is!”
“Oh, why, Thank you.” She blushed, “Now, um, are you done with your letters?”
“Yes ma’am!”
“Then give it to him, and just talk like you were…You’re my favorite class, you know.”
“We know!” We answered in unison, ooh, I was gonna like this.
XxX
“HELLO my awful 5th period class.”
Oh geez.
“We have a new student with us!”
“YEAH! HIS NAME IS...”
“HE CAN TALK!” The teacher shouted.
“I’m- I’m Sam, Sam Stern.”
“Well, take a seat next-“
“Oh Mr. Klindy! Can he seat next to me? Please! Please! Please!” Rachel waved her hand.
“Uggh. Go ahead.”
I SWARE I really thought she had a crush on me.
It scared me.
We shared a desk for this class; Science.
After about 57 minutes of hearing Mr. Klindy nag about flowers and their “genetics” or something, the bell rang, LUNCH TIME!
I felt Rachel’s slim hand on my shoulder when I got up.
“Yeah?” I asked her.
“Um, Sam? I was wondering…if you’re not doing anything this Friday.”
“NAH AH!” Sal shouted, “She ain’t asking you out already is she?”“Salamanca!” Chan said, “We would know if you didn’t interrupt!”
“Oh, I ‘m sorry, Sammy. Gran-Daddy, Channy is right. Go on.”
“He can’t NOW Sal, we have to get the hotel room here.”
And the car stopped.
“Did you like Rachel, Sammy Boy?” My Grand-pop asked me as we walked to the front of the hotel.
“Yes, Grand dad. I liked her…a lot.”
“So…tell us a little as we wait, huh deary?”
“Are we could wait for the surprise tomorrow morning.” Grand-daddy said.
“I don’t want no surprises!” Sal exclaimed.
“Sorry, Grand-ma. It looks like my pillow and I need a little one on one.” And we walked to our room.
I slept on the floor.
And I felt different; that was the first night my momma didn’t haunt my dreams.
My daddy with my neighbor in the back yard, with some girl was.
My neighbor grabbed on to the girl and kissed her.
That girl…
Was Rachel.