“We live in this godforsaken trailer home and I can’t do shit about it. I can’t even make a simple omelet with instructions!” she wailed. “I’m so sorry! I tried to make you a nice breakfast since it was the day of your big game…” she started to break into sobbing and curled up on the floor. Mom turned around, a broken smile on her face and watery eyes. With a jolt, I leaped out of bed and ran to the kitchen to see what had happened. I woke up to the smell of something burning. Man, that guy has got everything, I thought to myself. I looked up to see none other than Kaden Adders, the actual Gramble Soccer varsity team MVP and probably the most popular kid in school, walking to the back of the bus. “Morning Teele,” it said in a casual voice. We stopped a few times, but I didn’t care to look up till a voice disturbed my staring contest with the bolts on the floor. I sat in the seat closest to the front more efficient to get off that way. Thinking about it, the river Styx didn’t seem so awful an alternative.įinally, the yellow bane of my existence rolled to a stop in front of me. I waited for Charon’s ferry to whisk me away to my eternal damnation that was high school. After I had finished, I grabbed my school bag off the hook and walked to the bus stop. Both of them with their “fun and floaty” attitude annoyed the hell out of me, pretending like I never saw the withered and worried looks on their faces when no one was looking. Mom brought me my breakfast a minute later, and I started eating. Did you want a ride to school today”, again I mumbled a “na” back and plopped down on the couch. Dad was watching the news and greeted me as I walked into the den “Mornin’ Shawny! Amazing job on that report card again. “Oh, that’s right, we got your report card this morning, and I must say, I don’t know where you got that brain of yours. I sluggishly oozed my way down the stairs into the kitchen, with Mom asking, “Would ya like some toast and eggs for breakfast, hun?” I mumbled, “Sure, thanks.” and went to sit on the couch. Everyone thought I was just some kind of freak! As I got out of bed and pulled out a light blue collared shirt and a pair of khakis, the mirror decided to remind me what I was I was no pedestal-perched social elite, no great athlete about to take the world by storm! No, I was the fat, socially awkward, neurodivergent, neanderthalic outcast! A manatee in an ocean full of graceful seals and dolphins! No one ever commented on any of it, but I know what they thought. I was lying on my bed, the sun’s rays awakening me to yet another day of alienation and loneliness, the only excitement and camaraderie to be had in The Odyssey, sprawled open on my nightstand, looking dangerously close to finished. I opened them again no longer was I sitting on the steel slab of victory that was the Gramble high varsity soccer team’s bench. I sat down and closed my eyes for a second the crowd’s cheering suddenly evaporated. “Shawny, why don’t ya take a seat and grab some water.” Coach Warner said as he clapped me on the back. ![]() “And he scores again!! Folks, Deshawn Teele just might be the best player who’ll ever touch this field!”.
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