Chapter 3: Horrendous, Monstrous, Atrocious Outcomes
"Just don't think about ducks," Sydney said.
"But why?" I asked.
"Well, when I was waiting in the commons for you, some kid came running through the halls screaming "The revolt of the ducks is upon us!" So I came up with a theory that if we don't think about ducks, it may solve the problem."
"Look, not all of the kids here are sane. Actually, the majority of them aren't so you have a choice on what to believe. I am choosing to believe that ducks are not, and cannot revolt. But really, it's your choice," I said. I placed The Fault in Our Stars in my locker, then slammed the door. Sydney and I wandered around, looking for Alex. When we went over to the vending machines, we found him struggling to get out of a cramped space between the two machines. Alex was grunting, just like he was when trying to ride the bicycle at the gym. Sydney helped him out, then we went to our classes. I handed Alex a note that read:
"So, you like Support Group?" Then Alex responded,
"Well, it doesn't help, but I like hanging with you."
Me: Thanks
Alex: Well, I really had nothing else to do on Saturday. But I do like hanging with you.
Then, when we passed our last note Ms. Madrid opened the door. We rushed in, the rest of the class filing in later. Ms. Madrid had an assignment on the board that read, "Please take one of the handouts on the back table. Then get out some sort of coloring utensils." I grabbed markers from out of my bag, then pushed my way to the back table. When Ms. Madrid finally came in, the rest of the class was booming, while Alex and I were sitting at our seats, quietly.
"Class, we are going to be doing an interact. Please, with your table mates, brainstorm ideas for currency. Make sure that you drop your name in this bucket so we can begin class." Alex and I put our heads together and came up with having clay balls in different colors as currency. When Ms. Madrid asked for ideas, Alex actually raised his hand. Not a surprise, he handed me a card to tell Ms. Madrid.
"Yes, uh….. Al… uh you in the back. Could you remind me of your name?" Ms. Madrid said. Her face seemed blank as she looked for Alex's name.
"Well, this is Alex. Alex doesn't talk, so I talk for him. He actually gives me cards, so yeah. So Alex thinks the currency should be colored balls of clay," I said. Then everyone looked back at Alex. The class was unanimous when they decided on our clay ball idea. Then Ms. Madrid drew our names to determine who would be in what group. I was with Alex, and Iris was also in our group. Then Ms. Madrid selected us as the upper class group. The other kids, middle and lower class, were assigned to make items to sell (out of paper) and bring clay for the coins. We, until it was finished, got to do whatever we wanted. Some of us had to go and make sure there wasn't any mischievous behavior. Along with Iris, Pandora, Nicolo, Lamar, Talia, and Juliet were also part of our group. If I were to tell you why they were at this school, it would take too long.
It took much pity to be an upper class citizen. Though I do not like being looked down on, I felt guilty for casting all the lower class out to the side. Just like an executioner, I tried to ignore the injustices that I was going through.
When I got to my locker after second period, the girls in my group had slipped a note through the vents in my locker. It was written in pink pen on notebook paper. The girly writing read:
"we think (Iris, pandora, Talia) that you should hang out with us at lunch. Just don't bring alex to lunch."
(Yes, this was a monstrosity when it came to their spelling and punctuation) I grabbed the note and hid it in my coat pocket. Then I hurried to my next class.
The voices of students in Study Hall echoed through the air. The tables looked unorderly and there was trash scattered on the ground. It smelled of sweaty gym socks and rotten food. I sat down in the most enclosed corner of Study Hall. Somehow, those girls still managed to find me. But there was one person missing from the pack, but I couldn't quite tell who.
"So, are you coming?" Pandora said, towering over me.
"Come where?" I asked.
"To come sit with us at lunch, silly," said Talia.
"Why couldn't you have just asked me face to face like this?" I asked.
"Because," Iris said. "We can't be caught with Alex; or any of your other friends, for that matter." I gave Iris a cold, dead stare, and then got back to work. The girls eventually trotted back to where they were supposed to be. I was still conflicted on whether I should sit with the girls, or with Alex.
At lunch, Alex and I waited in the line together. I got greasy pizza with big pepperonis and crunchy crust. Alex had chosen chicken alfredo with a breadstick. After entering his lunch number, Alex nodded at the lunch lady then proceeded to a table on the left side of the cafeteria. I soon after, followed him. Then the girls grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back causing me to fall right on my gluteus.
"We don't sit over there," Iris said. "We sit over here." She gestured to a sun-filled grouping of tables with many girls sitting and munching on their lunches. Despite Iris's desperateness, I kept walking to Alex. We ate together and "talked". For that lunch period, Alex actually took off his hood. His eyes were a brilliant green. They stunned me like a ray gun.
In science, I and some other kids were sent down to the computer lab to print work. It was quite boring, for these kids were just bleak 7th graders who had no regard for me. But, it was an honor to stand around 7th grade royalty.
Before school ended, Alex texted me inviting me to his house. I snuck to the bathroom and texted my mom. Then, as I walked back to class, the phone buzzed with the response of "Of course" on it.
"So, are you coming?" Alex texted me.
"Yes, I'm coming." I texted back. I met him by my locker. He had put his hood down, and his brilliant green eyes were shining as bright as emeralds. He handed me a note and it read,
"Something happened."
"What happened?" I asked. Then we began to have a conversation over text message.
"My sister," Alex replied.
"What about your sister?" I responded.
"She's…….." I looked over at him, as tears streamed down his face. He collapsed on the ground, pulling his legs to his chest and burying his face in his knees. I knelt next to him, wrapping my arms around him and squeezing. I rubbed his back, as he cried silently (which I never knew was possible until now).
"Come on," I said. "Whoever is picking you up must be waiting for you." Then I took his hand and pulled him up. He wiped his face with his sleeve, then kept on walking. Together, we got into his mom's car. Then, he fell onto the car seat and began to weep. I was still unsure why he was crying, I kept on patting him and feeling confused.
We ended up at the hospital. At first, I really didn't know why we were there, but I somehow got Alex to stop crying and tell me things. I asked "Why are we here?" Then he explained that his sister had gotten into a car crash. (Her name is Melony) Then Alex went back to silent crying as I watched him slowly. It seemed as if Alex was falling into a spiraling pit of despairing doom. Then Alex and I went down to the cafeteria to eat dinner. They were serving Mac n' Cheese. We ate in silence, which we usually did. Alex starred down into his pasta, trying to hold back the tears. Then we went back up stairs and Alex was able to go and see his sister. When he came from seeing his sister, he was in tears. Then he cried himself to sleep as I texted my mom that she could drop some clothes of at the hospital for me. (Then, as most moms do, she worried and I had to explain that Melony was the one injured, and not me) I waited down stairs for my mom, then went back to where Alex was, and tried to sleep.
But Mom refused to let me stay with Alex, and took him home with us. His mom let us, and took her son to our car. When I woke in the morning, Alex was on the floor of my bedroom, snoring. He was laying on a green sleeping bag, a pillow above his head.
It was strange to have Alex in our car. Mom sat in a position of distress, wondering in Alex was going to say something or start crying. When we got to school, I helped the drowsy Alex to his locker, then put my lunch in mine. We walked to class together, Alex placing his hood over his head again. Ms. Madrid looked at Alex, then whispered something in his ear. Alex nodded at her, the proceeded into the classroom.
Sydney was at Study Hall, and could tell that there was something was wrong with Alex. She looked at me, then I explained what had happened. We scooted over to Alex, hugging him, forcing a smile on him. But again, his face drooped like a wilted flower, and put his head against the table. Most of the day carried on like that.
After school, the three of us (me, Alex, and Sydney) hung out. Everyone came over to my house. I grabbed my camcorder and we made a YouTube video.
"Hey guys its Piper and I have some special guests with me today," I said. "We have,"
"Sydney," Sydney said. Then Alex grunted.
"And that's Alex. So every Tuesday we are going to do this show on my channel where we talk about different topics. This week's topic is get to know me. Sydney, why don't you start us off?"
"Well, my name is Sydney. I am 11 years old. My favorite color is blue. My favorite food is shrimp, and I have 1 dog. So, Alex is next."
"I will be reading for Alex. Just imagine me as him. Hi, my name is Alex. I am also 11 years old. My favorite color is green, and I love to eat French fries. My favorite animal is the turtle. Now, my turn. Hey, my name is Piper. I am 11, if you didn't catch on, my favorite color is gold, my favorite food is pie, my favorite animal is the ostrich, and that's a little bit about me. We'll see you next week. Bye!" Then I turned off the camera. We debated on names for our group, then decided on the Weekly Weirdoes. Our first video was called "Welcome to the Weekly Weirdoes!"
A scar had been placed on the heart of Alex. He did not grunt, nor did he text me. It was like his voice had been silenced. At support group, he did not give me something to say for him. I never saw Melony again. I assumed she was going through some intense therapy or decided to switch schools. When Alex began to talk again, he did tell me that Melony was alright. Melony had BIID, a rare disorder when someone feels as if one of their body parts does not belong, and wishes it should be amputated. Melony had tried to injure herself so that one or both of her legs could be amputated. Though, this did not happen. It did result in severe nerve damage to her legs. But there seemed to be an impending doom coming upon Alex, leaving him to be just a husk if a once joyful soul.
The horrible feelings worsened. Later on, Alex got diagnosed with clinical depression. His mother eventually decided to pull him out of school. It would be expected that Alex would be missed, but really, I was the only one who mourned for him. No, it was not like he had died. But seeing him depart was hard, as if we were playing tug of war with my heart. And so goes the story of the wonderful but mysterious Alex. The one who seemed strange, and different. The one who lurked in the shadows. The one who dared to go outside of the box. The one who was free. The one who felt compassion. The one who was sane. There will never again be a time like the rain of Alex.
A few weeks later Alex texted me.
"Dearest Piper,
I have been missing you lately. I would love to see you, but I have developed something like separation anxiety. (I can't really leave Melody's side) I know that I was supposed to make Weekly Weirdoes, but have not gotten around to it. Best wishes,
Alex"
School returned to normal, except for the immortal emptiness I felt. The snow lightened up, but the cold remained. Chilly arctic air surrounded me each day. There was no defeating the winter subduction of the winds. The playgrounds seemed glum each time a swing was left without a butt to comfort it. The decollate plain of children's screams and squeals was partially silenced.
"Do you miss Alex?" I asked Sydney one day at lunch. That day, Alex's seat was feeling particularly cold. I was wondering if anyone missed Alex and (for that matter) if anyone remembered him.
"Who's Alex?" Sydney said.
"Point proved," I said.
"What do you mean?" Sydney asked, confused.
"I knew that no one, with an exception of me, would remember Alex. But, it doesn't really matter right now." Then we continued to eat lunch. Mom had packed a chicken Caesar salad. Sydney was eating pizza and chips. (Sydney, unlike my mom, was not very health conscious) Later that day I asked my friends in my music group if they remembered Alex. The outcome was not surprising.
"Yeah, I don't know who Alex is," Bruce said.
"Me neither," said Logan. We kept on practicing without me bothering them about Alex.
On the ride home from school, I studied the picture that Alex had given me. It seemed like the time that I knew him was so distant, that I could barely remember him giving the drawing to me. The vague memories that I had of him, before the incident with Melony, was when he was grunting in frustration. I never heard him talk, but that was alright. Sometimes, thoughts were best expressed on paper.
I could not stand to look at the drawing, and carelessly shoved it in my backpack. I put my face in my hands, feeling my cold palms against my face. It felt soothing, my chilly filanges against my face, hot with anger. I was on the brink of tears. I just couldn't comprehend how Alex had disappeared like that. I was furious with myself, that I had not gotten to know him better. I brushed my hair from my face. I curled up into a ball, and tried to go to sleep. I let the bumps of the ride rock me to sleep.
The next morning, I did not feel like getting up. I listened to Mom's endless calls, but did not come. I was waiting for Alex to answer my texts. On the bus, I had sent him many texts, in hope that he would come back to school. Somehow, I had hope that Alex was coming back to school. I would just going to wait until he answered my texts before going to school.
"Honey, are you getting up?" My mom asked, prawning at my back. She left some milk and a muffin on my bed-side table, then went back down stairs. I looked at the muffin, then turned to the other side. I had made a point that I was not going to eat that muffin until I knew something, anything, and Alex.
Needless to say, Alex never texted back. Though, I still had faith that he was going to. I stayed in bed for the rest of the week. Each day, a new meal appeared aside me. I would glance at the pain-stakingly made cinnamon roll, or the delicious pancake stack drizzled with syrup, then turn away. Then one day, this hunger strike turned into something much more.
On Saturday, I had no will, nor the intent, to get up. That would count on the fact that today was Support Group day. I was definitely not going to make an appearance today.
Even though I was not properly dressed, nor was I ready to go out into the world, Mom had bribed me into going. She sat me in the car and told me we were going to Starbucks. Even though we did go to Starbucks, I had to go somewhere else. That somewhere else was Support Group.
I sat down in the big black chairs that were used in the echoey room where I met for Support Group, and curled up to sleep. When it came to be my turn, I made a grunting noise, trying to imitate Alex, which resulted in sheer embarrassment and sustaining freckles of utter fear. ( I learned there was a true art to grunting) After that fiasco was over, the group trudged down stairs to the gym. I sat on the elliptical machine, blocking it off from anyone else's use. Some people gawked at the hoard of futile children trying to exercise. To be truthful, I did not blame them for laughing. We were a pretty wretched gaggle of kids, but I had pity on us. But that was not something I was focused on. I was desperately in need of relief from the catastrophe that had just occurred. My fate was pretty much sealed.
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