Any Normal Day

I finished with one of my books and went to bed, like any other day. But, little did I know that a somewhat normal dream would lead to a whole different reality. It all started on August 27th 2057. My day started like any other. Woke up around 6:30 in the morning by a loud annoying alarm clock.

“BEEP BEEP BEEP!”The alarm clock rang. I stood up groaning and stretched my back before I walked to my desk to shut it off. It took me a while but, I trudged down the hall to the bathroom to freshen up. Put on my new clothes for the “new” school year. I wore a white shirt, a grey and white checkered sweater vest, with light washed jeans. Looked at myself in the mirror and after a while I ate breakfast. I made myself some cereal and toast on the side. Got up, put on my black Converse shoes and began to start walking down the street to my bus stop. I turned around to see my mother on the couch. I never noticed she came out of the guest room. Her hair was still messy. I guess she woke up recently.

She turned around. We looked at each other for a couple of seconds before I turned around and shut the door. I felt bad for doing so but knew he would get nothing out of that encounter. I continued to walk down the block.

I arrived around 7:40, I was surprised to see someone there before me. It was my friend Elliott.

I’ve known Elliott for 7 years. Met back in kindergarten now going into 7th grade together. Elliott is more of an outgoing, optimistic, and funny person. We're very much opposites. I am more of a timid, pessimistic and a blunt person. People don’t seem to find the truth funny. Only if you're arguing with someone. I know y’all have roasted people and got people laughing at it.

I digress.

Elliott tends to be late for the bus a lot, nice surprise seeing him there before me. He was wearing his favorite lime green hoodie with lemons on it, black sweatpants, with his brand new Nike shoes he's been wanting to get. They’re the green air Jordans with costume drawings on it.

He pulled off his hood and I noticed something way different about him. He cut his hair. Not really short but it's at the end of his shoulders. Real surprised too, never seen him without long hair. He’s always had long dreads since he was a kid. Now their mid length . The new hair suits him.

I picked up the pace to go talk to him. He got off his phone and turned to see me,“ Leo! What'd you spend your summer doing?” asked Elliott. There was a long pause before I said, “Doing the usual, I passed my reading goal, as well as making new diagrams. ”. My face stayed neutral, but Elliotts changed. He looked confused and intrigued at the same time. I guess I never really told him my new hobbies. As soon as Elliott wanted to respond a few other people started to join us. He went back on his phone. I stood there awkwardly for the remainder of 10 minutes. I didn’t have a phone to use like him. The bus finally arrived at 7:55. Later than it’s supposed to. I took my seat right in the middle of the bus on the left side. With a random person I didn't know sitting next to me. I stayed quiet the whole ride and when we got off.

The new school day was like any other one. Met all my teachers again. I already saw them a few days prior. I went to a program that let me see the school and meet my teachers. I also met a few of my classmates. I never said anything to the people I didn’t know. I’ve always been too timid to do so.

It was lunch at 10:40 in the morning. Had 2 classes before that. But it got you thinking, You must be real hungry the rest of the day. I am, very much. But I brought a couple snacks with me. Should have seen it last year, I was eating at 10:10. Thinking of that gives me shivers. We didn’t have another food break afterwards. Some of our teachers would let us eat in their class. That was only the two periods after for me.

I grabbed some snacks from my locker and rushed down to the cafe before the bell rang. I made it just in time. I walked down to my usual spot where me and my friends would meet up. Middle of the cafe. The “cool kids” like to sit in the corners. I walked down to see familiar faces. I might have said I'm timid and shy, but with the group, I’m really not. Out of the 4 people I'm the 3rd most outgoing.

“Leo!” I heard someone yell. I recognized the mellifluous voice. I turned around to see my best friend Oliver Barker. Oliver and I met on the first day at our old middle school. It closed down due to its old age. 96 years is not that bad. We moved to a different school that was relatively new. Oliver has a British accent but was born in the US. He has Jet Black hair, it's always soft and in a middle part. One of my favorite people in the world. Met him in 6th grade but we got along real good. We had downfalls in that time though.

“Oliver!” I yelled back. He ran up and hugged me. I almost dropped my snacks. I just let him hug me and I just looked down and smiled at him. I usually don’t let this slide. But he’s always a bubbly person. “How’ve you been?” I asked. “I’ve been fine!” From the way he was acting he was really happy to see me. Didn’t have the words to say it. Neither did I.

We continued our conversation while walking down. I looked at the table and saw the rest of the group. Elliott and Jasmine. Jasmine was an exchange student. She moved from India. We met her in one of the parks around my neighborhood. We don’t really talk but I hear a lot about her through Elliott and Oliver. She loves dressing in colorful clothing, she always wears dresses. Today she was wearing a yellow and red dress with amazing detail at the bottom.

She looks over and notices me and Oliver walking down. “Oliver, took you a while to come down, anything happened?”. “Nothing really, I went to the bathroom, barely made it in.” He pretended to sound exhausted. Elliott was glued to his phone not knowing we arrived. Jasmine rolled her eyes. “ELLIOTT!” Jasmine yelled. Startled the people around us. Elliott jumped up and said “Oh. Hey guys, didn’t notice you came.”.

Oliver and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. We sat next to each other while Elliot and Jasmine were side by side. I gave each person one snack and saved the rest for later. Jasmine gave me a look and gave his snack to Oliver.

We talked about our summers. Everyone else's was so eventful. Jasmine went to visit her Nana and Nani in India. Elliott went to summer camp and had an amazing time. Oliver and I spent our time together. We mostly cooked and played games together.

By the time my lunch table was called it was almost time to leave. I took a fruit cup and bought a sandwich that looked pretty good. I ended up eating in my next class.

I finished the school day to get to know you work with some assignments from my science teacher.

I came back home expecting the same routine. Change clothes, chores, homework, eat, read and sleep. But I came back to my father being home. My father isn’t home most of the time, and when he is we spend all the time we can together. I rushed to give him a hug while he was sitting in the chair of the kitchen island. He hugged me back. “How are you doing Bud?” He had asked. My father is that happy go lucky person. “I’m doing fine” I said in a pleased voice. I haven't seen him since we went school shopping a few weeks ago. My mother would stay over but never really pay attention to me. She never did.

I turned to see some guests over. Along with my mother, with a dead look on her face. You can tell she wasn’t paying attention to what's going on. The other people waved at me, I waved back. I became very embarrassed, my ears turned red. I think those people were family counselors. If not they should really hire one. My father noticed my face. Trying to get the situation out of my mind he said, “There's a surprise for you in the lounge, go open it!”. I walked slowly across the kitchen to the couch to find a box with writing saying “Some things you’ve been asking for”. I slowly opened it and found 5 more books, a phone, and a little brown bear. Don’t get me wrong I’m not into childish things, but I’ve never had one. Just wanted to know how it felt. I was happy I got a phone but I gotta make sure I have a limitation and don’t become like Elliott. Obsessed with his phone and barely looks up from it.

I turned around and whispered a thank you to my father with a grin on my face and walked my stuff to my room. Reorganized the place to make my new stuff fit. I went back and properly greeted the guests. I then spent the rest of the day with my father. Went to the park, played board games, and cooked dinner together. We made chicken fried rice, with some lemonade. The whole time my mother just watched us. I made her a fruit salad with rice on the side. She watched me make it while my father kept trying to speak to her. I placed the bowls down and her cup of water and medicine. She nodded her head and I sat and ate my food.

I went back to my room afterwards and took a nice warm shower, I was so tired. When I finished my science homework, I went straight to my bed. I got out my journal and wrote.—

Same new school day. Meet new people, talk to the old ones, and come back home with a bunch of papers to get signed. But today was fun, the new school was pretty cool. Glad all my friends came over to the same one as me. Franklin Middle was so old. Holes in the wall and all I still liked it. So many memories in a year. Met a new friend Jasmine who went to Washington Middle. The one that was across the street from the old school. She's very laid back and nice. But I enjoyed spending time with the whole group. Mostly Oliver. He was so happy to see me. He’s such a nice person. I wish he would express himself more. Oh, and my father was home. Embarrassed myself in front of some guests. But, I got a few gifts. He's so nice. That's all I can think of.

TIME: 9:43PM DATE: Aug. 27. 57

I put my journal in the drawer of my night stand. The last time I checked the clock it was 9:45 at night. I started to drift to sleep to the sound of crickets and a cool breeze. I heard my father open the door and say goodnight.

I wondered if he’ll still be there tomorrow or leave again for work. I guess we’ll never know.

I usually don’t dream. I do maybe once in a long while. And if I do it has no rhyme or reason to it. But the one I had was a weird experience. Something I could never guess coming. Unforgettable