A piano plays and echoes in the dark halls.

In the middle of the night, a petite form leaves the safety of her room. Little Alba, with her black braids, thin nightgown, and petite feet, follows the enchanting music. In her tiny hands, she wields a brass candle holder which carries her only source of light.

She passes by paintings of old and illuminates their disfigured forms. A weeping man made out of men; a mentally split madman; a queen soaked and dyed red; and a woman surrounded by dead birds, carrying an axe in hand.

Alba arrives at the music room and on her tiptoes, peeks through the keyhole. A grand ball takes place with light-footed dancers and their talented pianist. The ash-gray dancers with feather-like steps mournfully graced the ballroom floor. Their pianist, dressed fully in black, his back to Alba, craftily performs his art.

To little Alba, this was a fairytale scene. So, with curiosity beckoning her, she gently opens the ballroom door. Only slightly did she open the door when the pianist glance behind and caught her. Alba gasps!

The musician's face was nothing more than a skull staring furiously yet never ceases his craft. Alba could only stare when a tall figure from behind closes the ballroom door for her. The little girl turns around and meets her lord of the manor, her father.

"Not yet. It's not your time."

"When?" asked Alba innocently.

"When you've lived a full life, then you will join them."

A group of my friends and I walk through the woods to reach a town on the other side. So far, it's been a peaceful trip. Sky blue and sunlight peeking through the trees, which shielded us with shade. Birds chirping in their nests, animals scurrying far and near, and the sound of a flowing river every now and then.

Mike stops to take pictures of the plants while Jen complains about the bugs again. Sarah and Tina chat like normal besties and share the wildlife experience together. Kevin tells us stories of his camping trips from childhood and gave us tips. Jeff tries to scare Jen with a lizard he found, which resulted in Jen punching his arm. Greg was our guide with the map and lead us with confidence and care. I walk last while listening to my friends and enjoying myself blissfully. This is nice, I thought.

However, from the corner of my eye, I noticed something pink on the earthen ground. I stop and went closer to it and move the leaves and grass aside. A small, fragile baby bird without any feathers, had fallen from its nest. How sad, but it was still alive. I've never touched a forest animal before, but I don't want to leave it alone. It's a life, right? Strangely, I knew I couldn't just casually touch this featherless bird directly. So I gently scoop up the dirt underneath and pick up the bird on its earthen bed.

Suddenly, I hear all my friends screaming.

I rush ahead as carefully as I could, avoiding rocks and logs, but immediately froze by the scene before me. My friends scatted yet entangled by thick roots constricting them. Everyone frantically screams while the roots slowly wrap around their mouths and faces. But what made me froze was not the roots. It was the THING controlling them.

Towering over us humans was a giant moss-covered creature, at least 8 or 9 ft high, with blackish claws, wood-like antlers, and a snake-like body that shimmers from the sunlight. It has an elk's skull for a face and behind that vine-like hair are two glowing eyes. Those eyes lit up with rage in those hollow sockets as the creature roars in fury, shaking the earth itself. A monster in the forest?! For real?! My brain tries to process this, but a silly yet hopeful idea comes straight to mind.

I ran toward the monster and slide down on to my knees and kneel. This time, the monster froze. I raise the baby bird over my head and with a trembling voice, I pleaded.

"P-Please . . . Find its parents . . ."

My head hung low, my heart pounding, and the monster unmoving as a tree. Everyone was quiet until the roots start unwinding themselves. One by one, my friends fall to the ground finally able to breathe again. The roots return to the soil while I pray for the creature to leave. I hear it moving again as it gently scoops up the baby bird from off my palms. The creature turns its back on us and slithers away. It leaves the area and we remain unscathed.

Sarah faints.

We quickly rush to her side but could not easily forget about that encounter.

It’s 10:16 a.m. and the playground continues to sit quietly.

2020 is the year when no one is allowed to go outside. I go to the playground with a black mask covering, purple hoody, loose jeans, and black sneakers. I sit on a swing with earbuds and listening to music on my phone.

The empty playground was quiet and creepy at this time. Then again, no parent would send their child here anymore. The streetlights give little light just as they give little comfort to the playground. The sandbox shows little trace of children playing here. Even their small footprints from previous outings have faded from time. A playground isn’t a playground without children.

Music blocks the world from my ears. I sit and listen while staring at the emptiness around me. Such a depressing sight. I swing a bit and wait while pondering for the future. Then a long, creaking sound interrupts my song so I remove my earbuds to listen.

“Is someone there?” Is what any normal person would say.

It wasn’t just a normal creak from the carousel being pushed by the wind. Or tree branches rustling and dropping their crunchy leaves. Not even this swingset made this long, creaking noise that sounds more like an eerie moan. I remain silent and turn my direction to the center of the playground. There was no one there or anywhere on the playground. It didn’t sound like someone hiding in the dark either.

I get off the swing and as soon as I put my foot down the ground shook. The loose soil shifts from this miniature quake and the metallic groaning slowly grow louder. I kept my balance when suddenly I hear a chain snap behind me. The swing broke loose one of its chains and whip itself around my waist. The chain lifts me higher than the swing and suddenly I was flying left and right.

The playground roars while its metallic bars creak and bend and shifts to that of a monster. Its roots burst out from the ground and form into twisted, crab-like legs. Its crooked pipes shape like fangs, the colorful slide a snout, the monkey bars a mishappen tail. It swings me over and hangs my dangling body over its face and growls. It's hungry for blood and it has been waiting very patiently for a snack. The chain of the swing tosses me into the jaws like some meaningless grape; however, I react and grab the edge of the slide and climb my way in. Good thing I’m wearing brand-new sneakers because I was able to keep my grip and crawl up the slide.

The monster was trying its best to shake me off and, damn, it was dizzying. Inside the tunnel slide, my head was banging hard! Left, right, up, down! Bang, bonk, thump, bam!

Despite my throbbing head I finally reach the top. The playground monster sends its metallic tentacles at me, ready to turn me into a bloody kabob. I quickly dodge and slip through this way and that, hoping to get the beast tangled. The playground roars and the bars vibrate intensely; loosening my grips and increasing the throbbing in my head. I grab hold on to the monkey bars and steadily climb my way down before the beast could shake me again. When I'm close to the ground I let myself fall and fell flat on my ass. Sore but safe.

I pull myself up and start running. My vision is blurred from the dizziness, but I managed to keep my balance. The playground's crab-like legs carry its heavy body and chase after me. I continue to push myself and run faster while cars and small buildings are being crushed right behind me. I head for the beach and jump over a fence with a "No Trespassing" sign on it. The beast stomps its way and follows me to the docks. I took the longest dock and race to the end of it before turning to face the monster. The playground monster breaks through the wood and stomps closer towards me. When the monster reached the end of the dock I quickly jumped on its face and climb up once more. This time over the tunneled slide, practically running and climbing with haste, while the monster sinks deeper into the ocean.

The support beams break and the dock crumbles underneath the monster's weight. The monster roars loudly yet slowly turns into gurgles. A thousand pipes aim to grab me and take me down into the ocean, but I only look ahead and run. I jump and slip through the bars that try to stab me but I ignore my bloody scratches and rip clothes. My last jump was one big jump and my feet manages to land on the sandy shore. I don't turn back. I keep on running because I know the monster could still swipe me off my feet.

When I am far enough I look back and see the playground beast's small roof peeking out from the water. It's semi dome-shaped head splashes frantically before sinking under completely and let out a few bubbles. I pant heavily and stare at the empty surface of the water and could not believe what just happened.

I barely escape from the Monsterous Playground.

I don't remember the whole dream, just about the middle to the end, but it was almost like an action film. This was also week ago, so I didn't wrote it down. Only the ending part I remember because that's where most of the action was in and had certain feelings put into.

There was a battle in some sort of moving glass mall, I think, maybe not moving, and there was a boy, 12 or so, who is the main character. He and his friends are trying to get rid of these inky, black things, at this point I don't remember. The boy's mother was also fighting in this war and she looked like a wise witch dressed in purple but she looked too young to be the boy's mother. The boy was running to the back of the mall because something was chasing him. He meets his mother near the exit when suddenly a huge dark figure comes crashing in through the glass ceiling. The mother and the boy separate, the boy near the exit and the mother at the center of the room. She quickly shields herself from the falling glass and the dark figure that looms over her.

This huge, dark figure (ya'll probably won't know this) was the overblot Scar monster-thing from this Japanese app game called Twisted Wonderland. So it was basically a giant stronger version of Disney's villain Scar, but with a crown and sort of an inky galss-like mask. However, in the dream, not only did it had the mask, but behind it, obviously, it had Scar's face and he had huge black wings. That's why he crash in through the ceiling 'cause he got wings!

So this giant Scar looms over the mother and despite him chasing after the boy he had his eyes on her. The mother stares back at him and then at her son, basically telling him to run. Scar looks down at the mother with that wicked grin on his face and seems to have taken an interested to her. The mother was shaken but remains brave since she was a warrior. The boy didn't want to leave his mother, but his friends pushed him out of the mall and lands on a type of futuristic motocyle. The boy calls out to his mother and reaches his hand out to her as the motocyle takes him away. Scar takes over the glass mall and turns it into his own personal castle. The captured people are his servants and the boy's mother was treated like a queen. He always kept a close eye on her.

The dream ends there.

A man sits at his desk with a quill in hand and ink at his fingertips. The tip of his feathered pen scratches the yellow paper, then he switches to a pencil. He sketches a beautiful portrait of someone he met in his dreams and wrote a description on the corner of the page. The sound of pitter-pattering rain grows louder, followed by the roar of thunder. The night sky is a murky black and brown, the same color as the muddy streets of London. Only the half-burned candle was this man’s friend as it witnesses his work. A thick padlock hangs at his door for security reasons yet it rattles faintly. The man could not hear due to the storm, but he did hear the heavy padlock fall to the wooden floor. He turns around to see, but then he hears his door creaking wide open. The man looks up to see a beautiful woman in a flowing lavender dress. This haunting woman steps forward while the man trembles in fear. This bad omen approaches the man, her hand reaching for his neck when she saw his work. This woman, who creeps into my soul, who can easily stop my heart, who commands the unknown, I shall bow. The beautiful woman stares at the paper and instead of going for the neck, she places her hand on the man’s face. She lightly and swiftly sat on his lap and kissed his lips deeply. He waits for death, but to his surprise, he remains alive.

One Kiss brings Death, but One Kiss brings Blessings.

A knight has seen many wars, so a tiny princess holds a sword with him. His tired soul is renergized.

A priestess was unable to cure her patient. The princess carries medicinal herbs and plays nurse. The priestess finally cures her patient.

A dwarf shows great pride in his smithing. The princess calls him the best blacksmith in the world. He chortles and his pride prouder.

An old wizard travels on a quest. He has lived many years and know many things, but when the tiny princess sat on his lap and wears his pointy hat he couldn’t help but chuckle. Like a grandfather, he pats her head and feels hopeful for the future.

Everyone sits by the fire as the minstrel play and the elf archer sing. They then noticed their tiny princess sitting all alone by the cliff. She was staring at the moon when the wizard asks what was wrong.

Finally, the princess sobs. “I miss mama!”

The Queen, true and kind, died.

The crown was far too heavy, but the tiny princess clings to it for her mama. So the party comfort her, hold her, lull her to sleep and devotes loyalty to their kind princess.

(Based off a dream. Yes, Steven Universe influence some of it.)

A fair young maiden awakens in a bed of blooming red roses. She had no idea how she came here and felt slightly lost and confused. She slowly sat up and stares at the gray skies. It looked like rain was approaching yet she continues to stare with admiration.

The maiden had naive eyes that sparkle with curiosity. Her dark hair was short and curly with a shade of pale pink on her front bangs. She wore a simple two-piece dress of the same color which enhanced her innocent beauty.

A smooth voice interrupts her thoughts. “Good afternoon, my lady.”

The maiden removes her eyes from the skies and meets with a small cat knight. He wore dark crimson clothes, ginger fur and dark green eyes. He bows gracefully and removes his hat with style and form a cunning smile on his face. He then approaches the maiden in her bed of roses and continues to smile at her.

The maiden’s face showed innocent confusion while the cat’s friendly facade hides his true nature. The casanova cat took the maiden’s hand in his paw and brought up to his lying lips. He kissed it tenderly before looking up at the sweet maiden.

“What a beautiful princess you’ve become,” said the cat knight with pretty words. “Such beauty should be shared with the whole world! Ah, but not everyone agrees to that. Be careful, my dear.”

The cat knight pulls out a single pale rose and places it in the maiden’s hair. He then let go of her hand, gave a final bow, and runs off. The confused maiden calls out to the mysterious cat knight, but he was already gone. She carefully gets up from her bed of roses and chases after the cat knight. Like Alice, she chases after her White Rabbit and enters a world of unique wonder and surreal pleasure.

No rain ever came down from those gray clouds, but the scent of rain lingers in the misty air.

~~~

The cat knight lies, cheats, and steals in order to get what he wants. He shows no remorse or mercy to those around him. He’s far more feared than any troll and far more tricky than any fox. Though he has wooed many women, there was one who has caught his eye. A diamond in the rough, this maiden was a special rose in the cat’s sharp eyes. Another prize to be taken. He smirks wickedly underneath his hat and plots his plan accordingly.

He hands bags of gold to a few monstrous friends and makes a deal with them. He held his gloved finger upon his thin lips, winks, and spoke smoothly. “Never reveal my name to my blushing beauty, lest you wish to be sliced by my blade.”

The humungous figures that tower over the small cat knight trembled in front of him fearfully. They nodded obediently and left to their rightful spots. The cat knight smiles as he held a paled pink rose and kissed its petal softly.

Then bites off a single petal while his smirk reveals his white fangs.

Okay, so for some who know, I published my first short story to my school’s book and my question is: Would it be okay to post my (officially published) short story here on Prose online, or would it be better if not?

For me, I wouldn’t mind because it’s a fun story and I want others to read it, but I want to hear from professional writers and see what they think. It’s my first published story and I want to post it here for the fun of it and share, but I don’t know if it’s right to do so. Please let me know in the comments below. Thank you!

(This one’s a long one, so brace yourselves!)

“Give it back!” cried Vivian.

“Make me!” teased the other girls wickedly.

Vivian was up against three classmates, who were tossing her notebook around like some kind of toy. In their twisted game, they tossed back and forth until it stopped with the middle girl catching it. This girl wore a bright red ribbon in her fair hair and had dark green eyes like two big emeralds, but behind that angelic face was an evil snake. Her name was Alisha.

“Give it back, Alisha!” pleaded Vivian. “I need it for class!”

“Oh? You need this? Why, sure.” Alisha hands the notebook to Vivian.

Vivian reaches out, but then Alisha tosses the notebook into the trash can. Alisha plays innocent. “Oh, I’m so sorry, dear Vivian! Guess you’ll have to dig through the garbage now. And you know no one will want to be friends with a girl like that.”

“Alisha, class is starting soon. We better get going,” said Frieda teasingly.

“Ah, you’re right. We can’t be late for class,” said Alisha. “Bye-bye, Vivian. Good luck getting your notebook back.”

Alisha waves at Vivian mockingly while she and her friends leave the halls. Vivian lowers her head and lets out a sad sigh before going to the trashcan and putting her hand in.

~~~

First Period was about to start as the students made their way to their assigned seats. Vivian made it just in time and ran straight for her seat. Alisha and her friends smiled cruelly at Vivian and covered their noses when she walked past by them. Some students twitched their noses at Vivian when their teacher walked in.

He announced, “Class, I want you to meet your new student, Basil. Now, he’s been in the hospital for some time and has been homeschooled the past semester, so I want you all to be nice to him. Come in now, Basil.”

Entering the classroom was a boy with a distant look in his eyes and wore a beanie hat over his black hair. This boy walked with a crutch in each arm while looking back at the students. The students stared at him curiously while Alisha and her friends whispered.

“He isn’t as cute as I thought he would be.”

“Should we give him our ‘greetings,’ Alisha?”

“Not yet,” replied Alisha unamused. “It’s much too soon. Besides, he’s one of those quiet, goody kids. You can tell by the look in their eyes.”

“Take your seat right here at the front, Basil,” said the teacher. “This should be easier for you.”

Basil took his seat in the front row, which was closest to the door in case he needs to leave early. Alisha sat at the other side of the front row and glance at Basil, who lowered his head. “Looks like I won’t have much trouble with him,” thought Alisha. “It’ll be like he doesn’t even exist.”

The teacher starts his algebra lesson while the students took down notes, doodle, or sleep.

~~~

After class, the teacher left for his next session and the students gather their books and chat with their friends. Vivian, a nervous girl with curly ginger hair and big brown eyes hiding behind her round glasses. She was packing her books when Alisha and her friends came up to her.

“God, what is that awful smell?” asked Alisha as she covers her nose.

Frieda joined her. “Augh! You’re right! Something reeks of trash!”

“Must be four-eyes over there! She does enjoy digging through garbage,” mocked Jen.

The students around them laugh and those sitting near Vivian pinched their noses and turn away from her. Vivian bit her bottom lip nervously as she quickly gathers her books and rushes out of the classroom. However, before she could leave, Alisha extends her leg out causing Vivian to trip over and fall flat on her face. Her books spilled everywhere and her round glasses fell off. The whole classroom laughs at poor Vivian while Alisha and her friends laugh the hardest.

“Oops. Sorry, Vivian dear.” Alisha giggles while her friends snicker.

They watched Vivian pick up her things when the new kid, Basil, came in and bend them to help. Vivian saw a glimpse of his face: it twitches with pain just from bending down yet still carries composure. She heard a faint cracking sound coming from his knee and saw his hand reaching out with great effort just to reach her papers. He gathers them one-by-one before handing them to Vivian. “Here you go.”

“T-thank you...” said Vivian and takes her stuff back.

“No problem.”

Alisha watches them with Vivian getting up first and sees Basil struggling, so she helps him up on his feet. He smiles at her for the first time and said, “Thank you. Would you like to join me for lunch? I could use some help.”

“Huh? Oh, um, sure.”

There was something about Basil’s smile that made Vivian blush, which Alisha noticed. She bites her pencil irritably while she watches the two students leave; however, just before they left, Basil gave a small glare at Alisha, knowingly what she did. For some strange reason, it gave her a chill up her back and Alisha couldn’t help but blush embarrassingly. It was as if he was saying to her, “You’re no match for me.”

~~~

For the past few days, Basil has been eating lunch with Vivian, who helped him carry his lunch. Vivian saw a whole different side of Basil that made her smile more, which annoyed Alisha more than usual. She couldn’t even go near Vivian with Basil around. He was always with her, giving her wise words of comfort and never giving Alisha the satisfaction. There was something different about Basil, but that didn’t stop Alisha from doing what she does best.

Sixth period had just ended and the students are getting ready to go home. While waiting for the school bus to pick them up, Alisha sat on her boyfriend’s lap with her arms around his neck and giggling. Soon Vivian and Basil come out and Vivian looks up at Alisha. Alisha smirks mischievously and turned her boyfriend’s face to her and pressed her lips on his deeply. Vivian bit her lip enviously when Basil brought her back to reality with his sincere smile.

“Look here,” he says and holds out his hand.

Vivian looks down at his empty palm, then he closes his fist. With his other hand, Basil snaps his fingers twice and then opens his hand to show a strange-looking coin. The coin looked like the lens of a kaleidoscope, sparking Vivian’s curiosity. Her eyes widen as he rolls the coin through his fingers and the sides change colors. Red, green, purple, blue and then yellow. And then he moved the coin to his other hand. Violet, aquamarine, black, and then neon red.

“That’s so cool. How’d you do it?”

“Dad taught me. Wanna try?”

“Okay!”

There was something about Basil touching Vivian’s hand so formally that frustrated Alisha more. Alisha frowns for a moment before whispering something in her boyfriend’s ear. Luke, the school’s quarterback and arrogant jocky, listens to Alisha while his hand rested underneath her skirt.

Vivian and Basil sat together waiting for the bus and playing with the coin when Luke got up and approached them.

“What is the hell is this ugly thing in your hair? It’s so old-looking!” Luke snatches Vivian’s hairclip, pulling her hair in the process.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

Luke had pulled off strands of Vivan’s ginger hair and examined the misshapen hairclip, which Vivian had received from her grandmother years ago. Luke and his mischievous friends gather around to see the hair clip. They grin wickedly and then Luke throws the hair clip on the floor and stomps on it.

“No! Stop it!” begged Vivian.

She quickly stood up, but the two boys grabbed her arms and restraint her. Everyone around watched while Luke and his friends bully Vivian. Alisha was pleased by this and, like the other students, laughed. They broke her favorite hair clip, knocked down her school bag, and then pushed Vivian on to the rough concrete floor. Her round glasses fell off and one of the boys kicked her bag on to the roadway in front of the school’s entrance. Luke was pulling Vivian’s hair while Basil stood behind him.

He lifts and aims his crutch at Luke’s leg before thrusting in hard and hit the back of Luke’s knee. The jock let go of Vivian’s hair while the other boys charged at Basil. Basil planted his feet, held a crutch in each hand, eyes forward, mind calm. His eyes search for openings as he used his crutches like swords at stab at the boys’ weak points. Even with the damages Basil received from the bullies, he still stood firmly with a painful stiff look of determination. Everyone witnessed his ruthless attacks and knocked down all of Luke’s friends, who were all trained football players.

Basil glares down at the boys before going over to Vivian and picked up her glasses that fell on the floor. He used his shirt sleeve to wipe the lenses before giving it back to Vivian. “Are you okay?”

Vivian looked up at Basil and started crying. He reaches out his hand to her, which she took, gets up, and then hugs Basil tightly. Basil stiffened, both in awkwardness and in pain.

The students were surprised to see a cripple act so boldly and with no fear or hesitation. Alisha, too, felt Basil’s brave force and her heart pounds with an unknown excitement mixed with fury.

Luke groans as he stood up and growled, “What the hell, man?! You can’t do that!”

Basil turns to Luke and planted his crutches on the concrete and stood proudly. “Back off before I call the teachers.”

“Fuck the teachers!”

“Alright. Before I tell the coach.”

Luke finally went silent while his friends went to his side. Luke wanted to punch Basil’s face, but he knew of the consequences for beating a “defenseless” cripple. He then gave a quick glance at his girlfriend, who signaled him back after the bus arrives.

“Whatever.” Luke grabs his backpack and walked away with his friends.

The bus door opens while students gather inside. Vivian went to pick up her things while Basil helped her out. Alisha watched them irritably, but she hadn’t realized she was staring at Basil’s ass. She bit her bottom lip, then gasps and blushes deeply. She quickly shook her head before getting on the bus anxiously.

~~~

The next morning came and students entered the school like sleepy zombies. Alisha was gossiping with her friends as they all giggle gleefully. She played with her golden hair when somebody approached her. Alisha heard the metallic sound of crutches and the light steps of a certain boy.

“Was that funny to you?” asked Basil as he glares at Alisha.

Alisha looks up at Basil and continues to play with her hair innocently. “Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have to be more specific.”

“Yeah! Be specific, newbie!” snickered Alisha’s friends.

Basil ignores the harpies and stares straight at Alisha. “If you want to hurt somebody, find a masochist. At least they’ll enjoy your stupid games.”

“This has nothing to do with you, newbie,” said Alisha bitterly. “If you want to play hero, go find a different quest that doesn’t involve lecturing me.”

“Oooh!” chirped the harpies while Basil rolls his eyes.

“Would you just stay away from Vivian, alright? She’s a sweet girl who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Or fight for herself. She depends on a cripple to fight for her”

Alisha and her friends laughed while Basil glares at the one who made the joke. “You want broken hip bones? ’Cause I’ll do that to you if you don’t shut your big, fat mouth, ya harpy.”

The girl went silent and so did the others, but one of them asks curiously. “Y-your hip bone is broken? How?”

“Long story. Anyways...” said Basil as he turned to Alisha once more. ”...Will you stop messin’ with Vivian already? She’s had enough, alright?”

“Why? You like her?” asked Alisha with a teasing smile on her face.

“Yeah, duh.” Basil replies, thinking how childish this girl was. “Ain’t that obvious?”

“Oh, so you like ‘like’ her?”

Alisha and her friends giggled while Basil looks at them with a bored expression. He let out a sigh and said, “Will you take this seriously, Alisha?”

“Nope. I love to mess with Vivian.” Alisha giggles as she took a step closer and grabs Basil’s shirt collar and pulls his face closer to hers. “And I’ll ‘bully’ anyone who gets in my way. No exceptions.”

“Not even me?” asked Basil as he narrows his eyes at Alisha.

“No, especially you.” Alisha stares up at Basil’s dark, distant eyes, as distant as the night sky. "In fact, you might be more fun to mess with than Vivian."

"I'd like to see you try."

Alisha could easily see Basil's confidence and the challenge excited her. She slowly releases her grip on Basil's shirt and took a step back. “Now run along. Oh, that’s right. You can’t. Better get going though.”

Basil growls under his breath and grips his crutches tightly before walking away. Alisha stares at Basil and his limping form when the school’s bell ring.

Time for class.

~~~

A few weeks pass, and soon Basil had more friends. Dan and Cody, a couple of jokers who love to play around. They met Basil in their science class, as project partners, and ever since then, they've been inseparable. Vivian got to know them, too, and vice versa; they were a group of four who enjoy each other's company.

Alisha was walking by when she spotted Basil laughing with his friends. She blinks confused and sees Basil without his crutches today, but still limps just the same. She wonders why he doesn't have his reliable crutches and listens in on their conversation.

"You have to come over and play this new game, Basil! It's so addicting!" said Cody.

"Yeah! You, too, Viv! There's this new karaoke system installed and you've just got to play it!" said Dan. "You've got a great voice!"

"Maybe," replied Vivian who giggled.

Alisha never thought Vivian was the type to sing, but she peeks in to see Basil more. The four friends continue to chat when the new principal approached them. They're smiling faces turn into frowns as the principal suddenly storms in.

"You there! Pick up your trash!" demanded the principal to Basil rudely.

This new principal saw the students were lacking in their studies and put up new rules to show discipline. One of them was to never leave trash in the hallways during lunchtime. Basil turned around and saw a small carton of milk next to his heel. It wasn't his, but he asks his friend to pick it up for him.

"Sure thing, bro," said Cody who leans in to pick up the harmless carton of milk when the principal spoke louder. "Not you! You! I told you to pick up your trash! Pick it up! Its students like you that ruin this good school. Do you know how hard the custodians have to work to pick up your trash?! You all keep leaving your trash behind and don't even bother to throw it away. You should all be ashamed of yourselves! All of you! Now pick. It. Up!"

Basil was in a state of shock from the principal's tone; he had never met an adult who talked to him like that before. He stares down at the empty carton. Even he looked scared.

"Pick it up! Pick up your trash!"

Basil looked back at the principal for a moment before turning to his friends. His friends stood silently and fearfully and didn't know what to do. Even Alisha listened fearfully and was as silent as a mouse.

"May I speak now, please?" Basil asks with the utmost respect.

"What? No! Just pick up your damn trash!"

"Principal Jones," started Basil, trying so hard to speak calmly. "I understand you're trying to be more disciplined, but you're talking to me as though I am a delinquent criminal."

His friends, and other students, heard Basil's adult-like voice and listened to his speech. His tone and boldness towards an adult demands respect as he continues:

"I am not a delinquent, yet you speak to me as if I've committed a crime. I have done nothing wrong to offend you or anybody! I am a good student who turns in his homework. I am a cancer survivor! I cannot bend down due to my medical condition, and my good friend here knows of it. Just because I don't have my crutches, doesn't mean I am not wounded, you fool! And if you don't believe me, go to the nurse's office and ask them for Basil Woods's record! Learn who you are speaking to before you treat them like a criminal, Mr. Jones."

Everyone in the hallway was silent, even the principal was speechless. He swallows hard, knowing very well of the grave mistake he's made. Basil glance back at his friend and spoke softly. "Cody, could you pick that up for me, please?"

"Uh... Yeah, sure!" Cody picks up the carton and throws it in the trash bin.

The bell rings and class was starting.

The students rush to their class, feeling a little wiser, while Basil stood firmly in front of the principal. He straightens his tie, clears his throat and finally spoke in that calm adult-like tone. "Ahem, I am terribly sorry, Basil. Um, let me write you a pass so you won't be late for class."

"I don't need one, thank you very much," said Basil bitterly yet with that same tone of respect. "Good day, sir."

Basil leaves with his friends as they grab their backpacks and walked to class. They left the principal alone, who turned his heels and walked away silently. Alisha leaned against the wall and slides down to the floor. Her heart was racing from that intense moment between student and authority. She had no idea Basil was this courageous and knows he does it for the right reasons. But Basil's words stuck out to her.

"He... He had cancer?" Alisha asked herself. "Is that why he limps?"

Alisha had mixed emotions swirling in her chest. And somewhere deep down, she couldn't help but feel jealous of Basil. She wasn't as brave as him. Like any other bully, her arrogance was a mask to hide her vulnerable heart. Alisha wonders how different her life would be if she was as kind and brave as Basil.

"Oh, get a grip, Alisha!" She says to herself. "It's not like it'll change anything now."

She gets up from the floor, picks up her books and went to class, not caring if she was late. To her, this was just another day yet her feelings nagged her.

She hates it.

She hates her feelings and wants to rip them out and throw them away.

To be continued.... Maybe???