Youth!

5 Minutes Of Fame

 The next morning, Claire called to tell me what she was going to tell me the night prior. Apparently, she had a barbeque planned for around 7 P.M and wanted me to be there. Of course I was gonna be there, it's not like I had anything else to do. I had already met most of her family, but never met any of her friends. I only heard their voices and seen some faces. I slept for most of the day before making my way over there when it was time. When I got there, I saw Claire, who was rocking makeup, which wasn't her usual look. "Hey, you made it sleepyhead! Come meet my friends!" She led me over to a circle of people standing up jamming out to music. One by one, I met them, they were mostly nerdy looking girls who looked confused but happy to meet me. As I stood up waiting to get food, I could hear them mumbling. "Is that Claire's boyfriend?" One asked. "He looks so young, he has such a babyface!" Said another. "Nah, he might just be family." Another said. Turning around, I acknowledged all of them at once. "No, I'm just a friend, and yeah I get that a lot. I'm seventeen." I said, with a mouthful of hot dog which made them all burst out laughing. Some of her guy friends were there too, but they were all off to the side talking amongst each other, and I didn't really care to meet them. I sat down at the table with Claire and the rest of the girls, eating and scrolling through nothing on my phone because I felt awkward and didn't know what to say. Claire grabbed my phone away from me. "Hey!" I said, reaching to get it back. She shook her head. "You're at a function, socialize a little at least." She said. "Marcus here is an aspiring writer. He writes poetry too!" She said, as if showing me off at a show and tell. "Ooh. That's really cool Marcus!" Said one of the girls, who's name was Katelyn. "Share a poem with us!" A girl named Sarah said. Soon the girls started chanting for me to share a poem with them, and even though I was reluctant, I eventually gave in. "Hmm, let me see what I got," I said, scrolling through the notes of my phone nervously looking for something to read. Then I found it, something I had typed up while high at home that was worth reading called "________." "Alright, it's not great but here goes." I said. Admittedly I was nervous, but they weren't going to let me get off without reading so I had no choice but to do so, and I cleared my throat before starting.

The puppy was a good pup

He was small but already grown

He was the cutest little thing

The only pet I ever owned.

When we got him I was young

Not even thirteen

Puppy was full of life

His fur white and clean.

I'd take him on walks

Give him treats

He'd jump when I came home

And lay down at my feet

Even as I got older

And life got in the way

My Baby boy Maxwell

Would always brighten up my day

With age he grew sick

We had to put him down

It had been five whole years

Since puppy first came to town

Puppy I love you and always will

For all of us it was a really hard day

But I know you're in heaven

And no longer in pain.

By the time I reached the end, I was nearly in tears but I kept my composure and I don't think anyone else noticed. All the girls applauded and some of them looked teary-eyed themselves. "That was beautiful!" They all told me. I took a bow and smiled. Poetry came easy to me, all you really have to do is talk about something that holds meaning to you, and you can just go off. At least, that's how easy it was for me. Some of Claire's family and other friends even looked over at me to see what all the commotion was about, but being as shy as I was, the limit to my performance was the small little circle of friends I was in. On top of that, another round of reciting this would probably make me cry. I didn't expect for everyone to like me and my poetry so much, who ever cared about what I had to say? It made me feel really good, almost like I was a star or something. Maybe I could go far with this. I missed Maxwell, my dog who passed away in March but on the positive side I was able to use his life as inspiration for a creative poem about the passing of time which conveys how all good things come to an end. Thank you, puppy. His death affected our family and my life greatly, people who have never owned a pet wouldn't understand, he was like my brother. When you have a dog and wake up to him everyday, you grow to not only love him, but get used to him and his presence. It took a long time for me to stop checking for his furry white behind when I rounded the corner in the living room and looked at the carpet. To get home and open the door knowing there would be no bark. There would be no fluffy puppy to play with or take outside, none of that. It was very hard for all of us, and the house was quiet for weeks after. He lingered in my mind, as I thought about him daily, and it would sometimes make me cry. For the rest of the night, I talked with the girls about my other hobbies and interests, as well as plans for the future, and it was a good time. As I walked to go use the bathroom, Claire followed behind me. "Hey there." She said. "Hmmm?" I asked. "See, aren't you glad I made you get off your phone? They all like you." She told me. I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." I said. "I'm proud of you, I know it was hard for you but you did it!" She said, smiling. "Thank you." I replied, and I couldn't help but smile as well because it made me feel good about myself. I was nervous as to what everyone would think about me but everything seemed to be going well. Out of the audience, Claire seemed to be the only one who noticed my voice quivering towards the end which is why she came up to me.