CRUELEST SUMMER

5

Taylor

January 2001
12 years old

Lavvie was visiting her grandparents for the holidays in California, so I was alone.

My parents bought me a guitar for Christmas this year, yet I had no idea how to play. I messed around with it before I was bored.  My dad had saved up enough money to upgrade the family computer, so I would spend most days playing games and looking up random facts.

   Austin was so happy that he got these monster trucks for Christmas. He was always outside playing in the mud in this room, making different designs for the trucks to ramp off of. I had a room beside his, and I heard it all.

   I slide onto the computer chair and power up the computer. I can't wait for Lavvie to get home so I can show her everything I got this year. Plus, I want to see what she got.

The computer screen flashed on, glitched off, and made a beeping noise.

"Hey," I smacked the side of the monitor.

The screen blacked out, and I sat there staring at it.

"Mom!" I yelled

Within minutes, she was beside me, trying to get it to turn on.

"Well, sweetie, it looks like we will just have to call the repair man," she sighed

"WHAF?!" I stood up

"Mom, that would take days," I groaned

"Yeah, it might. Play with your toys or things you got for Christmas. If you are that bored, I have a few choices-

"Nooe," and I booked it upstairs

Now, why was I cleaning right now? I was on break from school and was not in the mood. I was bummer the computer was broken.

Dang, cheap electronics.

I spent the next few days coloring and organizing my new things. School started back In three days, and I was so not excited about that. Everyone was mean to me, and Lavvie and I did not have every class together. It made me sad.  The computer guy still hadn't come; he was supposed to arrive any day now, but he must be tried.  Lavvie is supposed to be home today, and I can't wait. I want to show her my guitar; although I don't know how to play it, it's still beautiful.

  "Taylor, the repair man, is on his way, " my mom yelled

"THANK THE LORD!" I screamed

I was so ready to play more games on the computer.

The man who arrived was not who I imagined would fix computers. He was tall and thin. He wore a baseball cap and had on a denim jacket.
My mom showed him where the computer was, and he quickly began working on it. He unscrewed the back plate and replaced a thin piece of metal before putting the rear plate on.

  As he was powering it up, he glanced over at me.

"You play games on here?" he asked

"Yes, and homework."

He nodded and did a few things on the computer before speaking again.

"Is that your guitar in the corner?" He asked, nodding his head toward the guitar

I glanced over at it and cringed slightly

"Yes"

"Can you play?"

"Oh uhm..... no, I tried, but no," I said, scratching my head.

"Well, do you want me to teach you a few chords?" He said, turning in the swivel chair to me