The Intruder

THE BEGINNING

Note to reader - This was my first chapter and when I wrote it, I didn't know how to set up the story and its format (the format of the story is standardized by chapter two). I didn't want to change that because otherwise I would have to do it again from scratch and I didn't feel like doing it, in the end from this attempt all the rest was born. I hope you understand me and enjoy the reading!😉

"Mat...., Mat...., MAATTT!"

It was the third time in an hour that Professor Grace called him for his inattention. It was also the last hour of the day and Mat Howard was bored with the math lesson, so much so that he got lost in his thoughts many times while looking out of the window.

"Eeemmm I'm sorry, but I got distracted thinking about how to fix the math problem" said Mat as an excuse, nodding an embarrassed smile.

"Ah yes? Well you've been there for ten minutes, at the blackboard now!" Professor Grace's reaction made the class breathe a sigh of relief, none of them other than the distracted Mat would be questioned about the math problem.

Mat turned white in his forehead, he expected something like that, but at the same time hoped that the professor would buy the excuse. He took courage and stood up from the bench, knowing that he would never solve the math problem.

When he reached the chalkboard, Mat took his chalk and began to reread the math problem in order to gain time and hope for some divine salvation "So? You've been looking at the board for two minutes, what are you waiting for? Want a failing?" Said Professor Grace, but at the very moment a familiar sound, the bell, rang, indicating that the school day was over. Mat felt relieved and the class started to prepare for home.

"Stop all of you!" Professor Grace said "Since Mat did not start the math problem, I want you all to bring it to me tomorrow, and then I'll evaluate you. While you Mat, you will have to do me also three other random math problems taken from this page of the book of mathematics, like the times that I called you. If you don't do them, I'll send you to the Principal because it's not normal that you're always so distracted!". The whole class, hearing what Professor Grace said, complained to Mat for ruining their day "Congratulations Mat you did another one, I'm just comforted that you're worse than me" said John, the bully in the class.

All this made Mat sad. Once again, he was the most hated in class. Although Mat did everything to not bother and please himself, he always ended up disappointing everyone "Great, who knows how many things they will say behind my back. I hope they don't play me tomorrow" Mat said to himself, as he returned to his desk to pack his orange backpack for the trip home.

Mat was the last one to leave Professor Grace's class, and among the last students to leave LEE Junior High, and as usual he was preparing to make his own way home. As Mat headed home, he only hoped the day would not get any worse "Aaaahhh cabbages, it's not possible that I always make disasters . I just wish I wasn't twelve and be an adult, so I could be more responsible" Mat said, chattering with himself. For the remaining ten minutes of the journey, Mat did nothing but complain about the day, sometimes raising his voice so much that he attracted the attention of confused passers-by.

Once home, Mat opened the door with his keys and headed to his room, but a voice so familiar but not so happy called him back, it was his Mom "Mat, where are you going? Don't you have to tell me anything?" Mat stood still for a few seconds and thought "Oh no, how does Mom know about today??? It will be better if I change the subject" Mat approached the voice and saw his Mom while he was fixing up the house, at that moment he was in the living room "Hello Mom, what do you mean? You finished work early today, I see..." said Mat trying to mislead the speech "Mat, don't pretend anything" his Mom replied. Mat was a little hesitant, but decided to tell the truth immediately, maybe in this way he would show that he was not hiding anything and that he took responsibility "Well today Professor Grace has punished my distractions with additional tasks and if I don't do them she sends me to the Principal, I understand that I was wrong but I was too bored" His Mom at that moment looked at him a little puzzled "Mat... I was referring to the fact that yesterday, I asked you to tell me the cost of those beautiful flowers from the florist along your way home..." at that moment Mat realized he had made it even bigger. Because of his complaints about the day on the way home, he had forgotten to ask the florist for the cost of the flowers. His Mother at that moment changed her expression and became particularly angry "I can turn a blind eye to the flowers, but son I can't believe what you did in school, I'm disappointed. Go straight to your room and leave as soon as you've finished your homework".

Mat immediately ran to his room which was down the hall. He lived with his family in a small house built on one floor but with a cellar in the basement, he certainly could not complain that he lacked something. His bedroom was not too big being an only child, but nevertheless Mat considered it his refuge. Inside along the wall on the left, had his bed with blue sheets while the walls of the room were now a little pale blue because of the painting a bit 'old. Along the right wall besides being covered with posters of Rock/Metal bands, there was his wardrobe where he kept his clothes even though it was always messy. While near the window that looked out onto the street, there was his desk where he left everything in school supplies, but above all there was placed his computer, his super computer that allowed him to disconnect from everyday life. Mat closed the door of his room and turned to look at himself in the mirror that was attached to the door. He was quite shabby, with the tuft of his brown hair ending in his face going to slightly cover his eyes. He was dressed in a red shirt, jeans and his usual sports shoes "Gosh, despite my normal height and Professor Grace being practically a dwarf, I'm very afraid of her" Mat said to himself in front of the mirror. In doing so he was again wasting precious time. But as soon as he finished the sentence, he immediately started to prepare his desk for homework. It was five o'clock in the evening and he could not waste any more minutes. Once he had prepared his desk for homework, Mat looked at the computer and thought "Uuuummm that boring, I could watch an episode of the The Amazing World of Gumball before committing to the tasks... or I could listen to some rock music from my phone... but if I don't do my homework, I'm in trouble. Come on, as soon as I finish my homework, I watch an episode but now at work".

Several hours passed that seemed almost an eternity, but Mat had now also finished the extra problems that had been assigned to him "Finally I finished. Well, I turn on the computer so I finally watch an episode of Gumball as a prize" but at that exact moment his Mom called him "Mat! It's been 5 hours that you are locked in the room and dinner is now ready, take a shower and come to eat". Mat was surprised, he had been so focused that he did not realize the time that had been. He rushed to take a shower and after another twenty minutes, he came to the table and found his father already sitting "Hi Dad, sorry I didn't welcome you earlier when you came home from work, but I was busy with school homework". His Dad told him not to worry and that he had been right to stay so focused, he had probably already been informed of the situation by Mom.

The Howard family dinner was particularly quiet, also because Mat hid sadness for the events that happened today. After dinner, Mat helped to clear the table and then went to his room. He had a score to settle with his computer. It was now half past nine in the evening and the fatigue of the day was felt. But despite that, Mat decided to watch at least one episode "Well, computer on, password entered, now I can watch Gumball finally". After the opening theme, the title of the episode was The Transformation. Time flew by, especially Mat as usual was very taken with the plot "Not even time to be thanked and Gumball was already running away from fear ahahah. It would be so nice to live in that world, so absurd and so funny". Tired of the day, Mat decided to turn it off, despite usually watching at least one other episode or started surfing the web or playing some video games. When he had done that, he first went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He then said goodnight to his parents who were in the living room watching television and once in his room, he put on his gray pyjamas covered with fantasy planets that was over his pillow. Mat really liked that pajama, made him feel carefree. Once in bed, he set the alarm for the next day and then watched the ceiling "Who knows what tomorrow will happen, I just hope it goes better than today". Immediately after saying this, he closed his eyes and fell asleep shortly afterwards.