Chapter 2:
The next week passed slowly (at no surprise). Of course, Mum and I went shopping for some new clothes, but I wouldn't pick out anything anyone considered “trendy.” I naturally went for the nicer things, vests, slacks, and a nice tie. Mum would argue that I needed something besides “work-type-of-clothes,” but I told her plainly that I liked what I was picking out.
“At least I'm not doing drugs, Mum,” I rolled my eyes.
“Maybe you should be,” she shrugged. “It'd be better than this,”
I laughed. “What's that suppose to mean?”
She sighed. “Marcel, sweetie, you have absolutely no friends,” I pouted as she continued. “You're so much unlike your siblings, it's not even funny,”
“I'm sorry,” I said, turning to a rack of dress pants. She was right, I had to admit. My friend base as compared to anything else was severely lacking.
She continued. “You know that I love you dearly. But, I feel like a change in appearance might be better for you. Just as an experiment,”
“As much as I love experiments,” I started, with a light laugh. “I can't say that I like this one. My fashion is the one thing I have control over, and you know just as much as I do that everything else is so uncertain. I just like to keep clean-”
“Like your room, and your bed, and your bathroom-”
“Shut up!” I laughed. “I'm working on it. Harry said so himself, all of those problems will eventually go away,”
She laughed softly and picked up an immaculate white button-up shirt. “Do you like this one?”
“Of course,” I said, reaching out to grab it. “Can you also pick me up a different color? I would really like to spice up my wardrobe a bit,”
She laughed. “of course, whatever you want.”
I smiled and continued to look around for more clothes. She handed me a list of supplies I would need and some money and told me to go look for them. I nodded and left the store, heading over to another store that was comprised of office supplies. That should be a good place to start.
I woke up the first day of school ready to go back to sleep. I would admit to staying up until two AM studying for no reason, but my pride was a little in the way of that admission. I sat upright in bed for twenty minutes before realizing that I'd gotten up late and needed to hurry.
I threw on a graphic tee and some jeans and looked at myself in th mirror. I shook my head. That wasn't right at all. Next I put on my usual attire: a dress shirt, the vest to go over it, a tie, and dress pants (for extra affect, I put a fake watch on a chain in my pocket). That felt right. I looked myself in th mirror and sighed. Perfect. I put my dress shoes on and went down the stairs.
Mum was standing next to the stove, cooking up some breakfast for me. I sat down just as she brought a plate of pancakes and a bottle of syrup over to me.
“Thanks, Mum,” I said as I picked up my fork.
“You're welcome, sweetie,” she smiled, sitting down beside me to eat her food. After a few moments, she said, “Do you have everything you need, Marcel?”
“Yes, Mum,”
“Are you sure-”
“Yes, Mum,” I repeated. “I have everything I need for school. Don't worry so much. I'll be fine, I promise,”
She smiled. “I'm just making sure. I want to send you off on the right foot,”
“I'd rather walk out on my left,” I mumbled.
