Fate's Quest

prologue

It was a hot morning in Sonoma Arizona. Zachary awoke to an abrupt sound of the garbage truck disposing of the last week's trash. Zachary's father James rustling through the junk drawer in the kitchen and yelling at himself. "Son of a bitch" Frank said with irritation in his voice. Zachary instantaneously jumped out of bed to reassure himself that he was not the cause of his father's irritation. He creeped through the hallway like a mouse to the cat. "Did you take the shed keys again? I swear if I find them in your room, your ass will be grass". "No I promise," Zachary said with terror in his voice. Zach's father stared at him for a moment as to read the truth in the child's voice. "Hurry you will be late for school and I don't have time to take you." Zachary quickly got dressed in his old torn jeans that were three sizes too large, dirt stained band t-shirt, and snapback hat. He rushed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He noticed his dirty blond hair sticking out of the bottom of his hat so he tucked it under so it was no longer visible. He wiped the crust of his green eyes, looked at the clock to realize he was late. Zachary quickly laced up his sneakers and grabbed his backpack. He was used to mornings such as these. As he got outside he witnesses the school bus already at his stop. As a cold shiver runs up Zachary's spine he bolts for the bus. Throwing the other strap to his backpack on his shoulder as his 2nd hand sketchers hit the pavement with authority. He reaches the back of the bus and pounds at the side.

"I'm here, I'm here," the bus doors slide open to reveal the 65 year old man with spotty facial hair from a rushed shave. "Hurry and sit down we are already late." As Zachary scanned the faces of the children he came to realize today was no different than any other day. As he traveled down the middle section of the bus the children would scowl and snicker. "Did you remember to take a bath today scrounge?" one kid said with a belittling tone. Zachary's father had been laid off from the local furniture factory so he could only afford to buy clothes for him at thrift stores. Ignoring the comment he continued walking down the center. Suddenly a foot slid out from under one of the seats tripping Zachary. "Walk much dumbass?" one of the kids snickered. Afraid of the kid beating him for saying anything back once he got off the bus, Zachary hung his head low and continued his search for somewhere to sit. Finally he spots an open seat and rushes to it as the bus begins down the road. He sits and places his backpack on his lap, he looked out the window to begin watching life outside of his own. He thinks to himself. "This cannot be how I'm supposed to live."