The Falconer's Sentinel

Chapter 1: The Beginning

It started out ten years ago, at Knight elementary. I was in 4th grade, and was talking to my teacher like usual.

"Mmhmm. I know. Yes, okay. Alright. Thanks. Yup I sure will." That's usually how our conversation would go. My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Newton would see my latest test scores, get incredibly impressed, and insist I take a letter home to my poor, over stressed mom, requesting that I was moved up from the 4th to the 6th grade.

Now I personally don't feel like the kind of boy to be a show off, or to put myself as the center of attention. But because I was the largest, and smartest boy in my class, I was often put there. So basically jumping up two grades was completely out of the question.

Crumpling the letter as I walked out of the classroom I grabbed my army jacket from the coat rack. I threw the letter in the garbage and adjusted the over-sized jacket on my shoulders. Despite being 5'1", 105 lbs and only nine years old, the jacket was still made for a full grown man. My dad to be exact.

My dad was the typical army man, he loved his family, yet was still dedicated to his country. Two years ago he was deployed in Afghanistan. He was part of the canine units, the dogs that were used to sniff out explosives. They had found an IED, (improvised explosive devise), but it was accidentally set off, killing him and his dog Watch in the process. They sent back his army jacket to his family, and I had worn it ever since.

I continued on to the playground to my normal spot by a bush where I would mess around with sticks, grass, and pinecones, building structures and wierd things. I was walking until something stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Oh no. Not again" I thought.

The same fifth graders were picking on someone again. Usually I would call up the nearest teacher on guard and they would take care of the matter but as I looked around I saw the only adult on duty was just walking into the building to take a kid to the nurse who had fallen off the swings. I had to take action.

Wait a minute? This time it was a girl! I had seen her around and was pretty sure she was in first grade or something, she was pretty small. For them to bully her was just pathetic, rude, and down right unacceptable. Living in a family of all girls, my mom, and my two younger sisters who were 5, and 2, I knew how to treat a lady. And by golly beating her up was nowhere near how you should do it. I immediately marched right over there.

"Hey! Stop right there!" I shouted.

They dropped the poor girl on the ground and she stood back up and climbed up the tree, perched on one of the branches like a hawk.

"Why don't you have a taste of your own medicine?" I yelled. I was furious, and I admit, I wasn't thinking straight.

I swung my fist back and let it fly, making a large thud on the tallest one's jaw, making some teeth fly!

"HEADSHOT!!! I mean, ouch..." The girl cried from in the tree.

"Hey, at least they're baby teeth." I said, trying to compensate for something.

The other two took one look at me and ran. After all, you can't really blame them. The biggest scrambled to his feet and ran off holding his jaw.

I walked over to the tree and tried to coax her down. "Come on, let's get you back to Ms Phillips" I said, she was the first grade teacher.

"What? I'm not in first grade!" She yelled, though it was more as if she was used to that accusation. She swung down from the tree with ease. "My teacher is Mr Perkins. I'm in third grade."

"Oh, okay..." Al said as if doubting her. "Anyway we should.."

"And I could have handled them myself you know." She interrupted him. "What's your name anyway?"

"No you couldn't have. Oh my name?" I hesitated for a moment. " Before I answer that why don't you tell me what happened?"

She sighed. "Ughh. Fine." She said relutantly. "Like usual I was sitting on a bench reading the latest book that I had fallen in love with. I was just getting to the climax when SCREEEECH! I saw some older boys, about fifth grade, who were throwing rocks at a little bird that had broken it's wing! My whole life I have had a special link towards animals. Birds specifically. So when I saw them doing that to the poor innocent creature, I just had to take action. Now just because I don't have very many friends, and get picked on a lot doesn't mean that I don't know how to defend myself. Though I admit I don't look very intimidating, after doing four years of gymnastics and karate you'd be surprised at what I can do." She stopped talking for a moment as if to get my approval.

"Continue." I said.

"So I put down the giant book I was reading and marched defiantly over to the tree where they were. 'Hey!' I shouted. 'Why don't you pick on someone your own size? That bird didn't do anything to you!' I shouted. And then he said 'It was stupid that's what! Just like you for coming over here.' And then the stupid looking one said 'Yeah why don't you mind your own business? Go back to kindergarten shortie!' assuming it had an affect."

I just continued to listen to her. She had this way of talking that just fascinated me. She would do these little voices for the other boys and she exaggerated everything making her look twice her size.

"And then the biggest boy reached out his arms to shove me, but he wasn't fast enough. I ducked under his legs, summersaulted through, and used my foot to trip him on my way out. I stood up, but then the other two boys got me from behind. They both grabbed me by the arms, and threw me to the base of the tree, but I fought back. And then they started saying things like 'You're so stupid! Just give up already!' And 'She doesn't know when to quit does she?' But I shouted right back! 'You're right! I don't know when to quit!' I shouted at them! Right in their faces! And... that's when you should up." She crossed her arms and turned around. "Well now you answer my question." She turned back around. "What's your name."

"My name is Al. Alastair Theodore Schneider. What's yours?" I stated.

"Well no need for the whole shebang. Theodore you said huh? Imma call you Teddy." She stated.

"Oh um, I just prefer Al..." I tried to say, but I could tell she wasn't listening.

"My name is Suzanne Quazdoodle, but you can call me Suzi Q. I've always liked the sound of that. I guess this makes us friends now huh?" She added.

"Uh yeah I guess so.."

"Good. And by the way if you're ever mean to me I will kick your butt. I know karate!" She said, striking a ninja-like pose.

"Yeah, you said that before..." I said.

I was very shocked by the fact that this tiny child thought she could take me down, but I was just glad someone wanted to talk to me, instead of running away like they usually did. Just then the recess bell rang.

"That's the bell, we should probably go line up." I said.

"Let's go Teddy!" She grabbed my arm and with surprising force dragged me to the end of the line, and the start of a new friendship.