Joseph's Trials

Chapter 1

"Class is so boring today." I tell Greg, "It's like the clock is going backwards." "What time does class end again?", I ask. "Not until 3:45, it's taking forever", he said. I decided to finish my story about the dragon slayer and right when I'm almost done with the climax I hear, "Mr. Turner, if you are done with your stories, I would appreciate it if you paid attention. Now as I was saying, the French and Indian War was..." I could not stand to listen to her. I always pass my exams but she's always on my back for not paying attention. I finish my rough draft and before I know it the bell rings. I dash out.

It seems like every teacher at Siphen High is out to get me. I just got to ninth grade and every teacher is my enemy already. I headed to the park to talk my friends. I turned the corner and I was met with extreme pain. I fall to the ground hard and try to shake it off. As I get off the ground I realized, the reason I fell. "What do you want Richard. I'm not in the mood." Whats wrong punk? Can't see where ya going?!", he exclaims. ". You don't frighten me. I'm leaving." He jumps in front of me and attempts to kick me but I narrowly evade him. He pinned me down and punched me in the jaw. I laid still with a bloody lip as he laughed at me and walked away. "Loser, ha ha ha!" I get up and cleaned my face. Richard, if you don't already know this, is a jerk. He's been pushing me around since I got to Siphen. I can't stand it but what can I do? He's a giant compared to me. I know David may have defeated Goliath but I'm not David.

I make it to the park to meet my friends. I high five Greg, Randy, Reggie, and Omari. Randy and Omari, I have known since elementary; Reggie and Greg backed me up in a fight once and we have been close ever since. "Whats up, Joseph?", Randy questioned. I respond with, "Nothing", and look over to see Omari and Reggie arm wrestling on the stone table under my favorite oak tree. I say, "Who is winning?", Greg says that it's a stalemate. I turn my back and hear Reggie scream, "Boo yah! Better luck next time string bean!" I had a lot on my mind so I didn't pay much attention to the guys.

We decided to head over to Oxford's for some bowling practice. I get in a few strikes and every time Omari gets a strike, he yells nonsense at everyone. The guys and I didn't talk much because we had to focus on practice. For the first time in years we made it to the finals of the Oxford's Statewide Bowling Tournament. It starts to get dark so we said our goodbyes and head home.

I reach my front yard carefully stepping over the broken beer bottles and garbage. I open the molded, wooden door and the shouting begins. My mom yells, "Where have YOU been, boy! Its past 9:30!" I look at the clock and it clearly says 8:00. "It's only 8:00 mom", I reply, "and I'm going to eat so I can go to bed." I walk on the creaking floor and open the fridge to see absolutely nothing. I ask "Mom, where is the food?", even though I knew the answer. " I needed the money for my liquor, boy. You know momma loves a good drink", she said. "Then what am I supposed to eat? I'm starving." "There are some graham crackers in the cabinet.", she says. " I can't believe you!", I screamed. She gets off the muddy couch and approaches me slowly. She says, "Stop being so ungrateful. I give you a roof over your head and this is how you thank me?" "Mom we live in garbage.", I say near tears. " The roof has so many holes in it that it shouldn't be qualified as a roof anymore and we would not be in this shack if you would stop drinking at every job you get. Plus, you won't even let me get a job." "I do my best for you.", she says. "You just don't know a blessing when you see one." "More like a curse", I mutter under my breath. "What was that?!" "Nothing," I say, "I'm going to bed." I march into the other room and lay on the dirty couch which serves as my bed. Why can't she just stop drinking? If not for me at least she could do it for herself. I hate this. I roll over and cry myself to sleep.