The Shy Teen Boy

"Hey B," said Jack Wong a high school football captain to me. He calls me "B" because of my last name Berry. My entire name is Benjamin Berry.

"Hey Jack, how are you today?" I ask with a depressed tone in my voice hoping he can't tell something is wrong.

Jack then replied, "Nothing much how are you today better yet how was your birthday?"

"Alright I guess but I kept myself in my room yesterday, why you ask?" I told him this because if he knew what I really did yesterday on my birthday he might wonder if I should be in a mental institute or not and I don't want the feeling of being weird what I did yesterday was just listen to music and it was the day my mother died right in front of me. So to keep her close to my heart every year I talk to a picture of her that I have she was so beautiful with vibrant blue eyes blonde hair and soft facial features. I tell Jack "I haven't talked to my brother or sister in a while, they tell me I am still sad about our mothers passing that I zone out." Jack looks surprised when I tell him this, like he is shocked that I'm talking about my mom. "Jack, I really need to go. Derek doesn't like me being alone at this time around my birthday." Derek a great older brother, he has been taking care of me since I was around five mom couldn't do it all. She died when I was around fiveteen and I was left with our dad who is a drunk and he beat me for things I couldn't understand. I called 'Child Protective Services' and they put me with Derek. He is more like a father than a brother but even in his seriousness he jokes around like a brother. I love my brother he has always been there for me when I needed him.

"B, you know I could give you a ride right?"

"I know but I like walking helps me get my exercise."

"Ah, okay... but if you ever want a ride I'll take you home."

"Thanks Jack." I smile and walk away without saying another word.

Twenty minutes later I get to the house where Derek is waiting for me with dinner on the table. I forgot how this meal smelt it was mom's favorite. Chicken and rice with biscuits. We always made it for her on my birthday it was my gift to her even if it was my birthday I wanted to see her smile. "Hey Derek." As I walk in to the kitchen, he didn't hear me walk in like usual he was listening to his music loud enough to drown out any noise. He turns and sees me standing in the door of the kitchen.

Derek reaches up to turn down the music so he can talk to me. "Hey little bro, how was school?" I tell him that Jack asked if I wanted a ride home and how I politely said no. "Oh, why didn't you take the ride from him?"

"I just wanted to walk and be alone for a bit."

"Okay, come help me set the table then." I walk over to the table after I wash and dry my hands so that any germs on my hands won't make anyone sick.

"Hey Derek, why do you think Jack is talking to me? I stopped talking to him last year because I knew he was going to go off to college next year."

"Jack just wants to be your friend maybe, why does it matter really? He is nice and wants to hang out with you so be it."

"Okay, I'll get a ride home from school tomorrow." I wanted to tell Derek that school was cancelled but didn't know how to because someone pulled the fire alarm and now they have to install new wires and plastic things that cover them. Jeremy Johnson always a big troublemaker but this time he is getting a fine and community service for what he did. "Derek please don't take me to school tomorrow I'll walk there."

Derek turns and looks at me I look back at him then he said, "If you want." I look down at the table that I'm wiping down before diner and get it to shine like it does after being wiped off. I smell the chicken in the pan and it is making me hungry for it but I know I will have to wait. The rice we do for dinner is sweet and we call it sugar rice or sweet rice.