The Boy Behind The Mask

Me

I ran my hands through my ugly brown hair, recoiling in disgust from the grease. The Ditcor only let us shower on Saturdays for free, otherwise it was $1.50, and my family could never afford it.

"Just two more days...two more.."

I breathed, swinging my feet over my bed. I lost balance and tumbled five feet to the dirt floor.

"OUCH!!" I yelled out, startling the chickens. I had forgotten that it was my turn on the top bunk; I was completely lost in thought about my birthday.

5 days!!

5 days, then I'll be 11...5 days, then I'll be at Belling Manor.

There was no doubt about it, I was going. Yes, there is the testing, and the 80% chiz. But I was talented, and I was smart. I could create art, swirling designs, stunning sculptures, such beauties you would stop and think; she's ten? And my smarts were pretty impressive too. I could complete a set of multiplication cards 1-100, in one minute.

I brushed myself off from the fall. Something didn't feel right in my arm. Probably bruised a bone or muscle..

I turned to face the grimy mirror, looking at my reflection. My cheeks were sunken, and dirt was caked under my nails. My hazel eyes looked defiant. Like me. My slim body just sat there, swallowed in my baggy, sack-like shirt with matching shorts. My shoes were two sizes too small. They had lots of holes.

I plopped down into a chair, that was also to small, and examined my elbow. It was bleeding. Like my father always said; just rub some dirt on it! Of course, I am not that light headed. I strolled leisurely outside, looking for the palm trees.

"What you looking for, Jessie?"

Someone grabbed me around the waist and flung me over their shoulder like a sack of flour.

Mike.

Advantages to being tiny I guess... I pounded my fists on his back, yelling

"Let me go Mike!!"

Oh, he certainly did.

In a puddle. Unfortunately for him, I was a good fighter, and I managed to grab his wrist and pull him down with me.

After the laughter subsided, I got up and sat down under the palm tree.

"I was looking for the palms, Dumbo."

"Oh, well stop me from protecting you."

"From what?"

You could hear the seriousness in his voice, and it made me feel uncertain.

"I will be leaving tomorrow for the prison, so your gonna be without a bodyguard for a few days until you come join me..."

Oh yeah. It was Mikes 11th birthday today.

"So..you got above an 80%?"

"Yep...a full blown 120%."

There was dead silence.

I looked into his electric blue eyes, and searched. There was a look, a look I had seen somewhere. It was in my fathers eyes every time he looked at my mother.

Whoa!

My father...loved..my mother...

NO! C'mon Jess!! He doesn't love you! Yes, you like him a teeny tiny smidgen, but you are just seeing things.

"So..let's..uh..get you fixed up..here.."

He grabbed my arm and wrapped a palm leaf around my bloody scratch, and smothered it with palm oil and water.

"There."

He patted my arm, and looked me in the eye. For some reason I felt....warm.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the street, through the woods and to our secret hideout. It was this big cave, and the vines covered it do you couldn't tell it was there.

He nearly dragged me in through the vines, and picked me up and swirling me in the air.

"So...."

Mike said. He set me back down. I lost my balance and grabbed his arms for support. I looked at his eyes and mustered a laugh.

His face seemed to relax a bit, and the Mike I knew was gone. He looked at me, and I stared right back at those beautiful, piercing blue eyes. Wait-

BEAUTIFUL?!?

They were beautiful....

I came back to focus, and I saw those eyes, and they were getting bigger. Why were they getting bigger?

Suddenly realizing, I closed my eyes. And then, it felt like an explosion. These feelings I have been holding inside for 5 years since I met Mike poured out into that moment I had strangely been waiting for my whole life. And I moved with him, as if it was a production we had been practicing for ages, and this was the debut.

Far too soon, the show was over. We parted, and he was just smiling the day away.

"Uh....thanks.."

"You too.."

I smiled back a kind smile.

Suddenly Mike looked at his watch and gasped.

"Uh-oh...I was suppose to leave for Belling Manor an hour ago...I have to go.."

Still in shock, I muttered:

"Oh-okay.. Bye..?"

As he ran off, I heard him say:

"See you in five days, my love!"

My love.