Crumpled

Chapter 9: Aftermath of Popularity

It was a sunny day. I was at a park near my home and happily swinging away on a swing, absorbed in my own world. I was daydreaming with my mouth agape as I watched myself being appointed as the Principal of my school and the next moment, I was a rockstar and the next, an author and even more ‘nexter’, I was the President of USA and I would have still dreamt these ‘making castles in the air’ dreams if Sarah had not pushed me off my swing.

“Wha-Yike-Ouch! Ow! Ow! Ow! You almost killed me Sarah! How could you!?” I yelled-startling a 4-year old who was playing nearby-laying on the ground, 100% sure that my spinal cord was broken.

“Dial down the drama dear bro and come to reality. Honestly, one would think you are some Aristotle guy, judging by the way you stare at the sky.” said Sarah with a smirk, towering over me with her hands folded.

“Can’t you let me dream my own dreams. This one was quite.....pleasant.”

“Yeah right!” and she walked off, laughing under her breath.

I know I was getting crazy, dreaming up all these just because I shone as a guitar player for the Fest. This achievement which seemed such a big thing then was now a small thing, as in ‘Oh-its-quite-nothing’! This would seem quite equal to a small hint of arrogance but as I thought about it, I knew there was nothing really big in it. Apart from showing everyone that I could be the best for something else other than just scoring top marks, I knew that there wasn’t any need for stage fright. I knew it was only a matter of putting on your best and performing before everyone in a cool manner but oh well......its done anyway and that too, successfully.

But I knew I had to be really thankful to God as it was that one small event that changed my whole life. It taught to be more confident of myself, to be stronger and take some things in a ‘take-it-easy’ manner. Besides, almost everyone in my school knows who is Harris Parker, right now.

To be frank, I did wish for a bit of attention or to put it all in one word-Popularity. But now, having a week’s experience of it, I wish I had it at a moderate measure or none of it at all. I mean, come on! How would you feel when people sometimes point at you or give freaky cheery smiles when you walk down a corridor in your school? It will send you some shivers, right? That’s how I felt right now; having to face all this right now though I have to admit that I was quite enjoying its better sides.

But that does not mean I had turned arrogant and full of myself. I was still the good, hard-working Harris Parker that people so close to me knew me as. I still maintained my strong friendship with Jake and still scored quite excellent marks for my subjects (No credits there). But there were some downsides to it too. Even though most of the people in my school made less fun of me, there was still one person who hated me from the bottom of his heart; Roger.

“Just you wait, Parker! You won’t get away with this!”

“Shine all you want, Parker but one day, you will be sorry.”

“You will never be able to go on like this, Parker! One day, I will show everyone who’s really famous here!”

These were the words that entered my ears like the irritating rings of a telephone whenever Roger saw me getting a smile or wave from somebody. I don’t know what is wrong with him. Whats his problem if I am popular right now? He’s anyway popular already and I didn’t even shame him openly before everyone for him to be really mad at me like this.

“Its not your problem if I’m popular right now, Roger. I wanted to show everyone that I’m not just some ordinary person and that I had a talent. Besides, I’m not going to fall for your threats or rebukes. I’m determined to shine in everything I can do.”