Nerd Boy (COMPLETED)

12. Happiness in Darkness.

I take the poem from my pocket; I've been carrying it about since school started and I've been getting nowhere with it. I reach it over to Purdy, but she shakes her head.

"Read out the last few lines of the poem, please?" she asks me.

"Well ok, but it won't do any good I can't read emotions, the poem is negative, and the teacher told us to find the positive." I scoffed a little this was ridiculous. I've read this a million time.

"Oh just do it, Steven, one last time won't kill you," Purdy argued.

"Okay, okay." I look down at the page and decide where to start she said to read the last few lines.

"The reality

Creates

My attitude

It's all beyond my control

And you'll never in a million years hear me say that

Today was a good day."

I glance up from the paper "now tell me how I turn depression into happiness?"

But all she says is, "Read that last line again."

I let out an exasperated sigh but do as I am told and look down at the page.

"Today was a good day. Wait what happened there." I was confused now why did I not see this before I now regarded this as a puzzle before I could think anymore Purdy cut off my thoughts by saying,

"Now keep reading the poem but go up the lines." I wasn't going to argue.

"Today was a good day

And you'll never in a million years hear me say that

It's all beyond my control

My attitude

Creates

The reality

I'm sure that you can agree that

It's not true that good exists

Only if one's surroundings are good

True happiness can be maintained."

I checked through the rest of the poem. I had found the positive in the negative.

"Wow, Purdy, you are amazing," I stated.

"No, I'm not, the girl that wrote that poem is, it is supposed to be written by a girl called 'Chanie Gorkin' whether that is true or not I'm not sure.

"Now go and get your gym gear you have a date with a pro boxer." 

I spun quickly out of the room, grabbed my gym bag and was back in no time to catch Purdy eating my chocolate cake this time with a fork and off a plate. 

"Ok Nerd Boy lets go! No slacking," she commanded, waving her fork at me and then added as we headed out the front door "you can drive while I eat your cake." 

"Purdy!" I shouted.

"What possibly could be wrong now? You know you are starting to become high maintenance, you know that don't you?" she sighed loudly.

I shut the door behind me and said quietly, "Yes, I know, but Purdy, I can't drive."

Purdy froze in place, mouth agape and the cake not quite reaching her mouth. She dropped the fork back onto her plate and sat down on my front doorstep. I sat down beside her. I said nothing I didn't know what to say.

"How many times have you been hungry, Steven? as in you haven't eaten in days." She asked.

"Never," I answer. 

"Well, my parents started back on the drugs before my fourth birthday well, so my grandmother says. I got to know that they called this man when it was getting dark out. I always stayed hidden. My Parents would leave the back door open, and he would let himself in. I know now that my parents were buying drugs. At that time, I was a baby I didn't know about life. But I knew hunger. 

I started to go out the opened door and scavenge for food going through bins that I could reach or give a pushover. I remember finding a pink backpack, with toys in it and I used to take it out every night. I would make my way back home and hide my food in my room. My parents forgot I was there. 

In the morning they would lock up the house and leave. Then one morning they didn't get up to go out. And that night the door was still locked. My parents just lay in bed. I didn't know about death; I thought they were sleeping. So I waited for the next night, and the next and my food had run out, and I was getting hungry. But my grandmother saved me, according to her, my parents had to phone her every couple of days, or she would visit. 

I remember the moment she came through the door I cried so hard, and when she picked me up, I wouldn't let her go. That Nerd Boy is my story, and if I can survive hunger, you can survive driving lessons with my mate Crusher."

"What!" I shout "You're Kidding Me." Purdy shakes her head and starts finishing off her cake.

"Now, your art piece I saw today makes sense. How do you remember being that small?" I question.

I thought she wasn't going to answer; she finishes her cake sets the plate and fork down, gets up off the front step, swings her bag over her shoulder and holds out both her hands to me I take her hands and she pulls me to my feet. Then she leans up close and whispers into my ear,

"Trauma. Well, so I am told. Also, I have horrible dreams." 

Thanks for reading 'Happiness in Darkness' Please vote if you have enjoyed this chapter.

Chapter twelve completed.