September, 11, 2011
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Andrew Monroe; or Andy for short. I am 14 years old. Tomorrow I start the 8th grade at a brand new school. I will be in a brand new town. Where there will be brand new students and teachers to get to know. I have to admit, it intimidates me. My mother says I’ll do fine. That I am great, I’ll make friends instantly. Mom always knows what to say. I guess you could say I am kind of a mama’s boy. So what? I love my mother, sue me.
I tell my mother everything.
We are much closer than the average teenage boy is to his mom. She is my rock, she is super woman in my eyes, and she is my hero. My father left me when I was very young. I don’t ever remember him being around. He never wanted anything to do with his child. My mother was 16 when she had me, and my father was 28. That is a 12 year age difference. My mother openly admits to being young and stupid when this relationship came about. She claims to have been seduced by his false kindness and charming blue eyes, which I share with him. Perhaps the only trade I have inherited from him, aside from my love of Oreo cookies apparently.
At the moment, my mother is single. She is working 2 jobs, trying to support me and give me the best life she can. I am proud of my mother. I don’t care if we have to life in a trailer for the rest of our lives. I will manage. I don’t require much, and I know she is doing the best she can. Despite how busy she is working, she still tries to make time for me. She usually does, too. She can help me through anything it seems like. I know I can go to her with anything and get help without judgment or negativity. So hopefully she can help me through tomorrow.
I love people. I used to live in New York; there were so many different kinds of people there. Nice ones, rude ones, big ones, small ones, rich ones, poor ones, people of different shapes, sizes, races, religions. I love the variety of looks and personalities. Like snowflakes, all different from each other, no two exactly alike, yet all on the same journey to the same place. Everyone was so unique. The lights at night were so bright and beautiful. You could see them perfectly from our old apartment. I used to sit on the window seat in my room, in awe at the fact that they shined brighter than stars. Also, I enjoyed school so much. I know that’s an odd thing for a teenage boy to say, but it’s true. I had friends, though I don’t like the word ‘friends’. I prefer the term allies in a contradictory world. Plus, the classes were so entertaining and inspirational. And then, there was Natalie. She was extraordinary. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. I love her so much. I know we’re young but man, did it feel like love. We dated for two years before I left. I was crushed when we had to move, but there was nothing we could do after our apartment burnt down.
My mother and I moved from New York to a small town in California called Danville. I’m super nervous to start school in such a small town. I mean, everybody knows everybody. They all probably grew up together. Will I be the outcast? I’ve seen pictures of beautiful people in California. Perfect bodies, flawless, tan skin, completely magnificent in every way. The men are thin yet masculine and they all play sports.
I am chubby yet oddly slinky. My dark Cherokee skin has acne bumps here and there. I am short, about 5\3. My nose sticks out about a half inch too far from my face. My black, thick framed glasses magnify my eyes so I look like a frightened bug. My wild, curly, chocolate brown hair always looks like bed-head no matter how many times you brush it.
I am like the opposite of perfection. I have heard awful rumors about California, that the people are shallow and narcissist. That they are so obsessed with what’s on the outside that they don’t care about what’s on the inside. Well at least that’s what Hannah told me. Hannah is the girlfriend of my best friend Nathan, and pretty much my girl best friend. She’s a conspiracy theorist. She believes in aliens and super-natural beings. She’s a sweet girl though, once you get to know her. She’s a ginger; she’s short, thin, and super smart. Like seriously this girl knows everything, but she also questions anything. We still don’t have her convinced that dinosaurs were wiped out by a métier. She thinks it was aliens who killed them. Although I know she is wrong, I do agree it is a much more amusing explanation. I would much rather listen to a 45 minute lecture on aliens than métiers.
I am a very sensitive guy. I am not afraid to admit it. I love to write poetry, I play guitar, and I am absolutely obsessed anime. I listen to ‘emo’ music. You know, the so called whiney, loud, depressing music played by guys in guy-liner and dark clothing? Well first of all, musicians have to right to dress and wear whatever the fuck they want. Actually, everyone does. It’s freedom of expression. Also, ‘emo’ is just a stereotypical overused cliché' term used to describe something different and darker and more emotional than what people are used to. You know what? Fuck all you haters because screamo is bad ass. I’m just saying. Well anyway, it’s getting late, I’ll write more tomorrow.
-Andy Monroe
