I am NOT and Never Will Be A Jedi

The Brotherhood of Padawans

     Anakin led me down a dark alley and into a sewage drain. Condisering the smell and what followed, it probably wasn't such a good idea.

     "Umm, can you tell me why we're in a sewage drain in the middle of the night?" I asked. Anakin smiled, "Just wait..." He randomly knocked a fist against the metal wall of the sewer tunnel. After a second of silence, the section of wall slid open to reveal a glowing green light. I screamed in shock and my shrill cry echoed through the tunnel. Anakin clamped a hand over my mouth, "Hey, it's okay Grease. It's okay," he said in soothing reassurance as he pulled me into the secret passage.

     In the dimly lit room, four figures stood before Anakin and I with cloaks covering their faces. "Anakin, I-" Anakin bowed before the mysterious beings and motioned for me to do the same. The three cloaked heads lowered, "Welcome Brother Skywalker," they said in unison.

    "Good evening Brothers. I would like to introduce to you a new recruit." I stood up and the cloaks of the four young boys dropped behind them. Their smiles were bright and I noticed they all had single braids hanging over their shoulders like Anakin. Jedi. I thought in relief.

     "Hey Anakin!" a tall Twi'lek boy said as he high-fived him, "So this is the kid you were telling us about?"

     A boy with black hair stared me up and down, "Looks like he could be cool... What's your name, dude?" I swallowed, "Uh, Kevin Groundcrawler."

     The third boy, a bright green Rodian, snickered, "Hey Anakin, it's no wonder he worships you; his name is just like yours only not as cool."

     The other boys laughed at my name as I glared at Anakin, "Worships you?" I repeated. Anakin shrugged, "Eh, maybe I may have exaggerated. He respects me and obeys my every comand."

      My face reddend, "So, what is this place?" I asked, studying the strange room. I had expected Anakin to maybe be a secret spy, or even a Sith after seeing the dark cloaked boys, but these kids were just playful, young Jedi in training and the room was full of video games and junk food wrappers.

    Anakin gestured to the room and then to the boys, "This my friend, is the Brotherhood of the Padawns. And these are my fellow Brothers, Teebo, Reth, Griz, and Spitball."

     Spitball, the Rodian shot a wad of wet paper at me through a straw. I grimaced a little and Anakin sighed, "Okay Spit, we get the idea."

     Griz grinned cruelly, "So, you wanna be one of us?" I looked at Anakin, "And what exactly are you?"

     Anakin pulled an arm around Griz and Teebo, "As the Brotherhood of the Padawns, we have created a escape from the pressures of Jedi Knighthood... A sanctuary if you will." I raised my eye brows, "A sanctuary of video games and Whomp Rat Cheese Curls?" I questioned.

     Reth smiled, "Extra Cheesy Whomp Rat Cheese Curls," he corrected. I smiled a little, "So you guys just like hang out and be like regular kids? I thought you weren't allowed to do that."

     Anakin sighed, "We're not. The Order thinks we need to be disciplined every moment of our lives, but we say that's a load of Bantha dung," he studied me with concern, "You're not going to blow our secret, right Grease?"

     The other four boys eyed me conspicuously. I felt a bead of sweat trickle past my ear. Revealing Anakin and his friends would be social suicide, but I was never one to keep a secret, let alone break any rules.

    But Anakin was my friend... Sort of. He was looking out for me in a brotherly way which I knew I could get used to.

    "You have my word," I swore. Anakin smiled in relief, "Good. Now, onto the initiation."

     My eyes widened, "Initiation?" I repeated. The boys all shared mischievous glances with each other and Anakin rubbed his hands together, "Oh yes... The Triple Dewback Dare..."