As We Grow Old

Prologue & Chapter 1

Prologue

It's hard living alone. In my heart, I knew I would end up this way. It simply just doesn't feel right when you grow up surrounded with loving friends and family; our make-shift family that is. Everything is so much harder without them by my side. But enough about how it is now, I'm writing to tell you about how it was then.

Chapter 1

I woke up, and immediately started rummaging through my drawers. Today one of the guys at the diner called in sick, so I got to go work with my mom. I found some Levi's and a clean shirt, put them on, and hustled down to the kitchen. Mom was already standing in the doorway. "What took you so long? We don' get paid ta' be late."

"I'm sorry," I replied, "Why don' you get going. I'll catch up."

"You best not be late, or else I won't feed you tonight! Remember that, boy!" And just like that, she slammed the door and left. I scrambled to find a jacket, and ran out the door.

The street was busier than usual, as it was a Thursday. Normally I go to school, but we had an opportunity to make money, and there was no way Mom and I were going to pass up the chance.

I saw the bus cruising down the street just as I left my front porch. I could not afford to be late. My mom would give me a beating like there's no tomorrow. By now I was eleven, I should be more responsible; well, at least that's what Mom would say.

Resuming from my thoughts, I dashed towards the bus stop. It was only down the block, and plenty other people were getting on, so I thought I could make it.

I didn't. The bus sped away, and I was forced to run to the diner. It was a thirty-minute run, and there was no way I could make it in time. My legs carried me as I sped down the sidewalk, and with each step I grew faster. My mother hated it when people were late; I didn't want to disappoint her.

It was thirty minutes later, and I had finally reached the diner. When I walked in the door, the familiar scent of thanksgiving and cleaning supplies filled my nose. Surprisingly, Mom didn't yell at me once I got in. Instead, she was standing at the counter talking to someone on the phone in a hushed voice. As soon as she saw me, she pointed to the kitchen. I ran to the back without a second to lose, and started washing the dishes. Soon after, she started yelling. Mom sounded really angry, and not many people can get her to that level of furiousness like they did that day. I could hear everything almost perfectly. "What you talking about Susan? Dumping yer' child off like that?! Did Momma never give you a heart? What is he gonna do?!" There was a slight pause. "He- he's coming?" She shouted back. Then all of the sudden, everything went quiet. I didn't know who Susan was, and certainly not her kid, but I was worried. Mom seemed to be very flustered, and I wanted to comfort her. So, I decided to go check on her.

That was when I met G.

Standing just inside the door was a very tall, very muscular, and very scary boy. No, he wasn't a boy; he was a teen. That phase I had heard so much about. Teenagers were ruthless, crazed, and emotional monsters. I had to protect my mom. I ran over to Mom and gave her a hug. "Mom, you okay?" She didn't look down. Instead, she kept eye contact with the strange teenager. "Blake?" I quickly responded with a "Yes?"

"Take off yer' apron. We're goin' home. There are a few things I need to discuss with the two of yous."

I ran to the back, took of my apron as mom instructed, and tore back toward the front. Mom was still staring at the strange boy, and somehow her gaze seemed to be more intense.

I took a good look at him. He had matted hair, the darkest brown I had ever seen. He had broad shoulders, almost like the wingspan of an eagle. His arm and leg muscles seemed as though they could crush a thousand watermelons. Over-all, he was a tank. A freak of nature; a teenager built for war. And my mom was going to bring him home with us.