The teacher took the paper from my desk. I turned to the side and grinned at Mason, who grinned right back. Sure, I'd done terribly on my Math test, but it was over. This school year was over. We wouldn't have to think about school for the next two months and ten days. And that, my dear friends, was a victory.
Corey, Mason and I took a spot on the field. Toby, on the other hand, was leaving his room with Marcus.
“So,” Corey said. “I’ll be going to the park a lot- the one right next to school. Try to be there, alright.”
“I’ll try,” Mason said. “But I’m not so close to school like you guys.”
I smiled, leaning my head back on the tree behind us.
Mason gave me a look. “What’re you so happy about?”
“Hmm? Nothing. Just happy to be with you guys, that’s all.”
He shook his head.
We sat there in silence for a while, neither of us saying anything. But we didn’t have to. The sun was shining just for us.
Mason and Corey soon left, and people were starting to drift towards the gates, so I walked along their gatherings and sat in my usual spot. I looked across the field, and found Toby coming towards me. He looked annoyed about something, but when he saw me his expression changed.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey,” he replied. “So, last day of school, huh?”
“Yeah. I still can’t believe it’s over. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
He smiled but didn’t add anything. He dropped his bag next to mine and sat. “I can’t believe I’ve never slept over at your house before.”
I nodded. “Well, you will be now.”
“Dobby,” he said, patting me on the shoulder, “You’re a good friend.”
I laughed. “Come on. Let’s go.”
***
I turned the key in the lock, and we got inside.
“Welcome to mi hogar,” I said. “Like you haven’t been here before.”
“Yup. Pretty clean, for exam period, at least.”
“Yeah. I spent some time procrastinating about studying by cleaning the living room. Come on."
I climbed up to the attic and Toby followed suit.
“Now, you haven’t been in my room in a while," I said, "so there have been a couple of changes.”
Toby climbed up. I stood next to him and stared at my room.
About two years ago I was sharing the same room as Samy, until I decided I wanted a room of my own. Dad suggested I clean up the attic and take it for myself. I set to work and two weeks later, I claimed the attic my own: It had navy blue walls dad and I had painted together. I had everything made my way- the bed was on the side, since I didn’t like it in the middle, the desk right next to it. Above the desk was a bulletin board jammed full of notes, quotes and schedules. Next to the board I’d hung up a poster which showed our solar system, and another larger one viewing the milky way. I thought it worked well with the dark wall colour. There was also the picture of me and my dad. Other than that, there wasn’t much- a wardrobe, a tiny bookshelf and a bunch of clothes scattered across the floor. I picked up a piece of underwear and shoved it into the drawer. I then looked at Toby, who was smiling.
“Pretty cool,” he said.
“What, the room or the underwear?”
He laughed. “I was talking about the room, but I gotta say, that’s one hell of a pair of shorts you got there.”
YOU ARE READING
Holding onto Charcoal
Teen Fiction{COMPLETE} Abdullah Parks is tired of his life-and for a good reason. He's a Muslim, he's American, and he's trying to balance between the two parts inside himself. His horrible Math teacher, drastic grades, and the massive bombings happening in his...
