"Ma! What the hell happened?! I told you to watch him!"
"Sumi calm down! He wasn't hurt that bad. He's a tough boy!"
"This is why I can't even relax!! Something always has to happen!"
"You need to learn that you can't protect him all the time! There's gonna be a time when he'll be by himself!!"
My mom and grandma continued to argue back and forth. I sat in the car, as I watched their angry gestures towards each other. The radio drowned out the sound of their outrage, playing "I Can't Hardly Wait." Listening to the drums pounding calmed me down, as I looked the other way. The Red Ranger laid on the seat motionless. I hadn't played with it since the nightmare. The lack of breathing and total darkness sent shivers down my spine. Never in my life had I experienced something so traumatic. The dream felt like a taste of death in itself. It'd be better to leave the toy alone for now, maybe then I could forget about this horrible feeling.
*******
It was Idate's first day of school. The sun peeked it's head, shining its joy across the land. He laid in bed, sleeping as peaceful as he could be, like nothing had ever happened. His little head was perched on the pillow, nuzzling the fluffiness.
Sumi sat in the kitchen with her hands coddling the tea cup. The radio echoed in the background, offering some country music to set the day's mood. She let out a deep sigh as the phone rang loudly. It had been a week since she last talked to her mom. The phone continued to replay its obnoxious tone until it ceased. Meanwhile in the bathroom, water roared out of the faucet, filling the tub. She walked into his room, running her hand over his head.
"Idate it's time to get up," she chimed.
His eyes scrunched, leaving wrinkles in his face. He slowly rose up from the bed; two pieces of his hair standing as well. Half-conscious he walked to the bathroom, undressed, and submerged into the tub. Sumi rubbed her hands with shampoo, massaging the boy's scalp. She couldn't help but smile at his tired, cheeky face. He was still young, at the beginning of his journey. Though it had only felt like yesterday when he was wrapped in cloth, crying his first sounds of life. Little did he know how happy he had made his mother.
As Idate was drying off in the towel, getting ready to put on his clothes, Sumi noticed that the Power Ranger missed out on bath time. Idate always brought it with him.
"Maybe he's just tired and forgot," she thought. She placed the little ranger inside his backpack, along with his lunch box.
*****
I wasn't really ready to start the school year all over again. Just like kindergarten it was lonely; no one would be seen trying to talk to me. I don't know why? Was it cause I was weird looking? Or maybe even scary? I couldn't catch a clue. The bell had rang, signaling that lunch time had began. I waited for everyone to get their stuff from their backpacks first before I went to mine. It's not like they would bat an eye at me anyways. When they had all gone to the cafeteria, I sluggishly approached my bag. As soon as I peeked inside, I could feel my eyes popping out. The Red Power Rangers sat in there like it was waiting for me; waiting for its revenge because I had been ignoring it.
"Idate, sweetie what's wrong? You're gonna be late for lunch," my teacher, Mrs. Henry asked.
"Oh nothing Mrs. Henry! I was just spaced out for a bit!"
I quickly grabbed my things and hurried after the other kids. Ranger was in my pocket with its head peeking out. I felt like I had no other choice, but to take the toy with me before more bad omens piled up.
Just like in the cafeteria; recess was spent in isolation. The other kids actively avoided me and made it clear that I couldn't play with them. It was always either "we have enough players already" or "we only play with friends". I was used to it since they treated me like this last year too. I'd be lying if I said my feelings weren't hurt. I was used to it, yet it still hurt me on the inside.
I sat on the swings at the dead corner of the playground. It was called the "No Play Zone" because no one dared to set foot in this area. The Ranger sat in my lap as the swing pendulated back and forth. The rule was that there were no toys allowed at school. Since the teachers themselves even turned a blind eye to this side of the playground, it was okay to bring it out. I continued to look at the lifeless figure. The fact that it creeped me out started to fade as I sat there in solitude. This action figure was the closest thing I had as a friend.
"I wish you were real, then it wouldn't be like this," as I took a deep sigh.
"Wow I didn't know you were such a loser,"
"Huh?!"
In the seat right next to me was the boy from my dreams.
