Powder Puff Game-Personal Narrative

“Mandy, your dad and I have something we need to talk to you about.” Being the bright-eyed eight year old I was, I would have never suspected what was going to escape my mom’s lips next.

Ring, ring, ring. This sound is ingrained in my subconscious as one of anxiety, confusion, frustration, and eventual relief. Junior year had just begun and I was busy completing my homework when the phone started to ring. I was already anticipating the ways I would spend my time after completing my written assignments and reviewing the new information learned that day in class. My father had not returned from work yet, and dinner had already come and gone. This initial idiosyncrasy, one that probably should have raised a "red flag," was glossed over as routine and ordinary. Times of tribulation and stress often expose who we truly are as individuals. They strip us of our defensive layers and reveal ourselves at the "bare bones," fundamental level. I had no idea that this telephone call (and subsequent events) would expose my true identity

‘How did you get yours,’” (Hashimoto). As you can tell, Lucas took initiative, and jumped on the opportunity to have a conversation with someone he didn’t know, and used his sense of humor while doing so. I would say that I also do these things when I get the chance to. Another similarity between Lucas and I is that we simply listen, and will do something differently to make someone else feel good, and let them know that we were listening.

It was a dark thursday night in April. The sky was clear enough to see the moon shining brightly along with many small circular diamonds. I’m in a dark blue Avalanche, being driven to a baseball diamond. I play for the MIlwaukee Brewers on a little league level. It’s my last game of the season, and I can’t wait for the umpire to say the words “Play Ball” (which states that the game has begun).

There he was sitting in the bleachers waiting for the game to be over hoping that it wouldn't be long. His little brother, Mike, was playing a lacrosse game, the hardest one of their season. Mike was pretty good, but not as good as the people on the other team. The score was 17-2, they were ranked number two in the state, but these guys were number one.

We had traveled in the minivan for 5 hours, for a group of 13 year old boys this trip felt like eternity. However, our excitement kept us all jaunting to each other about silly middle school shenanigans, who can dougie better, and how we were all going to “murk” this tryout. Johnny Evans, Malik Chatman, Gavin Rose, Ronnie Fountain, and I were all selected to try-out for the 14u Team South football team. This team would represent all the best players in the southeast and clash them against other regions best athletes. This would be a 3 day try-out. After leaving Orlando, the van had finally reached its destination. Coach Rose jingled to the car “Atlanta is the place to be, with orange peaches and southern tea,” we all stared at Gavin as his face turned as red as a Crayola. We pulled into the lot of the hotel all participating athletes had been assigned right off of I-75. We all unloaded the van of our luggage proceeded to the check in, Coach got the keys for room 325 and 326. I was so tired of riding in back of the van that I did not really care how the room would look as long as I could put my bags down and fall right into the bed. Malik, Johnny and I entered our room 326 to the right was with a bathroom sink, a mirror, and shower. On the left, a mini kitchen with a stove, island table, and refrigerator. In front of us, there were two wooden dressers pinned together with a television on top. Near the window, there was a small table with a lamp as well as chair in the corner.

“Yes, it might be important, and if you don’t he will keep calling you back over and over again. I learned that the hard way.” Danny complains to himself.

Within seconds I had a decision to make. My heart was pounding, my conscious started to kick in, should I act or should I blend in? Everyone was laughing, it just didn’t feel right. It was like any other day at Tippin Elementary School, roaming the halls I stopped by this boy named Tommy. From a glance, he seemed timid, shy, and a bit nerdy but he was the kindest person you’d ever meet. On the opposite side of hallway walked the jocks or so-called “cool kids.” No one dared to speak up against them, it was as they were wanting everyone to fear them. All of a sudden the toughest of the group slowly walked up to where we were sitting, opened up his water bottle, and poured it all over Tommy. He slurred racist and inappropriate comments, kids all around me began to burst out into laughter.

It was record breaking temperatures on this July 4th day. Red, white, and blue filling up the stands. Fans and umbrellas protecting spectators from the heat of the sun. It was about game time and I was getting ready to take the field for the last home game. Butterflies in my stomach, but I had to tell myself “it’s just another game”. Even though in my heart I knew it was not just another game.

We had been so bored finished half the baloney, and nearly finished our whole pack of weeds, Johnny had promised to pick up more supplies in a couple of days, I had felt sick, when a toe nudged me in the ribs,” Glory,” a familiar voice had said,” He looks different with his hair like that.” It was Dally, I rolled over, rubbed my eyes real sleepy like yawning, finally I blinked, I nearly blew Dally’s eardrums out when I yelled,” Hey, Dally!”He yelled back,” Hey Ponyboy,” he looked down at me,” or should I say sleeping beauty?” Ponyboy had thought he would never see or imagine the day when he would be so happy to see Dallas Winston, but that day had come. As excited as I was to see Dally I knew it only meant one thing, contact with the outside world everything had become real and very vital. I immediately abused what I just had recieved and asked,” How’s Sodapop? Are the fuzz after us?

Homecoming night. As I waited for Liam to show up I paced back and forth. "Sissy you're still here?" Jace asked me. "Yes bubba. I'm waiting on Liam."I said firmly. "Liams coming?" he screamed. "Just to pick me up Jace." I said annoyed. He ran out, I felt a little bad. Jace and Sadie loved Liam, and Liam loved them. As I stopped mid thought I heard a horn honking. "Liams here!" Jace came running back into the family room where I hugged him and my younger sister. "Sorry i'm a little late." Liam apologized. "It's okay." I affirmed. As we drove in silence to the school I decided to break the silence. "Liam," I whispered, "there something I have to tell you." "What's wrong Analise?" he questioned. "I've been seeing things." I admitted. "Like what kind of things?" he asked. "I have seen shadows of things watching me," I shuffled as I said it " I don't know if I want to go to Homecoming." "That's fine we can go back to your house and watch movies." "Thanks for understanding Liam." I

As the movie ended I went to the restroom and found a phone on the sink. There was no one else inside the restroom, therefore, I didn’t know what to do when it began ringing. I had a few seconds to think about what to do; first, should I turn it off and keep it or respond to the ringing phone. Immediately, I remembered that I had once before lost a phone and was never able to get it back. Mostly I thought about the pictures I was never able to see again and I confidently answered the ringing phone.

My stomach ached as if I hadn’t eaten in days. I was a hundred-percent positive I was more nervous than my brother was. I walked toward the entrance of the vast facility, hoping I didn’t look as nervous as I felt. By the expressions on my mom’s face, I could tell she was feeling the same. My dad paid for the tickets and we entered the facility knowing this could be the last time we saw Cody play baseball.

Lucas sighed. He looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Alistair gaze upon the horizon of the Australian outback.

Packing was the hardest part, and all I could think ‘was what do I bring?’ A book just to ‘pastime by’ since I'm going to another time period my actual time won’t change here. Maybe some food, because the place I am heading to have no food. With that I simply walk to the room with a secret machine that has been in the works for quite some time and now it’s time for testing. There it was the time machine with its lights flashing and air blowing out loudly in tiny burst.