Words are easy, like the wind; faithful friends are hard to find
-William Shakespeare, The Passionate Pilgrim (By Shakspere, Marlowe, Barnfield, Griffin, And Other Writers Unknown)
The ride home to my grandparents was nothing short of quiet. Pa could've made my ears bleed with how much he was talking. On and on he was talking about different stuff. About how my cousin would be going to school with me. How he was sorry it took them so long to get and about me staying in that huge house by myself for a week.
It was only a week of me staying by myself in the house me and my parents lived in before I came to Waterville. It had been a year since they had passed and my grandparents were renting airbnb's for us to stay in Pontiac. So I didn't have to live in my house that was full of memories of me and my parents. But they eventually ran out of money and we had to move back into my house. Only the first couple of weeks pa had to go back to Waterville to go back to work and sort things out for me back there.
My grandma had to leave the last week of me being there. She had to go back to work too. So I was left alone in that huge house full of memories of me and my family. I had made peace with it. It didn't really bother me anymore. What could I do? My parents were dead. I couldn't bring them back to life. But what I could do is try to get to the bottom of why people who don't drink, especially my dad who's a vet all of a sudden were driving under the influence. It didn't make any sense. It haunts me and I could see on my pa's face the way that he looks at me and keeps saying that I look like my dad and that it haunted him too.
We pulled up to this white colonel style house with a bunch of cars in the driveway. "What's going on"? I said looking at my pa nervously. "Just come inside and see". He said, patting me on the back. I walked up to the house with my grandad who sighed as we went to the door hearing all the whispers that weren't whispers inside of the house. I chuckled and he opened the door, everyone yelling welcome home to me. Some hugging me and saying how much I looked like my dad others saying no I look like my mom.
My grandma was the only one who hugged me so tightly and so long. "It was only a week". I said tapping her back so she could let me go. "Jc". A guy who looked to be my age held his hand out for me to dabbed him up. "Hey". I said, dabbing him up. "I'm Oliver, your cousin pa told you we'll be going to school together right". "Yeah he did". Oliver lead me into the dining room where it was food laid out. He was mostly talking while I was answering here and there.
But I didn't mind I never had much to say anyways. More of a listener than a talker. "You play sports"? Oliver asked me. "Uh yeah I was a quarterback back at home". "Quarterback"! My pa yelled. "I see the Walkman genes flow through both my grandsons"! "Your dad and uncle were on the football team, your dad was a quarterback"! "Yup and now my son is a quarterback"! My uncle chuckled, hitting Oliver on the back.
This seemed to annoy my grandmother who rolled her eyes. "You men and your sports". "Well that would be a good way for you to make friends. The season is just getting started so you can join the team still I'll vouch for you". Everyone seemed to agree with this. Excited that a new athlete was in the family. The night seemed to go on and on. Everyone was so loud and noisy I guess I was used to being alone since my parents had to work all the time.Now I got here at like ten thirty and it was heading to one o'clock in the morning when everyone started to leave.
"Alright dude I'll see you tomorrow"? I nodded and dabbed Oliver up as he left. Soon everyone was gone and I tried helping my grandparents clean up but they just shooed me away saying I had to unpack and that my room was the last door upstairs. I went up the stairs looking at every single photo on the wall of my dad and uncle. A picture of my aunt who had passed away when she was a baby. Then there were photos of the grandchildren. Which wasn't a lot; it was just me,Oliver, and Oliver's sister Olivia who wasn't there.
I finally made it to my room and when I opened the door I almost thought I went back in time. Everything was so outdated but the bed. Old pictures of movies and tv shows were littered all over the walls. The walls were this orange color. The block was old and so was this chunky computer that sat on the desk. Soon I found out by looking at the picture frames that it was my dads room. It was a photo of my mom and dad at what seemed like a wedding. Only it looked like he was going off to war or something he had his uniform on and my mom had on this white short dress.
"Why would they put me in this room?". I sighed and began unpacking my things. My pa later stopped by to see how I was holding up. I was on my phone busy scrolling away when he came in he lingered by the door and then came in and sat on the bed. "How you holding up bud". "I'm doing good pa". "Sorry I had to put you in here Olly got the other room for when he comes over here he changed his dads room though I'm pretty sure you'll do the same soon".
I nodded looking around the outdated room. "Why you keep all his stuff anyways"? "That would be a question for your grandma". He chuckled. "When the chicks left the nest the coops stayed the same". "Get some sleep wont you. You have school in the morning. I'll drop you off and pick ya up until you get your car". He ruffled my hair and left closing me in darkness as I put up my phone away.
The morning was the smell of bacon and pancakes. Oliver was there sitting down at the table already eating when I came down. "A flannel and a hoodie". Oliver said, looking at me. I guess I was a but underdressed compared to Oliver's half zip sweater and tan pants. He looked like he went to some prep school in New York. "Whats wrong with what I got on"? Oliver shook his head. "First impression are always important especially when your Oliver Walkmans cousin". I scoffed and sat down in front of him. "Are you supposed to be a celebrity or something"? "I don't know man only that I'm the reason why our school has games with the city school when we're only a small town". I clapped my hands fake applauding Oliver. "Wow man what an accomplishment". "Thank you its one I hold very dear to my heart". I shook my head and began eating my food. I could now tell what type of person I was going to be dealing with. I believe Oliver actually thought I was being serious when I said what I said.
A stuck up, snotty person. That's what I was getting from Oliver. It's going to be winter soon. Who dresses up to go to high school? I wasn't trying to impress anyone and from Oliver's boasting it seems he has all the reason to impress whoever he's trying to impress. Throughout the whole breakfast Oliver was bragging to grandma about football. How he does this, how he does that. Now I know why kings and queens wanted it quiet when they ate.
Because that's what I wanted, peace and quiet while I ate. "Your grandfather will be here soon". My grandma said. "Did he go to the boats early this morning"? I asked. "Yeah he wanted to be home by the time you got off from school". "Yeah, the first day of school is always important". Oliver said. "You know you have to have a certain gpa and your grades have to be good". Oliver seemed to want me to have certain gpa and grades so I won't be able to be on the football team or try to take his spot.
"You do know I was Quarterback right". I said, smirking. The horn from grandad's truck sounded from outside. I got up patting Oliver who was dumbfounded on the back. "Don't worry I'm not gonna try for quarterback". "I didn't think you were, I was just giving you advice". I nodded, grabbing my bookbag. "Sure you were". I said. "Bye grandma". I said yelling to her. She was somewhere in the back washing clothes when we were leaving. "Bye boys"! She yelled back.
I sat in the backseat mostly because I didn't feel like talking and Oliver did most of that for me anyways so I didn't have to say anything. Pa and Oliver were very energetic people. I seemed to take after Grandma who did nothing but just listen while Oliver talked and said a few words here and there. My dad didn't really talk a lot either my mom would and he would just listen and smile at her. I guess both me and my dad took after my grandma. But my uncle didn't really talk a lot either so it seemed my Pa found himself in Oliver.
Energetic personalities gravitate towards calm personalities in this family too. I guess the same would happen to me and Oliver maybe even Olivia but I hadn't met her yet so who knows. Soon as I got to school students gathered around Oliver. Talking over each other and smiles as huge as the smiling cat from alice and wonderland. "Oh this is my cousin JC". Oliver said half introducing me. They nodded and continued talking to Oliver.
Its like Oliver was showing off that he had many friends and was popular. He was showing off for nothing because I didn't care whether he was popular or not. I just wanted to go to school and graduate. Not be up in high school drama. Oliver showed me to the front office and went on his merry jealous way. Leaving me to fend for myself. They gave me my schedule and a student showed me around to my classrooms and around the school.
I searched for Kateri and Kitchi; they were nowhere to be found. I would be lying if I didn't say I was bummed I didn't see the twins. The days went on with me by myself. Eating lunch by myself and then came to football tryouts after school. Of course me being me I made the team. Along with this Hispanic guy who didn't look fazed that he made the team also.
But whoever he was just like me he wasn't surprised that he had made the team either. I sat there in the bleachers with him wondering whether I should say hi to him or not. His hair was kinda long and rested on his shoulders and his eyes were dark brown. He had on a layered clothing a blue jean jacket with a graphic shirt under it. Just simple clothes like me. "JC". I said holding a fist out.
He stared at my hand for a minute probably taken back but he gave me a fit pump back. "Jorge what does JC stand for"? "Jackson Claude". There was silence with Jorge staring at me trying to figure out why the name Jackson Claude but he just sighed and turned his head forward. "I won't even ask".
"What role do you have on the team"? I asked. "Me no role really I'm the school mascot". Jorge answered. "What". "Yeah". He nodded . "I've been the school mascot since my freshman year I just like to see what players I'm mascoting for". I nodded and sighed with Jorge this time. "What about you finally kicked Oliver from quarterback"? He nudged me with this huge mischievous grin on his face.
"Nah dude I made running back though". "Oh you do that great guess they don't want their star player out of the spot light-". "Even if the running back is better than the quarterback". "Uhhh thanks dude". Jorge shook his head. "No problem dude". "You're a new face huh made any friends". I shook my head no. "I did meet these twins I thought I would see them around here-".
"Ahh you talking about Kateri and Kitchi"? I was so excited that Jorge knew who I was talking about that I practically jumped out of my seat in the bleachers. "Yea man you know them". "Yeah me and the twins are friends but you won't see them at school". "Why do they go to school on the reservation"? "What dude no they don't even live on the reservation-".
"Anyways they got suspended so you won't see them until next week". "Why". Jorge sighed and shook his head. Whatever the twins did I felt like I had to prepare myself. "Well Kateri got kicked off the student body council by a certain someone-". Jorge diverted his eyes towards a smiling and chatting Oliver. "For what reason I don't know why"! "But anyone whos smart should know not to mess with the twins as crazy as they are".
"So twins as a way to get payback on Oliver did the worst vandalism on a car I have ever seen. It shouldn't even be called vandalism; they destroyed that man's car". "Seriously"? I said shocked. All Jorge could do was nod with this grimace on his face. "The only reason they didn't get expelled was because they are top students here…and their dad is fixing Oliver's car".
I then remembered seeing a car in Mahkai's yard that didn't have any doors on it. It was a nice car too. "Well whatever Oliver did he probably deserved it". "Whatever he did Kateri won't say but as quickly as she was kicked out quickly was she replaced". "What was she"? "VP". Jorge said standing up. I stood up with sensing that he was getting ready to leave and he wasn't about to leave me here by myself.
Especially since all Oliver did while I was here was introduce me to everyone as his little cousin. It was annoying. "You heading out with me"? Jorge asked. "Yeah man I got nothing to do here". "Cool man we should hang out since I don't have anyone to hang out with either since the twins aren't here". I smiled a huge smile that seemingly took Jorge back a little. Because his face scrunched up and then went back to normal.
"Man I hope my future Mujer will be this excited about hanging out with me". "What"? "My wife man my wife".