The Scorpish g**g

Chapter 11

Peter gets up pretty early in the morning. He does not want to be late at school. When he wakes up he finds his mom is making breakfast for them. His grandmother is still sleeping. Dad has already left for work.

Peter's mom says, "Peter, wake up your granny, will you? She has to eat fast and take her medicines."

Peter says, "Sure mom!" He goes to her room and she is already awake. She is staring at Peter and smiling.

Peter says, "Let's go granny. You need to have your breakfast!"

Grandmother says, "I'm coming, don't worry." she smiles again.

His grandmother takes her seat beside the balcony as usual. She likes this place. Peter brings her breakfast here.

Peter says, "Don't forget your medicines today, please."

Grandmother says, "Obviously I won't. Then you need to do one thing, keep them beside this chair. Then I won't forget them."

Peter says, "As you say. How are you feeling now? Is your health okay?"

Grandmother says, "I'm totally fine. I like staying here."

Peter says, "That's awesome! You'll be here for a lot of days now. However I've to go to school you know. So take care and have the medicines please."

Grandmother says, "Yes, I will. Have a nice day dear."

Peter has his breakfast very quickly and gets dressed. The other three are already at the Oak Office, waiting for Peter. They do not have to wait long as they can see Peter is coming.

Ross says, "Alicia forgot her diary yesterday too?"

Peter says, "Not Alicia, granny forgets her medicine all the time."

Elliott says, "How is she now?"

Peter says, "She stays happy these days, smiles a lot. Spends all the day sitting beside the balcony. She was an active woman and turns to be so lazy these days."

Elliott says, "Maybe effects of age."

Peter says, "It might be. So now we know what Paul does, where he lives and everything. Do we need to get our heads into his life anymore?"

Elliott says, "Are you tired already?"

Peter says, "Not tired actually. We're getting ourselves in something that is out of our reach. So I'm thinking that let him be, let it happen however the society wants. We're still so little to interfere in these."

Ross says, "At least we can talk to Paul at school. Like he talks with no one. We can be company!"

Elliott says, "That's a good idea. Maybe we can turn out to be good friends to him."

Peter says, "hmm... Well said Ross man! Let's see if he comes to school we'll take chances to converse with this guy."

Elliott says, "We'll have tiffin period, some time after finishing school."

Jonas says, "We'll have plenty time for sure. Now let's get going. If he reaches early we can have a very good chance indeed."

Peter says, "Let's go fellas!"

Ross says, "Remember it's my idea, okay?"

Ross is such a boy who likes to have credit on everything. And all of them knew it well.

Peter says, "Whatever you prefer mister. If it turns out to be successful, we'll buy you a pizza."

Ross says, "Now that's more like it. A pizza will do fine."

While talking all the regular joking and stuffs they reach the school and take positions on a bench, beside the canteen. All of them are not taking anything to eat, their intention today is to wait for Paul and go to talk with him whenever they find him alone.

Peter says, "I should go first, what do ya' say?"

Elliott says, "What are you gonna say to him, you have any thoughts?"

Peter says, "Starting with a sorry would be best I guess for that day."

Elliott says, "Yes i also think so."

Jonas says, "Stop thinking and look he's here. He's coming towards us! What's the matter now?!"

Peter says, "No, no. Not us. Maybe he wants to buy something from the canteen."

Peter is right. They are sitting about 200 yards away and he does not even have a glance at them and gives a buck to the salesman asking for a packet of bun. Then he is moving towards the classroom. Peter calls him from the back.

Peter says, "Hey, buddy!"

Paul looks back and they can imagine a huge exclamatory mark on his face. It takes him some time to think and figure out what to answer. He is seeming nervous like the first day. The only difference is today there is a sign of being frightened. Elliott tries to ease out the environment by offering him his seat. Paul steps ahead to talk with them.

Paul says, “You have something with me?” He first utters his first words with the g**g, his lips are shaking, knee cannot stand still. It seemed strange to the boys because he leads his life like a warrior, a challenger. He should have been braver and stronger.

Peter says, “Yes, Paul. Look I’ve called you to apologize.”

Paul says, “From me? About what?” He still cannot talk in a smooth tone.

Elliott says, “Have your seat first. We’ll talk then.”

Paul sits and Elliott moves up beside the bench, standing. Peter starts the conversation like this.

Peter says, “I’m really sorry for that day in school, probably the first day. I’ve literally ruined the first day of your school. I shouldn’t have done that. I hope you didn’t take it personally.”

Paul fakes a gentle smile there and replies.

Paul says, “Oh! About that day! I didn’t remember that incident that much. And it’s fine. Accidents like those often happen. Don’t worry.”

Paul thought that as an accident. Peter thinks it is better to let it stay in his mind like this and no more correction is required. Ross and Jonas look at each other’s faces and are going to say something. But Elliott reads their minds immediately and winkles his eye to them as a signal to stop. Now he starts to act as if that was really an accident and soon Ross and Jonas also starts to assume so.

Elliott says, “I’m glad you didn’t pick us wrong. We even went out to talk with you that day, but then couldn’t find you out.”

Paul says, “Actually it made my shirt very wet and I thought it would be better not to attend the class. So, I left.”

Peter says, “That’s alright. Where do you live?”

Paul says, “It’s far from this school and the address is complicated. So…”

Peter says, “Ok it doesn’t matter. We saw you came with a suited man yesterday, who is he?”

Paul says, “He is my uncle. My father used to work for him. Now after his death three days ago uncle has taken the responsibility for my payments at school.”

Peter says, “Oh I’m so sorry to hear that.”

They now get it that the person who died that day was his father. A moment of silence makes the atmosphere dull. Paul himself speaks up to break the silence.

Paul says, “That’s alright.”

Peter says, “You don’t have friends here?”

Paul says, “I used to study at a school way far from here where my same agers go. But my father wanted me to study here and got me admitted a few days earlier. So, I don’t get enough chances to make friends here.”

Ross says, “Don’t worry about it pal! We’re here for ya’.”

It is coherent that they are trying to spread their hands of friendship towards Paul. Still it cannot be said that his mind is clear of doubts on their intention but at last he accepts their proposal which remains verbally implicit. Sometimes we go through low times of our lives and at that time the thing that can heal the most part of it is a random act of love which may come from parents, relatives, friends or anyone who really cares about us. The same mentality is profound in Paul and he is definitely in any condition to let go a proposal like this in vain. It really helps to uproot all sort of pain that runs like cactus in our mind. That day is very important in everyone’s life of them and still they do not realize the gravity of it.

The readers might expect soon the real magnitude will come in light and the Scorpish g**g will have new memories to cherish their friendship.

They are having very casual, but important talks with each other like who lives where, how long they have been reading in the school, what they like about this school and what feels less good and so on. Paul is smiling with them, he is going on the flow.

It is quite obvious to mention about the audience who had an interested look a while ago about how Paul would get bullied but the g**g turns out to be very impressing to them in this regard. They also notice a change in their behavior in this New Year. The usual noises, daily bullies, pissed of teachers and such hundreds of scenarios are missing. Maybe Uncle Rick dreamt of this day and waited eagerly so that they give birth consciousness in them.

Jonas says, “We must move to the classroom. The bell is shouting there.”

Peter says, “We better be. Hey, Paul. Come sit with us today.”

Paul says, “What? Even Mr. Arnold doesn’t let you sit together.”

Everyone starts laughing.

Ross says, “We used to piss him off in a regular basis you know. So, it’s kinda personal now haha.”

Paul says, “Well, I didn’t see you guys doing such stuffs till now.”

Elliott says, “Unfortunately you won’t see those anymore. So don’t bother much bro.”

Paul says, “That’s not unfortunate at all! It’s quite peaceful for all of us around.”

While talking all these they find their positions in the back row. Paul sits with Peter today. The other three are separated to avoid Mr. Arnold’s bothering. Paul is in a relieved mood today and his mind is quite fresh. For once Peter thought that it might not be normal for Peter to act like this after all the fights he is going through. But he does not let the thought in his mind last long.

From the recent classes no one could understand how well Paul is as a student. Today they realize that Paul faces a lot of problems related to studies during the classes. Elliott is a brighter student than any other of the g**g. So he proposes Paul if he finds any problem or does not understand something he should feel free to ask Elliott any time. The warm behavior of them throughout all the periods gives Paul a touch of serenity.

At the verge when the school hour is about to end the sports teacher shows his face in front of the students. All of the students could easily guess what it was. It is time for the annual sports. And every year this teacher delivers this notice to all classrooms by himself.

There is no debate to the fact that the sport is the most responsible person among all the teachers of this school. His entrance indeed makes a feeling of ecstasy among all the students’ minds. He enters the room with hurries and leaves immediately after reading out the whole notice. The events will start from the day after tomorrow and run throughout the week. Students will have to attend the first period only.

The participants must wear sport kits to come on the field. He declared such important matters to be obeyed. Most of the students are very excited like all other years. Some of them do not feel much as they are totally indifferent to studies. Peter and Ross are among the excited ones. Jonas cannot do all these stuffs because of his obesity and Elliott is like neutral. Peter is going to ask Paul about his thoughts of this event. But he does not need to be hold as Paul’s face is as bright as a 200W bulb.

Paul says, “I literally dreamt of these events my whole life. Will you guys participate?”

Peter says, “Hell yeah we will!! It’ll be great fun bro.”

Ross says, “We’re gonna rock it man!”

All of them go to home thinking about this great day, a beginning of new friendship. Besides such a great news of the sports day. In the afternoon they spend time with their families.