Ryan

Ryan The Greatest Man Alive

Mrs. Jasmine, my 11th grade Activities teacher, writes on the white board, "Trust". Activities teacher. It makes no sense, she's a religious teacher, well she teaches religion. More or less trying to convert every student to her religion, but the school covers what she's doing. Making sure she's known as an "activities" teacher. That's all anyone in this town does is cover each other's asses.

"Everyone in the world needs trust to survive. Trust in the system, trust in friends but most importantly..." Mrs. Jasmine starts. "...Trust in the lord" I mouth along with Mrs. Jasmine in a mocking way. I roll my eyes as Josh, my friend, starts to giggle. I hit his arm to shut him up. Mrs. Jasmine ignores us as she continues with her speech. "God. Who else could we trust more?" Sometimes I'd like to think she makes up most if her speeches on spot, since they're always so bad.

Josh sits next to me at our two person desk. He's my only friend that isn't in the trap of this town. This trap of a town. This town that is full of stupid gullible people and dead dreams. Not only because the highest amount of money you can make a year here is 40k, but instead because of someone important to this town. The only person that can keep over 20 thousand in a dying economy, Ryan.

"Isn't that right mister Hanniburge" Mrs. Jasmine stares at me. "Yes ma'am." She clears her throat. "We have a guest today." This ought to be good. "Someone that wanted to speak to the young students of our town." I already knew who this was, I'm sure everyone did. "May I introduce Mr. Ryan." She lifts her arms and leaves her palms open for when the door quickly swings open. And there he is. Ryan with his beautiful brown hair that makes all the woman swoon. Big blue eyes that'll capture your soul. Small lips that perfect his face. And broad shoulders that chase men away.

The classroom is silent for just half a second before everyone starts to applaud. Even Josh. I sit confused, but when Mrs. Jasmine makes eye contact with me I start to clap. I've never met Ryan in person, I'm sure most haven't. So why is he so important? I don't know the answer to that question. "Ryan has come to introduce you all to the real world." Mrs. Jasmine says with a new smile on her face. Ryan is now standing next to her. Mrs. Jasmine shuffles away to her desk and sits down.

I sat still, staring at Ryan. Why is everyone obsessed with this man? "Hello." His voice is deep, but not enough to scare people just like a trusting father or well I don't have an or. "How are all of you today?" He says each word separate from the other with half second pauses between each word, which wouldn't have been that annoying until you add the silent surroundings of the classroom. Like he's talking to himself. "Good." A few voices answer.

"The young faces of Brucington." Ryan smirks. This time his speech is normal, which makes the silence bearable. "How will this town fare against the big world if we don't have good leaders." I roll my eyes. This town will be over as soon as Ryan is dead. This town, this town people claim to love... this town is s**t. Anyone could see that. "One day your elders that have built this amazing land for you..." Ryan looks out of the window. noone turns to the window, well I know I didn't. I stare at him. He reaches his hand to his eyes as if he would wipe a tear.

Instead he quickly turns back to us, the students. "... The elders that formed the great jobs and economic wellbeing that you have now will be gone. And we'll have to trust you young people to boast that for the upcoming generation." "Bullshit." I whisper. Josh looks at me, but I don't take my eyes off of Ryan. Since the room is so silent, of course everyone heard what I said, everyone except Ryan. He continues. "That is really all I have to say to you all. That I trust all of you to continue Brucington into a wonderful direction. That is all."

Everyone began clapping, except me. Mrs. Jasmine stared at me like she was waiting for me to clap, but I didn't bite this time. Ryan looks at me, then to my hands. I could feel a few eyes on me now. He looked into my eyes, I felt that he might be angry, but he looks away and smiles at the class. "Thank you all. Have a wonderful day." The cheering only got louder. The clapping stayed steady, until finally Ryan walked out of the room.

Just like that everyone in class had fallen in love with him, though I haven't spoken to Josh yet I think even he might've been fooled. Mrs. Jasmine stood up quickly and of course she was staring at me. "Antoine Hanniburge! What was that?" Everyone in class looked at me. "How dare you embarrass this class, more or less this school!" "I didn't embarrass anyone." "Don't talk back!" Mrs. Jasmine almost yelled. "I will be calling your parents." I sighed and she looked back at the white board.

Calling parents. So childish, but a big move since it's about Ryan. I should be worried about my parents reaction, since it was considered a blessing to meet Ryan. But I didn't even meet him he walked in for no more than 5 minutes and left. Where else does he have to be? f*****g Ryan. But I wasn't going to do anything. I would just continue to stay in Brucington live a boring life doing some bullshit job making 20k, since a highschool education here is worthless to anyone outside of Brucington.

Soon enough, class was over. Thankfully. Mrs. Jasmine's rambles about her religion are enough to tire even the most faithful, but I guess I'm not one to speak on that. At Lee's High School, not the only highschool in this town, but the only one every citizen in town will send their children since it is named after Ryan, the school day consists of as many classes as you can fit. There is no schedule or bell, you just get the classes you need to finish to move on and the teachers can keep you in class from 20 minutes to 7 hours, most take 7 hours like Jasmine. But when she is done atleast when she finally finishes today which will also mark then end of the school day, I know what'll come next.

As everyone is walking out of class, Josh looks at me. "Are you stupid?" His voice deepens when he's half way through stupid. I roll my eyes as I stand up, the classroom is empty now. Which would be considered weird until you see the school it's happening at. "You disrespected Ryan!" I scoff. "Oh come on Josh you don't care about him as much as I do." Josh picks up his books. "Well atleast I didn't pull that bullshit! She's going to call your parents you know." I swung my backpack over my shoulder.

"Well f**k me huh? I don't care Josh." He sighs as he grabs his bag. "You should care, you know what'll happen if... well now that you've did that! You can atleast pretend to care. You know what that man can do to your life here! You'll be just like Richard." Josh started towards the door, I follow him. Richard Helms. Richard was the first and only person to question Ryan, effectively enough, he turned 15% of the town on Ryan. That wasn't enough however, especially when you take in the fact that Ryan is Richard's brother. I guess I'm explaining this badly, but this story is atleast 30 years old.

Ryan was 20 and Richard was 18. Ryan was already controlling the town and using everyone for anything he wanted. Richard just tried to get people to not bend at the will of Ryan, which was understandably hard since this had already been happening for years. Yet the story has a bad ending. Ryan got a couple of drunks from Smith's bar to beat Richard to death. People ignore this however because Ryan is y'know Ryan. Richard's death would now be used as an example to stop people from questioning.

"What are you so mad for Josh? It was really nothing." Josh and I were already in the hallway passing the few people that bothered with their lockers. "You know how your parents are. You know how this town is, I'm just trying to stop you from being a f*****g idiot." I rolled my eyes, but I knew he was telling the truth. My parents, and well my family, are big in the social world in this town. This town had 4 layers, the bottom 1st layer was full of the jokes of Brucington, people that left and came back and some failures in the academics and money departments. Like homeless people with homes.

This layer also includes the street that most of them live on. Mayers Street. Full of 1 and 2 bedroom homes, generally even if you're born on that street people hate you. that was even before Ryan. The second layer, well it's a lot better, mostly on the liquor street, not the real name, but the liquor store is on this street which gave it the nickname, is full of normal working class citizens, some of which aren't involved with Ryan. They're mostly on the outskirts of town not bothered with what happens within Brucington.

The 3rd layer, where my parents are. Which makes me a part of it. Really the rest of the town that worships the ground Ryan walks on. Not much explanation needed here. And finally the 4th layer which of course is Ryan. You see the problem I face currently is "disrespecting" Ryan. And now that my parents know means I could be shunned or put into a 'Corrections School'. A concentration camp for all young Ryan haters or nonbelievers. Which I still do not understand what there is to believe in.

"Steintell" I say to Josh. We had just walked out of the school, just the word makes Josh stop walking, so do I. "You don't want me to go." "No I don't!" Josh looks at me. I've always wonder when I noticed Josh's eyes were blue, I always think back onto certain moments where I would swear his eyes were brown. He stares at me, obviously angry and upset. "Josh I'm sorry." I slide my hand down his arm and pull him to start walking. I let go of his arm as soon as he started walking.

Steintell, the corrections school. "You think they'll send me?" I ask Josh. "Maybe, maybe not." We continue to walk past two buses. The only school buses for the school. "Too full today." I say looking at Josh. "Yup." We hold an awkward silence between us until we are halfway at Josh's house. "I hope you don't get sent to Steintell." Josh finally says. "Why do you say that?" I feel a smile coming onto my face. "You're the only friend I have in this shithole. The only one I care about atleast."

"What about Samantha?" Josh sighs. "What about her? She's the typical girl in this town, looking for someone to make money so she can be a socialite." I laugh. "You said you'd marry her." "I also said I give a s**t about Ryan." We both laugh at this mediocre attempt at a joke. "Seriously though, you two are done?" Josh looks at me. "Yeah, I can't be bothered with the girls here none are really smart." "You mean feels the same way about Ryan like you do." "Yeah." We stop at a crosswalk and wait for the cars to go past. "I thought you actually liked her." "I did."

"Well not really." Josh starts to walk once they're aren't anymore cars. "Oh?" Josh sighs. I hurry to get beside him again. "I felt like... well I knew my mom wanted me to get a girlfriend, so I did. To make her happy." I look at Josh. "Why would you do that, just because she wants you to date someone?" Josh continues to walk. "Why Josh? Why? Why date someone especially here because your mom wants you to?" Josh sighs again. It's his favorite thing to do.

"I don't know okay? Maybe I wanted a girlfriend as much as she wanted me to have one." I laugh. "Really that's why you're so upset, over nothing." "Yeah... I guess over nothing." I pat Josh on the back. We finally get to Josh's house. Right across from mine. "Goodluck." He says to me with a smile. Flashing his white pearls for teeth my way. "Don't get sent you know where." I nod. "Trust me Josh I won't."

I watch as Josh walks toward his house, a nice two story brick home. In the driveway his mother's and father's cars are there in front of the white garage. I turn to look at my home across the street, a little bigger than Josh's home. With the bright red bricks shinning, I walk over to my house. I see the yellow light pouring out of two of the downstairs windows. I walk down the gravel driveway to the front door. I don't know how my parents can afford this house, or anyone on this part of town can afford any of these houses with salaries as low as 12k a year. I stand on top of the blue welcome mat and open the door. Of course my mother was standing there, already mad.