Critical Thinking

2

I woke up staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror. I yawned scratching my head and started to head back out the bathroom. Then I did a double take running back to the mirror blinking. My hair was everywhere. I grumbled trying to comb it and brush it down but nothing worked. I sighed in defeat heading out the bathroom to the kitchen. Dad looked up at me as he sipped his coffee. He smirked putting his mug down.

"Having a bad hair day?" he asked.

"I'm not a girl dad." I said huffing as I yanked the fridge open.

"Never said you were, guys can have bad hair days." he said shrugging as he sipped his coffee again.

I rolled my eyes taking the carton of milk out. I took it out then got a glass to pour the milk in. I put the carton back in the fridge and tried taking the milk down in one gulp which didn't end up so well.

"Son it's okay, you'll be alright." dad said rubbing my back after I hacked and coughed hard. I felt completely embarrassed as I panted.

No way was I gonna do that again....I think.

After that whole event of the morning dad took us out to go eat breakfast. We got caught in traffic so I started searching the app store on my phone. All I had on my phone was the original apps that were already on here because when mom was around she would always be in my ear about how apps take storage and she doesn't want me getting into certain things. But with mom in Illinois and me being in Alabama with a dad who is pretty laid back I can get away with some things.

I scrolled through apps humming to the music that I was playing on my phone since dad didn't have the radio on. I scrolled again when something caught my eye. I scrolled back up slowly and tilted my head. Featherbook? I clicked on it and read through the description and looked at the pictures. It looked like a book app. Not only just for reading books but you could write your own books. It met my fancy if I do say so myself. I love writing after all and people reading my books other than my family...okay they don't even read my books but besides the point would be awesome. I clicked the install button and watched YouTube as I waited for it to be done installing.

"YES! FINALLY!" my dad said making me jump at his outburst then he sped up a bit to pass the green light before it turned red. I moved my hand all over the place for my seat belt to put it on before this man killed me with his joy, literally.

I pulled it but it was stuck making me groan and tug on it. Stupid seat belt never wanna work when I need it. Dad immediately stopped out of nowhere making me lean forward but I held the seat belt for dear life. My heart was going out of control.

"Almost passed it." Dad chuckled as I panted hard.

He parked and then got out like nothing just happened. I was still gripping the seat watching him walk to the doors. After calming down and him shooting me glances I took off my seatbelt then got out the car. He locked it while holding the door for me. I thanked him then walked in.

It was a nice Saturday morning and a bit surprisingly, this place wasn't packed. I liked that it was pretty quiet in here as well. We got a table and ordered then waited for our food. Dad sat across from me so we both sat by the window. It was our thing, we had to have a window seat and would fight over it if we had too.

"Hey bug, what's on your mind?" he asked and I glanced away from the window at him.

"Mm nothing much...just surprised I'm still alive after that." I said and he rolled his eyes smiling.

"Don't be so dramatic Oakely." he said and I shrugged.

"What can I say, it's in my genes." I said smiling and he smiled back as the waitress came with our drinks.

Dad of course got coffee while I got orange juice. Hey, I'm not a coffee person. I'm not gonna cheer over getting a gift card to go to Starbucks. I'll use it but I won't be squealing. Not really a coffee fan. Not saying I hate it though.

"Your mom would like it here." I heard dad murmer and I glanced at him to see him staring down at his coffee.

Drama alert.

"Uhhh hey look a plane." I said pointing out the window and dad turned look out quickly making me snicker as he turned to glare at me.

"There was no airplane out there ya liar." he said slanting his eyes and I shrugged grinning as he chuckled.

This is why I love dad. Yes, he can be gullible. Act like a child but he's fun. I do know he's a good guy and cares. Isn't that all that matters?

I drank half of my orange juice before our food was brought to us. My stomach grumbled as soon as those flapjacks were placed in front of us. My mouth watered at the strawberry sauce over it mixed with syrup, the whip cream and let's not forget the strawberry on top. I grabbed my fork quickly and dug right in. I had toast with butter and eggs to eat also. They forgot my bacon but it was cool I was already full after all that. Dad paid and left a tip then we were on our way.

As dad drove us to the grocery story which he was listening to the GPS meaning we might get taken to a grocery store that's been shut down for years. But hey, all for the adventure. I finally got on Featherbook to check the app out. It seemed I had to make an account first.

Email? b_tter_.king@_mail.com....Don't Stalk or Spam me

Username? CyberGeek

Password? ........

Gender? Male

Image? Uhhhh I don't exactly want people to know what I look like.

I went on Google and looked up some anime then other pictures. Stayed on Pikachu pictures for a while. But then I finally found a pic I think that would be fine. Geeky glasses and a mustache, good enough for me. I picked like ten books off to have in my library and wala I was all set. One of the books I put on my library was called Heart Of Gold. I figured maybe it was a sappy romance or a tragic romance. Probably would be the only romantic book I'd have on my library because love hasn't came to me. No liking people in the like like way and no crushes.

The reason for that was because I was pretty much homeschooled which I mentioned before I believe. It was only family I really met and most weren't my age so meant no real friends. Neighbors sometimes had kids but I would usually be force to do lots of homework so no little crushes or friends barely there too.

But maybe I could make friends on here. If that's even possible. I clicked on Heart Of Gold. The first chapter so say or however you called it turned out to be a poem. It was really good. I kept scrolling down reading all this person wrote in this book. Sometimes it was quotes, songs/lyrics, speeches, and even advice. The person have credit to the person when it wasn't something he made up which I gave the person props for that. I saw that you could comment on the book but all I did was vote. I didn't want to be social just yet. The person probably wouldn't answer, they must be busy or have other better things to do. But as soon as I went back to vote and turned off my phone it soon vibrated.

"Huh?" I felt my pocket for my phone. I slipped it out and saw that it was a notification and someone just sent me a message on my message wall? I clicked it and it took me straight there.

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek Thanks for voting on my book ^^ it really means a lot.

I couldn't help but smile. Maybe I could make friends on here after all. I thought to myself and then typed away my reply.

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker Well your very welcome!!! I really liked it! Sorry too many exclamation points.

I mentally face palmed. I sounded desperate and lonely. Gaaah why me. Soon I got a reply back.

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek lol I'm glad you did and no problem

I sighed in relief but still had a feeling this person probably thought I was weird. You blew it Oakely. Why couldn't you be a normal kid who went to a public school?

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker I'm not really use to this...or being social at all really lol

I sent and laid back against the seat. That's when I realized I was in the car in a parking spot and dad was long gone. Guess he decided not to say anything to me before going off to the store, something like "Hey son, I'll be back." I rolled my eyes but soon felt my phone vibrate.

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek It's cool, neither am I really

I smiled and let out a breath. I felt a bit more relaxed and comfortable. I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Before I knew it, dad was back and I was still going back and forth with this person. I guess this person didn't really have anything else better to do or maybe their multitasking. Egh, sounds a bit hard and stressful to do.

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker Well I don't want to distract you if your doing something else or have other stuff to do, so I'll be on my way. It was nice talking to you maybe we can talk sometime later or another day?

I nibbled my lip waiting for a reply. Maybe I came on too strong? Gah, Oakely your gonna worry yourself to death.

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek Lol I'm not really busy but sure, talk to you later.

I groaned to myself. Once again mentally face palming. The person wasn't even busy. Well too late now, don't want to make things more awkward.

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker Okay and you know you could just say ttyl? Lol

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek Could, is the keyword. I don't really like the whole text slang really but lol I just do. It is the only exception so far.

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker *salutes* Got it sir, no text slang except lol

I wanted to hit myself with a book. f******k, wala that's f******k for ya. No, a wall palm...that sounds weird.

BookerBooker: @CyberGeek lol see ya

CyberGeek: @BookerBooker See ya

I turned off my phone and fell back against the seat. I let out a breath again and rubbed my temples. Being social was definitely stressful and hard. But I guess I didn't do too bad.

"Who were you texting?" dad asked as he pulled up to our house.

"Oh um just um a person." I said and dad snorted while turning off the car then got out.

"A person, right. Like you could talk to an alien." he said before shutting the door and I got out the car next shutting the door as well.

"Well I could talk to an alien. Nothing is really impossible." I said as he popped the trunk and got some grocery bags out.

"Uh huh, and next you'll tell me pigs can fly." he said giving me some bags and I huffed as he closed the trunk.

"Pigs could fly." I said walking up the stairs behind him as he looked for the keys to the house.

One to open the screen door which for now we kept unlocked except for the one in the kitchen to go to the backyard. And the other key to open the front and back door.

"I'm done with you." he said shaking his head as he opened the door letting me go in first.

I placed the grocery bags on the small round table in the kitchen. I yawned and scratched my head.

"Today is a working day, we're gonna work on moving our stuff into our rooms and unpacking." he said after placing the grocery bags on the table including his keys and I nodded. "But first we put up the groceries." he said taking some grapes out.

After putting all the groceries up it was time for the real tough stuff. Using my scrawny arms to push, carry, and etc. I rolled up my sleeves and tried lifting up a huge box only to drop it back down. I shut my eyes praying nothing broke.

Dad showed me- okay more like pointed to the direction of my room. My room had a walk in closet. It was huge and I didn't exactly know why I would need this. I didn't have a lot of clothes but I could make it look pretty cool. Yep, it would definitely be my own little special room instead of my actual bedroom. After unpacking most of our things probably half we were exhausted.

"PB and J day?" he asked leaning against my doorway and I nodded still trying to catch my breath.

I took my PB and J to my new room. I kinda felt this feeling inside of me. A jolly feeling, yes happy. I guess moving wasn't so bad. It was just mom wasn't here. Which I haven't heard from her today. Pretty shocking and worries me a bit.

I shook my head to get my mind off that and to think about something else. We still had work to do tomorrow. I think I'll help dad a bit with the rest then work on my room more and my walk in closet. I took a bite out of my PB and J closing my eyes on bliss. Poor people who are allergic to peanut butter. It taste so good.

After finishing it off I stared at the light switch that was at a far distance and groaned. I was sitting on my bed criss cross applause and I tried reaching but of course that didn't help. I leaned over a bit and still couldn't reach it. I sighed and then thought of something.

"Dad!" I called and he rushed over.

"Yeah?" he asked looking at me tiredly and I pointed at the light switch.

"Can you turn that off for me?" I asked and he glared but switched it off anyway. "Thank you." I said smiling innocently and he rolled his eyes smiling.

"Night bug." he said closing the door as I laid my head against the fluffy pillow her to under the covers.

"Night dad." I yawned as I closed my eyes and sleep consumed me.