Critical Thinking

3

I woke up to chirping. I groaned slightly and sat up glancing over at my window. My eyes widen at the sight of the red bird on a branch. A cardinal, I've always seen them in movies, books, and etc. But never in real life. To most people it's probably stupid, but to me it was special because I always heard about them but never seen one.

I scrambled for my phone. Yeah, it wouldn't be the best picture like an actual camera could take but this is what I got right now. I took a picture of the cardinal before it flew away.

"Hmm." I glanced down at my phone looking at the picture and it looked pretty decent to me.

You know how people post about their day. Things that are happening in their life and etc. Well I decided to go on Featherbook and post the picture on my message wall.

CyberGeek: Never seen a cardinal before until now.

I sent it out before placing my phone on my night stand. I yawned and heard it vibrate. I quirked an eyebrow picking up my phone.

BookerBooker: I've never seen a Blue Jay before but Cardinals I have. Must be a special day for you I guess.

I smiled and clicked on it. Going straight to my message wall and began typing quickly to reply.

"Morning bug." Dad yawned walking in my room as I sent the message.

"Morning." I said smiling at him and he quirked an eyebrow.

"Who are you texting this early?" he asked and I glanced down at my phone to notice it was eight-ten.

"It's not too early." I said as it vibrated and I glanced down at my notifications.

"Oakely, today is Saturday. Meaning eight am is early." he said and I grumbled.

"I'm just texting someone." I mumbled.

"I know that, my question is who?" he said.

"Just someone I know who wrote a book." I said and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Your texting an author?" he asked and I nodded.

"Sorta." I said and he slanted his eyes at me.

"Mm okay, well we have a lot of work to do." he said before leaving my room.

I huffed turning my phone on. Gosh old man, get off my case. Dad is usually laid back what's changed?

BookerBooker: Really, you think I'll see a Blue Jay one day? Well hopefully I'll see one before I go.

I groaned slightly typing slowly. I glanced up a few times to see if dad had came back. I'll be down there in a second, I'd hate to get in trouble. I hope I don't.

CyberGeek: Yeah I do. And don't saaay that =~= Maybe I can take a picture of one and send it to you. Yeah it's not the same...but it's the thought that counts right?

BookerBooker: Ah, sorry and yeah *smiles*

I felt my cheeks heat up as I smiled and my heart did this weird thing, like a flop...? Whatever, I shook my head ignoring it and started typing to reply but soon my phone vibrated again. I glanced up and saw it was a message...from BookerBooker. I quirked an eyebrow clicking on it.

BookerBooker: Hey, don't want to crowd up space on your message wall so I decided to message you.

I went to go reply but instead clicked his picture accidentally. I didn't think anything would happen but I was taken to his page.

Bio

I'm a male teen poet, writer whatever you'd like to call me. I'm also an artist in a way. Book is art. It takes talent to write so I got talent I guess lol. I hope you guys like Heart Of Gold. The only book I got out right now.

Location: Sitting by my window sill reading

I laughed to myself softly at the bio. Finally I knew somethings without asking sounding like a creep..... Even though this kinda made me seem like a creep too. But I didn't intentionally try to come here. I pressed the back button going back to my messages to reply to him finally.

CyberGeek: It's cool, and thanks. Sorry if I don't reply fast I kinda just moved.

I sent that before getting out of bed. I slipped my phone into my pocket then walked downstairs. Then headed into the kitchen since the light was on in there. Dad looked over at me glaring slightly while drinking his cup of coffee.

"Sorry dad." I said opening the fridge and got out the bagels we just bought licking my lips.

"Put them back." I heard him say and I looked at him pouting.

"What, why?" I asked.

"Because I said so, mostly because I told you to help me unpack which you didn't." he said and I huffed putting the bagels back slamming the door slightly making him quirk an eyebrow at me as I grabbed a poptart.

"What?" I asked before biting into it but he shook his head at me.

"Anyways, now that we've moved and your mother isn't here..." he said the last part softly before clearing his throat. "Your going to school." he said and I dropped my poptart.

"School school? Like a public school?" I asked blinking as he quirked an eyebrow with his cup raised to his lips.

"Yess?" he said before drinking his coffee.

I'm gonna diiieeeee.

"Your not gonna die." he said patting me on the back as I buried my face more in the pillow.

"I just moved here, it's September, I'll be the new kid, I'm antisocial, and I have a weird name." I grumbled.

"So what if you just moved here? New start, think of it in that way. And everyone is the new kid at least once. You'll be fine." he said as I lift up my head.

"You never said anything about my name." I huffed making him roll his eyes smiling.

"Want to know why we named you Oakely?" he asked and I nodded sitting up in a criss cross applause position....don't judge my childish ways.

He chuckled softly smiling. He looked up at the ceiling for a second before glancing back at me.

"We named you Oakely because well first of all your mother told me she was pregnant when we were having a picnic date under an oak tree. She went into labor the day we went to the oak tree to relax. So I guess it just stuck with me and I told her we should name you something with oak. She suggested Oakely because it had oak in it and it was cute to her." he said smiling and I blinked.

"Was I born under the oak tree too?" I asked and he rolled his eyes smiling.

"No bug, you were not born there." he said standing up as I laughed. "But you were close." he said and I blinked as he laughed.

"Kidding son, so you'll be fine on Monday okay." he said and I nodded while sighing.

"Okaaay." I said and he smiled before leaving the room.

I forgot all about texting BookerBooker. I felt so bad when I went on there. I had two texts from him.

BookerBooker: Oh that's cool, I'm sure you'll be alright where you moved so don't need to be scared.

BookerBooker: Hey still there?

CyberGeek: Yeah sorry I was talking with my dad about the whole school business.

I groaned and hit my face with my pillow. That was ultimate cringe, who says that? Obviously you Mr. Antisocial. I soon felt it vibrate and took the pillow off my face picking my phone up.

BookerBooker: *quirks an eyebrow* School business? Lol

I felt my cheeks heat up and I groaned. Why do I have to be so weird?

CyberGeek: XD ummm yeah?

Yeah just laugh it off Oakely. Like your totally not wanting to die in a hole. I'm such an embarrassment gaaah. See, even the noises I make are weird.

BookerBooker: Lol okay then, well I actually have to do some chores. Sooo talk to you later I guess?

I pouted huffing. But I just got back on. I grumbled to myself leaning back against the wall, yeah I have no headboard....lets just say when I was little I use to move around a lot in my sleep and hit my head against the wall a lot. Okay I still move around a lot and I probably need a headboard.

CyberGeek: Yeah, ttyl

I sent it then mentally face palmed. He told me he hated text slang. Ugh I fail at liiiife.

BookerBooker: Okay, see ya

Oh, he's not mad. Yay! I didn't exactly fail I guess.

CyberGeek: See yaaa

My phone soon rung making me furrow my eyebrows. I looked at the contact I.D. and it was mom. I swiped the green button.

"Hey..?" I said softly.

"Hey." she said sighing. "Are you okay?" she asked and I nodded at no one particular.

"Yeah, Im good. Just making home feel like home I guess." I said smiling slightly even though she couldn't see it.

"Well....I'm glad your happy there it seems. Um so your father and I have kinda discussed things." she said and my breath got stuck in my throat.

Dad didn't say anything about them talking.... Their not getting a divorce are they...?

"We're gonna take a little break to work things out and so I can cool off." she said as I nodded which I guess she figured I did since I stayed silent. "After a month we'll see how things are and I'll come over there to see you...or come get you. But do now I'll call and text." she said.

"Okay mom." I said chewing my lip.

A break..? Isn't break apart of break up. But their married so they can't break up.....and-and they can't get a divorce they've been together for like forever. It'll be weird to have two houses....two everything.

I took a deep breath to call my nerves. She began speaking again and I nodded while listening. I didn't really speak that much mostly just listened to all that mom had to say.

"I love you Oakely." she said and I smiled.

"Love you too mom." I said and I had a feeling she was smiling too.

"Talk to you soon." she said then hung up.

I let out a deep breath that I was holding. I felt like some bricks were lift off my shoulders but some were still there. I got up and went down the hall to dad's room. He was on his laptop wearing his glasses. Dad usually weared his contacts when we were out places but at home when doing work he's usually wearing his glasses. Me on the other hand didn't exactly need to wear glasses all the time so I mostly didnt have them on.

"Hey dad." I said leaning against the doorway and he glanced up.

"Hey son what's up?" he asked before going back to typing.

"I was wondering if we could go to the store for some paint." I said and he quirked an eyebrow looking back up at me.

"Paint? For what?" he asked and I crossed my arms.

"So I can paint the walls in my room." I said and he sighed softly.

"Paint can be pricey." he said and I nodded making him sigh again.

"Fine we can go out to Home Depot." he mumbled and I cheered.

When we came back I had about five cans of paint. Dad said I can't make a mess on the floor and if I did I'd have to clean it. He also wasn't going to help me paint since he said their was still things he had to do.

I huffed slugging the last two paint cans upstairs to my room. I put them down and rest my hands on my hips looking at the plain walls that had no color. I began painting the walls a pumpkin orange color then painted the bottom part of the wall that stuck out more grey.

Painting took forever by the time I was done it was one p.m. I panted softly laying on my back on my bed. I made sure to wear my old torn jeans so getting paint on them was no big deal. Painting the walls in my walk in closet I will probably do later or tomorrow. I washed the paint off the paint brush then took a shower and changed into pajamas.

"Dad I'm gonna make some sandwiches!" I yelled knowing he was probably still working.

"Okay!" I heard him yell back as I went downstairs then ran into the kitchen.

I made us sandwiches with some turkey, lettuce, tomato, and cheese. I put mustard and mayonnaise in mine and just mayonnaise on his. I walked upstairs carefully with our plates and headed to his room.

"Lunch is served." I said bowing as I handed him his plate and he shook his head smiling.

"Thank you." he said taking it then took a bite from his sandwich. "No mustard?" he asked chewing and I scrunched up my nose.

"No and don't speak with your mouth full." I said and he rolled his eyes smiling before I skipped out his room into mine.

I sat on my bed criss cross applesauce with my plate on my lap. I picked up my sandwich taking a bite as I heard my phone vibrate. I chewed glancing over at the nightstand as it vibrated . I swallowed then took another bite of my sandwich before placing it down on the plate and picked up my phone.

BookerBooker: Sorry that took so long.

BookerBooker: But I'm back nooow

I clicked on the messages and swallowed. I started typing my reply.

CyberGeek: It's okay, I kinda just got finished with painting the walls in my room. Now they just have to dry lol

That was dry, ugh I need something interesting to talk about. I'm so boring and I'm just not use to texting anyone but my family. I took a bite of my sandwich as he replied back.

BookerBooker: Oh cool, what color? My walls are a darkish grey. I also painted my walls when I first moved in this house.

CyberGeek: A pumpkin orange mostly and some gray.

I kinda wanted to ask all these questions. Like where are you from, what's your favorite color, etc. But was that too weird? Asking a stranger all these personal questions.

BookerBooker: Ah, is your favorite color orange?

My cheeks heated up slightly. Guess it was okay to ask these questions since he technically did. I sighed softly relaxing a bit. I need to relax and be cool. Obviously I'm just overreacting and worrying too much. I smiled softly replying.

CyberGeek: Actually yes, what's yours?

BookerBooker: I must be amazing to guess that right lol and I have way too many it's kinda hard to choose one. But I guess if I must choose one even though I want to name them all I guess I would say Cyan.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Cyan...? I think that's a kind of blue?

CyberGeek: Isn't that a kind of blue? And you can name them all if you want.

BookerBooker: Yeah it is and okay the rest are turquoise, sky blue, baby blue and powder blue.

I looked up all these colors on Google. They were all some kind of blue in a way. I laughed softly and replied.

CyberGeek: All nice choices. Sooo I don't want to sound like a creep by asking you questions that makes you feel uncomfortable since I'm like a complete stranger lol.

I chewed on my lip. I wanted to be honest. I had a whole ton of questions but wasn't sure if I should ask them. I think some might be okay to ask though well I hope they were.

BookerBooker. Lol, To not be a stranger you have to ask questions to learn things. You can't not be a stranger if you don't ask questions.

That made a lot of sense. Sounded like a quote. But it made me a bit more relaxed but I still was a bit worried.

CyberGeek: True true, is that a quote your going to put in your book? Lol

BookerBooker: *grins* Already on it.

I laughed then smiled. Maybe it wasn't too funny to most people and maybe I was just weird. I will probably be forever weird.

CyberGeek: Lol have fun

BookerBooker: I thank you for inspiring me to make that quote *bows at your feet*

I felt my cheeks heat up. I ended up giggling and dad walked past my room quirking an eyebrow.

CyberGeek: Lol your quite welcome *bows* Uh um....is that even how you say it?

BookerBooker: Hahaha yes that is how you say it :)

I felt my cheeks heat up more as I smiled. My heart did this weird flop thing again.

CyberGeek: Yaaaay * celebrates by dancing*

BookerBooker: Lol so since you moved are you going to be going to a new school.

CyberGeek: Uh hm

I completely forgot to mention I never went to a real school. But I was kinda happy I didn't. I don't want him to know I've never been to a real school I'd sound like a loser.

BookerBooker: SURVIVE

I laughed smiling and remembered I still had a sandwich to finish. I took a huge bite of it kind of regretting it knowing I probably looked like a chipmunk while chewing.

CyberGeek: THANK YOU I SHALL TRY

"Oakely we're going out!" I heard dad yell.

"Okay!" I yelled back as my phone vibrated.

BookerBooker: Lol your welcome

CyberGeek: I gotta go out I'll text if I can.

BookerBooker: Alright

I got up stretching. I went downstairs and put my jacket on then slipped my phone in my pocket. I put some shoes on while dad got ready. As soon as he was out the door we went to a store for things I would need for school.

After coming back while still texting BookerBooker who helped me out with picking out things for school. Dad said I needed more clothes so we also went out to buy clothes too. We bought food from subway for dinner. So by the time we were home it was 7 p.m.

CyberGeek: Thanks for your help again.

I was sitting on my bed criss cross applesauce eating my sandwich. I wonder if he likes subway?

BookerBooker: Your welcome it was no problem, I'm gonna head to bed.

I frowned slightly then slapped my cheeks lightly. I shouldn't be sad. We talked pretty much most of the day.

CyberGeek: Okaaay, niiiight~

BookerBooker: :) night, talk to you tomorrow if I can and your not busy.

I felt my cheeks heat up and smiled brightly. I poked my cheeks as my heart did that weird flip flop thing.

CyberGeek: Okie dokie, niiight

BookerBooker: Haha night

I smiled and turned off my phone putting it on the charger then placed it down on the nightstand. I sighed happily laying back on my bed looking at the ceiling. I realized I didn't paint it and groaned but smiled thinking of BookerBooker. That's when it hit me that I didn't even know his name. Another groan, I sat up and finished off my sandwich before throwing away the wrapper.

"I'm going to bed!" I yelled.

"Okay!" dad yelled back.

"Can you turn off-" I began to yell.

"No!" he yelled interrupting me and I pouted.

I got my ruler out of my backpack and leaned over as much as I could to reach the light switch. I grumbled waving the ruler around then went to the bottom of my bed laying flat on my stomach. I leaned over half way where my stomach was slightly off the bed and held the end of the ruler waving it around near the switch.

"Ugh come on almost there." I muttered and finally switched it off.

I grinned to myself and sighed happily throwing the ruler over to my backpack. I crawled back to the top of my bed then got under the covers. I laid my head on my fluffy pillow cuddling under the covers.

"Night dad." I said loud enough for him to hear me.

"Night bug." I heard him say before I fell to sleep.