Break: An Urban Hero's Journey

by Wes Grant

  Jessica went over to Larry and said, “Are you crazy! He gives you a hard enough time already and you go and spit in his face.” She chuckled and said, “The jackass did deserve it though. I just can’t believe you actually did it . . . I’m glad you stood up for yourself, but next time, baby steps, a simple ‘leave me alone’ might have been a little more subtle than a spit to the eye.”

  Larry said, “One day he’ll get what he deserves.” Jessica replied, “He’s definitely a jerk, but he’s not all bad.”

  Larry replied in shock, “What do you mean. He’s the biggest jerk in the school, and what did you mean by see you later when you said that to him.”

  Jessica responded, “Well, a teacher paired me up with him and asked me to be his tutor. He’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

  Larry replied, “Not so bad. If you look up the word jerk in the dictionary his picture is right next to it!”

  Jessica replied, “I get what you’re saying, but I was trying to get him to leave you alone when we took breaks from studying.” Larry responded with, “I don’t like it. I don’t think you should tutor him anymore.” Jessica replied, “Well, it's not like I really have a choice. And besides, after what you just did, you need someone to try and calm the beast.”

  Larry snapped at her and said, “I don’t need you as my bodyguard. I’m not a little kid.” Jessica replied, “Then stop acting like one. I’m your friend, I’m just looking out for you. If you don’t want my help with anything then fine, your on your own.”

  Larry grabbed her arm and said, “Jess, I’m sorry. You know he gets under my skin sometimes.” Jessica replied, “Yeah, I know, one day someone will p ut him in his place . . . Now here, you can eat my lunch. I had like three bags of candy before I came to lunch anyways.” Larry said thanks. They sat down and finished their lunch period.

  After lunch they had the same class Sociology with Mr. Kowacks and were running late. They’re rushing to class when Larry stopped in his tracks.

  Jessica asked, “What’s wrong?” Larry said, “I forgot my book. Go to class, I’ll be right there. I just gotta get my book.” He remembered he left his book in his locker and they were having an open-book test today.

  Jessica said, “Hurry up. I’ll tell Mr. Kowacks something.” Larry said, “OK,” and ran around the corner down the hall.

  Jessica went in the classroom, and Mr. Kowacks said sarcastically, “Nice to see you’re still in my class.” Jessica said sorry, and then Mr. Kowacks asked where Larry was. She told him, “Yeah, he drank a lot of ice tea at lunch. He’ll be here soon.”

  Meanwhile Larry went to his locker and opened it quickly. He looked up and down in his locker for the book. He found it and said out loud, “Gotcha!” When he closed his locker he was punched in the face by Jeff knocking him unconscious.

  Jeff Larry’s sentence with, “Yes, we do.”

  He and his two friends dragged Larry off.

  Meanwhile Jessica was in class wondering what happened to Larry. It was taking too long. She raised her hand and asked Mr. Kowacks if she could go to the bathroom.

  Mr. Kowacks said, “You know the rules, you can’t go to the bathroom during a test.” Jessic a said sarcastically, “Yeah, ’cause I was planning on looking at my cheat sheet in the bathroom for this open-book test.”

  Mr. Kowacks gave her a look that let her know he wasn’t very amused. Jessica then said, “Come on. I drank like, three sodas.” Mr. Kowacks said, “Finish the test and you can go.”

  Jessica looked at the four pages of questions and thought to herself, “You gotta think of a way outta here.” Just then she saw an empty water bottle in her backpack. She raised her hand and said, “Mr. Kowacks, never mind. I don’t need to go to the bathroom anymore. I found an empty water bottle, so I’ll just use this,” as she put the bottle under the desk.

  Mr. Kowacks quickly said, “Five minutes. That’s all you get.” And he pointed to the door. She went out of th e classroom and ran to Larry’s locker. She saw the book on the floor and picked it up. She then opened his locker just in case the bullies locked him in there again. Unfortunately he wasn't there. She ran to the second place they bullied him, the boy’s bathroom. Without hesitation she ran inside. Two boys that were standing at the urinals moved closer to the urinals when they saw Jessica. She walked past them and checked all the stalls to see if Larry was there, but once again he wasn’t there. She asked the two boys if they had seen Larry and gave a quick description, but they hadn’t seen him. She rushed out of the bathroom to go back to class hoping maybe she missed him and he was back in class. The two kids looked at each other at the urinal, and one of the kids said, “Dude, the two of us were in the boy’s bathroom with a chick. Our popularity just jumped up two points.”

  The other kid said, “So that puts us at what now, four?” The other kid said, “Dude, give us more credit. We’re at least a six now. I saytake it wherever we can get it.” After the class ended and Larry didn’t show up, she got a little worried. She went to all the normal spots they hung out in the school and even the not-so-normal spots. When she got to her next class, the teacher told the students that they would be going to an assembly in the auditorium. All the teachers walked the students to the auditorium and had them take a seat. The room was packed, and the principal stepped onstage and began to give a speech. At that same moment Larry was starting to come to. He woke up lying down locked in something. He realized that he had no clothes on and it was pitch-black where he was. He could hear the principal speaking, but it’s muffled. He heard squeaking next to him. He felt around and felt fur then a tail. He screamed and started pounding on the ceiling of whatever he was in. While making the speech, the principle heard pounding on the stage and stopped talking. He stepped away from the podium and followed the noise to the front of the stage. He saw the compartment they put supplies in on the stage and heard the noise coming from inside it. He opened it, and Larry jumped out in only his briefs covering his privates, screaming at a high pitch. He then realized he was in front of the whole school. Everyone began to laugh uncontrollably. He was so embarrassed and horrified he ran offstage. Even the principal was laughing. Jessica ran out of the auditorium to go see how Larry was. He ran to the boy’s locker room. Larry was so pissed and embarrassed he began to cry. He then pounded his fist on a locker and said, “Stupid jerks!” At that moment the glass in the locker room cracked, and the lights burst, sending sparks everywhere. Larry was startled and backed up against the lockers. He went to his locker to put on his old gym clothes. He got hold of a phone and called a cab to pick him up from school.

  The cab pulled up, and right before he got in the car, he saw Jessica coming out the exit doors. She called out for him, but he was so embarrassed that he told the cab driver to take off.

  When he got home, there’s a message on the answering machine from the school saying that he was suspended for two weeks for indecent exposure. The school even called his parents, and they called him at home. He explained what happened, and that it wasn’t his fault. His father said how outraged he was that they suspended him and he was the victim. He told Larry that when he got home, he was going to take off the next day, go to his school and demand that they let him back in.

  Larry knowing his dad, he wasn’t going to hold his breath. When it came to parenting, his parents weren’t necessarily the most reliable. They got home late that night when Larry was asleep and had left before he even woke up, so he knew they didn’t call the school. The father left a note that told Larry that he was sorry he couldn’t was unable to stay around but there was a very important business deal he had to take care of. He told Larry to look at it as a mini vacation and he could order whatever movie he wanted to watch at home.

  Jessica went over to Larry’s house after school that day, in hopes that he would want to talk or see her today. He opened the door and let her in. They both sat down, and no one spoke at first. Jessica tried to start off the conversation with small talk and see how he was do
ing, but he was more unresponsive than usual.

  She then said to him, “You know what’s messed up?” He asked, “What?”

  She said, “I heard that the principal only gave them a week of detention. Probably because I hear Jeff’s dad is cool with the principal.”

  Larry jumped out of his seat in anger and yelled, “Are you freaking kidding me!” He was outraged. He continued, “I get a week’ suspension, and Jeff gets a week’s detention with his friends. I’ve seen detention. It’s like an hour of playtime for kids like him.” Just then he stumbled and his head began to hurt.

  Jessica asked if he was all right, and he told her yeah. He said that he wanted to be alone right now.

  She said, “You don’t have to be alone, I’m your best friend, I’m here for you.”

  He snapped, “Just go!” She walked to the door and opened it. She then said, “OK . . . when you’re done being a jerkwad, give me a call.” Then slammed the door behind her.

  After a minute or two he felt bad about the way he treated her so he left the house and went after her. He knew the way she took to get home so ran to catch up to her. When he got around the corner he saw her talking to Jeff and jumped back behind a bush. He when through the neighbors’ yard to get a little closer to hear the conversation.

  Jessica said, “What do you want.”

  Jeff replied, “Don’t be like that Jess.”

  Larry mumbled to himself, “Jess?”

  Jessica replied, “Don’t Jess me. I can’t believe you did that to him.”

  Jeff replied, “He spit in my face in front of everyone. I couldn't let that slide.”

  Jessica replied, “He’s my best friend.”

  Jeff responded, “I know, but I’m a little more than that.” as he gently placed his hand under her elbow. Jessica pulled aw ay and said, “Stop, not in the open like this.” Jeff asked, “Why? Cause of Larry?”

  Jessica replied, “No, I just don’t want anyone to know right now.”

  Jeff responded, “You know you’re gonna have to tell him sooner or later.”

  Jessica responded, “I don’t even know if I can continue this, with what you did.”

  Jeff replied, “What?! That’s BS. All this cause I embarrassed your little boyfriend.” Jessica replied, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

  Jeff replied, “But he likes you.” Jessica startled said, “What? No, no, he doesn’t” Jeff replied, “Jees Jess, it’s pretty obvious.”

  Jessica replied, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s just a friend nothing else.” Larry completely hurt by what he heard stumbled back and made a noise that caught their attention. He quickly snuck away before they saw him. Jeff and Jess looked but saw no one. They continued their conversation.

  Jessica responded, “Anyways, I just need time to myself. I can’t see you for a while.”

  Jeff responded, “You’re dumping me?!”

  Jess said, “We weren’t official so it’s not dumping so you can keep your moucho pride.”

  Jeff replied, “Whatever man, I don’t need this drama. Go back to your freak friend. You’re lucky I gave you the time.” Jess sarcastically replied with a bow, “Why thank you for blessing me with your presence your highness. It was an honor will it lasted.”

  Jeff replied, “Whatever man, your a freak to.”

  Jess turned around and skipped away as she said, “Later Jerkwad.” Larry rushed home. When he got home he closed the front door and leaned against it. His head began to hurt even more. He was still enraged about what he heard. He felt hurt and betrayed by who he thought was his best friend. He stumbled outside to the back where the inground pool was. He knelt at the edge of the pool and looked into the water. The water began to shimmer. His reflection began to break apart. The water began to bubble a little near him. He looked at his hands and saw them vibrating. He looked over to his right and saw the patio lounge chair begin to melt. In panic, he began to crawl backward to his left, away from the chair. He heard a noise and turned around and saw the patio umbrella beginning to smoke. He tightened his fist and screamed, “WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME!” Just then a burst of energy shot out of his body and singed everything within a twenty-foot diameter. When he looked around he saw a part of the vinyl siding of the house was singed black along with the patio furniture within that diameter and even part of the fence. Larry was breathing hard trying to catch his breath, he was still a little scared, but he realized he was OK and his head didn’t hurt anymore. In fact he felt a sigh of relief as if he just release some built up tension. He looked at his hands and noticed the air over his hands was vibrating. He aimed his hand at a patio chair farther down the side of the pool and focused. The chair began to melt. He ran inside and grabbed a basket of fruit and brought it outside. He then, one by one, focused on the fruits; they turned black and burn. That’s when he realized that he had the power to send out microwaves. He thought to himself, “It’s time to teach everyone a lesson, not to mess with Larry Swanson.” He then thought to himself his name was stupid, he needed a new name. He looked at his fist and thoughtto himself, “Now, time to teach everyone a lesson not to mess with M Wave… Yeah that sounds alot better. It seems things are looking up for me.”

  The next day he snuck back into school and hid in the auditorium in the lights above the podium. He heard the principal was giving another speech today to the school. Once again every student was in the auditorium including Jeff and his friends. In fact they were in the front row.

  The principal began to speak, and during the speech, Jeff said to his friends, “It’s hot with all these lights in the front. Is anybody else hot?”

  Jeff’s friends said, “It ain’t that hot man, I think it’s the hoodie you’re wearing.” The principle was giving his speech when he began sweating profusely. He took out a handkerchief and began to pat his head and face. He tried to continue but stopped abruptly. He grabbed his chest and stumbled away from the podium. He tried to scream for help, but the words could barely come out. No one could hear him. Smoke began to seep from his clothes, then burst into flames. Everybody in the auditorium screamed and frantically ran to the exits in a panic. He dropped dead onstage, and the flames engulfed his body. Teachers grabbed fire extinguishers to save the principal but it was too late. Larry quickly, but silently, got out of there without anyone seeing him. When he got outside, he pulled his hoodie over his head so no one would recognize him. Jessica got outside with the rest of the students and looked over thinking she thought she saw Larry, but with all the commotion it was hard to tell. She tried to follow but quickly lost sight of him.

  Everyone was sent home when the police got there. Jessica stopped by Larry’s house. She knocked on the door. She thought to herself it couldn’t have been him. He didn’t wear things like that. The door opened, and Larry was standing there smiling.

  Larry said, “Hey Jess, how’s it going?” He then pulled her in and gave her a hug.

  She replied, “OK, I guess. Who are you and what have you done to Larry?”

  Larry responded, “You’re funny . . . want something to eat? I ordered Chinese.” She said, “OK . . . .” in a confused manner. Then she said, “Did you hear what happened at school?”

  Larry said, “I saw something on TV, but they were kinda vague about what happened.” Jessica replied, “The principal’s dead.”

  Larry said, “OK.”

  She then repeated herself, “Did you hear what I just said? The principal is DEAD!” Larry said, “So why should I care? I got suspended for a week for getting beat up while Jeff and his friends get playtime. Please, I have no reason to feel sad about his death.”

  Jessica replied, “I understand you’re still mad about what happened, but a man is dead. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. He was a good principal.”

  Larry snapped at her and said, “Are you kidding me! Good to who?! He’s the main reason kids like me get beat up every day. He allowed the bullies to do whatever they want with a slap on the wrist. If you
ask me, I’m glad he’s dead. Maybe now the school will have some order. Maybe bullies like Jeff need to be taught a lesson as well.”

  Jessica said, “You know what, I’m gonna leave now ’cause you’re starting to freak me out a little Elly.” Larry grabbed her hand and said, “Wait, please don’t go. You’re right. I’m just still a little mad about what happened to me. It was the most embarrassing moment in my life. I haven’t had any one to talk to or vent to since I told you to go the other day.”

  Jess said, “OK, but remember I’m here for you.”

  Larry replied, “Thanks.” They hugged, then he said, “Wait, I just ordered a new outfit online.” Jess took a look at it and said, “I’ll give you one thing, it’s unique . . . and you’re sure you don’t like getting beat up?”

  Larry replied, “Don’t worry, when I go back to school, I have a feeling things will bedifferent.”

  Jess said, “OK,” then changed the subject, “Did you order any new horror flicks.” Larry responded, “Yeah, I been watchin’ them all day.” NEXT SCENE

  Von and Neil were at Nick’s house playing video games.

  Neil put down the controller and said, “OK, I am officially never playing you at a fighting game anymore.”

  Nick said, “What do you mean? You won a couple of times.” Neil replied, “Yeah OK, I’m sorry, but once you have a streak of twenty wins, I think it’s time to quit . . . and I’m still not sure I actually won those fights. I think you let me.”

  Nick said, “No, you really beat me . . . OK, Von, you wanna play next?” Von replied, “Umm no, you got anything to drink?” Nick said, “Why does no one want to play with me?”

  Neil said, “It’s those damn su per reflects of yours. I mean, this is my game and you’re playing it for the first time today and you’re kicking our butts.”

  Nick replied, “OK. I’ll turn it off for now. Let’s just watch some TV.” When he switched it back to the TV, the news was on. There was a news report on a death in Lyndhurst High School.

  Neil said, “Hey, turn it up. I have friends that still go there.” Nick turned up the volume and the reporter started talking about how witnesses say the principal just started smoking before he burst into flames.