Lily yawned, looking at the clock. It said that the time was 7:30, but that it was time for school didn’t register until Mother called across the house. “School time, honey!” Lily groaned, quickly going through her routine. As she walked into the kitchen, Mother stared, grumpy as she usually was. “There is my girl. Now, time for school. You might want to make breakfast first, though.” Great, now some work – before school even. I haven’t ever had to make breakfast before.
“I have never done it before. How do I?” Lily pouted, looking at Mother in a confused manner. “I am tired, Lily, so either make something yourself or go hungry.” Lily went hungry that morning, but she thankfully was not a girl who ate much in the aspect of breakfast. The school bus was nearly empty, because few people lived in that neighborhood had their kids go to public school, as not many people lived in the area. Her brother Charlie went with her too, but sat with one of his friends. Lily, however, started her walk to an empty seat near the back. However, she was suddenly blocked by a large boy, probably about 14 years old, who growled at her. “So, you are the daughter of the richest guy in town, and coming to this poor school? What kind of man is your father?” Lily retorted, “What kind of man is yours?” The boy’s face whitened. “My father,” the boy stopped a moment. “Disappeared from a ship before I can remember. Mom now married this stinky, no-good stepdad who acts like I am just a piece of meat to feed.” “Oh. Death is always happening. Why was he so important to a boy like you, bullying everyone?” The boy was startled, “I am not a bully. I am a hurt boy named Percy Jackson, and I have ADHD. I have many schooling issues too, and can’t seem to make good grades. My parents aren’t rich either – We live in the poorest house here.” “You live in the broken-down house, 136 E. 4th Street?” “Yes. We are the family with the useless step-father and the hard-working mother.” Lily contemplated this, and not hearing a response, Percy spoke again. “Hear me?” “Got it. I do not have a thing to say.” “Okay, Miss Cackleberry.” “Lily Cackleberry. Miss is not deserved of me, and Lily is fine.” “Okay, Lily. Anyways, did you know my best class is Greek?” “You are kidding, Percy.” “Yes, I am a kid, but I do study it on my own. It is really easy.” “Humph. Very humorous you are, boy.” “Have I turned into a liar?” “Okay, then. I just don’t believe you.” “Well, then you also will not believe me when you see what I can do at the pool after school,” Percy rushed off, smirking. Where is Percy? I have waited here for a minute or two, and he said he would be early, Lily thought, her curiosity overpowering everything else. Suddenly, a head appeared at the surface of the water, and she quickly recognized him. “What in the world, Percy? Where is your oxygen tank?” “In my lungs,” Percy called. Lily groaned. “Tell me the truth, you magician.” “Except that, everything else is a lie. Believe it. I am part of… of a water-loving family. Water-hating at the same time, because of my father.” “Noted. One question – how are you possible?” “God.” “Oh, so you are one of those ridiculous Christians?” “Ridiculous? I tell you the truth – what other sect or religion has stayed alive after such a large wave against it has ensued? And how many of those, if there are any others, have stayed alive for 2000 years and continue to grow in amazing ways?” Lily had no answer to his questions, and left through the doors into the main school building. Percy slipped to the bottom of the pool again. “Percy, my friend, come on up!” A person on the edge of the pool called a few minutes later. “Grover, really! Why did you scare me like that!” Percy said. “Your mother wants you, Percy! She says that there is an emergency!” “Coming!” Percy flew out of the water, and he quickly dressed, following Grover. His mother was in their adored Ford Mustang, so he – and Grover – jumped into the vehicle. “We are going to summer camp, Percy,” his mother answered his thought question, “I heard of some trouble at school today?” “It has been happening for most of the year, and I guess I best explain…” Percy started. “It started on the first day of this school year at Trinity,” Percy continued, “and it started off in a most disliking manner. I met this girl named Anna, and she totally joked with me. She must have known about my Dyslexia, because she jested, ‘do you want to read about the Greek Myths, Percy?’ That blew my horn, as you very well know I like to do, and so I replied to her, saying in a loud voice, “‘I already have those in my mind, and if you want a story, I would accept some money after school.’ She did not like that, and she stormed away in quite a huffy manner, and I did the same in the opposite direction. Then I ran into the principal. “‘The disrespect in kids this day in age,’ the principal muttered, glaring at me. Such things have happened basically the rest of the school year, with bad luck even in my breath and on my skin! “Today, I must admit, there was another incident. It happened with this girl, see, and she was quite a girl. Riches adorned her, but here she is in public school. I asked her about it, but she thought I was a bully, so some of the story poured out… well, I wanted to show her my minutes under the pool, but she was not good natured about it.” “Well, how about the incident, Percy? You wanting to leave that out?” “The principal tried to carry me away in a weird flying suit, trying to get me to give her a ‘Lightning Bolt’.” “So, you are endangered, as you might visibly see. You are being picked out by other forces. I will let you and Grover figure it out, though.” “Really, mom? I need to know!” Mom did not reply, and the front seat of the car stayed quiet for a good portion of the trip. COMMENT YOUR ADDITIONS!
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