Post by ashingliee on Dec 22, 2008 19:51:21 GMT -5
Stay or leave, I want you
Not to go,
but you did.
"I'm glad you were able to come today, darling. The sun has already set, please be sure to get home safely after you are done. You'll be in charge of the cashier since no one else is here."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Walter. I'm always glad to help and work here at the gift shop!" Devin answered heartedly and with an uplifting smile. "Why aren't there more kids nowadays like him?" Mrs. Walter mumbled under her breath and left to the back room, where Employees were only allowed. Devin wasn't exactly considered an employee. He was only fifteen, so he was allowed to clean up the aisles, and on rare occasions, use the cash register. Everyone at the Stewart Gift Shop knew of his impressing reputation at the high school. Sophomore class president, first chair cellist, a remarkable piano player, great sportsmanship skills and athleticism, and outstanding leadership and organizational skills. The list could continue for much longer. At the moment, Devin was just happy and delighted to be away from home, away from his older brother. His older brother was Eric Rick Johnson, a name that everyone in the school should be familiar with, since he was their Student Body President. Of course Devin was going to attempt to follow in his brother's footsteps and run for president once he graduated, but those thoughts were to be reserved for another time. The reason why he wanted to be away from his older brother that was just as, if not more remarkable as he was, was a completely new subject that would bring the social services to their home and strip his brother of the title, Student Body President.
Devin was dressed just as a second grader would be. He was truly a little kid at heart. A bright red, classic, Loony Tunes sweat shirt adorned his torso. Blue ice jeans hugged his waist, thighs, and knees. His white visor was replaced with the red Stewart Gift Shop cap that every volunteer worker was required to wear when working. Reluctantly pulling off his sweat shirt, he heard his heel slap repeatedly against his flip flop as he made his way to the coat rack where he would hang up his beloved sweat shirt. Under his sweat shirt, the boy wore a plain white t-shirt. Quickly tying on the red apron that also had the "Stewart Gift Store" label stitched on the front, he power walked over to a box of items. All of them had been found off the floor. To save himself some trouble, he decided he would collect them all and then run around the store placing them back where they were intended to hang until a young child or anyone else picked them off for purchase.
As the teenaged boy started to pick up the first items in his box, he walked around the store and looked for their proper placement. He took the quiet time he had to himself to think. He thought back to the remarks people would make to him. 'You have it so easy, you're perfect.' 'How is life for you? Must be easy.' 'Everyone looks up to you, how do you handle the pressure?' 'Do you feel pressured by your brother?' 'Why are you so perfect?' The boy shook his head to escape his own trance. Then he suddenly stopped and hung his head low. If he weren't the way he was right now, he'd probably be six feet under. He was under so much pressure from his uncle and Eric only made it worst. Uncle never penalized Eric or chastised him for anything. Uncle was only hard on him. Eric did everything perfectly and everyone in the school thought he was an absolute angel. No one knew of the other side of Eric. Devin winced and felt hot tears burning in his eyes. He was glad he was alone to think about his brother and his mother.
Eric wasn't always the perfect, good natured, and helpful person that people perceived him to be. No one knew of his temper. No one knew the rage that consistently built inside of him. No one knew that Eric continuously released that anger on him. No one knew that just yesterday Eric was set off because Devin forgot to fully close the cap on his toothpaste. He was so upset that he slammed him against the wall and threatened to push him down the stair case again. Of course, it couldn't have been just the toothpaste. Eric was upset at Devin for many other personal things. Some Devin did not even know of. He was thankful that Cynthia was rarely ever in their presence when he would hit him or cause physical and mental harm to him. Cynthia was not his target. Cynthia made Eric's heart melt and practically got him in a better mood. Now Devin hesitated to speak to his brother. He would wince and flinch at someone giving him a pat on the back or nearing their hand to him. Eric was only a reminder of his mother who he lived with for seven dreadful years. Then she was finally sent to prison for multiple charges, including Child Abuse, and Devin was sent to live with his only uncle in California.
All the young boy ever did now was just try to befriend Eric as much as he possibly could to avoid his violent temper. Devin continued to wander around the store, picking up items from his box and putting them back to where they were originally. He wished that what he was doing with the items reflected more like his life. He would put them back to where they were supposed to be, problems and mishaps in his life would be forgiven, forgotten, and never remembered again. But they weren't. They were brought back up again, remembered, and thrown at him almost ever day. Home was the last place Devin thought of returning to, yet he was required by his uncle to reside there. Even though he did have a dorm at the charter school and sometimes spent up to weeks living at the school. Always would he get that frightening message from his uncle or brother to return home for the next few days or so. He didn't know why his uncle wanted him to be at home. It's not like uncle was at home either. So, what was the point? Devin would probably never know since he would never ask. Taking a deep and silent breath of fresh air, he cleared his thoughts back to something more positive. Yeah, he did get smacked around more than usual and it was usually by his brother, but he had more important things he could be putting his emotions and feelings towards. His studies, sports, school work, and even Frankie. Frankie definitely needed a pal and Devin made a mental note to visit her dorm before he would go to bed. Sitting criss-cross applesauce before the box, he searched for items that looked more similar to each other that would be found in the same section. The box was placed just before the cashier, in plain sight of view. If anyone were to walk in looking straight ahead, there was Devin figdeting with the lost supplies in the box. Customers weren't expected, so Devin wasn't worried about anyone coming in the store that he knew seeing him volunteer here. It wouldn't be unusual for them to see Devin Johnson volunteering. He had volunteered at almost every store, working office building, and recreational center there was in this town.
Not to go,
but you did.
What day is it,
besides the day,
you left me?
besides the day,
you left me?
"I'm glad you were able to come today, darling. The sun has already set, please be sure to get home safely after you are done. You'll be in charge of the cashier since no one else is here."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Walter. I'm always glad to help and work here at the gift shop!" Devin answered heartedly and with an uplifting smile. "Why aren't there more kids nowadays like him?" Mrs. Walter mumbled under her breath and left to the back room, where Employees were only allowed. Devin wasn't exactly considered an employee. He was only fifteen, so he was allowed to clean up the aisles, and on rare occasions, use the cash register. Everyone at the Stewart Gift Shop knew of his impressing reputation at the high school. Sophomore class president, first chair cellist, a remarkable piano player, great sportsmanship skills and athleticism, and outstanding leadership and organizational skills. The list could continue for much longer. At the moment, Devin was just happy and delighted to be away from home, away from his older brother. His older brother was Eric Rick Johnson, a name that everyone in the school should be familiar with, since he was their Student Body President. Of course Devin was going to attempt to follow in his brother's footsteps and run for president once he graduated, but those thoughts were to be reserved for another time. The reason why he wanted to be away from his older brother that was just as, if not more remarkable as he was, was a completely new subject that would bring the social services to their home and strip his brother of the title, Student Body President.
Devin was dressed just as a second grader would be. He was truly a little kid at heart. A bright red, classic, Loony Tunes sweat shirt adorned his torso. Blue ice jeans hugged his waist, thighs, and knees. His white visor was replaced with the red Stewart Gift Shop cap that every volunteer worker was required to wear when working. Reluctantly pulling off his sweat shirt, he heard his heel slap repeatedly against his flip flop as he made his way to the coat rack where he would hang up his beloved sweat shirt. Under his sweat shirt, the boy wore a plain white t-shirt. Quickly tying on the red apron that also had the "Stewart Gift Store" label stitched on the front, he power walked over to a box of items. All of them had been found off the floor. To save himself some trouble, he decided he would collect them all and then run around the store placing them back where they were intended to hang until a young child or anyone else picked them off for purchase.
As the teenaged boy started to pick up the first items in his box, he walked around the store and looked for their proper placement. He took the quiet time he had to himself to think. He thought back to the remarks people would make to him. 'You have it so easy, you're perfect.' 'How is life for you? Must be easy.' 'Everyone looks up to you, how do you handle the pressure?' 'Do you feel pressured by your brother?' 'Why are you so perfect?' The boy shook his head to escape his own trance. Then he suddenly stopped and hung his head low. If he weren't the way he was right now, he'd probably be six feet under. He was under so much pressure from his uncle and Eric only made it worst. Uncle never penalized Eric or chastised him for anything. Uncle was only hard on him. Eric did everything perfectly and everyone in the school thought he was an absolute angel. No one knew of the other side of Eric. Devin winced and felt hot tears burning in his eyes. He was glad he was alone to think about his brother and his mother.
Eric wasn't always the perfect, good natured, and helpful person that people perceived him to be. No one knew of his temper. No one knew the rage that consistently built inside of him. No one knew that Eric continuously released that anger on him. No one knew that just yesterday Eric was set off because Devin forgot to fully close the cap on his toothpaste. He was so upset that he slammed him against the wall and threatened to push him down the stair case again. Of course, it couldn't have been just the toothpaste. Eric was upset at Devin for many other personal things. Some Devin did not even know of. He was thankful that Cynthia was rarely ever in their presence when he would hit him or cause physical and mental harm to him. Cynthia was not his target. Cynthia made Eric's heart melt and practically got him in a better mood. Now Devin hesitated to speak to his brother. He would wince and flinch at someone giving him a pat on the back or nearing their hand to him. Eric was only a reminder of his mother who he lived with for seven dreadful years. Then she was finally sent to prison for multiple charges, including Child Abuse, and Devin was sent to live with his only uncle in California.
All the young boy ever did now was just try to befriend Eric as much as he possibly could to avoid his violent temper. Devin continued to wander around the store, picking up items from his box and putting them back to where they were originally. He wished that what he was doing with the items reflected more like his life. He would put them back to where they were supposed to be, problems and mishaps in his life would be forgiven, forgotten, and never remembered again. But they weren't. They were brought back up again, remembered, and thrown at him almost ever day. Home was the last place Devin thought of returning to, yet he was required by his uncle to reside there. Even though he did have a dorm at the charter school and sometimes spent up to weeks living at the school. Always would he get that frightening message from his uncle or brother to return home for the next few days or so. He didn't know why his uncle wanted him to be at home. It's not like uncle was at home either. So, what was the point? Devin would probably never know since he would never ask. Taking a deep and silent breath of fresh air, he cleared his thoughts back to something more positive. Yeah, he did get smacked around more than usual and it was usually by his brother, but he had more important things he could be putting his emotions and feelings towards. His studies, sports, school work, and even Frankie. Frankie definitely needed a pal and Devin made a mental note to visit her dorm before he would go to bed. Sitting criss-cross applesauce before the box, he searched for items that looked more similar to each other that would be found in the same section. The box was placed just before the cashier, in plain sight of view. If anyone were to walk in looking straight ahead, there was Devin figdeting with the lost supplies in the box. Customers weren't expected, so Devin wasn't worried about anyone coming in the store that he knew seeing him volunteer here. It wouldn't be unusual for them to see Devin Johnson volunteering. He had volunteered at almost every store, working office building, and recreational center there was in this town.
