Julio stepped into class 1340, the wooden door was a prelude to what the class was; the hardwood floors, the teacher's cluttered desk, the black board. They were all stained in the same tone as the door was. He was one of the first in class, had it not been for a few others, his entry into the room wouldnt have been as awkward as it was. after reaching a desk near the front and center, he sat down on the cold plastic of the chair, the creak of the old hardwood floor made the two girls near the back of the room smirk.
a feminine voice from behind the stack of paper that littered the teacher's desk startled Julio, "This building is old, very very old. it's been built at the start of the first world war, and it's been standing since, this room that you are in, ladies and gentlemen, was one of the first to have been occupied. many would-be writers have passed, and failed, in this class since." it said.
The teacher emerged from her desk and started walking towards Julio, she looked italian, or portugese, around late 30's, wore square glasses that hung on the tip of her pointy nose, her hair gathered up into a neat bun. "I'm Mrs. Marson, and if you are here for English 10, you should be abel to point out your name on this list..." she revited in a bored, rehearsed manner as she dropped the clipboard on Julio's desk. he pointed on his name.
"Julio Vincente?" she asked.
"Yes, i received a note about you this morning, your the new kid from the middle east right?" she asked again, before Julio could answer the first question.
"Yes ma'am. that would be me." Julio replied.
"that's wierd no accent whatsoever." she mumbled to herself loud enough for the two girls behind him to hear.
Julio felt the pang of insult in her words. doubled by the laughter the girls chorused in unison behind him.
"well you didnt really expect me to have an arabic accent on me now do you?" Julio asked.
Mrs. Marson raised her eyebrow keeping her ever peircing stare on Julio. " hmp, smart guy" she thought.
"Well you're most certainly going to like it here, provided that you can keep up, this curriculum is based on free writing you know." Marson said, walking away from Julio's desk.
"then i Will enjoy it here madame." Julio said, confidence filling his voice.
A smirk formed on Mrs. Marson's face as she turned her back to the students and faced the balck board.
a girl entered classroom 1340, the same girl that Julio's cousin stole the appointment from. Julio wanted to cover up, to hope that she wouldnt notice him, fearing that she still might be angry. but then he remembered that he wasnt in dubai anymore, he wasnt the nerd anymore, he was free to form his reputation once again. and Julio decided to start doing that with this angel. He caught her eye a few steps into the class, and the look on her face, surprised Julio if anything. she was, smiling at him.
"Hey there, Mr. Jackass who stole me appointment." she said.
"wait, cut me some slack here, it wasnt me who stole it, it was my cousin" Julio said grinning.
"yes, so i heard, but then again, the reason of the visit was to enroll you wasnt it?" she suggested, a smirk forming. as she took the seat in front of Julio. "My name is Angela Navaro" she added turning the smile towards Julio.
----- ------ -----
"Oh My God! i cant believe he's in my class." Angela thought to herself. " I wonder how long it will take to break him." she thoughts echoed in the back of her mind as she turned a smile towards Julio.
"Well mine is Julio Vincente" Julio offered.
"Oh wow, Julio starts with the same letter as Jackass! what a coincidence." she said, sticking her tounge between her teeth, teasingly.
"Keep 'em guessing, Keep em hoping." she thought, turning the the front of the class where the teacher had started to introduce herself.
----- ------ -----
The teacher's words droned on and on, explaining the requirements to pass the class, and other boring stuff that Julio found boring. boring in comparison to the fact that the beauty in front of him was talking to him, after the anger she displayed that day in the office.
he took out a peice of paper, he penned down "what do i have to do to get you to stop calling me a jackass for that incident?" and passed it to her.
----- ------ -----
Angela was taking down notes on the sermon Mrs. Marson was giving when she felt a tap on her shoulder. she turned to see a peice of paper being handed to her. she opened it under her desk.
she smiled, "good move J..." she thought to herself.
she wrote down "Movies, just you and me."
----- ------ -----
Julio got the note back. a better reply than he expected. he decided to play it jsut a little bit more.
"cant. im new here and i dont have money yet. new to Canada that is." he wrote down, and passed to Angela.
a few minutes later the reply was "dont worry, i'll pay, think of it as a welcome gift."
Julio started writing down a reply.
----- ------ -----
"is it a date?" Angela read, "oh this guy is good at this game" she thought. "Too bad im better"
She smiled as she scribbled down four words she knew would make Julio flip.
----- ------ -----
Julio took the note from Angela Navarro's hand.
Her reply...
"Of course it is"
Julio, in turn stood up, asked persmission to leave the class, and once outside, started jumping up and down in extreme jubilance. "God that girl knows how to make guys go crazy." he told himself, as he started to walk back to Class 1340, His need to "Flipout" fulfilled.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Chapter 2: The Angel and The Jackass
9:00 am: An unfamiliar clock offered the time to Julio, the bed he lay on smelt... different. For one, he's never been in a bed where the blankets were so thick. He got up, grabbed his toothbrush and glasses and made his way over to the washroom. And each stepped he took on the hardwood floor felt so, cold, he had always been used to the carpeted floors of the villa his parents rented back home, though, now, he felt that, it really wasn't home.
He brushed his teeth; it was almost routine to him, he didn't even think about it. Brush, rinse, repeat, mouthwash, exit. But before he could even touch the doorknob, he felt the need to examine himself.
He stared at the mirror, looking into his own brown eyes, his hair in a swept back manner which split at the right side just a little bit. The teenage marks on his face seemed minimal, but they were there. He smiled, and his reflection smiled back at himself. He never really did put any thought into his appearance, but for some reason, he felt a pang of guilt that he was probably getting sucked into the vanity which he tried to avoid in girls, but he wasn't really successful in that. His skin was dark, but then again, most Filipinos were dark skinned, but having been under the Arabian sun, just made it worse.
His stomach grumbled slightly, he had a belly, maybe a little too much of it, but since he always had it, he grew used to it, and for the many times he'd had tried to get rid of it, he always reverted back into his original shape, so he gave up on it.
He left the washroom, and closed the lights, right when his cousin older cousin Areal walked in.
“get dressed” areal said,
Julio looked at him, rather, stared
“why exactly?” he asked, still bewildered.
“school, you gotta enroll, before my mom puts you in some private school, trust me, i went to this school, and i loved it.” ,Areal assured him.
“alright then” , Julio then rushed to his room, opening the suitcase which had his clothes, he took out a
shirt and pants of his liking, baggy pants of course, though he hated to admit it, he'd been influenced greatly by rap music, the way he walked, talked, even to what he wore. This pissed him off for some reason, maybe it was his old “peers” calling him a wannabe. “I'll prove them wrong” his breath seemed to whisper.
He walked out of the room he was in, his cousin was talking to his mom, apparently asking for the documents he needed to enroll.
Documents in hand, Areal went through the back door to where his car was parked, Julio kissed his mom goodbye and raced after his cousin.
-- --- --
They parked on Alverstone St., right in front of a brick building with the words “Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute” carved in stone over the front entrance. They entered the building and made their way over to the main office, Julio's cousin, having gone to this school, knew where this was, just as well as he knew the administrators there.
“Hey, is Mrs. Silva here?” he asked the receptionist,
“go right in Areal” she answered, waving Julio and his cousin to the Vice Principals office.
Areal turned to Julio, “Wait here”, he said.
Julio took a seat near the fish tank, and started to observe the fish that inhabited it. A gold fish, two, three. He stared at the little goldfish swim around, till a girl walked in, her body was enough to get his attention, but he looked up to get a better view of the person who entered.
Who, or rather, What Julio saw, was what he could only describe as an angel brighter than what he'd ever seen in his life, her brown hair was streaked with gold, her face, fit her heavenly stature just perfectly, she had that matter-of-fact kinda look on her, even her clothes dictated it, she meant business.
“Can I please see Ms. Silva? I have an appointment...” The yet unnamed angel asked.
“ I'm sorry”, The receptionist said, “She's with someone right now, Take a seat, she'll be available soon.”
“But miss! I have an appointment and i don't think that's fair!” she objected
“Well, I'm Sorry young lady, but you are in no position to demand, so take the seat and wait.” the receptionist said in a cold voice.
Evidently fuming, she took the seat next to Julio, His heart did a series of double somersault at the thought of her being so close to him. An angel's beauty radiating upon him, So close that her scent seemed almost t....
“Can you believe this?” she demanded of Julio, interrupting his thoughts.
“Believe what?” Julio asked back.
“They gave my appointment away to some Jackass!” she fumed, tears were gathering around her eyes.
“Don't worry, he'll be out soon.” He suggested, she looked at me with the cutest look you could ever get from a girl, and the barely noticeable tears in her eyes just magnified the effect a hundred fold.
“Yeah, I'm the jackass” Julio whispered.
The door to the Vice Principals office creaked open, and Areal stepped out,
“let's go, i got your registration stuff here” he said, and Julio followed,
“I'll see you around alright? I'm really really sorry; hey, if I see you again, I'll make it up to you alright?” , he told the “angel”
And she just stared at him as he walked away, the jackass, who tried to redeem himself, but a very attractive jackass at that, she thought.
He brushed his teeth; it was almost routine to him, he didn't even think about it. Brush, rinse, repeat, mouthwash, exit. But before he could even touch the doorknob, he felt the need to examine himself.
He stared at the mirror, looking into his own brown eyes, his hair in a swept back manner which split at the right side just a little bit. The teenage marks on his face seemed minimal, but they were there. He smiled, and his reflection smiled back at himself. He never really did put any thought into his appearance, but for some reason, he felt a pang of guilt that he was probably getting sucked into the vanity which he tried to avoid in girls, but he wasn't really successful in that. His skin was dark, but then again, most Filipinos were dark skinned, but having been under the Arabian sun, just made it worse.
His stomach grumbled slightly, he had a belly, maybe a little too much of it, but since he always had it, he grew used to it, and for the many times he'd had tried to get rid of it, he always reverted back into his original shape, so he gave up on it.
He left the washroom, and closed the lights, right when his cousin older cousin Areal walked in.
“get dressed” areal said,
Julio looked at him, rather, stared
“why exactly?” he asked, still bewildered.
“school, you gotta enroll, before my mom puts you in some private school, trust me, i went to this school, and i loved it.” ,Areal assured him.
“alright then” , Julio then rushed to his room, opening the suitcase which had his clothes, he took out a
shirt and pants of his liking, baggy pants of course, though he hated to admit it, he'd been influenced greatly by rap music, the way he walked, talked, even to what he wore. This pissed him off for some reason, maybe it was his old “peers” calling him a wannabe. “I'll prove them wrong” his breath seemed to whisper.
He walked out of the room he was in, his cousin was talking to his mom, apparently asking for the documents he needed to enroll.
Documents in hand, Areal went through the back door to where his car was parked, Julio kissed his mom goodbye and raced after his cousin.
-- --- --
They parked on Alverstone St., right in front of a brick building with the words “Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute” carved in stone over the front entrance. They entered the building and made their way over to the main office, Julio's cousin, having gone to this school, knew where this was, just as well as he knew the administrators there.
“Hey, is Mrs. Silva here?” he asked the receptionist,
“go right in Areal” she answered, waving Julio and his cousin to the Vice Principals office.
Areal turned to Julio, “Wait here”, he said.
Julio took a seat near the fish tank, and started to observe the fish that inhabited it. A gold fish, two, three. He stared at the little goldfish swim around, till a girl walked in, her body was enough to get his attention, but he looked up to get a better view of the person who entered.
Who, or rather, What Julio saw, was what he could only describe as an angel brighter than what he'd ever seen in his life, her brown hair was streaked with gold, her face, fit her heavenly stature just perfectly, she had that matter-of-fact kinda look on her, even her clothes dictated it, she meant business.
“Can I please see Ms. Silva? I have an appointment...” The yet unnamed angel asked.
“ I'm sorry”, The receptionist said, “She's with someone right now, Take a seat, she'll be available soon.”
“But miss! I have an appointment and i don't think that's fair!” she objected
“Well, I'm Sorry young lady, but you are in no position to demand, so take the seat and wait.” the receptionist said in a cold voice.
Evidently fuming, she took the seat next to Julio, His heart did a series of double somersault at the thought of her being so close to him. An angel's beauty radiating upon him, So close that her scent seemed almost t....
“Can you believe this?” she demanded of Julio, interrupting his thoughts.
“Believe what?” Julio asked back.
“They gave my appointment away to some Jackass!” she fumed, tears were gathering around her eyes.
“Don't worry, he'll be out soon.” He suggested, she looked at me with the cutest look you could ever get from a girl, and the barely noticeable tears in her eyes just magnified the effect a hundred fold.
“Yeah, I'm the jackass” Julio whispered.
The door to the Vice Principals office creaked open, and Areal stepped out,
“let's go, i got your registration stuff here” he said, and Julio followed,
“I'll see you around alright? I'm really really sorry; hey, if I see you again, I'll make it up to you alright?” , he told the “angel”
And she just stared at him as he walked away, the jackass, who tried to redeem himself, but a very attractive jackass at that, she thought.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Chapter 1: The Flight
"get up, we're almost there..."
Julio Vincente's mom nudged him.
He opened his eyes to see that he indeed inside a plane, it wasnt a dream, he was on hi way to Canada. For a moment, he felt puzzled. not knowing if he should feel happy, or sadened that he left his home for 14 years. Julio looked out the window to see the deep black of the night dotted by a scatter of lights in the distance.
"What time is it mom?", Julio asked, the answer, "10 hours since we left Dubai"
It didnt seem that way, he'd ben sleeping all the way, or rather, he silently cried himself to sleep. but cried at what?, he wondered. nothing, he decided.
Opening his bag, he began to look for his CD Player, and finding it, he stuck the earphones into his ears right before his baby brother, Armando, started crying, and in turn the people who sat across the aisle, started staring. Blaring his music, he pictured himself up on stage. Rapping to Electric Guitars and Disc Scratching backgrounds. another singer screaming out the lyrics that he woould write. Then he thought of the moeny he would have, how the people he left behind in tht school would feel sorry for how they treateed him all those years.
He shook his head, tried to clear his thoughts. a 14-year old probably shouldnt be thinking of these things. not when he's just about to enter a new chapter in life, in a new country. with new people. The scatter of lights drew closer and closer, till he could see the vague shapes of buildings, a river, the streets, then the run way of Winnipeg Int'l Aiport.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure you fasten those seatbelts, we are landing."
Julio grinned, he realised he hadnt taken off the belt since his last trip to the washroom. but then again, the sense of security made him feel safe. The Plane touched down, They walked through the tunnel the extended from the plane to the airport. his first breath in Canada, was of the Plastic the enveloped the tunnel, the second, a burger king.
"Mom! Im Hungry!" whispered Abby, Julio's litle sister.
"Hunny... let's wait till we get to Uncle Vic's place okay? im sure he'll have some food there." mom whispered back.
"But mom!" Abby said, a little louder this time.
"shhhh. promise you wont tell mom that i'll get you food?" Julio whispered, taking his little sister's hand.
Abby shook her head yes.
"okay" he said.
he ran over to the burger king, "whopper junior for a dollar eh?" the thought. he bought it with the 5 dollar bill that his grandmother gave him before leaving dubai. The change he got back, completely bewildered him. Being in the middle eas for so long, he wasw used to only 3 types of coins, 50c. 25c. $1. though in the mideast, cents were "fils" and dollars were "dirhams", but here, the change jsut shocked him. not even bothering to count it, he pocketed it and headed back to his family with the burger. which his little sister ate quickly.
once they cleared customs, they headed down the stairs, to find his two cousins, their girlfriedns, and his aunt and uncle waitign for them.
Hugs and greetings went around, then they went over to the baggage belt, and they left the airport. and Julio, entered a new chapter of his life, more eventful than hehad anticipated, or even planned for.
Julio Vincente's mom nudged him.
He opened his eyes to see that he indeed inside a plane, it wasnt a dream, he was on hi way to Canada. For a moment, he felt puzzled. not knowing if he should feel happy, or sadened that he left his home for 14 years. Julio looked out the window to see the deep black of the night dotted by a scatter of lights in the distance.
"What time is it mom?", Julio asked, the answer, "10 hours since we left Dubai"
It didnt seem that way, he'd ben sleeping all the way, or rather, he silently cried himself to sleep. but cried at what?, he wondered. nothing, he decided.
Opening his bag, he began to look for his CD Player, and finding it, he stuck the earphones into his ears right before his baby brother, Armando, started crying, and in turn the people who sat across the aisle, started staring. Blaring his music, he pictured himself up on stage. Rapping to Electric Guitars and Disc Scratching backgrounds. another singer screaming out the lyrics that he woould write. Then he thought of the moeny he would have, how the people he left behind in tht school would feel sorry for how they treateed him all those years.
He shook his head, tried to clear his thoughts. a 14-year old probably shouldnt be thinking of these things. not when he's just about to enter a new chapter in life, in a new country. with new people. The scatter of lights drew closer and closer, till he could see the vague shapes of buildings, a river, the streets, then the run way of Winnipeg Int'l Aiport.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please make sure you fasten those seatbelts, we are landing."
Julio grinned, he realised he hadnt taken off the belt since his last trip to the washroom. but then again, the sense of security made him feel safe. The Plane touched down, They walked through the tunnel the extended from the plane to the airport. his first breath in Canada, was of the Plastic the enveloped the tunnel, the second, a burger king.
"Mom! Im Hungry!" whispered Abby, Julio's litle sister.
"Hunny... let's wait till we get to Uncle Vic's place okay? im sure he'll have some food there." mom whispered back.
"But mom!" Abby said, a little louder this time.
"shhhh. promise you wont tell mom that i'll get you food?" Julio whispered, taking his little sister's hand.
Abby shook her head yes.
"okay" he said.
he ran over to the burger king, "whopper junior for a dollar eh?" the thought. he bought it with the 5 dollar bill that his grandmother gave him before leaving dubai. The change he got back, completely bewildered him. Being in the middle eas for so long, he wasw used to only 3 types of coins, 50c. 25c. $1. though in the mideast, cents were "fils" and dollars were "dirhams", but here, the change jsut shocked him. not even bothering to count it, he pocketed it and headed back to his family with the burger. which his little sister ate quickly.
once they cleared customs, they headed down the stairs, to find his two cousins, their girlfriedns, and his aunt and uncle waitign for them.
Hugs and greetings went around, then they went over to the baggage belt, and they left the airport. and Julio, entered a new chapter of his life, more eventful than hehad anticipated, or even planned for.
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