Germaine stared out of the old, lead glass window next to his desk in Chemistry class, across the shimmering green field where he once played soccer with his friends. The typical life, one that he shared with friends his age, disappeared once his father hid from the rest of society and forced him into a role he was too young to fill.

~

Germaine read to the boy as part of connecting older kids with younger kids, a mentorship program of sorts. They required Germaine to participate, but he enjoyed reading the boy stories that made him laugh. The boy’s parents were young, and not as wealthy as his own family, and Germaine saw this as a chance to become a role model for someone younger, someone with less opportunity and less culture at home.

“So, you want more of the classics today, or should we do something a bit more age appropriate for you this week?” Germaine looked at the boy with a smirk, already knowing the answer to his question.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The boy, furrowing his brow with impatience, responded, “I am ten years old… not four, Germaine.”

“Well, I guess that answers that!” Germaine opened the Riverside Shakespeare anthology he’s lugged around for weeks, always hoping the boy would change his mind and prefer the “wizarding world” of Harry Potter, instead of traitorous family murders and the evil, power hungry kings of Shakespeare.

“Oh, before I forget, can we read at my place tomorrow? My dad is sick, and someone needs to be home… just in case.” Germaine didn’t mean to say that last part out loud.

The boy turned while speaking. “Sure, you always have better snacks at your place, anyway!”

Germaine cracked a smile that broke his sad reflection and responded, “You’re right. Your mom has something against good food!”

~

RRRRING!

The bell snapped Germaine out of his trance-like stare. Another school-day down.