Chapter 15: Monday, Bloody-Monday [Part 1]
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THE ALARM RANG FOR-school – in the dark-room Peter switched it off and got-up to switch room-light…
… he ‘felt’ something funny, like an-anchor was dragging him down in-his-body harness – he hit his-palm on his forehead and sighed – to realise his carelessness of ‘forgetting’ to charge the processor-chip that powered the robotic-leftie LAST-NIGHT…
In-the-dark, looking at the ‘digital-counter’ slot-in the metal-forearm that showed – 32% of POWER-LEFT…
Peter guesstimated…
… where before school-ended for that-day, the-titanium arm ‘would-be’ spaghetti and hang limbless in the-body harness… giving him neckache…
The teen-stood in-the-dark contemplating to ditch the-robotic-arm… and GO-TO school today-as an ‘armless’ one-armed boy…
‘… that titanium ‘unpowered’ would weigh ‘double’ than the mass-body weight of 2.52% of-an adult’s hand-plus-forearm… it would make me hunch and walk-like crab – and I ‘must’ constantly be conscious of my-balance… and, the neckache-too… yikes…!
‘… I wished it was cyborg-surgery implants like Renee ‘bionic-b****’ Osborne… wow! She was fast… ran and caught-up my-bike to drag me-down…’
He looked-down annoyed-at the black-metal arm… cursed…
“… mediocre…”
In his-opinion, it was a mere 2nd rated down-the-lane tech-of external robotic implants of Kimura-Star – COMPARED TO Renee, who-was a superhuman – with surgical cyborg-implants that were-worth millions-of-dollars…
‘… bloody-Yanks! They ‘keep’ the Good-and-High-end million-$ stuffs for themselves and send the mediocre Low-end thousand-$ stuffs Downunder…’
The relentless Peter was talking-to-HIMSELF… to-MOTIVATE…
“I’ll bloody PROVE IT YOU, Kimura-Star – that I can ‘use’ your Low-Tech product and attain-soon my superstardom dreams TO-BE the #1 world-class tennis-Men superstar like my-idol McEnroe…
“I’ll bloody-proof TO YOUR Head-Scientist Turner – the defector-Aussie, who’s now a Yankee Doodle…
“… the Turner-key asshole BLOCKED-ME when he ‘refused’ the Crowley’s million-$ “Golden-Blood’ deal to make an ‘introduction’ CALL-TO-the UK for-me… and he also sent his Japanese minions, Ping-and-Pong with a clause-IN-THE T&C contract that I can’t modify the-robotic-arm from the ‘PRE-SET’ Kimura-Star’s factory-settings…
“… guess-what, f***tard-Turner – my team had-already modified my-Smasher and I’m ready to ‘get’ back in my-A-game – and, play-tennis ‘after’ 3-YEARS ‘ABSENT’ in school-competition circuit… EVER SINCE, the-bloody ‘drunk’ truck-driver hit dad’s BMW… and, I lost my-leftie…
“… but I ‘found’ my-Smasher – now, I’m raring-on-the GO TO beat-&-eradicate ‘every’ SHS’ Singles’ player to-be #1 to qualify to the Inter-Schools… and ‘made’ it to the-Finals, like I did been-a-Champ – when I was 10…
“… now, with my ‘glorious’ comeback at-13… O’ My Lucky-13!!!”
After a-minute with idle-procrastinating thoughts in-the-dark… he finally walked-over to the light-switch – to get ready for-schools. Peter was temporarily-blinded by the LED-florescent … he-then saw his room disarrayed – his tennis-rack knocked-down and even, the trash-bin was overturned…
“What-the-fart…? Who ‘did’ that!?”
Peter wanted to ‘straighten’ the mess and walked-over – he heard crackly-egg-shell sounds from the foot-of his-steps. Looking below AT DRIED-LEAVES scatted on the floor…
… eureka…
… he finally remembered ‘what’ he did last-night, while drunk from the half-glass of Russo – and he was ‘DISOBEDIENT’ to the-possessing-incubus BY PRACTICING the ‘forbidden’ Blackmagik-Of Asmodeus…
… where Peter ‘attempted’ resurrecting his dead pet-quokka… which ‘died’ a month-ago…
He remembered after Jane had ‘defeated’ the-incubus in the Garden-Of-Eden – that-night, the-quokka died ‘under’ his bed… he-then ‘buried’ it nearby in a bush…
… last-night, he wanted to resurrect the ‘soul’ of his beloved-quokka pet, Joey-Walker – so that he could have the ‘ghost’ of the-dead quokka as his-pet – ‘beyond’ the-grave…
‘… JW-my-boy, I miss your smiling-face – especially, your Joker’s Grin…’
The teen walked to his-bed. Peter wanted ‘proof’ that his-dad’s journal-Spells worked… where he had successes ‘before’…
… by ‘transforming’ Joey-Walker as a quokka the size of a-hippo in his-Dreamworld– as his-steed in the-incubus-hunt… in his Soulmate’s games-of Hide-&-Seek @the-Garden-Of-Eden…
‘… is ‘he’ alive from-the-dead…!?’
Peter called-out…
“JW, where are you? Come to Daddy, my loving boy… don’t-BE SHY – I ‘know’ you can go ‘invisible’ when-ever you’re-afraid… Come to Daddy, now – I ‘want’ TO SEE your-face… come ‘appear’ TO ME, boy – and don’t ‘play’ Hide-&-Seek with-me…”
He got on-his-4s and looked under the-bed where the-pet normally-sleep, piss-&-shit. He saw the the-SPACE ‘EMPTY’ – and psychologically, he ‘smelled’ the presence’ of JW’s urine-odor in-his-mind…
“Hey! Where are you, boy!!?”
Still on-his-4s, Peter was ‘still’ calling-out…
“You don’t have to ‘hide’ – I ‘know’ you’re ‘here’ somewhere…come-out, JW…!”
Still on the ground, Peter waited-awhile for the ‘ghost-soul’ TO APPEAR… as he had a ‘gut-feeling’ that the Spell-worked…
“… ‘lovely’ boy… where are-you…? Come-to-Daddy…”
After a long-minute waiting on his-4s, Peter was frustrated-and… was in self-doubt when he saw ‘nothing’…
‘… the Spell should-work – it ‘worked’ before… why ‘not’ now…!?’
In deep-thoughts, with his right-hand he picked-up a single-dried leaf that was in front-if-him… he ‘looked’ at-the light-green desiccated-folium and noticed-too, that his tip-of-his index finger was-swollen…
… he had A-2ND ‘eureka’ moment…
… as he-then recalled ‘more’ of last-night’s Blackmagick-ritual… where, he pricked his finger with-a-needle – while shedding 13-drops of his-Golden-Blood for the-ritual of ‘BLOOD-OFFERING’ …
… he spilled 3-drops in the flames of the red-candle in the dark-bedroom… and the rest in the plastic-bag of ‘dried-leaves’ – as he scattered the blood-stained folium on the floor while incantating the Sumerian-Spell…
On his-4s, Peter was searching on the-floor ‘for’ the blood-blemished leaves and found ‘NONE’. He got-up fast-on his feet with rejoiced-laughter…
“GOOD-BOY! You ‘ate’ the-leaves! Hahaha! Yes-JW, my-Golden-Blood IS ‘CURE’ to all-diseases – I bet my-last-$ that ‘certified’ it as-potent-of a-cure just like-Jesus’ Holy-Blood, hahaha!!!”
Peter noticed that he was laughing-and-nattering ‘alone’ to-himself in the room… he looked-around, calling…
“… JW, are you-there…? Come-to Daddy, please…”
… still ‘nothing’…
‘… maybe he GONE TO his-grave to sleep… spirit-souls sleep in-the-day – and come ‘out’ AT-NIGHT…’
He looked at the time… noticed-that, he had spent 15-minutes in-establishing ‘contacting’ the spirit of his-dead-quokka, that he was ‘late’ for-school. Peter dressed-up and looked-at the ‘major’ problem of his-day of lugging-about a battery-dying prostatic limb – that was a ‘neckache’…
Peter ‘decided’ to bear the-pain by ‘wearing’ the-arm to-school – COS’ WHERE-EVER he ‘went,’ the-robotic arm should-be with him… as he WAS ESTABLISHING a ‘comeback’ brand as a tennis Champ with A ROBOTIC-ARM in-SHS, and slowly to the-Greater Perth…
He strategized…
‘… maybe put my-leftie in my pants-pocket to ‘conserve’ energy… no-no-TO MY signature robotic-handshakes and High-5s to anyone, ‘just’ for-today. And, I’ll USE MY mediocre right-hand ‘more’…’
He put-on his backpack with 2-racquets… at the door, he greeted sweet-nothings to his ‘imaginary-pet’…
“… later-gator – JW, you-and-I GOT SO-much to talk…bye-for-now, Daddy ‘loves’ you…”
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PAUL REACHED SHS BEFORE his devil-twin – but there was a bottleneck at the main-entrance where-there was a Monday-morning vehicle-congestion. Soon, Gary ‘helped’ Paul from the-Uber-to the wheelchair…
Inside-the-school, the teenager was wheelchairing among the passing stream-of students. He recognised some-of-them, who ‘were’ HIS FANS of the South-Perth Zoo-Hero fame – ‘when’ he took-down a ‘rampaging’ rhino – but these-days, everyone ‘looked-away’ in displeased … or ‘not’ to-even ‘look’ at him, since THE EMERGENCE of the deep-fake Tarzan-video…
Paul’s mind had a string of negative-thoughts…
‘… no-respect – a ‘pariah’ – a Hero-2-Zero…’
His mind-then countered-himself with positive-thoughts…
… do well-in Math – ‘pass’ the midterm – a step-to my architectural-dreams…’
… until he passed by a ‘congregation’ of senior-students bullies, massing at the foot-of the staircase foyer. Paul passed them… to go to the-elevator to-go-to the 2nd-floor.
“Yo-Tarzan! When is your next’ handicapped sex-video coming-out? Hahaha!” The first-boy in-the-group said…
“… hey, Tarzan-Of-Perth, why ‘not’ signup with movie-companies…? There is Village Roadshow-Studios in the Gold Coast – they’ll sign you-up for a 5-movie deal, hahaha!” The 2nd-boy followed-up…
“… hahaha, why go so-far…? Fox-Studios Australia is-just in Sydney… but there are no-trees for you to ‘swing’ over from the Westcoast-to-East-coast… you’ve to take-the Safari-Airlines, hahaha!” The 3rd-boy gave-them the-biggest-laughs…
Paul hung-his head low to ‘not’ SEE THE guffawing-and-shrilling hyenas in-their-eyes. He reached the waiting-elevator. He GOT-IN before seeing the-boys laughing and ‘making’ monkey-like sounds… while imitating THE ‘FAKE’ Tarzan-actor pelvis-movements in the sex-video…
… he sighed-deep…
The lift-door closed, and Paul was-finally ‘alone’ from his-bullies’ character-assassination harassments. The elevator-car was moving-slowly – Paul wished the old-lift ‘would’ breakdown… and-trapped him-in for the ‘whole’ day-of-school…
He loathed coming to school – and hate Mondays.
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OUTSIDE, PETER ARRIVED THE school’s bicycle parking-bay. He noticed 2-Hilux pickup-trucks of a ‘Clean-up’ company, parking at the nearby entrance to the Westwing-of the school. Peter was curious when he saw 6 cleaning-crew members, with their equipment-and-tools entering the-sporting-section of-the-building…
… at the same-time, a white BMW-Uber pulled-up behind Peter – and his-girlfriend, Bella alighted… she was ‘agitated’…
“Hey-Peter! I could-bloody ‘contact’ the PM-of-Australia, but ‘NOT’ YOU – I been calling-you all-weekend and left a-ton-of messages cos’ I’ve been desperately trying TO GET you… why did you switch ‘OFF’ BLOODY YOUR-phone…!?”
Peter ignored her and walked-up to the pickup-trucks – Bella followed, and continued her-ranting…
“Hey! Are you listening OR ARE you ‘ignoring’ me? Don’t you ‘care’ FOR-ME anymore!!?”
The robotic-arm teenager did ‘not’ reply – he-then saw another curious-onlooker standing nearby the-Hilux. Peter ‘knew’ the Secondary-2 student, who came to his-tennis games…
“Hey-Tommy, what’s going-on @Westwing…?”
“Haven’t you-heard… the gym-basketball is covered-in mud-and-slime after Saturday’s flood. Even the outdoor tennis court is muddy-too. SO, HERE are the clean-up crew…
The unbothered-Peter sighed…
‘… it’s just a ‘minor’ flood-damage… ‘not’ like in-PERTHLAND, where a minor earthquake damaged the gym by knocking-down the outer-wall that ‘destroyed’ the basketball court…’
The relived-Peter said…
“Thank-God, it’s midterm exam week – ‘not’ the Boys’ selections of next-week. Yeah, clean-up the muck for ‘me,’ y’all – as I’m ‘back’ in-action… I’m raring-on the-go all-out to QUALIFY ‘AGAIN’ after my 3-years absence, haha!”
“… yea-Pete, you were a ‘legend’ BACK-THEN before winning the district-School Championship when you were 10, and you ‘defeated’ the current-champion, Mark-Spencer of the St George International-School…”
The gloating-Peter chuckled…
“.. yea, I’m ‘now’ Lucky-13…”
… he recalled defeating the UK-expat student, who ‘HAD’ HIS- training ‘prior’ in Wimbledon, England. It was an Aussie-vs-Pommy finals, where-the AUSSIE ‘WON’…
… even ‘after’ losing-his-leftie in the BMW-crash – Peter HAD ‘DONE’ his homework … that Mark-Spencer had been since the district-champion for the last 2 consecutive-years. And, also Mark was graduating this-year – and would be ‘eyeing’ A HATTRICK – to win the trophy for the 3rd-time…
‘… I’ll BE THERE to ‘deny’ your-boner and ‘tale-away’ your-victory, ‘mediocre’-Mark bloody-Spencer, hehehe…’
Peter wanted to go to-class, he Hi-5ed Tommy with his right-hand, with an-excuse…
“…sorry, I don’t want to break NOBODY’S FINGERS here… it’s midterm exam-week, yea… you ‘need’ to hold a-pencil TO DO-your objective questions, hahaha…”
He doubled-back to the main-building… and saw Bella waiting-FOR HIM at the main-door entrance – Peter sighed…
… if it wasn’t of her-uncle, Jared-Wilford – he would have ‘dumped’ the niece-girlfriend long-before… but he ‘had’ TO-TOLERATE the-fate, when she ‘came’ parcelled-in with the signing of his-Walker-house deal…
“Where have you-been!? You switched-off your-phone all-weekend!” The girlfriend-shouted at him-with students looking at them at the-door…
Peter responded-fast…
“Hey, don’t make-a-scene here! I had a busy, stressful-and-uneventful weekend-myself with the floods – I even lost $20,000-or ‘more’ worth of my precious-collectables stored in the bloody-garage, now damaged by-flood…
“… on top-of-that, my-mom invited Hairy-Tom, our-principal for Sunday-dinner @my-house – those 2-cunning lovers were ‘plotting’ something behind-my-back that-night… but no-worries, at the table, I’d ‘sniped’ bullshots… and-countered and ‘neutralized’ them-both…
“… in between Saturday-to-Sunday morning, I had to be in the ‘zone’ – I’d practiced my-visualization to-BE PERFECT in-my A-Game in court ‘next’ week’s Tennis Singles-selection. And, on top of that, I’ve to study for midterms, as I ‘planned’ to BE THE Top-5 in-class…
“… overall, I had a ‘busy’ weekend – soo-much to-achieve, BUT TOO little-time – that was ‘WHY’ I switched-off my-phone…!”
Peter pushed the door-and-entered – Bella followed him, and ‘HELD’ HIS-Right-palm …saying…
“Aren’t you gonna-ask me ‘HOW’ MY-WEEKEND ‘went,’ Peter…!?”
Peter saw her squeezing his wrist-hard, to-intimidate him – HE FELT a kneejerk-reaction of swinging his metal robotic-arm… which was IN HIS-pant-pocket, lying-dormant, conserving-energy…
… with Bruce-Lee cries… breaking her front-teeth to SHUT-HER-up…
… but instead, he replied…
“Nope! If it’s going to jinx-my midterm exam ‘focus,’ I don’t WANNA-KNOW… hey-Bel, let chillax from these-emo lovey-dovey-thingy between-us ‘until’ after-THE-EXAMS – then, we-go f***ing in your animal-lovers HQ-motel during the 2-weeks TERM-BREAK… until-then, let’s go our-own separate ways and-go ‘excel’ in-our EXAM PAPERS instead, yea…”
Bella roughly let-go of Peter’s wrist… he felt the-hard push of his right-arm going half-pendulum swing… the girl was ‘angry’…
“Don’t teach me ‘HOW’ TO prepare for my-exams! I also don’t run a bloody f***-shop @the-motel! Ever-since Charlie ‘DIED’ IN the zoo I’ve given-up the motel-room, to lie-low from-the-fuss… since-then, I’ve BEEN A ‘loyal’ sexual-partner ‘only’ to you, Peter…
“… the reason I was desperately-trying to contact you last-weekend was to let you ‘know’ that for the 2nd-month I did ‘not’ get my-monthly period… I wanted you to ‘know’ that…”
The surprised-Peter stopped and pulled-her to-him with his-robotic-arm. He ‘whispered’ a-question TO HER… as he-looked cautious at the students passing them…
“What in the Holy-Mother of God’s Name are you-saying – Bel, are you pregnant…?”
“… I donno…”
“What do-you mean by ‘donno’…? You’re a girl – you should ‘know!!”
“… it’s my ‘first’ time my period was irregular… I didn’t have mine ‘last’ month-too…”
“Really! You’re telling me-now and jinx-my exam-week!? Seriously, I don’t know the ‘science’ of being-a-girl – tell-me, have you ‘used’ the urine preggo-tester thingy…? Or, were you on-pills all-these while when-you were screwing the ‘other’ guys before-me…!?”
“Why ‘would’ I take-pills – would-you…?”
“What ‘absurd-nonsense’ are you saying…!? Men DON’T TAKE birth-control pills – it’s unethical-and-immoral to mankind-and-in every religion on-earth. You-girls, are the-ones who should be TAKING PILLS – and, since you’re sexually-active-too… at least ask those-guys to bloody-wear condoms, before you-open your-legs to let them-in your-box…”
They both remembered Dr Ferguson Sr giving the same ‘advice-on’ condoms… when they-visited his-clinic ‘after’ THEIR GOT THEIR-personal Sexually-transmitted-Disease status-checked, 3 months-ago when Peter ‘was’ hurt in his-groins…
“My monthly-periods were ‘fine’ before WITH THOSE-GUYS. I’ve ‘been’ with-you for 5-months… now, my periods are irregular… why didn’t YOU USE a ‘condom’ when you f***-me, since-then…!?”
Peter protested in-a victim-crying voice…
“It’s MY-FAULT now…!? I’m ‘only’ 13 – DO YOU want me stand head-down-in-Q at the 7-Eleven or Pharmacy4Less-counters to-buy-rubbers…!? NO-WAY, I’ll do-that…
“… it’s your ‘fault,’ Bel – when I was 12, ‘when’ you ‘SEDUCED’ ME @the Boys-Room… and, I got into-trouble and you ran-away – then you WERE ‘SUSPENDED’ from-SHS… and in that ‘period,’ YOU SEDUCED me-again and took me on your superbike to your motel-hideout – and, WE HAD unprotected sex…
… but…
“… that was 3-MONTHS AGO, ‘before’ the-Horse died… since-then, we seldom ‘had’ sex – now, how are you preggo…!?”
Bella was sarcastic ‘when’ she WAS-BLAMED…
“So-Peter, am I THE GIRL ‘who’ first popped-your cherry, you-poor-poor virgin-boy …hehehe…!?”
Peter was speechless… but technically – come-to-think about-it, Bella was THE FIRST-girl he’d ‘lost’ his virginity-at the age-of-12 – in POST-TREETON, compared-to:
* In the-OTHER-PERTH – where, he was a ‘virgin’ at 12… and didn’t have sex with Jane Wilson, his ‘first’ girlfriend in-that-realm
* In-PERTHLAND – where, he lost his-virginity …when Jezebel Crowley ‘seduced’ him and kept-him as her-sex slave in the Stamford-Hotel – but he was 16 and ‘not’ 12-or13 in-that-realm
He was pissed to see the ‘older’ girl gloating…
“Hey-Frenchie! Don’t talk me-down like you’re older-and-superior – you’re 14, and I’m ‘now’ 13… just ‘one’ year-of-seniority ‘between’ us– and-I-bet when you were 1-year-old, you-don’t ‘know’ HOW-TO bloody change your-own baby-diapers, right!?”
“Hahaha…but Pete, I’ll be 15 in a-couple-of months, hehehe…” Bella was revelling when she-rejoindered…
Peter walked-away from her… Bella caught-up and clasped-her palm to his-right hand – and apologised…
“… I’m sorry, Pete… don’t be-angry – you’re MY-CHAMP – I love you…”
The 2-dark-haired teenagers walked in the corridor, hold-hands like an-item – but Peter saw every-passing blonde-girls as-Jane, his-Soulmate – with different-exotic hairstyles… and, each-Jane would turn their-head 9 to smile-and-wink AT PETER…
… his erotic-reveries ‘poofed’ when Bella-spoke…
“… dear… you’re my boyfriend and I MUST ‘TELL’ you everything – I’m worried-now that I ‘missed’ my-periods for 2-months – ‘WHAT DO ‘we-do’…?”
“WE!!? OII-Frenchie, stop asking-me… I’m ‘not’ the medical-expert here – go-ask Ol’ man, Dr Ferguson… he’ll help…”
“NO! Dr Ferguson is the health-Head of-panel to my uncle’s companies – if he ‘knows,’ my uncle will KNOW-TOO…”
“Hsss! Common-sense, Bella-dumbbell… that there is gazillions of ‘other’ clinics in-Perth – go-get yourself ‘checked’… simple as that – instead you’re acting like-falling bimbo-puppet with strings-cut… hey-remember, you’re a CAPABLE-GAL who can ride a Ducati, speak-Mandarin and keep an-eye in your uncle’s restaurant at 14… but-yet you lose your-head and ‘be’ mediocre damsel-in-distress weakling instead…”
“… so-sorry, dear – I freaked-out as this is-my ‘first-time’ happening missing my-periods… but as my ‘boyfriend,’ I-want YOU-BE the ‘first’ to know – but ‘what’ happens if I’m preggo…? What do we do…!?” The worried-Bella asked…
“We ‘kill’ the-sucker! Abort it like a-meat grinder – we are too-young to-play house daddy-and-mummy at-our-age… we have our-whole future ahead of us – you’ll go to-uni and pursue your business-degree WHILE I BE the Champ-Of-Champs in tennis-world…
“… that ‘why’ you cannot BE-PREGGO – it there’s a maggot with-my-face growing-in-you … it should GO-GO – there should be ‘only’ One, understood…?”
“I thought you’re Catholic – and, to have an-abortion IS SIN…”
“Oyy! That ‘abortion-is-sin’ thingy only-applies to married-adults. For the rest-of-us youngling Catholics, we ‘party’ like Jesus – drinking-wine and eating bread-Of-the earth, abiding ‘rules’ of the land… and say NO-NO to suicide – that’s a ‘serious’ mortal-sin…!”
Bella noticed Peter was ranting ‘nonsensical’ religious-views… she asked…
“… so, dear… if I’m preggo – I should GO-ABORT it, is-it…?” She needed a confirmation…
“YES! That is a practical ‘solution’ – even Nike says ‘Do-It’… you-should DO-IT…!”
The school bell-then rang – Peter started to RUN-AWAY from Bella, saying…
“Gotta-go, Frenchie – see you @recess…!”
The robotic-armed teen ran-up the foyer stairs TO GO to class – passing the blonde-girls… thinking…
‘… who needs mediocre mortal-babies? The Blind-One would give me far-mightier supes as my-offspring…’
-O-
Peter reached the A-Class and saw the-English teacher. Mrs Staghorn’s ‘presence’ among the ¾ filled classroom. He walked to his-desk… noticing-that…
… Jane was ‘not’ there…
Then VP, Ann-Burnell accompanied Jane, Alicia and her sister, Maggi to A-Class, for her ‘first’ day-admission. Everyone ‘saw’ double when they realised-that Alicia had’ an identical-twin who ‘looked’ like-her but WAS BLIND…
At his desk, Peter gawked with his-mouth-open at the doppelganger – and, also ‘noticed’ that Jane wore a beanie to ‘cover’ her blonde-pixie-cut hair.
Everyone still-looked in awe-and-bewildered at Maggi… except…
… she was the butt-of-jokes among the Irish-backbenchers, when Terry-whispering…
“… a toy factory-defect from China coming-to-Perth, hehehe – an online order of ‘missing’ toy-parts TO-OUR very-own Blind-Jane… who’s the-blind ‘leading’ a-blind, hehehe…”
“Peter – what are you doing here… where is your ‘assigned’ seat…?” The VP asked…
… the robotic-armed teen stood-up… and vacated the desk… as he looked-briefly at Maggi who was going TO-SIT ‘behind’ Jane…
Terry and the-backbenchers thought Peter was going TO SIT with them… but Peter sat in the desk-of the ‘absent’ hospitalised Charlotte Thompson… beside Zoey Williams.
Peter gazed-over at Maggi settling in her ‘new’ desk – noticing that she had a ‘similar’ SIM-AI device just-LIKE JANE…
‘… what’s going on here…? Is Kimura-Star holding a worldwide FIRE-SALES… their-products are EVERYWHERE… THAT bloody Dr Turner ‘gave’ Chinatown-Wong’s sister the ‘good’ stuff…’
… Peter knew that the SIMY-googled darkglasses that functioned like an Ironman’s visor that ‘CALCULATES’… which-was ‘how’ a blind-girl ‘played’ tennis…
… he had borrowed the AI-darkglasses from Jane in the OTHER-PERTH for Tennis-practice ~ and found Boyyo was-totally ‘amazing’ vs his-inferior AI, Pete2.0… a ‘mediocre’ 2nd-line Kimura-Star’s product of AI-learning-capabilities, with ‘interactive’ functions – where-else, Boyyo-SIM was soo-superior…
The ‘more’ Peter looked AT MAGGI – the ‘more’ he wanted her-SIMY. The teen wasn’t paying attention to the English-class – instead, he was daydreaming of Evil-thoughts…
‘… HOW I wished you were walking in the Jimbo-Wong Trail under the pale moon-light – WHERE I come from behind…
‘… and clobber you-comatose WITH MY weapon-of-choice… you-then go rolling in the-ditch TO BE with your brain-dead sister, hehehe…
‘… THEN – I’ll come-over… and ‘take’ you-SIM…!’
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It was recess-time – Paul sat alone, and ate a grilled-beef sandwich with a juice-box. The monitor, Philip Basinger was keeping an ‘eye’ on-him… while seated at the next-table with his classmates…
… Paul was ‘not’ bothered – after eating-alone for ‘more’ than a week during recess. He was sanitised by the thought that he was the ostracize-Tarzan – who-was ‘unfairly’ punished by SHS’ Rule-and-Orders…
… it’s the new-norm for-him from now-onwards ‘AFTER’ HE WAS transferred-out to the-B-Class…
He sat, ate and people-watched…
… noticing on his-Left was the red aura-soul – of this devil-twin with Bella seated at the table of the Asian Taekwondo group…Peter was in a jovial-mood…
‘… yea, laugh-away, you-moron – the only reason you’re sitting at-that table cos’ your girlfriend spoke good-Mandarin…’
… then-looking on his-Right was the yellow aura-soul – of Jane eating-and-chatting with the Wong-sisters…
‘… yea, how I wish I had supersonic-hearing powers to eavesdrop to ‘what’ you-girls talking-about…’
The wheelchaired-teen wondered…
-O-
At their table, the Top-Girl in the-A-Class, Alicia was excited about the coming mid-term exams – as she-and-Jane were in-discussion of possible ‘spot’ questions that would be in the question papers… while Maggi had ‘no-idea’ what they were talking about…
Alicia suggested of a-tight study-group later, where the ‘Fellowship-Of Soulmate-Sisters’ would go-to-Wilson-residence and DO-REVISION. But Jane thought-that they ‘met’ @the school-library… where, Paul ‘would’ join them-too…
… as he was in their study-group circle for a-couple of-years…
Alicia thought ‘that’ WAS ‘NOT’ a good-idea…
… and her reason-being they would get into ‘trouble’ if they ‘broke’ Principal-Harris mandate TO-BE ‘associated’ with Paul…
… Jane was quiet when her-suggestion was shot-down – then Maggi spoke in Hokkien… and her-elder twin was then-quiet in-thoughts…
… she said…
“… okay-lor, we meet in library – so-that, he could ‘come’ too – BUT WHO is-to ‘inform’ him…?”
-O-
Paul ate the last-bit of the beef-yummy, and proceeded-with his fingertips licking-ritual – he looked-up to see blind-Maggi coming to his table with walking-cane… with the AI guiding-her…
… Paul ‘panicked’ as he couldn’t remember ‘her’ name – recalling ‘just-only-as’ Alicia’s twin-sister…
“Hi-Paul! Why you sitting and eating-alone? Opps-sorry, hehehe – I ‘KNOW’…”
Paul chuckled and thought she ‘had’ a sense-of-humour…
‘… hehehe, but I ‘KNOW’ what you don’t-know – that you’re the daughter of John-See, the Alpha-Omega Time-Traveller… I’d ‘fought’ a-battle WITH HIM… and even ‘driven’ by his-Pentateuch portal…’
When the blind Chinese-girl sat – Paul flustered even-more… looking at Philip-Basinger’s table – as they-too gawked TO SEE the ‘double’ of-Alicia, who THE ONLY-difference was she’s visually-impaired…
“I came-over to inform you that – Alicia-and-Jane would-be HAVING EXAM-revision-group in the library… THEY ‘WOULD’ like you-to-come…”
Paul was speechless in-surprise… and-all he ‘did’ was-nodding to the-blind girl… before clearing-his throat to repetitively-say…
“… t-thanks…thank-you… t-thank you…”
‘… what is her-name…?’
… he thought the ‘forgotten-her-name’ messenger WOULD LEAVE – but Maggi ‘stayed’ on as she ranted-in-worries…
“… Soei! My bad-luck! My ‘first’ day in school fell-in the week of Midterm-exams – I sure WILL FAIL. We’re having Mathematics, Chemistry and History on the ‘first’ day…
“… back in KL, in my Kuan-Cheng school… I’m a total dunggu-stupid, who failed Math-and-Science – and average in History…
“…I heard Alicia orally-told me the Australian-history and… I was amazed-and-shocked that there were ‘similarities’ to my-Malayan-history book – where the colonial-British came and set-foot on-lands, plundered the soil-and oppressed-the people for-sometime, until more suffering during the Japanese-Occupation… then after WW2, the British declared Independence – they GAVE BACK the countries to the-people…
“… but the countries the-people ‘GOT’ BACK was-now broken-and-rotten – if though the British had ‘eaten’ the flesh of a juicy-mango-fruit… and ‘only’ gave-back the mango-seed to the-people, and said, ‘Go plant it, and wait until a mango-tree grows AND THEN – EAT-your-fruits’… I say wait long-long, kannasai ang-mo – the British-then later-sailed away, with the wealth they-had plundered… and ‘gave-it-all’ to the royal-Queen-Of-England…”
Paul chucked at the analogy and-then the ‘serious’ Chinese-girl too giggled… before continuing her-rant…
“I’ll surely ‘fail it all… I’m NOT’ GOOD in studies… back in KL, I was the ‘only’ blind-girl in-school and always the LAST-IN-CLASS…”
Paul-then said…
“Don’t worry-about, Alicia… err… Ali’s sister…”
“Hahaha-Paul, you’ve forgotten MY-NAME – hahaha, it’s Maggi… for-short, you can call me Mag-too…”
… Paul flushed-of embarrassment, and continued-saying…
“… haha, Mag… don’t worry about-it – I was a ‘below’ average in A-Class before too… until I met your sister, Alicia-and-Jane ‘after’ my-accident… and-then, my-grades-improved – your grades will improve too with Alicia-and-Jane guiding-you…”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Maggi wasn’t convinced by-Paul’s encouragements – she sighed… feeling flustered-and-bothered…
“… we’re graduating in ‘next’ 6-years… now, I’ve a-short 5 year-plan to ‘relearn-and-learn’ the entire school-subjects of Malaysian-to-Aussie – oh-gosh… that is SO-MUCH, even owning my-smart AI, I ‘was’ still struggling to catch-up in my-former Kuan-Cheng school…
“… now-over here, in SHS – that has an-advance education-system… it’s even-more overwhelming-and-scary, Paul – I don’t think-so I’ll graduate…”
Paul rejoindered…
“… yea, me-too… sometimes I ‘feel’ it-too that I won’t graduate, as I ‘forget’ facts-quickly after studying. I’m still struggling-hard with Math-and-Science… and I ‘thought’ to myself ~ just-be ‘good’ in-whatever subjects I’m GOOD-AT, and make use to set-up ‘whatever’ career path that is doable for someone in a-wheelchair…
“… so-Mag, do you have ANY-SUBJECT you’re good-at…?”
“Back-there in Kuan-Cheng school, I was only-good in my music class – I play the ‘violin’ in the school-orchestra…”
Paul was ‘surprised’ by the-COINCIDENCE…
“Hey! Your sister ‘plays’ THE VIOLIN too…”
The Chinese-girl laughed-out aloud…
“HaHaHa! Jane MADE THAT ‘same’ mistake-too when-I-said ‘that,’ hahaha… no-Paul, Ali DOESN’T PLAY violin in-this-Perth, but the version-of-my ‘sister’ in the OTHER-PERTH ‘does’ play-violin… the-version whom you ‘dated’ back there, who was-later in-coma…”
Paul’s face WAS-DEEP ‘shocked’ – his mouth was wide-open like-the-letter ‘O’… looking-like the face of the-yellow ‘shocked’ Emoji – the blind-girl then stretched-out her neck on the table, whispering…
“… I ‘KNOW’ you-and-Jane are Time-Travellers and Superheroes – but DON’T-WORRY, I’m a church-priest when it comes to secrets… both-of your secret-identities ARE ‘SAFE’ with me, Ok-Paul …?”
… before Paul could-ask her… ‘what-else she-knows’ – the loud-recess BELL RANG…
Blind-Maggi stood-up with her walking-cane, saying…
“… I got-to-go… don’t want to ‘get’ lost finding my way back to-class, on-my first-day in my new-school…
“… see-you @the-library later, Paul…” Maggi then left, while communicating her-AI in-Mandarin…
At the table, Paul’s mouth was ‘still’ open-wide like-the-Emoji – his panicky-brain was charged-up double time in mixed emotion-bag of fear-worry-and-anger…
‘… Oh-shit, Jane – ‘why’ you tell OUR SECRETS to Maggi…? We made a pact-agreement that ‘our’ secrets stayed ‘with-Us’ in POST-TREETON, didn’t we? – ‘where’ in the-OTHER-PERTH, her sister Ali was brutally-attacked with a head-trauma… do you want Maggi ‘attacked’ like-Ali too, Jane – and go-into a-coma…!?
‘… it ‘could’ happen YOU-KNOW – there is no ‘stopping’ Evil from hurting-or killing ‘our’ friends and families… in this ‘BAD’ LUCK poison-of-a-Perth…’
Paul left the canteen with the-rest of the students. He was still annoyed-and-sighing…
‘… first, it was her-housekeeper, Lola – now, IT’S MAGGI – soon, she would-have a Facebook-Page ‘dedicated,’ and tell our-bloody supe-secrets to the ‘whole’ of-Perth…!”
He reached the handicap-elevator… still-sighing…
‘… what-to ‘do’…? A ‘new’ problem of-the-day to ponder-and-enjoyy…”
The elevator door-opened, Paul wheelchaired-in the-lift-car… and pressed the 2nd-floor-button – with ‘more’ sighs…
… he really ‘hated’ Mondays…
<><>
IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY-OUTSIDE. Inside the A-Class room, the Year-1 students were given 2-free-periods to prepare for Wednesday’s midterms. Some students self-studied while other group-studied like Jane and the Wong-sisters. Zoey-Williams too joined another. The biggest group were the 7 Irish-backbenchers…
… a ‘substitute’ teacher was keeping an ‘eye’ of the-classroom. He was young-and-tall, late-20’s, an Australian-Aborigine… who gaited walking with a cane, as he was recovering from a fractured-leg from a motorbike accident…
His name was Mr Franklin – and, he set his strict-mandate rules-of for the hour-and-half ‘period’:
* Strictly NO MOBILE-PHONES
* No TALKING ANYTHING ‘unrelated’ to school-studies
* Boys-&-Girls RESTROOM-PASS was restricted to-one at-a-time – the 2nd-student can go ‘only-when’ the first-student returned to-class
The weather was cold-and-chilly, and the BOYS TOOK turns to use the Boys’ Room pass. The waiting in-the classroom boys, with their bladder-filled…they USED TO wonder ‘why’ the Girls don’t GO OFTEN to the Girls Room ‘during’ rainy-weather…
… some ‘genius’ backbencher theorised that – girls’ bladders were like camel’s humps that retained ‘water’ TO GO long-periods, ‘rain-or-shine’ without urinating…
Chuckles broke at the back of the-classroom – Mr-Franklin who was reading got-up from the teacher’s table the moment he ‘heard’ the-noise…and WENT-OVER with his-book…
Peter who was self-studying noticed the dark-skinned passing his desk with a paperback novel of the Classic-Dickins, ‘Tales of 2 Cities,’ of a French Revolution story…
Franklin stood at the centre, while reading his novel – and kept an eye on everyone, especially the Irish-backbenchers. Everyone was ‘seen’ studying… and ‘even’ the-backbenchers ‘pretended’ to study in-their-circle…
… they named Mr-Franklin as the 3-legged Frankenstein-monster cos’ he’s very-tall. And, the moment he walked-away, Terry the-leader of the Irish-boy, hand-signalled – and they-all switched their laptops from study-material – to ‘stealing’ the school’s Wi-Fi, to play videogames in-mute mode.
The tall-man was gaiting-in the aisle-rows while continuing reading his absorbing-novel… and the backbenchers toggled-the-screen to ‘study’ when the-adult ‘came’– and, switching-back to games when he ‘went’ away…
Even Peter was ‘not’ paying attention in-revising… he was doodling-squiggles when the substitute teacher wasn’t looking. He doesn’t ‘need’ to STUDY – NOR EVEN ‘need’ the ‘in-coaching’ assistance of his AI-learning-device, Pete2.0…
… where he was ‘banking’ to ace-by ‘cheating’ the midterm with the-Edith-spectacle ploy – where Ken-Chan’s Whisperers would give him the ‘RIGHT’ ANSWERS via-Bluetooth in the-exams.
He was-then daydreaming in fantasizing PORN-THOUGHTS of his-soulmate, Jane – when they ‘played’ Hide-&-Seek like in ‘their’ afternoon-nightmares… where, he dressed in a-Venom Halloween-costume… and chased and-terrorized the ‘topless’ blind-girl in dark-hallways in the-school building…
… his ‘stalker-&-victim’ erotic-fantasies ‘poofed’ when the teacher’s cane ‘struck’ Peter’s metal-chair leg – Mr Franklin HAD-CAUGHT Peter ‘doodling’ of the symbiote-Venom… the teacher crumpled Peter’s drawing, and left him with his-studies in his iPad – the Irish backbenchers chuckled ‘when’ they saw-that…
Peter was annoyed with himself of getting-caught… outsmarted by a ‘mediocre’ substitute teacher – as he-then ‘pretended’ to study on his-iPad. He looked over at Jane’s study-group… particularly, at blind-Maggi ‘using’ her-AI SIM as she participated…
… his deviant-mind was thinking OF HOW ‘easy’ it was-to steal from-a blind-girl of her Candy-SIM…
‘… yess… ‘stolen’ grapes are always the sweetest…!’
Peter looked-up and last-of the Irish-boy returning to the classroom ‘after’ his pee-break. Peter wanted to use the Boys-Room, and he went-forward to the teacher. Mr Franklin was standing at the-door still reading, on 3-legs…
… the robotic-armed teen asked his permission to GO-OUT. He had to ‘wait’ a moment for Mr-Franklin to read-up the passage of his-engrossed novel. Then, he looked up at Peter… and ‘hesitated’ at-first TO GIVE the plastic-laminated ‘pass-card’ to him…
… their eyes ‘stared’ at each-other briefly… before Mr-Franklin ‘gave’ it-to-him…
…. PETER TOOK the piss-smelling plastic-laminated PASS-CARD… which-was grossly contaminated with the-entire backbenchers’ billions of their-bacterial-microbe germs, from MR-FRANKLIN’S HAND…
… and he stormed-out from the-classroom…
‘… what’s his-problem…!? I’ll smash his idiotic-face with my-Smasher – the taller they-are, the ‘further’ they fall…!!!’
… he took an ‘instant’ disliking to the substitute-teacher...
He walked to 2nd-floor toilet-facilities … while checking messages on his iPhone – he had ‘switched-it-off’ ever-since the-morning… ‘after’ Bella was ‘jinxing’ his-Monday with her fear-talks of ‘missing’ her monthly-period…
… even ‘during’ recess-break, he did ‘not’ switch-on his-phone… UNTIL ‘NOW…
The first notification was-of Bella Beaulieu’s DM sent ‘AFTER’ RECESS:
‘Tom Cruise’s Maverick is playing. We-2 go, OK ~ my treat – be-an exam stress-buster 4-us-2….’
Peter scoffed as he ‘knew’ Frenchie’s ‘game’ of being-a social butterfly – so-to be ‘popular’ among the boys, especially with the Irish mates’ backbenchers. Peter disassociated with them – and despite her-boyfriend’s animosity to them… Frenchie deliberately ‘flirted’ with the ‘younger’ boys in the-canteen…
… which ‘angered’ him…
Then, at the-table during-recess… Frenchie told-him that Terry had-invited THEM-BOTH for his 13th birthday – but the-boyfriend flatly-refused to ‘take’ her-there to have ‘her’ fun…
… she was ‘pissed-off’ with Peter for the rest-of the canteen-break…
… now…
… she wanted Peter to GO TO the movies, that-afternoon with-her – he scoffed, while he texted-back…
‘Busy here! Go ask-out Maverick-Terry ~ when the lights-go out ‘later’ – you Top-off-his-Gun… great stress-buster 4-U2, lovebirds…’
… he chuckled after he pressed the SEND-button… where he no-longer had any-feelings for-her…
PETER ‘WISHED’ to break-up with Frenchie… and-hoped they ‘part’ and go their separate-ways:
* His focus would-be the school’s Boys-Single tennis selections
* Her focus would-be the next-boy, who would ‘ride’ her like the village-bicycle
… but…
… they ‘both’ REMAINED-AS ‘FRIENDS’ – for the sake-OF HIS Walker-house ‘deal’ with her-Uncle Jared…
‘… yea, fly-away, Frenchie – go-to-someone else – except-for the f***er Terry… he-and-me have A ‘SCORE’ to settle! Ass-h*** came from bloody B-Class – and ‘turned’ my-Irish cobbers ‘against-me’… he’ll PAY-FOR-IT…!!!’
Peter looked-up and saw Zoey Williams coming-out from the Girls’ Room. They passed each-other without any-acknowledgement nor eye-contact… the ‘same’ in class, where he SAT ‘NEXT’ to her…
… PETER’S ‘BEEF’ with-her was that – she was a rival, when-she teamed-up with Douglas-Zim, as his mixed-doubles partner in the-OTHER-PERTH – when they faced-off the Perth’s Famous Couple, Peter-and-Jane in SHS tennis-court, that was televised-live in-Perth…
Peter had already ‘done’ his homework on the Zoey-variant of POST-TREETON…
… where, she was a potential-representative for SHS Girls’ Singles in the qualifier – who ‘was’ to win matches TO GO-further rounds until the quarterfinals in the School-District Competition…
The robotic-armed teen was jealous of the Zoey-variant’s popularity in the tennis-circle-talks… now, he was ‘pissed’…
‘… no-B****! You’re mediocre and ‘insignificant’ – everybody SHOULD-BE talking about-me who is the-ONE GOING TO-Final… to meet-again with Mark-Spencer, and ‘DENY’ HIS-hattrick – kick-his bloody-ass… and ‘win’ back the Championship-Cup…!’
He pushed the-door of the-Boys Room… still ‘checking’ his missed-messages of-that-day – to find Coach Jonah’s email, sent @9:41 AM:
‘Meet me after school at my office @13:00-sharp.’
Peter ‘reread’ the brief-email again-and-again, and ‘spotted’ that – a cc-copy ‘sent’ to:
* Douglas Zimmerman
* Zubeer Khan
‘… you-both lowlife minions have ‘complained’ about my-Robotic arm to the-Coach, yea…!? – after I’d pulverized mediocre-Khan in-the-court last week…!’
He-then controlled his-anger – unzipped, and begin began to-urinating at the-urinal… as he went into-deep thoughts…
… thinking of the Jonah-variant of the OTHER-PERTH – who gave him a tough-time… until they both took their quarrel-dispute TO THE VP’s office, back-there…
He zipped his pant-up – and was BACK ANGRY…
‘Why can’t a one-armed handicap ‘use’ his robotic-arm and compete…!?’
In-rage, he kicked his shoe-sole several-times onto the ceramic-made urinal – and stopped, when he heard the porcelain ‘crack’ – Peter-then left the lone-Boys Room, heading to-class.
While walking to-class… Peter can’t switch-off the waves-of-negative thoughts that manifested in his-different ‘experiences’ of being in multi-Perth dimensions…
… he-too ‘remembered’ that he ‘was’ capable to ‘create’ cellphone-explosions with his-dark flow of negative-vibes… when students had circulated the ‘breakup’ video of-him-and-Janey…
Peter did ‘not’ WANT TO-GO to the 1 o’clock meeting in Coach Jonah’s office… and was thinking of WAYS FOR-A ‘disaster’ would-be rattling the whole school to-panic-mode – like the-one HE DID BEFORE that made the fire-brigade trucks to-come-to SHS… to put out ‘small-fires’ resulted by exploding cellphones…
… he doesn’t want to-BE ‘ALONE,’ being interrogated by the ‘uncompromising’ adults whom he would-face ‘later’…
He reached the closed-door of his A-Class… hesitating at the door-knob, whether to go-in, as he hadn’t a clue ‘how’ his-negative-emotions had manifested in the-OTHER-PERTH to be-replicated in POST-TREETON – like – exploding-cellphones to blast to ‘hurt’ the-users ~ he sighed in-frustration…
‘… I’m clueless when it comes to bloody dark-magick – I thought I would-be a Dr Who-of-Dr Strange when I ‘got’ dad’s journal from the-bunker… but the Art-Of-Magick is soo-complicated, and I don’t know if-I’m-doing it right, at all – even till-now, I can’t ‘resurrect’ my dead-pet-quokka…
‘… it’s ‘not’ that I had a Palpatine Sith-Lord to bloody ‘guide’ me with my-Abracadabra …’
But he ‘knew’ the only person – who was trustworthy… and was just a text-away to ‘offer’ guardiancies… so, he sent Coach-Jonah’s email TO KEN CHAN – and, DM-ed him to ‘come’ for the meeting-too… as a ‘witness’ of any indiscrimination-against handicap-athletes were-to alleged…
Peter-finally stepped-into his classroom… to wait-out for the 1 o’clock ‘meeting’.
<><>
THE FINAL BELL RANG for Monday’s school-session over. In the B-Class, Paul-also had 2 free-periods to revise for midterms – he studied History… but struggled with it with daydream-thoughts of…
… the-surprising ‘invitation’ to the-library – to group-study with ‘THE-GIRLS’… after more-than 2-weeks of separation FROM THE-A-Class…
Paul was the last-to leave the class, while allowing the able-bodied classmates to exit first to the narrow hallway… so, that his wheelchair would ‘not’ be-a hindrance in their walk path – ‘not’ wanting of them clicking-tongues displeased, cursing under-their breath while the fat-boy in-his slow-moving wheelchair was ahead-if-them…
He then-came out of the handicap-elevator to the ground-floor. Noticed the rain-and-lightning outside the building. When coming along the-corridor to the library @the-Eastwing, he felt a gush of cold wind, that made all of his-hair of his-body stand. Paul stopped and buttoned-up his blazer for warmth… and also, for ‘not’ letting the girls ‘look’ at his big-tummy later in the library…
He was glad the monitor/prison-guard, Philip Basinger wasn’t on-his-back. The monitor’s duty was to keep-an-eye on Paul, in the-daily recess break… now, it was end-of-school day… he would ‘not’ be a-hindrance to lookout for…
It was A ‘DARE’ when Paul proceeded-and-accepted the ‘invitation’… ‘after’ ruminating about-it during the 2-study free-periods…
The nearer he wheelchaired to the-library, his heart pounded fast of anxiety-and-fear – ‘knowing,’ he would-break school-law of being close-proximity with Jane-Wilson – where, Principal Harris prohibited-it, by-the request of Jane’s doctor-mother, Caroline-Wilson…
… but HE DIDN’T chicken-out nor turn-back…
He entered into the library. It was crowded with students coming to-cramp for their midterms… just-like in the-OTHER PERTH-dimensions with their-own exam-fever week. Paul-then rolled-along the aisle ‘finding’ for the 3 girls…
… there were ‘some’ random-stares that-followed him – but Paul ignored them…
He found them at the rear-table of the-library. The excited girls greeted-him and told Paul to-join-in their group-study. He was soo-glad that he was finally in-close-proximity with Jane, ‘after’ the long-period of 17-days-and-13-hours…
… seeing Jane smiling, melted him – the yellow-and-blue ‘glows’ were reunited from afar… but they could ‘NOT’ TOUCH each-other – like-of prison-visits…
He wheelchaired to-the side-of the seated Maggi… where-on the otherside was Alicia-and-Jane…
Maggi was tutored by-Jane – while, Alicia showed Paul Math-equations on pen-and-paper – which he ‘understood’ better-visually… rather than Jane-and-Boyyo ‘verbally’ taught him yesterday in his Facetime-call…
… Paul was grateful that the-POST-TREETON’s Alicia was caring-&-giving… as his mind daydreamed of ‘other’ Alicia(s) before-her:
* The-Alicia variant of the-OTHER PERTH was his girlfriend… who wanted to make him the Top-5 student in A-Class
* The-Alicia variant of PERTHLAND was the opposite… who was a rebellious 16-year-old – who ‘slapped’ him hard in the VP’s office… during the sexual-misconduct ‘apology’ session in front of her parents, and his ‘Dickson’ parents-too. She took her revenge on him later-too – when, her boyfriend, KC’s Chinese-Superbikers ‘chased-and-cornered’ him in a-lonely-road… after the 131st-SHS Anniversary
Paul was-also distracted by the radiance golden-glow-of Jane’s presence – when she was conducting an AI-2-AI session with Maggi… and, was fascinated by-the ground-breaking where Paul ‘heard’ faint-headphone-voices of Boyyo ‘speaking-and-teaching’ in-Mandarin to-SIMY, as the middleperson-to blind-Maggi to comprehend the Australian-syllabus…
Alicia asked him some Math-related questions, which Paul had ‘forgotten’ – it riled the Chinese-girl…
“Wah-Lau-Wayy-Pauly! You’ve ‘forgot’ most of your-last term’s basics… why is-that…!? Did you do your-homework, in B-Class…?”
He was stunned-and-speechless – with the 3-girls looking AT-HIM… even the 2-blind girls wearing their darkglasses, looked-intimidating at ‘that’ moment… Paul found his voice and admitted…
“… n-no… I-I didn’t do-my homework…”
“WHY!? Math needs daily-practice to improve it-as a memory muscle – why didn’t you do your homework…!?”
Although he looked-down… but he sensed blind-Jane was watching him ‘cosmically’ with her-3rd-Eye… Paul-then spoke in a softer-voice…
“… err… I don’t-know why I stopped doing homework… I-I haven’t been-myself since moving to-B-Class – I needed time to think… where I don’t have any-friends in-that-class… that why I FEEL-ALONE and-unmotivated… a-and I gave-up…”
Paul stopped speaking when he saw Jane’s face was turning-sad… and she was-sniffling – Maggi held her hand to-comfort her… while Alicia offered her a-tissue – the Chinese-girl then responded…
“Hey-Paul, YOU’RE ALWAYS our-dear friend, no-matter which class you GO-TO – but the current circumstances are different ‘now’ in school, where…”
… before Alicia could finish her-sentence – in-marched the black-dressed Ms King… like Lord-Darth Vader, without the-soundtrack of The-Imperial-March – and, the-school’s student counsellor spoke…
“These ‘2’ can’t sit-together – Principal Harris HAD-MADE that clear… a fortnight-ago!” The woman pointing at Paul-and-Jane…
…Paul ‘knew’ that someone had alerted his-Tarzan whereabouts to the-admin department – that-made Ms King come-over to the-library…
The Chinese-girl protested…
“Ms King, these are days ‘nearing’ our-midterm – with Paul’s-included, we are revising-our studies, what’s wrong with-that…!”
“Paul, you should-be studying with your-B-Class study-group – ‘not’-where Jane-Wilson is present…!” The authority-adult said…
“Come-on Ms King, we’re studying for exams – ‘not’ socializing in-the-library…!” Alicia called out…
… both Paul-and-Jane were-both quiet… listening to Alicia-Wong ‘defending’ them – by ‘debating’ with the student-counsellor. Paul ‘felt’ he should-leave the-table, to stop their escalation of the tone of the verbal saber-light-fight altercation – that was ‘happening’ in ‘a’-library…
“NO! Rules-are-Rules – to BE-OBEYED, ‘not’ broken – or-else, there would-be disorder-and-chaos in school, and at home…!” The dark-dressed-adult replied…
“Can’t you-all in SHS make an-exception for just ‘only’ 2-days, until midterm starts Wednesday… cut-us some slack here, Ms King… and ignore your-rules just for 2-days cos’ Paul doesn’t have ‘any’ friends in-B-Class to study-with…” Alicia was getting loud…
“He should make-his own ‘new’ friends in B-Class… ‘not’ coming to you-all for ‘help’ in his-studies!” The student-counsellor commented…
Everybody in the library came to the-rear of the library – to gawk at the commotion happening… seeing-the ‘fed-up’ looks of the Chinese-girl, standing-up to Ms King…
“How could Paul have-any ‘friends’ WHEN YOUR school-Rules have character-assassinated his ‘good’ name. Your Rules are-down right ‘bias’ – AND-ARE-BASED on ‘that’ gross exploitation Deep-fake pornography-video out-there – that WAS ‘EDITED’ in our Family-Day beach-video from our trip, 3 months ago…
“… where ‘NOTHING’ HAPPENED to-Paul in-those-months, until-now… and he’s transferred to B-Class…
“… Ms King, can’t you see ‘how’ much my-friend, Paul had ‘GONE’ THROUGH in this ‘past’ 2-weeks – his studies ‘are’ suffering… please LET HIM in my-study-group… Jane has ‘no-contact’ with him… she’s teaching MY-SISTER, Maggi – and, I’m ‘helping’ Paul…
“… is that alright – please… 2 days, is all I’m asking…!?”
Everyone was looking at the student-counsellor as a villain-Of-SHS school-system. As Diane-King herself-was speechless, then-retreated to walk-out of the-library. A few students clapped for Alicia, who was in SHS’s debate team – while a few others booed the embarrassed Ms King to-shoo her out-of-the library. But they all-were cautioned by the-librarian… ‘to-keep-quiet’…
Paul’s heart was still pounding even-after the drama-in-the library was over. He looked-up at Alicia from his-wheelchair… she was ‘standing’ and murmuring Hokkien-curses under her-breath… staring at the ‘bully,’ Ms King exiting the-door… then Alicia spoke to him…
“Pauly – are you alright…?”
Paul was still-dazed and blur by the-event that ‘favoured’ him… he was nodding to her, to only-utter…
“… t-thanks, Ali… thanks… you’re a blessing…”
The Chinese-girl bent to hug-him, saying…
“No-worries, Pauly – you’re ‘NOT’ ALONE… we’re here for you…”
Paul gave her tacit-nods in appreciation for the ‘ONLY’ FRIEND who stood-up for him…
… while he-then made assessments of Ms King variants – and the POST-TREETON’s ‘one’ just-now… being the villainous among the other Ms King(s):
* The-Ms King variant of the-OTHER PERTH – was a scholar in the Middle-Eastern mystic-studies. The student-counsellor also helped the-Perth-superheroes’ in-the ‘rescue’ of the kidnapped Samuel – a would-be a ‘blood-sacrifice’ at the-zoo, during the event of ‘when’ BlackStar’s attack in the ariel-Battleground-Of-Aurora Australis
* The-Ms King variant of PERTHLAND – was a NON-Player… who-was ‘not’ even a student-counsellor, but a librarian
Paul noticed that Jane was continuing tutoring Maggi. Alicia sat down and told-him…
“… Pauly, shall we go-on with Math… or do you want to revise another subject…?”
“… Math is fine, Ali – thank-you…”
She took out a couple of toffee-candies from her blazer-pocket – gave one to Paul, and they continued studying…
… as he sucked-on the-confects… and, he appreciated the rare-sweet deal of being in Alicia’s study-group for tomorrow too – it was a GOOD-LUCK omen that made him confident for Wednesday’s midterms…
… a sweet-omen too…
… in the realm of constant BAD-LUCKS of 8-months in POST-TREETON.
<><>
PETER WAS WAITING AT the entrance of the Westwing, for Ken Chan – and they-both go-to the 1 o’clock appointment at Coach Jonah’s office. He was looking at students dispersing to go-home in their-umbrellas. It was getting-late, and he was consistently-checking his-iPhone for KC…but had no response…
… all he ‘got’ were more than a-dozen-of Frenchie’s DMs … ‘ever-since’ calling her-and-Terry as ‘lovebirds’ who-should go for the Top Gun2 movie. He didn’t bother to read her emo-driven texts-replies of-her-denials, as it would jinx the his-rest of the-Monday…
He was wearing knockoff Edith-spectacles… letting ‘them’ to-see him as A-Class studious student – and, on the-flipside, his mind-mannered Clark-Kent-esque image with-spectacles would have everyone fooled ‘when’ HE USED the-secret built-in ‘Bluetooth-technology, to ace-his exams on Wednesday…
It was 12:54 when KC came – and they both brisk-walked into the Westwing-building. Peter was feverishly complaining about ADULTS WERE plotting ‘against’ his-robotic-arm from stopping him-playing tennis…
The tall Chinese-youth pulled the ranting-teen aside, and said-firmly…
“Hey-Peter! Don’t act paranoid and lose your cool later! I don’t want to-be the one breaking-up your every ‘fights’ you-create – just like the-one last week, when you TRIED TO attack-Khan, but I stopped you-there, remember…!?
“… no-more of that shit, you hear-me…!? We can get ‘expelled’! RIGHT-NOW, our main-priority is our midterm-exams… where we ‘will’ score-high without even-learning – that’s our aim, so, …
“… don’t screw that up later with your temper. We go in calm-headed inside, and listen to what they say ‘before’ asking questions. Okay-Peter, CALMM – AND, if I see you getting out-of-hand, I’m bloody WALKING-AWAY… cos’ I don’t want TO GET-expelled, is that understood, Peter…?”
Peter was-left speechless and nodded to the older-boy – before they carried-on walking-fast…
They went through the-gym door… and saw the muddy basketball court from the weekend’s flood was cleaned by the hired-crew service-company. Since it was raining-outside, the crew delayed the sludge-cleaning of the-outdoor tennis courts for tomorrow…
They walked to the rear of the-gym where Coach-Jonah’s office was… and heard laughter-and-conversations from inside. Peter gently-knocked the door with his metal-knuckle, before opening the door…
-O-
Peter opened the door… seeing the standing senior-students, Douglas Zimmerman and Zubeer Khan – where Khan was entertaining the seated Coach Jonah-and-Metcalf, who were laughing to a funny-incident that happened in his-father’s bakery…
… the moment they ‘saw’ Peter-and-KC entering the-room… everyone stopped laughing and PUT-ON their ‘serious’ meeting-time game-faces...
Peter said that KC-had come-along to ‘listen’ to the-meeting, as his-representative. The-coaches nodded… as they ‘knew’ the Taiwanese-boy that came to SHS in the last-term, who was a potential-athlete to win medals in Taekwondo-competitions...
Coach Jonah sat behind his desk and – on his-right stood Dougie-and-Khan – on his-left were Peter-and-KC. Stroking his-beard briefly, the middle-aged coach pointed-then at-Peter, saying…
“Peter Walker, your application for entering the Inter-District Schools tournament has been REGRETTABLY REJECTED… because you didn’t ‘notify’ the-school ‘nor’ wrote in the-application-form, that you’ll be ‘playing’ using an-ENHANCED-LIMB ‘equipment’… so the-shortlist of-who are-go to the-school selection, to-the Knockout qualifier are – Dougie-and-Khan…”
Peter stared-speechless at the ‘whistle-blowers’…
… feeling the-pain of the-Old-coach’s hard-decision – which-was like a 9”-nail hammered into his-forehead, in between his eyes. And, he saw both Dougie-and-Khan gloating with smirking-looks where, ONE OF them would ‘qualify’ to represent SHS at the tournament…
… but the-fact was – for the last 2-years, the ‘mediocre’ Dougie qualified, after beating the whipping-boy, Khan, for 2 consecutive-times – but only-to GET KNOCKED-OUT in the early-rounds of the-tournament for the last-2-years. Where-else, this-year – the determined-Peter wanted to meet his worthy-rival from 2-years-ago, the UK-expatriate student…
…Mark Spencer… and, deny his hattrick win…
Peter found his voice, as he protested aloud…
“That’s ‘NOT’ FAIR… I wanna PLAY TOO, Coach! This is my ‘comeback’ year…!”
… he felt the standing KC’s leg ‘tapping’ his-leg – reminding to tone-down his voice… Peter continued…
“… why pick on a one-armed boy like me for ‘using’ his robotic-arm playing-sports…!? Didn’t that South-African blade-runner, Oscar Pistorius ‘used’ his metal-legs to-compete in the Olympics…?”
The seated-younger Coach-Metcalf, who was well-versed in sports-Sciences-&-Knowledge replied…
“I’m glad you brought that-up, Peter – Pistorius have been competing ‘unfairly’ in his previous-runs – where German-scientists had found he used 17%-less energy than-of as an able-bodied runner. Oscar’s J-shaped carbon-fibered limbs do ‘NOT’ TIRE like the other-runners’ legs, and that’s ‘how’ HE WON the 2008 Summer Olympic Games…
“… another-example is the US-sprinter, Blake Leeper – who was ‘another’ T44-below the-knees amputee, who had his-medals-too taken-away for ‘using’ his enhancement-limbs to ‘clock’ less-time TO TAKE his-strides, that gave-him a winning-advantage…
“… well other THAN STEROIDS – these enhancement-limbs are posing ‘disadvantages’ when it-comes to sports…”
Peter protested to a ‘losing’ argument… BY ‘LYING’…
“… b-but my robotic-arm is just-a… robotic-arm tool-like to hold-a-racquet and hit-the-tenno like a regular-player… IT’S ‘NOT’ modified in any-way – that’s what my-mom ‘signed’-up for me on Kimura-Star’s T&C contract…”
“So… you-mean to ‘say,’ your-robotic-arm IS ‘NOT’ modified-and-enhanced in any-which way …?” The old-man asked…
“Yes, Coach-Jonah – any-modification on the arm is-a-violations to the Kimura-Star’s T&C… I swear it just a normal-arm just-like the-leftie I ‘lost’ in the road-accident 3-years-ago – you have to ‘believe’ me…”
“… believe-you…?” Coach-Jonah repeated – as they looked at-each-other…
The old-man opened his desk-drawer to retrieve a small RED-METAL BALL … and, spun-it-like a marble on the tabletop, as he continued to-speak…
“… these ‘soulless’ robots-and-AIs are ‘REPLACING’ THE normal man-in-job – and-now these-unholy cyborg-enhancements ARE-HERE ‘tarnishing’ the fair-level of playing-field with its disadvantages IN THE normal-man’s sport…
“… so, unless the World-Sporting Council come-out to create a 3RD-OLYMPIC-GAMES… asides from genuine-Paralympics, where handicap-athletes are ‘not’ using enhanced-limbs…
“… where, in this ‘NEW’ AND DIFFERENT Olympic… is-for people like ‘you,’ Peter, wearing your ‘modified’ Bionic-Boy limb, would COMPETE IN tennis-match with ‘another’ one-armed boy with HIS-ROBOTIC ARM…
“… that is FAIR-GAME to ‘both’ of-you ‘enhanced’ player, in the-eyes of-us ‘normal’ able-bodied people, don’t you THINK-SO, Peter-Walker…!?”
Peter was speechless as he looked at the red-metal marble decreasing its-momentum… and it stopped-spinning… to lay-motionless on the tabletop – the teen-then RECOGNISED IT by the white-markings in its-red surface…
… and was shocked of the-evidence – that it was an-aluminium Coca-Cola can, crushed to the size-of-a marble… a memento he gave to the Irish-cobbers ‘during’ his recent 13th birthday…
He suspected that Terry Donovan of-his-class had ‘sabotaged’ him by giving the ‘evidence’ – that his robotic-arm had ‘gone’ in-modification for the advantage-in STRENGTH…
The ire-Peter asked to ‘confirm’ his-suspicion…
“Coach! Who gave that to you!!?”
KC held the-teen’s shoulder as he was acting belligerently. As the old-coach replied-back, while putting the ‘marble’ back in the drawer…
“It doesn’t matter ‘WHO’ GAVE it to me – but the ‘evidence’ IS THERE that your enhanced-limb was ‘modified…”
… Peter looked at KC, who-was-the ONE-WHO ‘had’ modified his-Smasher…
After a brief rumination, Coach Jonah spoke…
“… mmm, here is the-deal – I really don’t know what to say-here… since you’re THE FIRST student with enhanced-limb in the country who ‘WANTS’ TO compete in-school-level… maybe I’LL ASK Principal Harris to contact the Education-ministry to ‘present’ your case-request to the Australian Sports-Commission…
“… and, we wait for their answer – and, if it’s A-YES – Peter, you’re in the SHS-selections ‘NEXT’ YEAR… how about-it…?”
The hostile-Peter protested after – seeing Zubeer-Khan smirking… KC held-him back…
“NO! That’s Not-Fair! Not ‘NEXT’-YEAR – I want to compete this-year – 2-years is a long ‘wait’ that I-waited, and now I’m ready for my-comeback… yes, this year is my-Comeback year for MY DREAMS, Coach – let me ‘play,’ pleaseee!!”
The old-coach was fed-up with Peter’s stubbornness to-comply, and yelled-out…
“OII! I don’t make the rules-here… but the system ‘does’ – now, if it was YOUR-DREAMS to play tennis ‘after’ losing your-Left-arm… ‘why’ didn’t you train-up your-Right arm to-be your dominion-arm to compete… and YOU ‘WASTED’ 2-years of training there…!?
“… now-you come-back harping about YOUR-DREAMS cos’ – you’re using your ‘modified’ enhanced limb to-play your-Comeback this-year – now, tell-me, is that FAIR TO SPORT!!!”
Zubeer-Khan chuckled… at-that moment, a loud-thunder-then rocked-the-raining sky…
The raged Peter stared at the-senior student – and, wished he could create a ‘similar-disaster of the exploding cellphones of the-OTHER-PERTH… with Zubeer’s brains spattering from his-exploding head…
… but-instead…
… the thunderstorm had knocked-out the power to a TOTAL-BLACKOUT – everyone for a-moment, were confused in-the quiet-and-dark office, with its air-cond that stopped-purring.
Peter too was puzzled… as the last time there was a blackout… was Janey’s house, during a dinner-invitation – where on the same night he ‘caused’ the partial-destruction of Queensland’s Great Barrier-Reef by his negative-emotional ‘thoughts,’ in the-realm of OTHER-PERTH…
Coach Jonah exclaimed…
“What a bloody-Monday this has-been – first, the floodwater in the basketball-gym… now, this blackout! Okay-boys, the meeting is over. Everyone, get-out from here – good-luck too in your midterms… and, Peter – I’ll talk to Principal Harris about your ‘special’ case…”
-O-
In the gloom, the 4 boys exited from Coach Jonah’s office. Dougie-and-Khan switched-on their Torchlight-app in their-phones, and walked-away fast from Peter-and-KC… at a distance, Khan was ‘heard’ chuckling in-THE-DARK – and, that ‘provoked’ Peter to chase-after them… but the bigger-built KC-restrained him, as Peter cried-out racist-slurs …
“THIS IS ‘NOT’ OVER, you bloody Taliban-Tusken sand people… I’m ‘coming’ for you!!!”
Ken-Chan cautioned-him…
“Shut the f***-up, Peter – you’ll going-to get-us into trouble!”
Peter-then was shaking all-over, and had a breakdown – IN-TEARS he told his-mate…
“… this-this… this should be-my comeback-year to my-FORMER GLORY – but that-bloody Terry-Donovan had ‘SABO-ed’ ME by giving that-loser, Khan that Coco-Cola ‘evidence,’ from my birthday-party… and the-fact, the-Paki who lost to me in-court last-week – and he TOOK IT and complained-it to Coach Jonah… and, now I’m banned… and, ‘mediocre-Khan’ get into-selections… this is totally ‘unfair’… ‘why’ is this-world SOO-CRUEL TO-ME…?
“… I would ‘not’ get-to play Mark-Spencer IN THE-FINALS – and, I really ‘wanted’ that in-my amateur-career record that I defeated the-Pommy in the Aussie-vs-UK2, rematch…
“… I blame that bloody-Terry-Donavan FOR ‘RUINING’ my-Tennis playing dreams… when he conspired with f***king Khan to give ‘evidence’ to the Coach-Jonah-f***-er! If ‘only’ the-bloody old-man wouldn’t HAVE KNOWN about the Coke-marble – I’ll would-be playing in the-tourney this year… and pulverise Mark-Spencer for-good in the-Finals…
Ken Chan let Peter to vent – he was observing a side of Peter… that HE-WASN’T in-Present Reality but ‘lived’ in his-own-Reality… with ‘his’ logics THAT IF Coach-Jonah hadn’t found the Coke-marble, he WOULD-BE ‘presented’ to play in-the-Selections with his robotic-arm…
… furthermore, Peter hadn’t PAID-ATTENTION to Coach-Metcalf when he told of ‘Real-sporting-Evidences’ of enhanced-limbs ‘posed’ an-unfair advantage over-the able-bodied sports-athletes…
While at-the meeting just-now – KC had WAS SILENT… and was also-busy ‘restraining’ the pique emotional-driven rebelling 13-year-old teen, but KC PAID-ATTENTION to the-2 coaches every-WORD THEY SPOKE…
… and found A ‘LOOPHOLE’ for an-exciting BUSINESS-OPPORTUNITY…
The Chinese-youth distracted the ranting-teen, into-his indignation of THE-INJUSTICES to ‘kill’ his-dream opportunity ‘after’ his cripple-self ‘was’ gifted-with Kimura-Star’s robotic-arm…
“Hey-Peter, don’t cry ~ remember, Coach Jonah ‘said’ that you’re the ‘FIRST’ TEENAGER with the robotic-arm in Australia – well, that’s cool, yea…!?” KC acknowledged…
“What bloody-cool is that – when ‘nobody’ gets to see me ‘IN-ACTION’ with my-Smasher leftie…? Oh-God… what am I TO DO, KC…? I can’t compete in ‘your’ able-bodied sports… it’s the-end of my-world… a hole in-the-tennis court had ‘opened-up’ and swallowed-me today… I’m ‘dead’ to this-world… soon a mediocre-insignificant, who’d join the mass-pop of sheeples with no-future in their-rat-race, fighting for-scraps ‘thrown’ down by-the-elites…”
“THAT’S IT, Pete, listen – don’t despair-yet… there is an OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU to get-back playing with your-Smasher and-be in-line with your ‘former’ glory-of-fame… and you ‘get’ to be rich-too!”
“… huh-KC… what you talking-about…!?” The dazed Peter replied…
“… remember you told-me ‘after’ being a-champ at the-age-of 10 – you ‘had’ a YouTube channel… where you ‘challenged-out’ players ‘OUTSIDE’ SHS… and, you were a ‘big-hit’ in-getting viewership back-then, yea-Peter…?” KC jogged-Peter’s clouded-and-clouted memory…
… of 3-years-ago…
… before the car-accident, where he ‘lost’ his-arm…
… Peter remembered that HE ‘HAD’ A YouTube channel when he was the-Champ at 10 – where playing at the-clay-court… where-too gambling-activities were, when introduced to the-bookie, Chucky-Miggs who made him mone$...
… but his-thoughts were going negative – by 2-inciting and seditious-moments @the clay-court:
* The popularity of the YouTube channel had ‘slump’ down when he ‘got’ greedy with the-odds-of ‘betting’ AGAINST-HIMSELF – where he ‘lost’ the match-points in-defeat…. so that he would win the bet-prize money. But after his 4th-lost, his video-fans dwindled – his popularity fell-too, as fans thought him of nothing ‘special’ in him anymore
* And, later he was tricked by a-fan, who turned-out to be a Blackmagick practitioner, Hajji who ‘GIFTED’ HIM with an African-Good Luck-charm which-was cursed… and a week later, after receiving the-Talisman – he ‘lost’ his-arm in the BMW-crash
… the-teen jolted-away from his-bad thought…
“… yea, what ‘about’ it – that was a-long time-ago, when I had that-channel… it’s now dead and gone since, who knew-when…?” Peter said with unenthusiasm…
“We have to ‘recreate’ the YT-Channel and ‘REBRAND’ IT, Pete!” KC-was enthusiastic…
“… WHAT…? Why? That is long-ago ~ fans may have ‘forgotten’ about-me now…” Peter ‘shot’ down the-idea, as he was in a DEFEATED-STATE of mind-body-and soul ‘after’ the meeting in Coach-Jonah’s office.
“Yes! We have TO REBRAND your-comeback in a mega-meta ‘way’ – by rebranding-yourself by marketing AS, AUSTRALIA’S-FIRST-&-ONLY ‘Robotic-Armed’ tennis-player… we advertise as-that – and, YOU CALL-OUT this Mark-Spencer to your-turf for a-showdown, how-about it, Peter…?”
“What if he-don’t show-up…?” The miserable Peter wasn’t interested…
“Look-here, Peter – you ‘have’ the USP-arm, and you ‘CONTROL’ THE MARKET and you do-your Callout to who ‘ever’ YOU SEE-FIT that you could ‘beat’… like you ‘crushed’ him like you ‘did’ Zubeer Khan, yea…?
“I’ve over 100,000 followers in my crypto-Insta – and I FEATURE YOUR ‘action’ YT-vids to them, and you get ‘followers’ to your-channel as my ‘new’ RECREATION-VENTURE… if you are really-good, those-people have really-deep pocket TO GET YOU ‘SPONSORSHIP’ etc, etc…
“Your ‘only’ task is to-win, win, and-win – do you ‘think,’ Peter that you CAN-DO-IT…?”
The down-and-out and-reclused Peter only-nodded… only to be slapped-on-his shoulder by the excited-KC…
“Hey! Say it, mate – ‘I CAN WIN’!!!”
Peter found-his voice… and SAW THE ‘long-term’ plan… since he ‘missed’ the opportunity to play in the-school-division…
“… yes, I can f***in’ win – bring them-to ‘me,’ and I ‘beat’ them-All…!”
“HaHaHa! That’s the entrepreneur spirit, Pete – you’re ‘now’ in the media-Influencer ‘sphere’ of YouTube, and you deliver ‘win-after-win’ to your ever-growing fans to ‘love’ what they see, of your-magnificent-Smasher beating-opponents left-and-right, hahaha…
“… you’ll get viral with worldwide followers as they see B-lister of players ‘wanting’ to challenge you, the-Champ-Of-Perth, wielding his might-Smasher like Thor-would… and you’ll beat them-all in your-clay-court battlefield… and before-long…
“… you’ll get to be a Rockstar status by-then… and you get eyeballs of A-lister player-like Federer-and-Nadal – and what business-opportunity that ‘would’ that generate for exhibition matches if the top-players WOULD PLAY-YOU – that’s where you ‘shine,’ if you’re really that good…”
Peter chuckled with-embarrassment…
“… haha, me facing those top world-rank players…? Haha – no-way, they’ll ‘never’ PLAY WITH-a school-kid…”
“Hey! Stop ‘thinking’ small! You don’t-know WHAT POTENTIALS ‘those’ Social-media Influencers ‘have’ in societies worldwide… where they CALL-THE-SHOTS – you’ll get your ‘dreams’ sooner, Peter – with the ‘RIGHT’ STRATEGIES… that requires hard-work in training, on your-part…
“… just-maybe in the ‘NEXT’ YEAR, with your Rockstar-status – you’ll get-to meet ‘both’ Federer-and-Nadal if you’re the ‘BEST’ IN YOUR-TURF… their ‘own’ fans-too, would ‘want’ to see them ‘playing’ you, to see ‘HOW’ GOOD THEIR-heroes ‘are’…”
“… haha, it’s farfetched… sounds impossible too…” Peter self-doubted ‘himself’ with KC’s ‘big’ marketing …
“Hah! You ‘really’ know don’t-know the potential of a TRUE-ROCKSTAR like-of the American, Jake-Paul – that-YouTube influencer called-out ‘retired’ boxer, like Mayweather for 8-Rounds of exhibition boxing-match. This gutsy-amateur ‘survived all-8-Rounds facing an-ex pro fighter – and, he GOT ‘PAID’ more than a million-USDs…
“… if you can ‘have’ balls like that… you can-make shitload of millions-of-USD, you get-me, Peter…!?”
Peter-just nodded-unhurriedly…
… he was realising the ‘potential’ of-him as a True-Rockstar ‘WOULD-BE’ as – he had ‘done’ his-rodeo before – where he ‘challenged’ older-players in the-clay court…
‘… I can do-that… easy-peasy, I’m born to play-tennis… no-harm in that – ‘not’ that I ‘would’ lose my front-teeth like that Jake-Paul-Yank for the-money… ‘
Peter realised that KC’s route was DO-ABLE STEP to close the void of rejection to play in the able-bodied league – AND-TO create a league of his ‘own’ in the Social-media…
‘… yea, the Red-Circus is in ‘town’ – come to-it and witness the magnificent-Rockstar, with his-robo Smasher crush those ‘mediocre’ players in-Perth – and I’ll be super-duper famous
“… then the Hulks ‘would’ come – just like Ragnarök-Thor, I’ll pulverize them-All…!!!
‘… I’ve done this rodeo-before with Janey… where drones-of-fans were ‘around-her-skirt’ where they were ‘marvelled’ by a Blind-girl playing-Tennis WITH THE USE of her-AI…
‘… step-aside, Blindy-soulmate Yin – it’s NOW your ‘other-Half’ of Yang’s turn TO-BE the Most-Famous Tenno-Rockstar player-in Perth…!’
At that-moment, the electricity CAME-ON in the-Westwing corridors and Peter exclaimed…
“I see the-Light!”
The enthusiast-13-year-old thanked KC for coming with an-incredible out-of the-box doable-plan, and told his Chinese-mate TO STRATEGIZE his-Comeback…
… and thrilled-KC ‘want’ to celebrate the business-venture – since the rain had ‘stopped’… he suggested the strip-club, Red Prism…
Peter face lighted-up, to the-idea of meeting the pole-dancer-Yelena ‘again’ – for a-BJ – as Frenchie’s alternative as an exam-STRESS BUSTER than to for-movies…
… he left with KC in the superbike – to have a Boys’ OUT-OF-SIGHT Monday outdoor-activities in-the backstreets-Of-Perth…