Daniel's childhood days

The evening sky of a day of late June was still as bright. Warm rays of sun poured into Roger's room, and both boys were in Roger's study room, studying Geography together. As usual, they had been studying together like this for more than 6 months now. Not to mention they did really enjoy each other's company since the first day they met and became very close buddies soon.

The boys had just finished studying, and Roger suggested going to the beach together. The beach, at a distance of about 30 minutes of cycling away from Brooke Heights, was a place most romantic couples would find peace strolling lazily on its white sand, while enjoying the beauty of the beach. Daniel agreed, since it would be nice to spend his day with Roger.

Roger: Mom, we are going out to the beach.
Mrs. Steele: OK, but make sure the both of you come back early. Daniel, you can have dinner together later.
Daniel: Sure. Roger, let's go.

In no time, both boys were already on Roger's bicycle and disappeared into Ranger Street. This street was the usual street both boys took when going to the beach. Daniel enjoyed the breeze on his face and so was Roger. On reaching the beach, both boys removed their shoes. They were delighted at the soft feeling they felt on their feet upon stepping on the soft sand. Soon they were sitting on the sand and enjoyed the sunset together. For a while, all seemed so still and so quiet, like a picture so beautifully painted. Roger broke the silence finally.

Roger: Oh yea, I remembered you did say something about your parent's divorce. Can you tell me a little about it?
Daniel (a little hesitant): Well, I actually don't feel like talking about it now. But since you wish to know, then I will just tell you.

For about almost half an hour, Daniel told his ugly childhood story, something he wished he had never mentioned about it more than 6 months ago. It went on like this:

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As Daniel's mother, Rossa, was washing dishes after dinner, her only son, little Daniel, 5 at that time, was playing with his little toys. Out of a sudden, Daniel's dad, George, was shouting something to Rossa. It frightened him. He remembered it was a very bad one.

Being a little boy, Daniel did not quite know what was really going on. But he did remember his bad dad yelling at his mum for "playing behind dad's back". He still remembered his mum crying. But then, he can hardly remember what exactly happened after all that yelling, because he was told by his mother to go to his bed. Daniel was very scared at that time, and he did not know what to do. He hardly slept, and was frightened the whole night.

The very next day, Rossa was holding her luggage of clothes and she was ready to leave the house. Daniel was enjoying his breakfast when his mother interrupted him.

Rossa: Dan, mom is leaving now. Take good care of yourself, ok.
Daniel: Momma, where are you going? Why go away? Who you go with?
Rossa: Son, I don't know. I am going with someone else. He is coming to pick me up soon.
Daniel (began to cry): Momma! Don't want you to go! Momma stay with me. Momma!
Rossa: Dan, don't cry now, ok. Boys don't cry. Listen to pappa nicely. He will take care of you.
Daniel (yelling): Mommy! Don't go away! Momma! I want you.
Rossa (tears flowing down her cheeks): I am sorry, son. I love you.

Daniel cried non stop and was yelling away. His dad was busy gardening, oblivious to whatever was happening in the house. Just then, a car, as Daniel remembered, a nice big, black car stopped at the front gate of the house. His mother picked up her luggage and quickly walked out of the house. Daniel ran frantically to his mother and hug her legs, not letting her go. His cries was still as loud as ever.

Rossa: Now, boy, let me go. I will come back to visit you. I promise.
Daniel (crying incessantly): No, mommy, no! No, no, nooooo!!!! Don't go away, please mommy, pleaseeee...

Rossa lost her patience at last. She yelled at Daniel and told him to stay in the house. Daniel refused at first but then slowly he let her go. Rossa quickly walked over to a man, whom Daniel recalled, a "big, big brother", a young man.

His dad did not have a single iota to care about anything that happened in front of him. He was still busy gardening. Daniel still cried and cried. Finally, the automatic gate closed in front of the inconsolable Daniel, and behind the black gate, he watched his mum leaving in a nice big, black car, never to return again.

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Daniel's tears flowed freely down his cheeks as he finished the last sentence of his story. Roger too, almost cried after listening to such a sad story.

Daniel (wiping his tears away and heaved a heavy sigh): Well, it's late now. The sun is almost down now. Let's go home.
Roger (also heaved a sigh): OK. You can stay over for dinner tonight. Mom has prepared us a big dinner. Let's forget the sad past, ok. Cheer up.

Little did Roger know that Daniel was suffering depression due to his dad's constant scolding him vulgar words for some reasons he did not quite know. But obviously, with Roger beside him, he would just forget those unhappy moments. And Roger was even happier, knowing that Daniel would always accompany him like every other days. Soon, Roger felt a tinge of love for Daniel, but Daniel was unaware of it. It would slowly change their lives, their future together. For the moment, everything stayed as it was before.

Appreciate it while you can,

For when you lost it,

It will be lost forever,

And the past never returns.

I've lost something,

Yet I fear not,

For I gain another,

Because of fate.

I laugh because you make me laugh; I cry for you because you cry.

Written by: Paul Rainbowpluboy

The first meet

Rrrringgggg... the bell rang and the primary school children were happily running out of their class rooms, some young ones ran over to the playground, some were walking towards the cafeteria and some were just sitting and talking with their friends. It was late noon and the weather was just fine for the boys to enjoy the rest time.

The cafeteria, as usual, was packed with hungry children waiting in line to buy their meals. Daniel, 12, was among them, anxiously waiting in line while waiting to get his most favorite "Meal of the Day", his favorite spaghetti with some tomato sauce, broccoli and minced bacon. A boy, about the same age as Daniel, was standing just right in front of him, waiting in line to get his usual plain spaghetti. He was holding with him a clear plastic food container, containing mayonaise-laced salad and tomatoes with some minced chicken meat and tuna. Daniel saw it and began talking to the boy, though in the past, he had always seen him in the same queue everyday, and wanted to approach him, just that he was too shy then. This time around, Daniel was very much confident.

Daniel: Wow, your lunchset seems nice. Your mum packed the lunch for you?
Boy (smiling): Yeah, my mum prepared it for me.
Daniel: I see you queueing up here everyday, getting your plain spaghetti.
Boy: Yup, I love the plain spaghetti very much.
Daniel: Oh I see. And, I think you have a loving mum.
Boy: Very much. She has been doing this for the past 5 years.
Daniel: It is indeed very nice to hear that.
Boy (began to wonder): Oh, why is that so?
Daniel: It's a long story. Ohh, it's your turn now. We will chat over lunch later. Let's sit over there. (pointing to the row of table at the quiet corner where there were only 3 boys sitting having their lunch)

Having bought their respective meals, they both sat at the corner Daniel was indicating.

Daniel: Oh, my apologies, I didn't get your name. I am Daniel.
Boy: I am Roger. Nice to meet you.
Daniel: Nice to meet you too.
Roger: So, where did we stopped chatting just now? Ah yes, I was wondering why you said it was nice to hear about my loving mum.
Daniel (Sigh): It's really a long story. Well, to cut it short, my mum left us years ago. She divorced my dad and married a rich man. I will tell you more about that later.
Roger: Oh I see. I am so sorry. I would like to hear more about it when you feel OK about telling me.
Daniel (trying to change subject): So, I see you are from Primary 6 Kensett?
Roger: Yeah. A lot of my classmates are really studious type. You are from?
Daniel: 6 Horley. My friends are also much like yours, too. Kinda hard to catch them up. A lot of them are really competing for top marks.
Roger: Yeah, me too. Kinda hard. My mum is pushing me to study harder. Really.

Their conversation was cut short with the loud bell ringing, indicating the end of the meal rest time.

Daniel: See you soon, Roger, it was nice talking with you.
Roger: Yeah, me too. Nice chatting with you too.

The boys went back to their respective classes and resumed their lessons in class till 5pm. At the end of the day, the class lessons were over. Time for the boys to go home. Roger was about to ride his bicycle back home when Daniel saw him from afar. Daniel called out to him.

Daniel: Hey Roger!
Roger: Hey Daniel! How are you doing?
Daniel: Oh just fine. Got scolded by Miss Shelby for some Maths homework badly done.
Roger: Oh I know her. She's really strict and very much concerned about her students doing her homeworks. Luckily she isn't teaching us in 6 Kensett.
Daniel: Good for you. Oh by the way, can you fetch me home on your bicycle? Where do you stay?
Roger: I stay at Brooke Heights. You?
Daniel: Oh we are staying in the same neighborhood.
Roger: Oh great, what are we waiting for now? Let's go home!
Daniel (excited): Yes, let's!

Brooke Heights was just about a mile away from their school, The Xavier Boy's School. The evening weather was still as fine as it was the afternoon, not too sunny and not too cloudy, either. Daniel was standing on the pedal fixed securely on the back wheel, holding onto Roger's shoulder, while Roger cycled. Both boys were enjoying the ride back home together and soon they were cracking jokes with each other. How well they clicked with each other on their first day meet, as though they were friends of many years.

Days after days passed by. After school hours everyday, they rode back home together, on Roger's bicycle. And they even helped each other with their homeworks and catch up their studies together, not forgetting about playing with each other too, like those typical school children. Soon, they were best buddies.

Daniel was so happy being together with Roger that he had almost forgotten about his unhappy childhood days. Roger had come to his so-called "social rescue", since Daniel was always a very quiet boy and seldom mix with other boys in class. He had been happier since then. As for Roger, he was glad he had caring parents who loved and took care of him so much. Life was never the same again for both boys since the first day they met. Of course, that was just the start for them.

From stranger to friend,
From friend to buddies,
Life was never the same again,
When fate tied them together.

They laugh together,
They cry together,
They do things together,
When two people are together.

The day I met you is the day when Heaven came down to Earth.
Written by: Paul Rainbowpluboy