Really Old Stories.

Two years ago, we had an English assignment: Write a story which includes Flashbacks. Sounds simple enough. But honestly, I can't believe that I wrote this emotionally weird story back then -.-'. It gets more ... dramatic/emotional/weird as the story goes on. I'm proud of this work, but it still feels weird whenever I read it.

"Flying By"

I can't believe how many useless junks piles up without anyone noticing! I know I promised to clean the garage but now, I was having second thoughts; the whole room is covered with dusty boxes and torn envelops from long ago just waiting to be thrown out.

I started with the ones closest to the door. There was junk after junk after junk. Out the door it all went. Twenty minutes later, I picked up a box with the words "Tommy's Memoirs" scrawled across the front side in messy handwriting. That caught my eyes instantly, which then triggered my nagging curiosity. So, what else? I ripped open the tape which sealed the top and the first thing I saw was a Super Ball; the really bouncy balls that they never make anymore. I took it out of the box and examined it. It had a green mark on the black covering.

Curious, I bounced the ball on the floor. It flew straight up and hit the roof…

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"Thanks, Dad!" I screamed, hugging him, "It's so cool!" I couldn't say how cool it was and what it meant to me that he spent $10 on this Super Ball. I've wanted it for ages! We were in the garden, and he was holding up the Super Ball. I looked up from his belly.

Dad's cheeks were pulled back in wide beam, his white teeth visible under his open mouth. His eyes smiled even brighter than his mouth could. "Hey, no problem! Just don't lose it, okay, kid? It wasn't easy finding one of these! I just thought it would be a good present for your big one-O birthday," He said, still smiling from ear to ear. "I heard that a kid in California bounced it and a kid in New York lost an eye!"

"Ok, ok, so can I test it now?" I asked, bouncing on my heels. There was no better present that he could have bought than the legendary Super Ball! My mind whirled with ideas on how to use it: Cover it with paint and throw it at someone was top of my list. Maybe chucking it at Amber wouldn't be such a bad idea. She did give me a wedgie yesterday.

"Alright, fine but make sure you don't hurt anyone with this," he handed me the ball.

Excited, I threw the ball on the floor. It rocketed straight up. Up, up, up. I couldn't see it anymore! It was already gone! Three seconds holding it and I already lost it! I was scared stiff. Dad had JUST bought that! Suddenly, a loud laughter filled the air.

"Best 10 bucks I ever spent!" he looked at me, "you want to wait till it comes back down? Or would you rather go eat hot, steamy burgers until you're too fat to stand up again with me?"

I love him! We actually did eat until we couldn't stand that night. Mom had a fit; the ball had gone straight into the neighbor's greenhouse and destroyed her precious plants. They found it next to the neighbor's unconscious dog which had a big red mark on his head.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

The ball bounced off my head and fell right into the box. I choked slightly. I still miss that smile. It was stuck in my memory. I stuff the Ball in my back pocket, pushing away that thought for now. I turned my attention back into the box's contents.

There was a small blue book with a red ribbon neatly tied around it. Untying the ribbon, I flipped open the pages. It was damp, with a slight orange tint spreading from the center.

The first page had pictures of me and my family when I was 17, near a waterfall. Flipping through the page, I saw pictures of friends, family and faces I haven't seen in any of my albums. I stopped at one picture. I touched the face next to mine in that photo.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

"Are you ready yet?!" Mom shouted from downstairs. Seriously, she rushes way too much. I usually don't take much time to dress up but…

I heard a car skidding to a halt outside. "Yo, Tommy! Come on, man! You're going to be late!" barked a familiar voice. I opened the window and saw Jonny, my best mate. He was wearing a bright pink tuxedo and amazingly, he had his hair combed neatly. I guess even the wildest of beasts could be tamed. He was standing on top of a Jeep. "Come on in, man! I'm gonna get some snacks first!" I shouted back. He gave me a thumb up and jumped off the Jeep.

I rushed around the room, flinging clothes roughly. I had to find it! There is no way I'm leaving without it. I closed my eyes and tried to remember. My mind became a recording, looking back at what I was doing that day. Flashes of the previous 18 hours played clearly behind my eyelids.

After a minute like that, a knock knocked the door. "Dude," came Jonny's voice, "your mom told me to drag you out of there, naked or not. Hurry and dress up man, you naked is not on my must see list!"

I had to grin at that. That scum outside my door would actually break down the door if I didn’t come out soon! I quickly got up and unlocked the door. "Come in, man, I'm looking for something, dressed."

"And that would be…?" he drawled, peeping through the door slightly. He came in after he made sure I wasn't naked. He had a yellow stain on his pink tux, on his right collar. Looks like he didn't wait for me to stuff our face together: typical Jonny.

"It's that thing we need; I can't remember its name, man. It's like Coh-something. All I know is if I go without it, she'll be upset! Just look around over there," I pointed to a spot where I haven’t messed up yet, "and look for something out of place."

He huffed slightly and started digging around. After nearly 5 minutes of hard searching, we found it. More like Jonny nearly sat on it. I held the small item high. "Thank god," I sighed.

Jonny seized me under my arm and practically threw me outside the room. "COME ON! You made both of us late!"

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

A loud honk filled the dead silence. I jolted back awake. Shaking my head, I look back at the picture and sighed. It has been more than 12 years since that day. There is no way I would forget that day. Then, I notice a small scrawling right underneath the picture. It read: Life Changing.

I smile slightly when I read that. I guess 12 years ago, I was pretty corny. But I can't say I was wrong; that day truly changed my life. I smile even more as I recall where the orange tint came from. That's what happens when you share a room with Jonny Cash and he just had too much to drink.

Putting my old scrap book aside, I carefully began to look for that small item. I was sure it was in there somewhere. I went past broken toys, bent certificates, old school yearbooks. And there it was.

It was hidden nearly all the way at the bottom of the box, underneath my old college hat. It still looked so beautiful. I held the thing lightly in my hand and stared at it. I can’t believe it that long ago since that event.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

I was knocking on the door of Number 18, Jangon Street. My heart beat wildly. This was a very important day. A day I cannot, will not forget. My hands sweated heavily. The small item slipped slightly from my hand. The door opened. And there she was.

Amber had let her flowing golden hair fall behind and around her face. She wore blue eye-shadow and a lighter blue eye-liner. Her startling lips were colored slightly red with a bit of a blush on her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled blue as she looked at me. That night, her face was carved from angels themselves.

She wore a simple, ocean-blue, elegantly cut dress with one sleeve, covering her small frame perfectly. Her feet wore slippers that would have made Cinderella jealous. On her arm was the silver bracelet I had bought her on her birthday. On her neck was a silver necklace with the letter T hanging from it.

"Wow," was all I could get out. My heart had stopped completely for a few seconds.

"Wow yourself, Tommy," her sweet voice danced in the air, "I can't believe you actually dressed up this nice for me!"

Blushing, I gave her the small item. "Oh my god!" she shrieked, "A corsage! This is so sweet! I thought you said it was too romantic."

"Shut up. I still think it's too romantic but since you wanted one since we were kids…" I trailed off, not able to continue. Gathering my thoughts, I quickly said, "I just want you to know what you mean to me."

I knew then that I had said too much. My heart was going wild, trying to jump out my throat. Then she leaned in. I could smell her breath. I could make out every bit of detail on her nose. We were an inch apart.

"TOMMY! AMBER! WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!" came an enraged shout.

I sighed. That man really does have perfect timing. "Well, Amber, I guess it's time to go. You ready?" I said, my ears burning.

"Before you go," said Mrs. Quentin, suddenly popping up, her face flushed with excitement, "I want a picture of my daughter and her date!" she wiggled a camera. "Come on," she began dragging us towards the porch, "stand next to each other on the porch."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

It began to rain outside. I had just finished clearing up the store room and was playing with the Super Ball on the floor when a friendly "I'm home" rang through my late dad's house.

"I'm upstairs!"

Footsteps echoed up the stairs and Amber came into view. She beamed and sat down next to me. "Hey, handsome," she said, pecking me softly on the cheek, "did it take you long to clear up the store room?"

Relaxing, I gazed at her and smiled.

"Na, time just flew by."