Although Clarence didn't know I was the cause of the mess we have to clean up, I rushed to the playground as if I had to prove him wrong. Upon arriving, I could see various boys grouped up in different sections. "It's almost like they're grouped by grade level." My observation caught the attention of our playground supervisor.
"Thomas, bucko! Mighty fine of you to come help the boys clean this mess up. And your observation is a good sign of character…if only I could meet those expectations!" The burly man exclaims, as he jokingly sinks his face into his arm.
"Then, I was wrong?" I say in disbelief, before the supervisor continues.
"I only sorted them by height, that way the taller boys can reach what blew up into the trees. Whilst the shorter boys sweep up. Ya know what that means for average sized youths; such as yourself, Thomas?"
"Uh, nothing??"
I kid you not when I say that the ground shook a little from the supervisor's laughter, at my reply. "You're rich, Tommy boy! Nah, you're gonna take the full trash bags to the dumpster, and restock everyone with new trash bags. Luckily for you, everyone's half way done."
"Real fun," I say to myself as I look to my friend for assurance. "Wait, where's Clarence??"
The brawny, yet friendly man would then give a reply that wasn't as positive as I had hoped. "The tall youth with the high energy, yeah, I like that kid. HE was with Lady Ortiz when this mess occurred, so he doesn't need to help clean up."
I should've known, it's not like I'm faster than Clarence; my getting here first would have been a fluke. Either way, without the presence of my best friend; the playground was nowhere near as sunny as it was a moment ago.
"G-guess I'll get started," I say with my face toward the ground, before the supervisor replies. "Cheer up, bucko, the sooner you help finish; the sooner ya'll have a great weekend to look forward to!"
"Thanks, uncle soup," despite answering the empathetic man; the scenery was still dark, and carried a weight so heavy that I could no longer look him in the eye.
"Uncle soup? Hah, these kids and their nicknames!" In usual fashion, the supervisor is able to find humor in any situation. The muscular man was then met with a brown haired man of average size and glasses as thick as a microscope.
"All the kids call you that; you see, it's a form of endearment. They consider you an uncle and a supervisor at the same time."
"Uncle, supervisor…Uncle Soup, hah, I get it now, thanks Layne! You and your smarts; that's why you're a teacher, and not a rock!"
"A rock? That'd be the death of me!!" The two adults laugh together as they observe Thomas and the other boys.
"It's your fault.
If they find out, they're gonna beat you up!
What's not clean is not right!
Stay away from them!
Leave our son out of this!"
My mind starts racing with chaotic thoughts, each step I take. "Not again," I grit my teeth, as I rush my way to the nearest kid in sight.
"You need help with that?" I ask him, in desperation.
"Oh, hey Thomas, just in time! Can you take these two bags to the trash can, and get me some more? New bags are on the jungle gym."
"You got it, pal!" I grab the trash bags as if my life depended on it, and head to the dumpster. "Off you go trash; never to harm anyone, ever again!" Before I knew it, a routine was set into motion that sped up the cleaning process. I don't know how much time had passed, but I do know that the sky around me was starting to clear up; like actual daylight. There must have been eight or nine groups, when I first arrived; now minimized to one.
"Last bag, innit, pal?"
"For sure, Thomas, thanks man, you've been a big help!" The taller orphans hand me their last bag; a bit heavier than the rest. Making my way to the dumpster is slower, as a result.
"Final bag…eliminated!" I thought that was the end; it should have been the end. Yet, as I make my way back to Uncle soup a stray piece of paper catches my eye.
"What's this, then?" I reach for the paper until I realize that it was a flyer I didn't shred entirely. Just catching sight of the aspiring mayor's slogan caused me to jump back, and lose focus.
"Leave them alone, they're mine!
Quiet brat!
What's not clean is not right!"
My brain begins to throb erratically; it's those rubbish thoughts again; which makes me call out: "Dad, where are you?" Sweat covering my body, heart beating out of my chest. I start patting through the pockets of my pants, until I find my hand file.
"What's going on with Tommy boy?"
"Oh no, looks like he needs our help, Uncle soup, let's go retrieve him!"
"You too, Mr. Layne? Hah, the kids got to ya as well; alright, let's go!"
Two of the orphanage's most trusted men rush to Thomas's aide.
"Seems as if he's had another panic attack. I'm sorry Thomas, we'll get you to safety." Mr. Layne lifts the troubled boy, with some difficulty. "Ah, you scrawny thing, give me the youngster, Layne, and tell me where to go!"
"The boys from kindergarten age up to twelve have their rooms on the left side of the orphanage. We'll be heading to the second story of their rooms. No medication is needed as of yet, let's just get him to his bed!"
The detailed response from Mr. Layne causes the supervisor to ask: "Layne, my man, you know quite the deal about this procedure;" with a concerned pause he continues, "does this happen often?"
"It's hard to say, I've only witnessed it five times; if you don't count the attack I stopped earlier this week. You haven't been working here long, but you do have the familiar energy that these kids need to," the supervisor interjects, "not go through rough patches like this, often, yeah?"
Mr. Layne answers, as the two arrive at Thomas's room, "absolutely correct."
Some time had passed before Thomas awakened.
"Ouch, where am I, wait, where's my,"
Clarence reacts to my question, "it's r-r-right he-here dude, the g-g-good ol grind-y thing."
"Thanks mate!"
"No pr-pr-problem, glad you ma-made it back safely. Looks li-li-like you," while Clarence was talking, I finally realized that with him present, we can finally talk about the scroll.
"Mate, Did I show you Sachiko's scroll? It's quite the doozy!" My friend's expression turned to that of extreme shock. "D-d-dude, you sh-showed me th-that already, y-y-you're gonna agree to it."
While I was puzzled by what Clarence said, excitement soon replaced it; the key ingredient to an ideal future was within my grasp. "All's I gotta do is seal the deal with Sachiko. You in to going with me to find her, mate?"
Clarence was looking quite eager at the invitation, but he first questioned me; "if y-y-you think you're u-u-up for it, so l-long as w-w-we get to pl-play that game ch-ch-challenge later." Helping my friend beat the high score on various video/board games is a long held tradition of ours. Of course, I readily agree; as Clarence and I march our way to the girl's bedroom where Sachiko stays.
Gals can be weird, sometimes; why else would we get the reaction we received?
"Ugh, can you quit it, yeah?"
"Knocking like there's an earthquake outside, you dumb boys!"
"It's the cootie givers; go away!!"
Determined not to lose focus, I interrupt the girls' yelling.
"We came to see Sachiko!"
"Y-y-yeah, d-d-dude's got something f-f-for her, let us in!"
Some of the girls shriek in response, but before I have a chance to get angry; the short gal approaches with her gracious speech. "Oh, it's Thomas. This must mean you've read over the homework, and need some help."
I answer, "homework, why would I," my confusion at Sachiko's announcement is erased once I catch a glimpse of her winking at me. "Gosh! That's correct, who else to get help from besides," Clarence, as if reading my mind; joins in to finish the statement: "the s-s-smartest girl a-at OGO!"
Pride covered the little girl's face; revealing a smile that clearly surpassed the size of a human head. And, yes, the other girls lost interest; returning to their normal activities, but Sachiko, now in control of the situation, would then say.
"Thank you for your help Clarence, but you can leave now. This is a matter to be discussed, and carried forward only with Thomas."