The schoolyard of Brassvale Elementary wasn\u2019t much more than a concrete wasteland fenced in by chain-link and lined with a sparse scattering of weeds breaking through the cracks. The playground sat in the far corner, its rusted swing set creaking ominously in the brisk morning wind. A patch of uneven dirt served as the kickball field, its bases worn down to bare patches of earth. Nearby, a tattered basketball net hung from a tilted metal pole, the rim bent out of shape like a crooked tooth. On the far side of the yard, separated by a wide alley, loomed the imposing facade of Stout Middle School, a brick fortress with barred windows and peeling graffiti that read “Blenc Rules.” It cast a long shadow, both literally and metaphorically, over the younger kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny hopped off the school bus and adjusted the straps on his oversized backpack, which hung awkwardly low on his small frame. His sneakers, scuffed and splitting at the seams, crunched over the gravel as he scanned the yard for his friends. Being alone here was a mistake, even for someone like Jahnny who knew how to keep his head down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tyrell was easy to spot, leaning against the faded red brick wall near the main doors. His hoodie hood was pulled up, partially shading his mischievous grin, while he tossed a worn rubber ball against the ground in a steady rhythm. Jahnny jogged over, his face lighting up in relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s good, Jahnny?\u201d Tyrell greeted, catching the ball one last time and stuffing it into his hoodie pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot much,\u201d Jahnny replied, a small grin tugging at his lips. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep them warm against the morning chill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny sat nearby on the steps leading to the school entrance, hunched over his trusty notebook. His tongue poked out in concentration as he carefully outlined the cape of his latest superhero sketch. Danny was always drawing\u2014sketches of monsters, superheroes, or elaborate maps of imaginary worlds he dreamed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, Danny,\u201d Jahnny called as he approached. \u201cWhat\u2019re you working on now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny looked up, his glasses slipping down his nose. He smiled sheepishly before holding up the notebook. \u201cIt\u2019s a new hero. His name\u2019s Time Stopper. He can freeze time, rewind it, or slow it down when he\u2019s fighting bad guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tyrell scoffed, rolling his eyes. \u201cMan, you gotta come up with a cooler name than that. Time Stopper? Sounds like some lame gadget you\u2019d buy off a TV ad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny flushed but didn\u2019t lower his notebook. \u201cIt\u2019s still a work in progress,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny crouched next to him, studying the sketch. The hero\u2019s cape was billowing dramatically in an imaginary wind, and lightning bolts framed the figure like an electric aura. \u201cI think it\u2019s cool,\u201d Jahnny said earnestly. \u201cBut maybe you could give him a weapon or something. Like, if time\u2019s frozen, he could move super fast and land a hundred punches before anyone blinks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cYeah! That\u2019d be awesome. I could give him, like, a time gauntlet or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOr call him Quick Clock,\u201d Tyrell teased, snickering. \u201cYou know, because he\u2019s quick and clock-y.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny glared at him, though his lips twitched as if he were trying not to laugh. \u201cYou\u2019re impossible, Ty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warning bell rang, echoing off the cracked concrete walls of the yard. Kids hurried toward the doors in a swarm of brightly colored jackets and mismatched backpacks. Jahnny stuck close to Tyrell and Danny as they shuffled toward the entrance, passing by the older middle schoolers who loitered on the alley between the two schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The middle schoolers didn\u2019t pay much attention to the younger kids unless they felt like it. Jahnny glanced nervously at a group of boys from Stout Middle who were leaning against the fence, passing around a cigarette. Their uniforms were the same as the elementary school\u2019s\u2014navy blue polos and khakis\u2014but they wore theirs like armor, untucked and rumpled, with an air of casual rebellion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYo, that\u2019s gonna be us one day,\u201d Tyrell said, nodding toward the middle schoolers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSmoking and skipping class?\u201d Danny asked, wrinkling his nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNah,\u201d Tyrell replied, smirking. \u201cBut, you know, older. Cooler. Maybe we\u2019ll have a gang or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny stayed quiet, his eyes lingering on the group. One of the boys, taller than the rest, had a jagged scar running across his cheek. He held the cigarette like it was a trophy and laughed loudly at something one of his friends said. The image stuck with Jahnny\u2014not fear, exactly, but an uncomfortable curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s it like in middle school, you think?\u201d Jahnny finally asked as they reached the steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProbably harder,\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll still run this place when we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpeak for yourself,\u201d Danny said, stuffing his notebook into his backpack. \u201cI just hope they\u2019ve got better lunch food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tyrell snorted. \u201cMan, you\u2019re such a nerd.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boys joined the rush of students filing into the building, their voices blending into the noisy hallway. For now, middle school and its challenges were just a looming shadow. But Jahnny couldn\u2019t help but feel like it was watching, waiting for them to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny slid into his seat near the back of the classroom, scuffed desk wobbling slightly as he set his tattered notebook down. The room was a patchwork of faded, torn posters, outdated maps, and a wall of windows letting in dim light that didn\u2019t quite reach the corners. Mrs. Hartford, their teacher, stood at the chalkboard scribbling today\u2019s math lesson in her unmistakable chicken scratch. Her voice was steady but tired, the kind of tone that said she\u2019d been doing this job for far too long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Danny was seated two rows over, already doodling in his notebook. Tyrell, who could never sit still for more than five minutes, was leaning back in his chair, tilting it at a precarious angle. He tossed a balled-up scrap of paper at Jahnny, who caught it with one hand and smirked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jahnny uncrumpled the note. It was a crude stick-figure drawing of Mrs. Hartford with her hair sticking out like a cactus, yelling at a stick version of Tyrell. Beneath it, Tyrell had scrawled: \u201c5 bucks says I can get her to blow up by lunch.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny stifled a laugh, shaking his head. You\u2019ll get detention again<\/strong> he scrawled back and tossed it onto Tyrell\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Hartford turned just in time to catch the exchange. \u201cMr. Jahnny,\u201d she said sharply, the class going quiet. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to pass notes, perhaps you\u2019d like to share with the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze, his cheeks burning. He hated being called out. \u201cSorry, Mrs. Hartford,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell, still leaning in his chair, grinned but didn\u2019t say a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The morning passed slowly, with Mrs. Hartford going over fractions while Jahnny did his best to keep up. Numbers swam on the page, never quite settling into place. He\u2019d always struggled with math, and today was no different. His pencil scratched hesitantly across the paper as he tried to figure out how to divide 48 by 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other students weren\u2019t much better. A few kids whispered to each other, heads low over their desks. A boy in the front row had fallen asleep, his head resting on his folded arms. Jahnny felt a pang of envy; at least he didn\u2019t have to try and make sense of the numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell was up to something again. Jahnny could see him out of the corner of his eye, leaning over to talk to Marcus, a big kid who sat a few rows up. Marcus was one of the troublemakers, always cracking jokes and causing disruptions. Tyrell whispered something to him, and Marcus snickered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny braced himself. Whatever Tyrell was planning, it wasn\u2019t going to end well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlright, class,\u201d Mrs. Hartford announced as the math lesson came to an end. \u201cTake out your social studies books and turn to page forty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a collective groan from the class as students rustled through their desks. Jahnny reached into his bag and pulled out his battered textbook, its cover barely holding on with duct tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJahnny,\u201d Tyrell hissed from behind him. Jahnny turned slightly, and Tyrell nodded toward Marcus. Jahnny followed the motion and saw Marcus holding something small and dark in his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d Jahnny whispered back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell just grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Mrs. Hartford began reading from the textbook, Marcus suddenly stood and cleared his throat dramatically. The class turned to look at him, and Mrs. Hartford frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Marcus? Is there a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot at all, ma\u2019am,\u201d Marcus said with mock politeness. Then, quick as a flash, he lobbed the object toward her desk. It landed with a wet splat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a frog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The room erupted into chaos. Kids screamed and laughed, some standing on their desks to get a better view. Mrs. Hartford yelped and jumped back, clutching her chest as the frog hopped toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho did this?\u201d she shouted, her face red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcus sat down, feigning innocence. \u201cNot me, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Hartford\u2019s eyes swept the room before landing on Jahnny, who was still sitting quietly at his desk. \u201cJahnny!\u201d she snapped. \u201cWas this your doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? No!\u201d Jahnny protested, his heart sinking. He looked at Tyrell, but his friend avoided his gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDetention,\u201d Mrs. Hartford said firmly. \u201cI don\u2019t tolerate this kind of behavior in my classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny slumped in his chair, furious but knowing there was no point arguing. He felt the eyes of the class on him, some amused, others pitying. He clenched his fists under the desk, willing himself not to cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the morning dragged on. Jahnny didn\u2019t even bother taking notes during social studies. What was the point? He\u2019d already been branded as the troublemaker, even if he hadn\u2019t done anything. By the time lunch rolled around, his appetite was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the bell finally rang, Jahnny grabbed his bag and trudged toward the door. Tyrell caught up to him, looking sheepish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, sorry, man,\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she\u2019d pin it on you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhatever,\u201d Jahnny muttered, not looking at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny joined them, his notebook tucked under his arm. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Jahnny said quickly. \u201cLet\u2019s just go eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three boys walked toward the cafeteria together, their usual banter muted. Jahnny\u2019s fists stayed clenched in his pockets, anger simmering just beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bell rang, releasing a flood of students into the streets of Blenc like a broken dam. Jahnny, Tyrell, and Danny walked side by side, backpacks slung low and dragging slightly as they navigated the cracked sidewalks. The late afternoon sun was weak, casting long shadows of chain-link fences and boarded-up buildings. It was the same route they always took, cutting through a stretch of worn-out houses and overgrown lots to avoid the busier main roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know Mrs. Hartford\u2019s probably writing you up for that frog thing,\u201d Danny said, still clutching his notebook like a lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny rolled his eyes. \u201cWhat else is new? She\u2019s always blaming me for something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMan, it\u2019s \u2019cause she knows you don\u2019t got backup,\u201d Tyrell said, spinning a rock down the sidewalk with the tip of his shoe. \u201cShe\u2019d never try that with Marcus. His mom would come up there screamin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny sighed. \u201cYeah, well, my mom\u2019s got enough to deal with. She\u2019s not about to come marching into school over some dumb frog.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They turned the corner onto Vine Street, where a broken swing set tilted awkwardly in the front yard of an abandoned house. A pair of stray dogs rummaged through a trash pile nearby, growling at each other over scraps. The boys walked in silence for a moment, their footsteps crunching on bits of gravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cY\u2019all ever notice how middle school kids think they\u2019re hot stuff?\u201d Danny said suddenly, breaking the quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Tyrell replied. \u201cBut they ain\u2019t. Just bigger losers than us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny smirked. \u201cThose middle school guys ain\u2019t cool. They just act tough \u2018cause they\u2019re bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStill, they don\u2019t get in trouble for frogs,\u201d Tyrell added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group chuckled, but their light mood didn\u2019t last. As they cut through a small lot with rusted-out cars and weeds as tall as Jahnny, a group of older kids leaned against the fence at the far end. Jahnny recognized a few of them\u2014troublemakers from school who loved making other kids\u2019 lives miserable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYo, ain\u2019t that the white boy whose sister\u2019s a hoe?\u201d one of them called out, grinning maliciously. It was Darren, an eighth-grader with a reputation for bullying anyone who looked at him the wrong way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny froze. The insult hit hard, not just because it was aimed at Clara, but because he couldn\u2019t do anything about it. Clara\u2019s choices weren\u2019t his to defend, but they cast a shadow he couldn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrell and Danny shifted uneasily, avoiding eye contact with the older kids. Jahnny, however, squared his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSay that again,\u201d Jahnny said, his voice low and steady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren stepped forward, towering over Jahnny. \u201cYou heard me, little man. Heard she\u2019s got a boyfriend twice her age. What, your family too broke for dudes her own grade?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny\u2019s fists balled up, his cheeks flushing red. He knew he was outmatched, but his pride wouldn\u2019t let him walk away. \u201cShut your mouth,\u201d he said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Darren laughed, the sound cold and cruel. \u201cOr what? You gonna do something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without thinking, Jahnny swung at Darren. His fist connected with the older boy\u2019s chest, but it was like punching a car. Darren barely flinched before shoving Jahnny to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMan, you\u2019re dumber than you look,\u201d Darren sneered. He grabbed Jahnny\u2019s shirt, pulling him up slightly before throwing him back down into the dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeave him alone!\u201d Tyrell shouted, but he didn\u2019t step forward. The fear in his voice was clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny scrambled to his feet, but another boy tripped him, sending him sprawling again. This time, Darren and his crew laughed harder, their taunts echoing in Jahnny\u2019s ears. Blood trickled from a scrape on his elbow, staining his sleeve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s what I thought,\u201d Darren said, stepping back. \u201cMaybe next time, keep your white ass and your hoe sister in check.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group walked off, still laughing, as Jahnny slowly sat up. His head pounded, and his pride was in shreds, but he refused to let them see him cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou alright, man?\u201d Tyrell asked, finally coming closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Jahnny muttered, brushing dirt off his pants. His voice was tight, anger bubbling just beneath the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Danny helped him to his feet. \u201cThey\u2019re jerks, dude. Don\u2019t let \u2019em get to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI said I\u2019m fine,\u201d Jahnny snapped, wincing as he stretched his scraped arm. He didn\u2019t mean to lash out at his friends, but the humiliation stung too much to hold back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rest of the walk home was quieter than usual. Tyrell and Danny kept their distance, sensing Jahnny\u2019s foul mood, but they didn\u2019t abandon him. As they approached Jahnny\u2019s apartment building, Danny tried to lighten the mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know,\u201d he said, \u201cwhen I get older, I\u2019m gonna be rich. Like, own-my-own-video-game-store rich.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah?\u201d Tyrell said. \u201cYou gonna let us play for free?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHell nah! But maybe I\u2019ll give you a discount.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny smirked despite himself. \u201cA discount? Gee, thanks, Danny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tension eased slightly as they joked about their future dreams, making fun of each other\u2019s plans. By the time they reached Jahnny\u2019s building, some of the weight from earlier had lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee you tomorrow,\u201d Danny said as they parted ways. Tyrell gave Jahnny a small fist bump followed by a quick handshake and another fistbump before following Danny down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jahnny watched them leave before heading inside. The familiar smell of cabbage and baby powder greeted him, along with the sound of Betsy\u2019s soft coos, the only sound that really seemed to ease him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Another Day at School The schoolyard of Brassvale Elementary wasn\u2019t much more than a concrete wasteland fenced in by chain-link and lined with a sparse scattering of weeds breaking through the cracks. The playground sat in the far corner, its rusted swing set creaking ominously in the brisk morning wind. A patch of uneven dirt … Continue reading “Garth\u2019s Actions \u2013 Chapter 2”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=657"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":658,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/657\/revisions\/658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harthorns-reverie.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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