"Teenage years,the years which little ones waited for"
"When it starts they are still kids who have to act like adults"
"When study is more than just spellings and alphabets"
"And when math and its formula become more complex"
"Ok class who will give the answer of this question?"The teacher asked as he wrote an equation of the black board with a white chalk. The first bencher raised their hands as they knew how to solve it. The middle benchers were hesitant and were thinking deeply about if they should raise their hands or not. The backbenchers who hated maths more than anything became statues. They were much more talented in doodling on the desks than solving the equation.
"Yes,Louis. Come here and solve this" Louis was a good student but when it came to maths his mind would go blank. According to him there were too much formulas for them to remember and what was worse was the similarity in the questions. He nervously took the chalk and started to solve the problem. When he was done the teacher checked to see if it was right or not.
"Louis actually here we would use the second formula not the first which makes the exact answer be 261.0 or 261 you can say. Write that down and then give me your notebooks" The boy went back to his seat when a guy pulled his hair. He didn't like fights and would ignore it but when he saw that it was Fredrick he also pulled his hair as revenge.
"Oww stop"Louis letted him go and started to note down the equation the teacher had solved correctly on the board.
The class gave their notebooks to the teacher and left for recess.
"Hey Louis!"He heard Fredrick's voice but continued walking as the hatred for the subject of mathematics increased in his heart.
"Hey buddy what happened?. Why so sad?"Fred asked him. He did like annoying him but he would also become sad seeing his friend sad.
"Maths is too hard"
"Is that even something to say. Everyone knows that maths is too hard. I don't understand how Deniece can even remember those formulas" Fred talked about a first bencher of their class who would always get first position in the exams.
"Can i borrow your notes?"He asked Louis who immediately said
"No" Louis knew that giving something to that irresponsible boy would end up with excuses such as
"It got lost"
"I forgot it at home. I promise i will return it tommorow"
"My dog ate my homework"
"Please Louis i need to complete those notes of physics" Louis zipped open his bag and handed Fred the notebook on which he had written all the important notes related to the current and previous topics they had studied about.
"Thanks your the best. What did you bring for lunch?"Fredrick quetioned when the two friends reached the school courtyard. They sat on a bench and opened their lunch boxes. Louis brought sandwiches while Fred had a bag of chips. They shared their lunch and talked about many things like school drama,rumours,own mischiefs and also what goes on in the family.
After the last period it was time for the boys to go home. Fredrick and Louis walked to the gate with their school bags on their shoulders from where they were supposed to exit. Two black cars caught their sight. Louis's driver saw him and waved his hand to make Louis notice him. Next to the black car a surprise stood there for Fredrick. Never did the brown hair man came to pick him and this was the first time he came by himself to take Fredrick home.
"Bye"Louis said and walked to the car.
"Uh bye" Fred too went to his father who was talking on the phone with someone.
"No need for that Mr Ren. My driver will be dropping him there today" Finishing his talk he sat in thr car without a word. Fred was already in the backseat. There was silence in the car. When they were stuck in the traffic for too long the boy made up his mind to ask his father
"Why did you come to pick me today?"
"I didn't come to pick you up. I actually came since your principal called me to tell me about how you failed two subjects" Fred's heart dropped hearing this.
"Also you didn't tell me about your previous results which were not any better than this one" The mountain of dissapointments he had kept hidden was now crumbling right before his eyes. He didn't know what else the principle might have told him but could have thought that it must be the worst of everything.
"Iam sorry Dad"
"How many times Fred!?"he banged his hand on the horn of the car and the noise of the loud horn joined the booming sound of those who were stuck behind one and another waiting for the red light to change into green.
"Sorry isn't enough for those mistakes. Let me talk with your mother when we reach home" Samuel sighed as it felt like hours till the traffic light glowed red. His fellow drivers were also mad but their anger lessened when the green circle of the light glowed.
Samuel drove the car in a high speed and came to his house. Fred didn't make a noise and slowly and quietly entered the house. His father Samuel's actions were the exact opposite of his son. He hurriedly came in his house and shouted for his wife to come out. His sudden shouts startled Elina and she came rushing towards him in worry.
"Samuel what happened?. Why are you shouting so loud. Is everything alright?" His wife was perturbed by him calling her loudly and his tense lips and fierce glares didn't make it easy for her to think of the least worst things.
"Why don't you ask your son?"Elina turned back to see Fredrick standing there. He didn't have the courage to meet his mother's eyes thinking she might also reaproach him for his failures .
"Fred didn't I tell you not to put fake bugs in people's bags?"
"He also does that!?"The principle was kind to Fredrick that he didn't tell his father about his pranks and misbehaviour at school and only informed him about his deficiency in studies. Sadly his mother accidently gave away those unspoken things to his father.
"That's it!. I have decided to sent him to my friend's boarding school"
"Dad you can't do that"Fredrick who was quiet spoke up. He knew that what he did was wrong but he didn't want to go to that boarding school or any boarding school
"You didn't tell me about your grades. Didn't tell me about your results and also Elina you"he said blaringly
"You also didn't tell me about his tricks"he finished his sentence after a pause.
"But Father"
"ZANE!"
"Yes,sir"the chef who cooked various dishes for the family and gave them the best breakfast,brunch,lunch,tea,dinner,desert and cofee came to him speedily.
"Serve the food"
"Yes sir"
Aidan who was in anger gobbled down the food and his family watched as the peices of chicken dissapeared from the plate. When the head of the family had left from the room Elina whispered to her son
"I warned you many times. See this is what happens when you don't listen to your mother" Fredrick smashed the silver fork on the table and stomped away to his room.
"Fred!"his mother called but he didn't give her an answer. Fred and Henry's father heard her and before he went outside he said
"If he doesn't listen to my words then the beating from sticks would most definitely teach him a thing or two"Elina was getting scared for her adored son who was going to be treated harshly when he enters that building.
-------------------------------
Robert was on the couch and talking about something with his wife Felicia. They had just ended their dinner a few minutes ago. Along with them was their middle child who was in the middle of completing his homework and was in irritation due to the difficult equations.
"What's wrong?"his dad questioned as he caught Louis scribbling on top of the problems which he couldn't find the correct answer for. The blue scribbles made his work untidy.
"In the book it is written that the answer is supposed to be 16 but mine keeps on coming as 8"he slammed his pen on the ground. The silver nib of the pen was still fine and didn't break or bend.
"Let me see"Robert picked up Louis's notebook and focused on the equation.
"I think it's meant to be like this"At the last page of the notebook Mr Robert tried his method to solve the equation.
"No,it's not"he scratched his head confused on how his answer was 4.
"Maybe your supposed to take squares on each side" Before her advice could be taken a guard came in to tell his boss that a friend of his has came to meet him. Rob didn't know which friend of his the guard was talking about but his ears recognized the deep voice and so did his wife.
"Oh Samuel. What a surprise?"
"Hello Rob and Hello Felicia"the male greeted them with a smile. His son's emotions weren't similar to him as he was being taken to a place which was a prison for him and he would a prisoner in that boarding school. His mind would be chained with the fear of punishment where the strict teachers would declare anyone as useless if they didn't exceed their expectations.
"It's unexpected for us to meet at this time and why did you only bring Fred?. I would have loved to see Henry as that boy never comes at my place like he used to do"
"Well that hen is always busy laying golden eggs"Samuel spoke referring to how his first son is always working his level best and getting success on every ground he takes a step on whether it was art or education.
"I had to ask for you to suggest which company should we cooperate with and thought that instead of sending Fredrick to Ren's boarding school tommorow I will send him today."the businessman looked at his boy from the corner of his eyes and letted out a sigh.
"Wait what?"Louis said and took a tissue to wipe the spots of ink on his hands before getting up from his place.
"Fred don't tell me you are you really going to that boarding school?"His best friend asked him wishing for it to be a joke or one of his pranks but his father being with him was enough to tell Louis that it wasn't a prank.
"Yes,Louis he is and also since you want to become a lawyer then let me ask you. If your friend commits a crime then would you support him?" On that inquiry Louis came to know that Fredrick's web of lies was caught by his father and he had no chance to escape from what awaited him.
"No,i won't"
"Exactly. However it is strange how you didn't try to tell me or your own parents of what my son was doing this all time. Would we call that friendship or inequality?. Iam ashamed to even call him my son now. I think I might have raised him wrong. A failure of mine" Samuel walked towards the couple and they welcomed him wholeheartedly to have a seat with them and talk his problems out.
The father expressed his gloominess with his businesspartner while the friends stared at each other. Fred was full of regret but even if he did tell his father about his low scores in the first place he would still be scolded and would be standing infront of the school's gates as the path behind him vanishes eventually and would only be visible when he is worthy to walk on it.
Amidst in this Louis had an unusual mindset. He repeated Samuel's statement silently and kept on pondering at when he said
"I think I might have raised him wrong"
Taking steps in his black shoes he went towards his friend and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Aren't you tired of standing at the same place for the last ten minutes?"
"Let me remind you Louis that your asking this from the student who used to stand outside the classroom for hours" his best friend spoke clearly as now he didn't feel embarrassed to say it infront of people and didn't care what they would think because all that he had buried in fear was taken out by the mouth of the principle today breaking the barrier which he had built to defend himself.
Louis pulled Fred in a hug and whispered
"Don't worry everything will be alright" He felt the slight motion of Fredrick's neck moving up and down as a nod on his shoulder. Louis patted his back gently giving him comfort. They were together with each other through thick and thin and today these friends were being separated for three hundred and sixty five days
When Sam had made the choice of which company to pick with the help of Rob's experience he got ready to leave the mansion.
"Bye"
"Bye" Samuel's son said and felt a wave of gloomines wash over him realizing that this would be the longest period of time in which they won't be able to see each other or communicate how they used to.
The duo was in the vehicle and the teenagers kept their eye contact until the car drove off. After miles of driving in which fuel was used and the tyres got dirty due to the muddy ground they reached the haunted looking site. Even the security guards looked like ghosts when the moonlight shined on their faces. Mr Ren had a little discussion with Samuel and then took Fred inside. He heard the grating noise of the gate of freedom closing and he now was a captive of this place where many souls like him live.
Those souls were once too lively and merry like him. Filled of naughtiness and always in need of fun. The school was for kids aging from twelve to fifteen. Those who had came here a long time ago became puppets to be controlled by teachers and parents and those who were still new in the jail were in the process to turn into puppets. The hostel consisted of rooms with bunkbeds, bathroom,a cafeteria where they would serve homemade meals,a ground which had nothing to offer except dried up grass,a library full of books and unseasonable silence because the summer season was meant to be full of laughing and happy people,not some lifeless and cold beings.
Mr Ren showed Fred his room where he had the top bunk to himself. On the lower bunk a chinese boy laid fast asleep. Mr Ren didn't give any Fred any instructions on what to furthur do or any information about the hostel rules and left the room. His luggage was placed on the wooden ground at the corner of the room where many other heavy bags were. Fred climbed the ladder and laid on his bed. The window of the room was closed and the white circular moon gleamed with light. Despite the month was of the season of warmth the night went cold for Fredrick. He didn't feel warm and his feet shivered with cold. He curved into a ball and tried to make himself be warm but maybe it wasn't the weather or the season.
The real reason was his happiness being erased. His own father threw him away for his disobedience and mistakes. Samuel wanted the best of everything.
"He wanted the beauty without the flaws"
"Because it was a flower with thorns"
"The flaws could harm him,and his reputation"
"The thorns would prick making him bleed"
"He wanted the beauty without the venom"
"So that it doesn't speak"
"He wanted obedience,maturity,perfection"
"A standard he himself couldn't meet"
"He wanted the beauty without the wings"
"So it's doesn't escape"
"Giving the blue bird a house"
"So that it may sing songs in the cage"
"He wanted the beauty without the you"
"Because it was a diamond he couldn't keep"
"Its every part worth more than"
"Every jewel he has sealed"