Just a tidbit for those who may not have realized it yet: life rarely goes as expected. Trust me, I'm well aware of it. Just when you think everything is going according to pn, it takes sudden detours down unexpected paths.
In our early years, the future only means the next minute. As we grow older, the next day became a part of what we see. In elementary school, our pns revolved around pying with friends, completing homework assignments, and special occasions like birthdays and holidays. When we enter middle school, whether we want it or not, the our pns for the future extend for weeks or even months. Even so, the future has a way of creeping up on us, often in unexpected ways that took us by surprise.
Although it may take us a while, eventually we come to the understanding that focusing on what we can control and making the most out of each day leads to greater happiness than wallowing in self-pity when life throws us off course. Unfortunately, some of us are forced to learn this lesson earlier than others.
My story begins as everyone else’s does, I was born. Friday, February 13th at 12:01. My parents named me Ray Daniels, 11 years old and I have two siblings, my older brother, David, who is 12, and my older sister, Diana, who is 13. We are kind of a study in opposites and recessive genes. They both have blonde with blue eyes and a perpetual tan, whereas I have red hair, heterochromatic eyes - one green and one blue -, freckles, and fair skin.
Our mother and father are still together, and for the moment, the five of us are living in a quiet little suburb. Here the houses have been around for quite a while, are a bit bigger with a little more nd, and most of the people of our neighbors are somewhat older, so there are very few kids. Dave tends to be the more rough and tumble of us boys and Diana is your typical outgoing cheerleader.
Originally, we lived in California. Dad and Mom worked for one of the big tech companies, but they were asked to take charge of a new office in another state, and moved here, where ‘I’ was born.
David, as you can guess, he’s heavily into pying sports of all types, takes karate, which Dad makes all three of us kids take, and doing anything outdoors. He’s not your typical popur jock though since he gets good grades. He’s also protective of Diana and me.
Diana and I are a lot more alike than David and I are, although we get along pretty well. She’s rather passionate when it comes to learning anything new. Smart, pretty, very well-liked, and active. She’s not into sports, but she does cheerleading.
As for me, I’m more the type to read a book or py games on my computer or phone when I’m not busy with other things. I might sound like an introvert, but if you think that, you’d be wrong. I enjoy the outdoors. Be it hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, or any number of other things you want to name, I’m all about it and ready to go do something like that at any time.
Starting school was a nightmare for me, as I was relentlessly teased about my eyes. However, some of the girls in my css
say they rather striking. The teasing quickly stopped when I stood up for myself and showed I wouldn't take it. One bully learned his lesson after ying his hands on me and ending up with a broken nose; as for me, I received a week-long suspension, but my dad wasn't angry with me. He only gave me a pat on the back and a smile. After that incident, I enjoyed school since I have always had a passion for learning.
I have a few friends, both boys, and girls, though far more of my friends are girls. I’m not like most of the boys you see running around. I somehow always knew that I was a different than them. Most of my preferences and likes tended to lean more on the feminine side of things. It also means that almost all of my friends were female.
That sted until the summer before 5th grade when we had a new family move in behind us. I saw the movers from my bedroom window as they were unloading kids’ bikes, so I knew that they had at least one kid themselves.
That evening, we were informed by Mom that we were going to welcome our new neighbors. So, after dinner, we make the short walk around our block and introduce ourselves to our new neighbors, the Smyths'.
They have two children, Jim, who’s 12, and Rachel, who’s 11 and prefers to be called Chel. Suffice it to say that Jim and David hit it right off since both of them love sports and Chel and I got along really well. Chel is a cutie with green eyes and her long, blonde hair done up in braids.
As Chel and I talked, we found out we had a lot in common and over the summer the two of us quickly became inseparable. She even started taking karate with us. It didn’t matter what we did, we were together and many people made the mistake of thinking we were boyfriend and girlfriend or the one that always made her ugh, my sister.
Even the start of the new school year didn’t change anything between us. She developed new friendships, even as I reconnected with mine, but even then she was still my bestie and I was hers.
The school year seemed to fly by, Chel and I turned 12 as we only grew closer and even went on a couple of movie dates. Soon, it was time for summer vacation again.
The following morning, our parents sit us down and inform us that we'll be relocating in two weeks due to Dad's new job transfer. We all exchange gnces, each of us silently dreading the thought of leaving our home behind. There is nothing we can do about it, so we keep our thoughts to ourselves.
A few days pass, and our annual family camping trip arrives. It’s during this trip that I can no longer ignore the sensitivity and swelling in my nipples. Even at 12 years old, I realize that something isn't right since my brother David never went through this, so upon returning home from our trip, I wait for a moment alone with my parents to discuss it with them.
When I look back, I realize that I should have been more open with my parents about everything, but even for regur kids, puberty can be overwhelming. I’ll soon find out that I’m far from normal in any sense of the word.
