”Who is your idol Mrs. Rosel- Do you know who my idol is? Barack Obama. And DO YOU know what Obama once said? Anything is possible if you really believe in it! I’m nooooot sure he every said that BUT… I believe that…“
Wise word from young Ezekiel Griffin on his last school trip to France when he tried to convince his teacher that it was fine for him to share a room with Kaya. What kind of stupid rule is that - boys and girls can’t share a room? Well, Zek decided it was his responsibility to help everyone and eventually get what he wanted. But why is this story relevant now? Because Zek… Didn’t get what he wanted but he is not a quitter! Now he is craving a burger and this time nothing was going to stop him from achieving his goals.
After all, he did deserve one big double cheeseburger with large fries and mozzarella sticks today. Recent news of Sadie Monroe’s passing painted the town blue, leaving Zek with a heavy heart and some kind of understanding for everyone close to Sadie. For Andy and Kaya who he could call family now, for his school friend and mostly for Annie. You see, he couldn’t quite grasp what they feeling and how deeply were they feeling it but he did know loss and grieving. He did know what it was like not being able to see your parent again - his father not might be dead but it surely felt like he was.
Ezekiel did pay his respects, he had tried his best to be a source of comfort for those around him but that’s all that he could do. Just be there and that hurt more than anything. At times he wished he had the power to take away all the hurt from people he cared about but at the end of the day Zek was just a boy. A hungry boy at the moment. His pursuit of this modest goal was propelled by the belief that sometimes, amidst the heaviness of life, a good meal could provide a comforting refuge. So putting on different clothes after coming back to what he now called home - McAllister’s had graciously offered him a room - he prepared to venture out into the cool night, ready to satisfy his hunger. But just as he was about to step out of his room, his phone, a trusty companion in his pocket, began to ring.
{𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒚’𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?}
It felt like a lifetime as Zek stared at the glowing screen of his phone, the name “Lenora” accompanied by a recent selfie - the same one he took with everyyyyone else in his class because he just felt silly at that moment - since that was the only photo he had with her from high school that was not from freshman year.
The phone continued to ring, each chime echoing the passing seconds, amplifying the anticipation that hung in the air. Zek’s heart, usually light and carefree, now bore the weight of the unexpected call. Zek’s mind raced, replaying the reel of memories that time had partially concealed. Lenora, a girl with whom he had created a tapestry of shared experiences, now beckoned through the digital ether. It saddened him that the surprise of seeing her name on the screen triggered confusion rather than excitement. Zek’s heart skipped a beat, a sensation he hadn’t felt in ages. Lenora… Lenora, a girl he used to spend endless of time with when they were kids, was calling him. It’s been a while since he’s seen her name on the screen and it saddened him that this was his reaction. For a while now he couldn’t help but wonder what happened between them? Why did he stop reaching out? Why did he let it all slip away?
Yet, this was Zek, a perpetually goofy soul who refused to be burdened by the weight of mixed emotions. He wouldn’t allow the confusion that momentarily clouded his heart to overshadow the deep-rooted fondness he harbored for Lenora. As the seconds ticked by, a determined smile tugged at the corners of his lips, replacing his initial feelings with a sense of anticipation and excitement. Why was she calling him? The question reverberated in his mind, echoing the curiosity that danced in his expressive eyes. The timing of the call added an extra layer of mystery. ”Miss-“ Before Zek could utter a single word, the familiar cadence of Lenora’s voice cut through the quiet. It wasn’t a deliberate interruption; rather, it was a wave of unfiltered expression.
Zek’s smile widened. He listened intently, allowing the rush of her words to paint a vivid picture of her state of mind. It was like being caught in a whirlwind of nostalgia and spontaneity, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time. That was all until he heard the car and paid closer attention to the sounds around her, trying to figure out where she was and what was happening. [color=“#707151”]”I think I can hear you but maybe you should ask me again juuuuuuust in case,“[/color] Zek interjected playfully, his concern masked by a light-hearted tone. The realization that Lenora might be in the midst of something more than a casual call flickered in his mind. Swiftly, he descended the stairs of the McAllister home, the image of a forgotten burger replaced by the urgency to understand Lenora’s situation. [color=”#707151”]”You sound like you’ve been on a wild ride. By the way, you might want to watch out for those cars - wouldn’t want you getting run over while having an existential crisis.“[/color] A light laugh now filled the air as he left the house and stood right in front of it, waiting to find out where she was. ”I think you were saying how much you miss me and how you want to see me soooooo would you be nice enough to tell me where you are?“
novella- Lenora
CerealKiller - McAllister-Drakes mentioned