Billy and his “gang” always leaned against the wall, trying to be cool, although to me they look like a bunch of tomatoes on little twig limbs. They are just so annoying to have to deal with. Honestly, the audacity that they have! Oh, my apologies, I have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Tobias Whitton, although some people call me “weirdo” and “nerd.” I have no clue why though. I keep reminding my peers that my name is Tobias, not nerd. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmmc37lp3s
Anyways, I am 12 years old and I turn 13 in a few months. I am supposed to be in 7th grade, yet I was able to skip a grade and I am now in 8th grade. I am currently walking on the sidewalk, holding my bleeding and bruised elbow. Billy did it to me. He always pounded me after school, along with his followers, following him around like eager dogs on a leash.
Riiiing. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJep1ITrkby
Startled, I take out my phone. Someone was calling me. That someone was Edgar Whitton, my father. Pressing the call button, I rise the phone to my ear. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ038a2aeh7h
“Hey kiddo!” came the jolly, yet slightly annoying voice of my father.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFh0HNXDFY
“Hello father. And pray, what is the subject of your call?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYHPyy0HIe
My father answered, “Nothing much kiddo. Just wanted to know why you are not home yet. It's pretty late you know! Is something wrong?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZisnfpJBu
I look at the time. It was 5:57. School was out at 4:15. I didn't think Billy’s pounding would take so long! How irritating.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICeRSv3Yc2
“No father, nothing is the matter. Just a little….. skirmish that I ran into (A.K.A Billy Bonson and his fist). It has been taken care of though.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4ihvDdWAq
“Well alright then. See ya when you get home!” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG0F2jPVPU
Click.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj8pZVpLqg
Sighting, putting away my phone, I trudged on, feeling the cool wind of Winter on my face. Winter was the season I most preferred. I do quite enjoy Winter, loved the bitter colds the weather brings and the sparkling, soft snow on the ground. Plus, my birthday was on Winter, or more specifically, Christmas Day. Whenever someone learns that my birthday falls on the holiday, they either pity me or think I am lucky. I honestly do not care about my birthday. All we do to celebrate it is a small party. Since I do not have any friends (Except for Silas, but he is not a human), there is usually only relatives at the party.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcpMHVvI7b
I kicked a gray pebble and watched it bound across the street and into the forest. Soon, I saw the familiar sign that read “Havenbrook Houses.” My house was the second to last one on my neighborhood. It was a 2-story house, with the exterior of the 2nd floor made out of dark oak wood, while the exterior of the 1st floor was made out of cobblestone. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3tjOpjREv
I knocked at the door. It swung open and there was my mom, a worried look on her face that immediately relaxed once she saw me. I quickly hid my hurt elbow behind my back, not wanting my mom to get nosy and ask questions. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSOR4MlDAL
“Oh Tobias. Where have you been? Me and your father were about to call the cops! I am so glad you are home.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiN7yRPKWW
I went inside and plopped down on a couch, setting my backpack down on the floor. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPrLwRKu9I
“Apologies mother for making you worry.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j7fXppPJX
She was about to reply, when Elliot came in, carrying his toy car. The car itself was supposed to be a light blue, with little lights at the front. But now, it looked all brown and dirty. He must've been playing outside again. Elliot was a very energetic kid at the age of eight. I was the one who bought him that toy car, the one that he loves so much. I would never admit it, but I do feel proud that his favorite toy is the one I bought him.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xqf63Uo6n
“Tobi! Guess what? I think I can finally beat you in Wario Kart! I've been practicing, and I was even able to beat dad.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbcpRj1fte
“Really, that’s great,” I said, trying to suppress the urge to smile.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe6ZVcuvBs
“We can play Wario Kart after I say hi to Silas, okay?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PnU1GAKKA
“Okeee!” Elliot went outside, perhaps to play some more.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdp11vtxIn
My mom looked at me and said “Well I'm glad that you are alright. Just don't come late again, okay?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL8CyKWApn
I looked at her, feeling a little guilty that I made her worry. “Of course Mother.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oKdTXDypt
I went in my room and found Silas, my pet…. monkey? We honestly weren't sure if he was a monkey or not. He looked like one, but at the same time, he didn't. He has a red nose, sort of like a cherry, and long arms that barely reached the floor. His ears remind me of an elephant’s ears, expect with light brown fur. He was around 3 feet in height and had a little tuft of fur sticking out at the top of his head.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkyYLVY2kV
But his looks weren't even the strangest part about Silas. No, the strangest part about Silas was that (as perfectly good as any human), he can talk. You may be shaking your head right now, saying “Now this person has gone quite insane if he thinks his pet can talk!” But it is true. I could not believe it myself when I first heard Silas talk. I thought for sure something was wrong with my hearing, and I even went as far as begging my father to take me to the ear doctor (I got a lollipop afterwards though, so it wasn't a COMPLETE waste of time).453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxlCPdYyUA
I remember the day Silas arrived at our household as if it were yesterday, even though it was actually two years ago. You see, my father saved Silas. He found him wounded on the sidewalk, not too far from our house. Father brought him home and soon, my parents, Elliot and I piled into our car and drove of to the vet. The vet, Dr. Schkwanzembauzer (for the sake of our sanity, we'll call him Dr. S) took Silas into a little room, telling us to wait in the waiting room.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31mA8ImECP
I sat my little self down on a plastic chair, the kind that made you want to sway back and forth because of how uncomfortable it is. I swung my legs, looking down at my blue nylon sneakers. Right left, right left is the pattern my legs swayed in, up and down, right and left. I was quite the fidgety kid back then, being at the age of ten.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpRRda6joi
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity for me, Dr. S came out with Silas, all bandaged up. I stood up and ran to Silas, taking him away from the vet and holding him in my arms (He was a good two feet at that time, plus he was much skinnier, so it was easier to hold him. Nowadays, he's as plump as a king and is now three feet tall).453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEeE59qs1O
“Tobias! That was very rude of you, swiping away that animal from Dr. S like that. Say sorry!” My mom looked at me expectantly after saying that, waiting.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv9AebCZuo
“Apologies Dr. S,” I feebly said and handed him Silas.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez3PMib4RU
Dr. S chuckled, “It’s fine. Anyways, I looked at the X-ray scans and found that this….”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRFk0wV3FP
Dr. S looked at Silas, as if just noticing that he had no clue what he was. “Monkey.... had a broken arm, a sprained leg and a bunch of wounds that looked like they were made by a weapon of some sort.” When he said the part about the weapon, he looked at my parents suspiciously, as if suspecting that they abused Silas. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7MKuVHmNY
Shrugging it off, he continued. “My advice is to make sure he gets plenty of rest and enough food. I'll be sending some medicine, sort of like painkillers, but for animals. Just put the pill into his food so that he eats it.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cLULRicoS
Dr. S handed me Silas. With a wink, he said, “Now you take good care of him, you hear?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy2Tak6Hae
I nodded. After saying goodbye, we drove to our house. We decided that Silas should sleep in my room. Correction, I kept on begging my parents to let Silas sleep on some pillows in my room, to which they tirelessly agreed to (I have a sneaking suspicion they said yes to my request in order to shut me up).453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3Efk162eO
So there I was, sitting down on my bed and stroking the top of Silas’ head. I then accidentally pulled on one of his hairs. Silas then yelled “Ouch!”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlMS9MhP3J
That was the first of many times Silas talked. I looked at him, confusion in my eyes, and asked “Umm, did you just speak?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOQpn75SqJ
Silas, looking like a kid that was caught in the act of stealing a cookie, said “Errrr… no. I mean, meow?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jaIafE2T7
“You did, you did talk!” I exclaimed with surprise.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8PMdKU1Pw
“Alright alright. Yes, I can talk, big surprise. Thing is, you can't tell anyone, not even your parents! I don't know how I'm able to talk. Heck, I don't even remember anything before your dad saved me! So please, don't tell anyone I can talk.” Silas looked at me, and for the first time, I saw that he was trembling, almost as if there were an earthquake. His eyes were brimmed with tears, and he looked lost and frightened, with his eyes downcast. I pitied him. It must be scary to not know your past at all! 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oqKET7IFo
“Okay then. I won't tell anyone Mr…..” That was when I realized that I didn't even know his name.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo22KXuona
“Ummmmm, what is your name?”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCwNSNcdpJ
“I don't know,” he answered, “Just call me Silas. It sounds cool.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTH9MIb0yX
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Alright Mr. Silas. My name is Tobias. Tobias Whitton. And I think we are going to be good friends.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaPXhhgCUB
Yes, I actually did say that. I do not know why I would say such a thing as if I were in some anime show. I suppose that the younger you are, the cringing you are, which was certainly the case for ten year old me. I like to think that I have matured more and that I do not act like some anime school girl, yet I sometimes have my doubts). 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8xxMqNaD8
And now, here we are, two years later. Silas still sleeps in my room, except his bed has upgraded from a pile of pillows to a bean bag chair.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4HFoBeA6S
“Hi Tobi,” Silas said from his spot on the bean bag chair. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AFjvMYwTC
Hello Silas.” I sat down on my bed with a sigh. I suddenly felt a jolt of pain shoot up from my elbow, the one that wasn't in the greatest condition right now. I groaned with pain. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ASu5zba27
Was it that sumo kid Billy Bonson that hurt your elbow?” Silas asked, even though he already knew the answer.453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtDgJUpF9r
I answered, trying to suppress the urge to cry out loud in pain, “It is nothing, just a small wound, that is all. To be honest, it was my fault this time around for refusing to do his homework.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfvJjlquBW
“Pfft, Tobi you aren't SUPPOSED to do his homework! He needs to do it himself! Let me see your elbow.”453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoNFeVx0cQ
I rolled my eyes and held out my elbow for his inspection. You see, Silas had this uncanny ability when it came to healing and medicine, which was strange, since, well, how can he know how to heal and stuff if he doesn't remember his past? It was as if he just knew how to treat wounds and illnesses, which makes me believe that perhaps he was a doctor or something in his past, the part he can't remember. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJak74e0ii
Silas grabbed the first aid kit with his brown, furry fingers from under his bean bag chair and started doing his healing “magic” on my elbow. Soon, he had it all bandaged up and ready for the cruel, real world. “There. Now don't you dare let that Billy Bonson beat you up again. Don't you have the pressure points sheet I gave you, the one that says where are the best places to punch someone and potentially kill them? I want you to use them!” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmazmzG4Cbl
I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes a second time. Silas isn’t the most….peaceful of a person. He thinks that instead of just thinking about the possible outcomes and analyzing the situation, he believes that one should just take action, preferably a violent one, instead of “wasting time” thinking. This is where he and me differentiate. You see, I believe that people SHOULD think about the possible outcomes and analyze the situation before doing any actions. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovOuk89s5P
“Silas, you know I do not like violence in the least. After all, it is possible that I would have gotten in trouble if I did punch him. Yet I appreciate your concern. Now, let us go downstairs to Elliot. He wanted me to play Wario Kart with him, claiming that he can beat me, though I doubt it.” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1Hcsj9FzH
With a muttered “Ok,” Silas and I walked downstairs. Well, to be more specific, I walked down the stairs while Silas slid down on the banister. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99mbR54gg0
“Remember,” I told Silas, “No talking in even the slightest. After all, we do not want my family knowing that you can speak and sending you off to a lab or somewhere of the likes. Alright?” 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl0dOlF5w7
“Aye aye captain,” Silas said with a wave of his hand, smirking a small smirk. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DDxTpE65Y
We arrived downstairs and after a few rounds of Wario Kart (All in which I came victoriously in first place), Silas and I headed outside, coats wrapped around us and my backpack slung over my shoulder. I said that I was going to the library and that after, I was going to take Silas to the vet. Although in reality, We were going to our little “secret room,” a room only Silas and I know about. 453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wv3GX9Goe
A room that we fondly call “Wonder Branches.”
