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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Y2plaHz3
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l2epyFXEv
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7nIDZUxUq
“Hey kiddo!” came the jolly, yet slightly annoying voice of my father.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaJDXUpXaK
“Hello father. And pray, what is the subject of your call?” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyguSMgyC3J
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?” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qhFOx8aaJ
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO4vLOBt6L
“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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2ZJldwaxd
“Well alright then. See ya when you get home!” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxoDAAWbZA
Click.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjkCezpFi6
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKAOI650q5
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaBwWpbcG0
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmY7ZZC53C
“Oh Tobias. Where have you been? Me and your father were about to call the cops! I am so glad you are home.” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9q9pd8FBQ
I went inside and plopped down on a couch, setting my backpack down on the floor. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx9Rl7lITJ
“Apologies mother for making you worry.” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5c5HIdq9B
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF9IGiRQbr
“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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuf5C6YiTv
“Really, that’s great,” I said, trying to suppress the urge to smile.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzzmxPNApM
“We can play Wario Kart after I say hi to Silas, okay?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lc9inJfiT
“Okeee!” Elliot went outside, perhaps to play some more.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkus3x3Lhu8
My mom looked at me and said “Well I'm glad that you are alright. Just don't come late again, okay?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6kf9zftjU
I looked at her, feeling a little guilty that I made her worry. “Of course Mother.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBKtm52G7r
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmFBqWPMiO
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).437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EbHFcQoIt
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqzTHjktVx
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf92E8aRW62
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).437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaJYNNjR8C
“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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDVy4j18YD
“Apologies Dr. S,” I feebly said and handed him Silas.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd1NylzQeS
Dr. S chuckled, “It’s fine. Anyways, I looked at the X-ray scans and found that this….”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMvcawfWmG
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkhcou0Do1
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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbRKWFBr1C
Dr. S handed me Silas. With a wink, he said, “Now you take good care of him, you hear?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIC32doh6x
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).437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNo9mG8K8M
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!”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKolaayUGa
That was the first of many times Silas talked. I looked at him, confusion in my eyes, and asked “Umm, did you just speak?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IC0gYEuJU
Silas, looking like a kid that was caught in the act of stealing a cookie, said “Errrr… no. I mean, meow?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxKMVARBZU
“You did, you did talk!” I exclaimed with surprise.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWdgrQtnKw
“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! 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnWHsZvvj2
“Okay then. I won't tell anyone Mr…..” That was when I realized that I didn't even know his name.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy47cz2uA6O
“Ummmmm, what is your name?”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KBKFnLcFy
“I don't know,” he answered, “Just call me Silas. It sounds cool.” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1McxzDs7W
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ594Y3TTsqs
Alright Mr. Silas. My name is Tobias. Tobias Whitton. And I think we are going to be good friends.” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdHMVyY7Lh
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). 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y1eR2QdAc
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4gLGQYbRD
“Hi Tobi,” Silas said from his spot on the bean bag chair. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraaPENc3cc
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO8CZKniTr
Was it that sumo kid Billy Bonson that hurt your elbow?” Silas asked, even though he already knew the answer.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8fqdAfInA
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.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybpjSoLZKE
“Pfft, Tobi you aren't SUPPOSED to do his homework! He needs to do it himself! Let me see your elbow.”437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVZUZ57Vhg
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirRyXdjlQ4
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!” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmvsYkO5tl
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOvCTs38mA
“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.” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1uamB5kFN
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7pQlWPkwU
“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?” 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZOkdexkcO
“Aye aye captain,” Silas said with a wave of his hand, smirking a small smirk. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9KmPTTFtc
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. 437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUBwpx6ubw
A room that we fondly call “Wonder Branches.”
