1st 5 Pages December Workshop - Pollinger Rnd 2

Name: Henry Pollinger
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Title: The Adventures of Jake and Willy

Out of all the rules at Harry S. Truman Middle School, five rules are
strictly enforced.

1. Don't be late. Arrive to school and class on time.
2. No chewing gum in class or in the hallways.
3. No use of cell phone or any electronic device during school
hours. All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and
stored in your locker. It is best to leave them at home.
4. When absent, you are responsible for any missed work.
5. Three unexcused absences equal an after school detention.

There he was. On a bright Monday morning, sitting in the middle
stall of the boys bathroom. Leaning forward, Jake was chewing gum (rule
#2) playing Angry Birds on his iPhone (rule #3), and waiting for the
second bell to ring. The middle stall was the only one with a door and a
lock. Jack did not pay attention to the disembodied voices grumbling
about girls, farts, skateboarding, and what to do this weekend, already.


He just kept playing, with the sound turned low. It didn't
matter if he was late to his first period class (rule #1). He had Mr.
Peters. In fact, he had Mr. Peter's all day, for every subject. He
didn't have the luxury of changes classes like everyone else. He was
special ed. Although, he didn't feel so special.

People came in and out and he kept playing, moving from one
level to the next. Then it happened.

He heard a sound. He looked up. He saw the tile moving. The roof
tile slid completely across, two feet dangled from above. Jake looked
up, his mouth open. Slowly someone lowered themselves down onto the back
of the toilet.

“Thank you for not actually going to the bathroom,” said an
unrecognizable voice from behind.

“You welcome...I guess,” Jake said awkwardly. Who the hell is
this?

“Get up.”

“Why?”

“Get up and turn around.”

Jake got up off the toilet, turned around and saw him. Someone
around his age, but smaller. He was about five feet tall, his knees were
bent and he was balanced on the back of the toilet. He was wearing a
baseball cap, a swath of bright red hair peeking through the front, a
sweatshirt, jeans, and a huge smile.

“Now you see me.”

“I do. Who are you?”
“I obviously go to the same school as you.”

“Yes, but I have never seen you before.”

“Right, I hardly every really come to school, not my thing.”

“OK.”

“Willy,” he said as he offered Jake his outstretched hand.

“Jake.”

“So, Jake...Do you make it a habit of hanging out in the
bathroom.”

“Every morning.”

“I see. Are you looking for adventure?”

“Of course.”

“Get your stuff, let's go!”

Jake got up, put his phone in his front pocket. Willy jumped
down from the back of the toilet. They both left the stall. Standing by
the door they stood face to face. It was clear that Jake was the taller
one. Willy barely made it to his shoulders. After a short pause, they
both left the bathroom and walked into the quiet, vacant hallway.

“What's the plan?” Jake whispered.

“Follow me,” Willy responded.

Jake followed Willy. They walked casually down the hallway. They
walked past Mr. Stone's technology room. Luckily, Mr. Stone had his back
to the door and in his customary way, was talking to students about what
Jake thought was student safety for the hundredth time. Then, it
happened. They were outside. It was first period and Jake and Willy were
outside, preparing to escape.

“Follow me,” Willy said.

Willy quickly walked over to the shed behind Mr. Stone's
classroom. Behind the shed were two bikes. Willy motioned to Jake to
take one and Willy hoped onto the other. They began riding down the
parking lot and out of school, heading towards the Rail Trail. The Rail
Trail was a paved walkway over the old railroad lines that use to run
clear up to Albany from their small, rural town. Willy and Jake began
pedaling and reached the Rail Trail in what appeared to Jake to be
record time. They finally slowed down.

“Where are we going?” Jake asked. He was breathing a little
heavily because they were bicycling so quickly he was unable to catch
his breath.

“To the train station,” Willy replied.

“The train station? Why?”

“Because, buddy...We are going to New York City!” Willy stated
enthusiastically.

“New York City? Why?”

“To find my father.”

“But...what about school? Jake had a tinge of concern in his
voice.

Willy stopped his bike. “Give me your phone.”

Jake handed Willy the phone. Willy dialed a number and put it on
speaker.

“Good morning J. Edgar Hoover Middle School. Cindy speaking, how
may I help you?”

Willy had called the Principal's office.

“Good morning.” Jake thought, Willy sure does sound like my
father.

“This is Mr. Martin. I wanted to call to let you know that my
son, Jake will not be in school today. I think he may have the stomach
bug. He has been pooping, pu...”

“OK, Mr. Martin.” Cindy, the Principal's secretary cut him off
right there. “I will mark Jake Martin down as absent. Should I get his
work for him?”

“Of course.” Willy looked at Jake and made a face with his
upturned lip.

“Thank you, Mr. Martin.”

Willy hung up. “There, down. You are excused from school for
today.”

Jake thought to himself, it was that easy. All I had to do was
have someone call and tell them that he was sick in order to get out of
school. Why didn't he think of that?

Jake and Willy continued to peddle, in silence, towards the
train station. When they arrived, they parked their bikes in front of
the platform. While climbing the platform, Jake said “I don't have any
money for tickets.”

“No worries. I have them right here.” Willy patted his pocket.
“We just have to wait for the 7:55 train.”

Jake and Willy sat on the bench. They were both looking forward,
in silence.

Commuters dressed in long coats and carrying briefcases were
pacing back and forth, heads down reading the paper. Jake thought, one
day, I hope that is me. A fancy job in NYC. Reading the newspaper,
wearing one of those coats. People probably listen to them. They seemed
important. Jake didn't feel important. In fact, he felt alone. He heard
words like stupid and retard on a daily basis. It didn't make it any
better that he spent his whole day in Mr. Peter's Special Education
class with other kids were called the same names. Even PE, where he was
allowed to be with “normal” kids was a nightmare. Despite being a decent
athlete, no one picked Jake for fear that his stupidness would rub off
on him. But, Jake wasn't stupid. He had a hard time reading. Other than
that, he was good at Math and just ask him any questions about
Presidents. He could name them, starting with George Washington and tell
you their birth dates, the years in office, and when they died. Harry S.
Truman born May 8, 1884; died December 26, 1972. He was the 33rd
president and he served from 1945-1953.

The train finally roared into the platform. They both stood up.
Willy reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets. He handed one
to Jake.

“If they ask, we are going to New York on a field trip. We were
separated from the group. Our teacher is in the front car.” Willy
explained to Jake.

The train stopped, they walked on. Walking past a few empty
seats, they finally stopped at one. Willy jumped in next to the window.

“I hope you don't mind. I need the window seat. I like to see
whats going past.”

“No problem.” Jake swung his book bag onto the rack above the
seats. He sat down.

“Why me?” Jake asked as Willy stared out the window.

Still staring out the window, Willy replied. “I have been
watching you. Not in the creepy sense, but in a way to see if you were
able to handle this important mission with me.”

“What important mission?”

“We are going to New York to find...” Willy stopped. He
continued to stare out the window. The train began to pull away from the
platform.

“We are going to New York to find what?” Jake asked.

“We are going to New York to find my father.” Willy responded.

After Willy said this, they both sat in silence. Jake knew Willy
from school. They were both in Mr. Peter's class together. He was the
kid who rarely made it to school on time. He always had a note from Mrs.
Kerry, the school social worker. He never did homework, yet he always
knew what was going on. He was quiet and smart. He stood up for
everyone. When people picked on anyone from Mr. Perry's class he was the
first to defend them.

“I need to find my father.” Willy finally said. “I have the
address where he works.”

Willy pulled out a piece of paper. It said 80 Spring Street.

“I know that he is a sous chef. He works in some restaurant in
New York. The address is right here.”
Jake had never been to New York. He had never even been on a
train. To say he was nervous was an understatement.

“I saved over five hundred dollars for this trip.” Willy said.
“I just want to go to New York. Find him, say hello and come back. We
will be back before school ends.”

Jake relaxed. If that was the case, there was really nothing to
worry about.

“So, just sit back and enjoy.” Willy winked at Jake.