"Hello, Para Troop." Book 1: Keith's Fear

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Keith. He was shy, small, and did not talk a lot. Keith did not like to talk because he hardly got the interest to talk. He was fine speaking when spoken upon, but that was not often. Nobody wanted to play with Keith. They were all busy with their own friends. The boy was rather lonely, but he did not mind at all.

When he walked to school, he always passed by a toy shop. He liked seeing all the toys in there. They ranged from dolls to actions figures, from mini men to giant dinosaurs, and more. Every time he passed by the shop, Keith would smile. The toys were great and Mr. Nicholson, the shopkeeper, was very nice. He always smiled when Keith came by, his cheeks so rosy and his white beard long.

Today, Keith passed by the toy shop, as usual. When he looked through the window, he thought something was off. Something was missing. He could not put his finger on what was missing. He checked all throughout what he could see. He checked in the back; he checked in the front; he checked to the sides. Keith could not get what was missing. In thinking, Keith was almost late for school. He rushed over to school.

No one noticed Keith come into class late. The teacher, Ms. Applesmith, was standing up in the front with a smile on her face.

"Class, we are going to have a new student today. Please, introduce yourself."
The blond boy next to her was also smiling when he said, "Hello! My name is Para Troop. I have just moved in yesterday."

"What kind of name is 'Para'?" asked a girl.
Para said kindly, " 'Para' is my nickname. I don't like my long name as much."

The students asked Para many questions before the teacher said, "Alright, class. We must start the lesson. Para, dear, please take a seat next to Keith, the boy in the back. You two will become great friends!"

Keith did not say a word. The boy named Para took the seat next to Keith, smiling. "Hello, Keith. We'll be great friends, won't we?" His brown eyes glowed with enthusiasm.

Keith continued to be quiet. He only nodded.

"I'm new to school here, and I don't know my way around town. Could you please show me around the parts? I would appreciate it." Para grinned and turned away.

After school, Para and Keith got to be close. Keith was a bit jealous that Para was a kind and strong boy. During recess, Para had helped a girl who had lost her toy and a boy who was being picked on. He did not fight; he was a boy that was able to talk his way out of situations. Para was nice enough to search through everything in order to find what he was looking for. He did all of these things with a smile, something Keith would not be able to do. Keith was too shy and distant to help anyone. He was also not as good as a talker. He wondered how Para could be so good and righteous and not expect anything in return. However, Keith did not let his jealousy get in the way of their friendship.

After school, Para said, "Keith, may I come over to your house? I would love to meet your parents."

Keith grew scared. "My mom and dad don't like guests."

"Oh. Is that so? I was going to have a party soon, and I wanted to invite you. My parents told me it's nice to talk to your friend's mom and dad before inviting." Para frowned. "That's not good."

Keith shook his head. "They don't like guests. Sorry."

"It's fine. Maybe next time."

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Keith arrived home. He put away all his school materials on a coffee table near the entrance. The moment he came in, there was already people home. Their raising voices made Keith frown. He avoided the people's eyes as he passed by the kitchen area, and he frowned as he scampered up the stairs. No one noticed him coming home or going up the stairs.

He immediately worked on his homework and was reading for class. For an hour, there was arguing. When silence came, Keith's mom came into his room. She was small and looked tired. "I'm sorry, Keith. Your dad and I were just discussing about things. How are you, sweetie? How is your homework?"

"I'm fine, Mom," said Keith.

"Anything I can help on? I can make you some snacks."

"I'm fine, Mom," Keith repeated. "Everything's done anyways, and I'm not hungry."

"Oh, I see," his mom said, a bit quiet. "Please just tell me if you need anything, okay? I love you always, Keith." She left the room, leaving Keith alone. He did not mind being alone. It meant everything would be quiet. He liked the quiet.

It always went like this.

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Para and Keith continued to be friends for days. Para said, "Keith, I'd like to see your parents. I'm having another party soon. I would love to meet your mom and dad!"

Keith shook his head. "My parents don't like guests. Sorry."

Para frowned. "It's always that way, Keith. Is there something you're not telling me? I can take it; we're friends."

Keith shook his head. "That's just it."

Para said, "Keith, can I met them just once? After that, I will never ask again. I promise."

Keith sighed. "...Okay." He knew Para would not stop asking until he gave in. Para was a kind, strong, but also stubborn boy. Keith had seen the stubbornness during recess. Para would not give up helping someone or asking to help them until they had given in. Keith had now experienced the same thing.

Keith brought Para over to his house. The boys entered in and saw Keith's mom and dad sitting together on a couch. They looked at Para. Both were surprised.

"Well, Keith, this is the first time in a while you had brought someone over," said his mom. "Who is your friend?"

"Hello, Mrs. Brighton," said Para. "My name is Para Troop. I'm new at Keith's school. Hello to you too, Mr. Brighton."

Keith's dad said, "Hello, Para. Is that your real name?"

"No, Mr. Brighton. I don't like my full name. This is my nickname."

Keith became scared as Para through him a look. His mom and dad looked at Keith.

"Keith," said his dad. "You can let your friend sleep over for the night. We'd be happy to have him over."

Keith's mom looked surprised, but then she smiled. "T-That's right, Keith. He can stay for the night, and we'd love guests. How about it, you two? I'm sure you would be good friends."

Keith was about to say something before being interrupted by Para: "I'd love to sleep over, Mrs. Brighton. Thank you!"

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"You lied to me, Keith," said Para, with a frown. The two boys were on the floor of the living room, snuggled in sleeping bags. "That hurts a lot. Why did you lie?"

Keith looked away. He did not like the look Para was giving him. He did not answer Para.

"Okay. You don't have to tell me. Let's not ruin the fun." Para sat up, smiling. "Let's play some games. I like word games the best."

Keith and Para played games. The two had the most fun in a while. Para would start with a word and Keith would have to say a word that started with the last word Para said, and then Para would have to counter Keith's word with his own word. The game continued for a long time. Keith kept losing, but he still had fun. He was enjoying Para's company.

While the two were playing, voices broke their play. They continued to raise. Keith hid amongst his sleeping bag, burying deep inside. Para listened to the conversation.

"Is that your parents, Keith? They're arguing... Shouldn't you go see what's wrong?"

Keith shook his head.

"You should go talk with them, Keith," Para insisted.

Again, Keith shook his head.

"Why not? Are you...?" Para said.

"Scared. I'm... scared," Keith answered before Para could finish.

Para sat up. "Keith, being scared won't help anything. You have to face your fears. That's what my grandma told me."

Keith sat up and hugged Para. "Don't make me go. I'm too scared! They always argue! Nothing I say makes a difference!"

"It's not good to be scared, Keith," Para said. "You have to be strong, even if the situation doesn't get better. You mom and dad are always arguing, but they still love you. You should go see them."

Keith would not budge.

Para shoved Keith off. "Go, Keith! Go face your fears!"

Keith grew scared of Para. He ran away to the voices.

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Keith was still scared from over the night, but he grew stronger. He talked with his parents. The boy had joined in the argument. Nothing had changed. They continued to argue despite when he went to bed. Keith's mom said nothing was going to be better for them. Keith got something out of the argument. He was strong, he thought. He faced his fear thanks to Para.

Today in class, Para said he was moving away again. "My dad got a new job far away. I won't be able to see everyone for a while. Any of you would have to visit me. It's hard." Para received sad faces. Keith also gave sadness.

Para only said to Keith, "You've gotten stronger. I'm so happy for you."

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Keith passed by the toy store on his way home. It had been two months since Para moved away. Keith was still sad that his friend was gone, but he did make a promise to Para.

While passing, Keith noticed what was missing months ago. A doll was propped up in the front. It was of a smiling boy with blond hair. He was holding a cane in the right hand. His left leg was bandaged up. The most important thing was that he was smiling.

Keith remembered the tale Mr. Applesmith said of the toy.

This doll's name is 'Paralyzed Trooper.' You see, he was a boy that was going into war. He was about your age, and he was going to fight for his country. He was very scared. He feared about never returning home to his family or seeing so much fighting. The boy would not see people for a while. He was afraid of them talking about he would be a good person and if they should help him. Eventually, Keith, he had overcome his fear, saying to himself that he would become strong by going into war. He told himself every day that he would come home no matter what and make his family proud.

His bandaged leg is a proof of that. It had gotten seriously injured during battle. The war had not ended when his leg became unable to be used anymore. But what did he tell himself, Keith? Here is what he said: "I'm so glad that I got into war. I'm not scared anymore."

That is the story of the 'Paralyzed Trooper.'

Keith remembered the promise he made to his friend.

"You'll come visit me soon, Keith, right?" asked Para.



"Yes. I'll visit you soon, Para Troop."