:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel}

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 1, 2015 20:52:55 GMT -5

Post by ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ on Sept 1, 2015 20:52:55 GMT -5

I hated school. I was always the weird kid with the “cane”, and while I hated using my walking assistance, it was a lot better than ending up on the ground half the day. When I was younger, my parents made me walk without any assistance, but it became obvious it was only aggravating the condition and would hurt my back even more. Despite my qualms with the “cane”, what I really dreaded about school was the practical aspects of it. Theoretically, I understood all there needed to be known about machines. I could grasp the ideas easily because it was all mind power. But when it came to the practicals, I always scored low on the tests. It was a miracle I hadn’t failed my classes, but I had a feeling it was part because my teachers pitied me and my condition and part because they knew my father would come in and have a word if I did fail.

There was nothing anyone could do during class time, though. I still had to practice all of the skills, even if it took me three times as long as everybody else to complete a project. Sweat would break out into beads as I stared intensely at my project, and yet could not coordinate my left and right side to do the same thing. We were soldering in this class, and I couldn’t help but just glare at my project, wishing it could take care of itself. It was one thing when I had to work on coordinating my left and right side; it was another when it involved the amount of fine work required to complete the task.

I contemplated telling the teacher, but I had already lied to her and the metal taste was still in my mouth. It tasted terrible, but it was better than having my teacher tell my father that I was absolutely useless at skills. I needed a friend-line, someone I could ask for help without having to go through the teacher, and that was going to have to take a lot of pride. Funny thing was, I wasn’t a very proud person to begin with. Ever since I was a toddler, I was okay with getting help when I needed it. The only difficult part was the shame my father would show in his eyes whenever I told him I couldn’t do something.

Looking side-to-side for the teacher, I leaned over to my classmate and asked, “Hey, I’m having some trouble with this part. Could you possibly help?” Lester was my classmate’s name and he always seemed like a nice guy. If I had to ask anyone for help, he was definitely my first choice. Even asking for help seemed to mitigate the metallic taste, and I knew I was doing the right thing by asking Lester.

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 2, 2015 6:26:50 GMT -5

Post by d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel on Sept 2, 2015 6:26:50 GMT -5

Lester Retsel

District 3 | Male | 13

Having friends was not in my parent’s agenda for me, I could have “acquaintances” but that was for academic purposes. Also, they had to go through some vigorous tests to make sure they were suitable for me; you don’t test someone to see if they’re friend worthy. For a while I have waddled along with their scheme but of late, I have decided I need real friends; real people to play and talk too. It must be adolescence causing me to rebel, after all I am now in the early teen stage of life, hormones will be knocking on the door very soon.

School is the only time and place, where I am out of their control. Although I am sure they must have inputted some ideas to the professors, as they usually all take a keen interest in me working hard. If I slack for one bit, even just stare off into space for five seconds, my parents immediately know when I get home. I am their only child, I have to be perfect and must oblige to everything. I will for the most of it. I want to be successful but I want to take my own path to success, not one my parents have paved out for me.

Today in class is a soldering practical session, something I have done countless of time before. I don’t only just get homework from school; I have my own special soldering set at home, obviously from my parents. Glancing around the class, I’d be eager to get it over and done with, waiting for the call to get stuck. Picking up the iron, I’d prepare myself for the task. Safety Lester, safety. My mother’s words would enter my mind, as I slide the goggles over my head. One day, I am going to purposely graze my knee, just so I can witness the catastrophic events unfold in my house. Mother will probably think I’d lose my leg.

Following the signal to go, I’d get stuck into the task. Melting metals together, so that they join, it is a very hot process. Racing from my brow, the sweat would slide off my face, little droplets landing on the table. Ever so carefully conjoining the metals together, I’d fight the shakes trying to take over my arm. Steady Lester, steady Moving my face closer and closer to the equipment, I can feel my parents worry surround me. What would they think if I burnt my face? Pulling myself back, I’d decide that I’d rather not endure such pain, not just to prove something; I should just stick with the grazed knee.

“Hey, I’m having some trouble with this part. Could you possibly help?” Slowly placing down the iron, I’d turn my attention to one of my classmates. Pellin, asking for my help? Moving my eyes up and down him, I’d realise why. Why does he not get some sort of support? Seriously, does the school not care? ” Yeah okay, I’ll help you.” I cannot turn down such request, I would seem selfish and I am not of the sort. Pellin seems like a nice guy…despite his problem. I am not the one to judge and I’ll offer my assistance to ANYONE, despite my parent’s rules. Moving over to his work station, I’d observe where he is with the project. ”Which bit are you having trouble with?”

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 8, 2015 13:26:51 GMT -5

Post by ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ on Sept 8, 2015 13:26:51 GMT -5

It was as if a heavy weight had disappeared from my chest when Lester said okay. He came over to look at where I was, and I was so embarrassed by how much I hadn’t completed that I almost tried to cover my project up. But that wasn’t the point of asking for help was it? What was it the doctor had said? If you admit there’s a problem, you can take your first step. What a load of crockpot. He had a point, though; if I couldn’t show Lester where my problems were, how was he supposed to help me.

I chuckled when he asked me about the “bit” that I was struggling on. “Well, really, the whole project,” I said, giving him a smile. “But right now is guiding the iron to that metal piece on the plate. I have to get this wire attached over there, and I guess I'm having trouble using only one hand to do this.” This section might have been easier if I had stability and coordination, but it was either I relied on one hand to do the work or hope that my balance didn’t tilt me in one direction. “I guess my real problem is balance, but if the doctors can’t fix it…” I trailed off, realizing that the joke I was about to make probably wasn’t important.

“You don’t have to worry about it,” I told Lester. “And you don’t have to help, if you don't want to. It looks like a tough project and I wouldn’t want you to take away your time from your own project.” It tasted like copper now, but I wasn’t willing to pull Lester away for something that even the doctor couldn’t cure. “If you have any tips though, I’d really appreciate it,” I threw in, trying to salvage whatever it was I had been trying to do. I didn’t want to seem rude and brush him off, but who was I to trouble him with my problems?

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 8, 2015 14:32:02 GMT -5

Post by d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel on Sept 8, 2015 14:32:02 GMT -5

Lester Retsel

District 3 | Male | 13

Glancing back at my work, I’d feel quite ashamed at how fast I had nearly completed it, I am sure a lot in this class would likely pick on me for it. Oh you’re such a nerd Lester. I am not a nerd, I just spending my time wisely. What is the point in coming to school when you’re just going to waste it? There is no point in going at all, if you don’t learn anything. Despite the fact that I have had education forced on me, at home and here; I enjoy it. It will get me somewhere in the future and I want to live a fruitful life.

Looking down at Pellin’s project, I’d quickly realise that he as quite a lot to do. Listening to him quite intently, I’d nod to his every word as I try and figure out what to do. So he is having trouble using one hand…his balance. I can’t help him with his coordination but I can give him a hand, quite literally. ”I could lend you my hand, you use your good one and I’ll be the other one.” Planning out on how exactly I was to do this.

Darting my eyes across the teacher, I could see a stir in their eyes. They must not want me to help Pellin but he needs it, I am not going to turn him down. ”It’s ok ok, I am happy to help really.” My eyes would revert back to my work across the table, the nearly completed task. I could just slow down, hang about after I finish it or help Pellin in-between. ”Between you and me. I have literally nearly finished my work” Whispering to him so that others cannot hear, I’d admit my speedy progress to him. ”I could help you to the point I am at now, go finish mine off and then come back and help you?”

I don’t want to seem selfish and leave Pellin to struggle, after all he is the first person in this class to ask for my help and I need to deliver it to him.

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 17, 2015 12:55:32 GMT -5

Post by ᕙʕ•ᴥ•ʔᕗ on Sept 17, 2015 12:55:32 GMT -5

He suggested being another hand for me, and a grin stretched wide across my face. That might actually work… All Lester would really have to do was hold something in place—the anchor hand, I would call it—while I controlled the iron. It didn’t fix everything, but it was definitely a better solution than me knocking everything down at my work space. “I like that plan. I’ll still work with the iron, but if you could hold this metal piece—,” I pointed to a small metal square lying next to the board, “—I can solder it to the board.”

“Thank you for helping,” I whispered as I looked at the teachers to see if any of them were looking in our direction. I didn’t know how much more sincere I could feel toward Lester, because he was the first of my classmates to not stare at me as if I had some disease. He was the first who listened to the words that came out of my mouth when I asked for help. It was something I would always owe him but would never know how to repay. Not only was he good at the practicals, he also understood the material as well. The only thing I could possibly offer was my father’s money.

I looked at his project and realized that he was right—he was very nearly finished with his own project. Would I have been able to complete my project that quickly if my body was completely able? Or would I have also been struggling to reach the halfway point like the rest of my fellow classmates? I chuckled again with his proposition: it would take far too long for my project to reach his point, but I did appreciate the offer. Instead, I offered a counter-proposal. “You don’t have to help me to the point you reached. You’re always more than welcome to complete your project. It would take too long for me to reach your point anyway.” No matter how much I understood the theoretical, every class session I wasn’t able to effectively practice my skills. It made me slow and rusty.

“Really, it’s just the minute stuff that I’m having trouble with. I’m sure once we get this part over with, I’ll be able to take care of the rest.” The taste seared through my mouth as if I had just placed all the squares that I had to solder into my mouth.

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:| The Finer Things in Life |: {Frankel} Sept 19, 2015 6:59:21 GMT -5

Post by d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel on Sept 19, 2015 6:59:21 GMT -5

Lester Retsel

District 3 | Male | 13

Smiling at Pellin, I’d be all too prepared to help. Glancing down at the material on the table, everything would look like a jigsaw puzzle to me. I know exactly where everything must slot into place, it is all too simple. Although I know many, like Pellin may struggle with such thing; I understand we’re all different….but the school doesn’t. There is no equality in the classrooms, those that struggle just get tossed into the shadows, and they offer no support. They just pick out the academic kids and forget the rest. I should be grateful that I am one of those successful ones but I feel sorry for everyone else.

Listening in on his own plan I’d divert my eyes back to Pellin’s work station, he likes my plan he just tinkered it a little bit. ”Okay we can do that” I’d say quite other enthusiastically eager to help Pellin with his project; I may just obtain a friend doing this. I am sure my parents would not agree with me interacting with Pellin but they don’t have to find out. Glancing over at the teachers, I need to try and hide the fact I am helping him, just so neither of us get in trouble.

Grinning at Pellin for being so thankful, I’d brush off his words. ”It’s alright, I am happy to help anytime.” Really I am, I want to become an approachable person. I don’t just want to be the little nerdy kid that I have grown to become; I want real friends and real people to talk too. If it means breaking a few rules now and then, then I will…but the rules aren’t that severe that I am breaking. I know Pellin will want to pay be back for my gratitude but I don’t want anything in return. I don’t give to receive. Any normal human being would help someone in need like Pellin and I am that normal human being.

Okay I will help you do this bit then and I’ll get back to my own work.” Glancing down at the table, I’d retrieve the bit of metal that I am to hold into place. Steadying my hand, I’d wait for Pellin to start his business. ”If you need any more help while you’re doing this, just ask and I’ll be your second pair of hands anytime.” Following my words, I could the smile spreading across my face. I want to seem the sweet approachable kid that I am; I don’t want it covered up by my parent’s bubble wrap. I just want to be me.

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