An Excerpt from a Writing Project

From The Magic Video Game

The night flew like the breeze. That was how amazing it was. However, the next morning was bound to not be as pleasant and fun. The relatives left at around two o’clock in the morning, and, of course, everyone was still up after that. No one went to bed before three o’clock.

It was now eleven o’clock in the morning, and Levi was not up yet. Everyone else woke up two hours prior. Elizabeth’s wedding was today; it started at two o’clock, and the party was at four o’clock, two hours before mass would start. Levi needed to wake up as soon as possible, so that the family could get ready for the wedding.

Levi’s dad opened the door to Levi’s bedroom. His dad saw him sleeping on his side, with about half of his comforter on the floor. Levi’s breathing was steady, and his mouth was half open. His dad didn’t really want to disturb Levi’s peaceful state of mind today, but he knew they had to leave for the wedding soon.

Levi stirred. He didn’t just stir; he really moved around on his bed. Instead of sleeping on his side like he did, he unconsciously moved himself so that his head was at the foot of the bed, and his feet were on top of his pillows. Five minutes later, his dad decided it was time to wake him up.

“Hello, earthling!” his dad shouted.

Levi lifted his head from underneath his comforter, and his eyes were shut. He could both hear and feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest, and he took a deep breath. He was lying on his stomach, and he then decided to put his head back down. Levi really did not want to get up, much less open his eyes. He pulled his comforter over him and tried going back to sleep.

“Wakie, wakie, eggs and bakie,” his dad said.
“Shut up,” Levi answered quietly.
“Would you like some eggs and bakie, sir?” his dad spoke in a British accent.
“I don’t want any eggs and bakie,” Levi softly replied in a British accent.
“Then, what would you like for brunch?”
“I don’t care. I just want to go back to sleep.”
“Well, you need to wake up soon.”
“Like….when?”
“Now is the most ideal time to wake up.”

That wasn’t enough coaxing for Levi to wake up, though. He fought to go back to sleep. As a matter of fact, he would not have minded if he slept the day away. However, he couldn’t today since he had to be at the wedding for his half-sister. Two minutes later, and his dad was still in the room. Levi had to make a decision to wake up now.

“Alright! I’ll get up.”

Levi stormed out of his bedroom into the bathroom so he could get a good look at himself. He felt as if he could take out someone today since he was abruptly woken up by another person. Non-morning people usually feel this way every morning. He was pretty mad at the moment.

He rinsed his toothbrush under the faucet and saw his reflection in the mirror. He looked like he could have been mugged by someone. His eyes were half-open. His hair was all messed up. His whole face was red.

Levi put the toothpaste on his toothbrush. He then applied it to his mouth. He could taste the minty flavor against his tongue. But he did not take his eyes off his reflection in the mirror. He finally opened his eyes all the way. After he was done brushing his teeth, he combed his hair. Once he finished, he looked at his chest in the mirror, since he was shirtless. He drew in a very deep breath, and he could see his heart pounding against his skin when he held his breath for a few seconds. It was very creepy, but cool at the same time.

It was very hard to get himself relaxed after just waking up. However, he has been able to do it before. He took a flashlight out of the cabinet and pointed it at his opened mouth. He could see the back of his throat, and the result of what the surgeons took out. He could also see a small pale scar just above where his tonsils used to be; the scar was from an accidental cut that one of the surgeons had made when performing the surgery.

Levi then heard a knock on the door. He went over and opened it. He was just standing in front of the mirror anyway, minding his own business.

It was Evelyn Maeve.

“Boo!” Evelyn Maeve almost screamed.

Levi didn’t react. He just shook his head and laughed to himself. Evelyn Maeve walked up to Levi and hugged him.

“Hi, big bwuther.”
“Hi.”
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to wake up.”

Levi then bent over with his elbows on the sink. He had his head in his hands, and he started taking deep breaths. His little sister rubbed his back for him. She started getting very nervous because she was not sure if he was having another one of his asthma attacks. Evelyn Maeve was considering getting their parents and having them check on Levi.

He then started breathing normally again. He looked down and saw the little “blob” pulsing strongly against his chest. Levi was still a little creeped out by this, but he figured it was just because it was morning, and he was trying his hardest to become fully awake. He sat on the edge of the bathtub with his fingers under his arm, and the palm of his hand on the left side of his chest. Evelyn Maeve decided to sit beside him and make sure he was truly waking up. She wrapped her little arm around his shoulder and rested her head against it.

“Are you okay, Levi?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I thought you were having asthma.”
“I do have asthma. It isn’t acting up.”
“Are you excited about the wedding?”
“Yes and no. I’m a little nervous about this one.”
“Why?”
“Last wedding we went to was our cousin Lori’s, and I was twelve or so. I had a horrible cold, but I still showed up. I fell asleep during the wedding ceremony, but I was fine for a while at the reception. I was playing card games with my other cousins, and then Lori wanted me to dance with her, so I did. After a while, I started getting sick to my stomach again. And then, I spent the rest of the time in the bathroom throwing up.”
“That must have been bad.”
“I don’t want to have my asthma suddenly act up.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It’s not severe, but it’s a little more serious than mild asthma, so I need to be a little more careful.”

Levi then left the bathroom and went back into his bedroom to put on his everyday clothes. He thought he didn’t need to dress up right now since he still had about three and a half hours. Evelyn Maeve was standing outside the door when he came out.

“Is that what you’re wearing to the wedding?” Evelyn Maeve asked.
“Yes,” Levi replied sarcastically.

Levi had on plaid shorts, a green t-shirt, and he was barefoot. He walked downstairs with his little sister who wore her white dress. It was pretty evident that she was ecstatic about the wedding. She continued to dance, twirl, and skip around the house in her dress.

“Levi, you need to put on your outfit,” his mom said.

Levi went back upstairs and changed into what he was going to wear for the wedding. Then, they grabbed some fast food on the way to the venue. While Levi was on his first of two chicken sandwiches, his phone rang. When he looked at the caller ID, he saw that it was his girlfriend, Mackenzie Burbanks, trying to call him. He then answered his phone.

“Hey, Mackenzie!”
“Hey, Levi!”
“What’s up?”
“Not much. Just chillin’ at home. What are you up to?”
“Did you want to get together today?”
“I was hoping.”
“I have my sister’s wedding today, so I won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow.”
“Oh. I can’t do anything tomorrow because I have my family reunion.”
“Oh. I dunno.”
“It’s been too long!”
“I know! I’m so nervous about the wedding.”
“You’ll be fine. I guarantee it.”
“I hope.”
“Just trust me.”

Levi and Mackenzie were on the phone for another few minutes, and then Levi had to hang up. They were at least another twenty-five minutes away from a synagogue in Munster, and then the reception was going to take place in Merrillville. Everyone in the whole car was silent because they had their mind on the wedding, among other things.

Levi decided to look out the window. Evelyn Maeve wrapped her arms around his left arm, and she tried getting his attention by blowing in his ear. Levi gently elbowed her and let out a heavy sigh. Nervousness struck him hard. Levi basically didn’t want to pass out in front of anyone, at the ceremony or at the banquet.

“What are you looking forward to the most?” Mr. Cranston asked, breaking the silence.
“Oh, at the wedding?” Victoria asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’m looking forward to the reception.”
“I’m basically looking forward to the food,” Olivia joked.
“And I want to dance,” Evelyn Maeve responded.
“Lisa? Levi? What about you guys?” Mr. Cranston questioned his wife and son.
“I can’t wait to see my daughter join Paul in marriage,” Mrs. LeVole answered.

A few moments later.

“Levi?”
“Oh. I’m just hoping that I don’t spend my time in the bathroom throwing up like I did the last time,” Levi replied.

Laughter emanated through the car.

“You won’t,” said their dad.

And, after about thirty minutes, the Cranston’s were finally at the synagogue. Once they got out of their car, Elizabeth saw them, walked quickly toward them, and greeted them.

​Here goes nothing.