An Excerpt from a Writing Project

From The Crazy Chicken Escapade

After battling through the worst part of waking up, David, Andrew, and Levi got ready for the day. They knew that today was going to be exciting because they were going to see the rest of Kaloi’s forensics lab. And only the Good Man knew what else was going to happen on this fine day.

As promised, Marty and Kaloi gave everyone a detailed tour of the forensics lab that belongs to Kaloi. The forensics expert showed David, Andrew, Levi, Sporto, Cosmo, Jack McFrost, and Jefferson the huge room that contains many different sizes of microscopes, magnifying glasses, numerous Petrie dishes (according to many, for whatever reason), and lab coats.

There were many other objects that were lying around the room. Kaloi probably needed to clean up the room as soon as he could, but there were no apparent safety hazards. One object that really stood out to David included a chemistry set that dated back to 1897; he knew the date because the four numbers were engraved on the bottom right hand corner of the set. This chemistry set included numerous beakers attached to the chemistry set, as well as other unique attachments, including an ink dispenser.

The rest of the time was spent talking about the function of each object in the room. Then, afterwards, the rest of the day seemed to be a complete blur.  Once Kaloi showed everyone the forensics room, everyone went bowling for two hours. Then, they all walked over to the local arcade room for four hours. And then, everyone had ham and pineapple pizza and root beer for dinner.

Therefore, today went by very quickly because it was a fun, yet informative, day.

After everyone cleaned up the table after dinner, they all went to do something to pass the time. Marty and Kaloi returned to the nearest bowling alley. Sporto and Cosmo decided to swim in the built-in pool. Jack McFrost and Jefferson played video games in the main common area. And, last but not least, David, Andrew, and Levi decided to play video games in the next to largest common area.

The three boys played some classic car racing games for an hour and thirty minutes. After Levi practically won all of the rounds, all three boys decided to call it quits on the gaming and take this time to get to know each other.

Again, David and Levi have known each other since they were pretty little. When Levi lived in Crown Point, he actually used to live five minutes away from David. They were in third grade together. Also, they were both in the same soccer club until Levi moved to Valparaiso.

“So, where did you live when you lived in Valpo?” Levi asked David.
“Jefferson and Campbell,” David answered.
“Get out!”
“True story. Is that where you live?”
“I live very close. Elmhurst and Prospect, so a little west of where you lived.”
“I believe that we have quite a lot in common.”
“I think we’ve established that.”

Andrew was actually not quite in the conversation. At first, he was listening to what David and Levi were talking about. Then, he made the transition into his own little world. Where dinosaurs existed. Where all of the saxophones were rightfully redistributed to its rightful owners.

Not really.

Andrew was thinking more about the upcoming tennis season at his high school, as well as the next visit to Bourbonnais to see relatives when he came home.

“What sports do you play?” David asked.
“Tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, and cross country. Tennis is my main sport,” Levi answered.
“Wow. Same for me.”

Levi hit his head with his hand.

“What have you done in school?” Levi asked.
“Sports and academic teams. Everyone thinks I should be valedictorian of my class,” David answered.
“I have also been involved in sports and academic teams. Everyone thinks I should be at least salutatorian of my class. I guess we will find out by the end of next year.”
“So, people have also talked about how smart you are?”
“Absolutely.”

It was pretty obvious that David and Levi have known each other for quite a while. They were trying to catch up, and Andrew decided to go into his own little world and read a book. He entered his own quarter with his sci-fi book that he was half-way through already, as well as a styrofoam cup of horchata, a delicious Mexican rice milk consisting of cinnamon and possibly nutmeg. Andrew has been reading this book for only four days, and he was a little half-way through it already.

When he finally made himself comfortable in his own quarter, Andrew settled in and opened up his book and sipped his horchata. With his stomach pressed firmly against the very soft bed, with his cup in a built-in cup holder inside the quarter, and with his blue bookmark lying on top of his pillow, Andrew started reading his book. He could not hear the conversation going on outside his quarter, but he didn’t really care at the moment. All Andrew cared about right now was what he was about to read.

Meanwhile, while Andrew was reading his book, David and Levi were gabbing outside the quarters. Even though the two boys have always been in pretty close contact since Levi moved to Valparaiso, they wanted to become best friends again. When Levi lived in Crown Point, he lived in the same area as David, and they were in everything together, from school to soccer club to vacation bible school to some other clubs at school.

“Let me see if there is now one thing that we don’t have in common,” Levi said.
“Try me,” David answered matter-of-factly.
“Have you ever climbed up onto the roof of your house?”
“Yes.”
“How old were you?” Levi asked.
“Eleven, I think,” David replied.
“I did it twice. Once when I was eleven, and once when I was thirteen. You can see a lot of cool things from the rooftop.”
“It was actually pretty fun.”
“My mom always freaks out when I try to climb up onto the roof, and so do my sisters.”
“It’s the same way at my house. Only it’s my mom who freaks out.”

The two boys were conversing for another thirty minutes, until both boys were getting hungry. While the two boys spent some time in the kitchen, looking for something to eat, Andrew was three quarters of the way into his book. He now wanted to make conversation with his new friends. David was sitting outside his own quarter. David was not sure what he wanted to do. He was actually hoping that he could get to know Andrew a little better. However, he wanted to wait until Levi came back into the quarters with food.

Five minutes later, Levi returned to the quarters. However, he did not bring any food with him.

“We could be hungry, too, you know!” David teased.
“Oh, I didn’t think to bring anything in,” Levi remarked.
“What did you find?” Andrew asked.
“I found a chocolate brownie that Cosmo let me have. There are four brownies left, so he said to please help yourself.”
“Was the chocolate brownie good?”
“It was very good. It had maraschino cherries baked inside it, so it tasted like a sugar cone.”
“Yes, please!” David exclaimed, cupping his hands and stretching them out toward Levi.
“Get it yourself!” Levi teased back.
“I’d also like a chocolate brownie. That really sounds good right now!” Andrew remarked.

There were a few moments of silence, and then….

David and Andrew raced each other to the kitchen to get a chocolate brownie. Levi could not help but laugh to himself because the other two boys really needed to get themselves a chocolate brownie.

Five minutes later, David and Andrew returned to the room with the quarters. None of them said anything. They decided to play “Rock, paper, scissors” amongst themselves for a little while. Andrew won twelve of the thirty rounds, David won ten rounds, and Levi won eight rounds in that amount of time. And then, after fifteen minutes of just playing that random game, the three boys decided to converse amongst themselves for a little while.

“There was one day when I was very sick with strep, and my dad took me to the doctor to get it checked out. And the doctor told me that I had tonsillitis. But I didn’t have my tonsils,” Andrew said.
“You also had your tonsils removed?” David asked.
“You’re shocked, aren’t you?”
“I was thinking I was the only one in this group.”
“I had to have my tonsils removed when I was three,” Andrew remarked.
“I had mine out when I was four,” David said.
“I was thirteen,” Levi replied.
“I don’t have my tonsils, and neither does my sister. She also had to have her tonsils taken out when she was three,” Andrew said.

A few moments of silence. This seemed to be a topic that each of the three boys ended up talking about all the time. Or so they thought. They were not quite sure what else to talk about. Sure, David, Andrew, and Levi had so much to talk about to each other. However, all of their thoughts were in massive knots, and they were not quite sure how to get them out.

Until….

“So, let’s tell each other our scar stories,” David said, without putting much thought into what he had just said.
“Okay!” Levi shouted enthusiastically.

Andrew was nowhere near as enthusiastic as Levi. He has only a couple scars that really stand out, and right now he was not too keen on explaining anything to the other two boys. However, he decided to go with it. David and Levi are his new friends anyway, and surely they would want to know some of his silly stories.

“Who will go first?” Levi asked.

Thirty seconds later….

“I’ll go first,” Andrew reluctantly replied.
“Okay! Share some of your scar stories with us,” David said.
“Well, I have a couple scars on my stomach. One is a birth mark, which is pretty long, and the other one is from where I had to have my appendix taken out when I was four years old.”
“I have a birth mark on my forehead, and I also have one on my stomach, which is pretty small. I never had to have my appendix removed, but Brody did when he was eight. That was a wonderful time.”
“I sense sarcasm,” Levi said.
“Complete sarcasm.”
“Tell us your stories, Levi,” Andrew remarked.
“Well, I only have one scar, and you can’t see it,” Levi replied.
“Why not?”
“It’s in the back of my throat. A surgeon made a mistake when he was taking out my tonsils.”
“That’s interesting,” David remarked.

What else to talk about? None of the three boys were sure. David didn’t know what to talk about. Andrew couldn’t think of anything. Levi had no idea how to make more conversation with his friends.

Until five minutes later….

“I can play the piano,” Andrew said out of the blue.
“Oh, you can?” David replied, very impressed.
“Yes. I’ve been playing the piano since I was four.”
“That’s awesome!”
“Do you play anything?” Andrew asked his new friend.
“Not anymore,” David replied. “I used to play guitar, but then I couldn’t find time to practice. I’d like to go back to playing guitar if I can. I’ll have Brett reteach me.”
“And Brett is your brother?”
“Yes, and he is planning to join a band with his best friend.”
“What’s the name of his band?”
“The Island of the Geeks. It was a name that they collectively came up with.”
“My brother is also in a band. The name of their band is The Sound of a B Flat. Adam told me that he wants to play drums and join a garage band when he gets older, and he wants to name the band, The Tortillas, because he and his friends absolutely love Mexican food. Cameron wants to join a garage band as well, but he wants to play lead guitar. Caleb is giving him guitar lessons. The twins and their best friends, Kevin Baker and Brian Levitt, want to join as well.”

There were fifteen more minutes of conversing amongst each other. Then, David returned to the kitchen to get himself a glass of milk. Andrew returned to his quarter to read more of his favorite sci-fi book. And Levi wasn’t quite sure what to do. In order to pass the time, he walked into the kitchen and got himself another chocolate brownie.

David explored the place a little more, but Levi returned to the quarter and saw Andrew focusing on his book. Levi was starting to get a little bored, so he had to get Andrew’s attention some time soon.

“What are you doing at this hour?” Levi asked his new friend, Andrew.
“I’m reading a book,” Andrew answered plainly.
“What book are you reading?” 
“One of my favorite sci-fi books.”
“I love sci-fi!” Levi exclaimed.
“Sci-fi is my most favorite genre! Then, I like to read comic books and mystery books. I really cannot decide what my most favorite book is. I like too many to count!”
“So, reading is your most favorite pastime?”
“I love to read, but I don’t know if it’s my most favorite pastime. I really like to play video games, though. And tennis.”
“So do I. Tennis and video games are probably my most favorite things to do when I am not doing anything else.”

An hour more of conversing amongst themselves ensued, and then David, Andrew, and Levi realized that it was only midnight. The three boys decided to play some classic video games until they were extremely tired at two-thirty in the morning. After all, it is only summer, and the boys could stay up as long as they please.