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March - April '78: The Second of Many, and a Chance to Figure It Out. March 15th, 1978 Homeroom/First Period. Sometimes one has to think whether it is right to continue one's path or to turn around and go back to start another. I have only been in Julia Richman for 7 months and already I hate the place, the people inside, and especially what it is doing to me and my relationship with any girl I want as a girlfriend; in this case: Mary. Ever since the accident, she has been closer to me than ever before but for all the wrong reasons: sympathy. I also suspect she knows that it is not an accident and knows who's involved. As for me, I have my prime suspects, but cant prove a thing. But on the day I find out the truth, I will have my revenge on them all. The weeks before leading to the past several days, the science dept. has allowed me to run an experiment to fulfill a challenge stated by the industrial electronics firm of Hewlett Packard. Sometime during 1977, they sucessfully complete the Gene-Machine; a machine that injects DNA molecules and can create strands of DNA. But the problem is- there is not enough Raw and Separate DNA material to make the machine run for complex structures. So they decided to have the scientific community- both expert and amature to solve this problem for them as a contest, with the winner to receive $1-million in cash and 2% of the company's stock holding. I joined in as part of the amature circles, and had begun the research to separate DNA molecules from a glycerine base made from animal products. During the 1930's, the 4 basic amino acid chain links were discovered, and a simple system of how to separate them mecho-chemically was used. In reading up this information, I decided that this would be the fastest and best way to conduct the experiment for the contest: To provide a way to produce 4 liters of raw and separated DNA from which the Gene Machine can use. The proceedure was not without its dangers. Strong acids and a high speed centifuge were to be used in this experiment. Furtherrmore, the experiment called for specific chemical interactions, and in using substitute chemical could result in a disasterous reaction. Most notably: Nitric Acid was forbidden, for mixing nitric acid with a glycerine base will create Nitro-Glycerine in an unstale form. Many who initally joined in the contest and followed a simillar route that I have, left for this reason. Weeks in preparation now leads to this day- the experiment that would separate DNA and make me one very rich and famous kid. Yet the day starts off like any other. For some reason, I put on the back brace a little tighter than normal, though sometimes I dont want to wear the thing, but at least it is only a temporary measure though the pain in my lower spine is still there no matter what is done. Breakfast is finshed off quickly, and my stupid brother is mocking my every move as I prepare for either the bus or train ride to school, having a choice only meant that I had to make one. He, still in Jr High, was walking distance, and leaves later than I do, but takes a longer time to prepare than I do. Going downstairs, I find a lovely young lady waiting by the door, one who I have known since the summer, and became friends with- Grace. Sometimes I wonder if she is actually waiting for me, or if its just a coincidence that she is there when I get there. "How are we doing this morning?", Grace asks me. "I'm fine, and you?", I reply and then ask. "OK so far. Uhm... when are you getting out of that thing?", she says. "I dont know- in a few days, maybe a couple of weeks. I'm getting tired of wearing it.", I tell her. "Well, at least the damage was temporary.", she saids. "Yeah.", I started to say then taking a deep sigh, "You ready to go to school?" She nods back at me, then I press the buzzer to open the door. She starts to go through and holds the door for me. Together we walk down the path that leads to the sidewalk and onward to the train station. Some decisions are already made for you... We ask each other of the typical questions about school work and of ourselves and families. Just small talk. In the past she has claimed to have a boyfriend or two, as she knows about my ordeals with the girls I have gone out with; but in my mind if we were to further our relationship, we could be perfect for each other. The only problem we have is taking it to that next level, for we dont want to hurt each other's feelings. At the trainstation, we stop, needing to separate our ways: Hers- uptown to the Bronx, mine- downtown to where my school was at. We always had trouble separating, making our good-byes longer than necessary. As usual, she has taken hold of my hands and stares into my eyes. I tighten my grip on her and stare back. "Fernando,", she starts to ask, "when you get out of that thing, I would like to ask you out... on a date." "Wait- aint I supposed to ask you out? You know- being the guy and all...", I hestitantly complained. "But I'm asking you out...", Grace started to say. "But everytime I've asked you out- you said no...", I said softly. "Well, I thought that we were not ready...", she answers, leaning closer to me. "But I asked you out yesterday...!", I almost shouted, keeping to the minimum of volumes. "When a girl asks you out, dont deny her the oppertunity. Ok?", she saids and then asks. "Alright...", I started to say, "When, where?" "As soon as your dr. says you dont have to wear that thing, we'll see about the date.", she saids. "Ok then...", I almost said to myself. "I'll drop by your place tonight to check up on you.", she then says, giving me a peck on the cheek, and then quickly lets me go, running down the stairs to the uptown subway platform below. I stand there, unsure how to take that last gesture of hers. In our recent past, she has kissed me as such and at time with more passion, but I am beginning to wonder as to what direction our relationship is going. The roar of the trains passing below says that she will be gone in a matter of a few seconds, and thusly if I dont get myself to an uptown station, that I would be late for school. I quickly get myself to school, taking just under a 1/2 hour to get there. Finding the usual crush of students, I try to get myself to my usual spot by the gate. This means having to fight my way through to my friends, though many in this pecking order knows where I belong and allow me to go on my way. Velbert, James and Denis were already there. "Alright, I'm here... what's going on?", I say and ask. "Nothing, you ready for that bio exam?", Velbert replies. "I'm already doing the science experiment for Mr. Shomberg, why should I take the test?", I answer back. "Its the last one before the midterm. I dont believe that he would let you go for some silly science experiment...", Velbert complained. "I do- Dr Poindexter over there knows everything about science. He'll pass that test with his eyes closed.", Denis stated. "Ha Ha... So should you- Dracula....", I tell him. Denis tries to reply but the loud ringing tone of the school bell over the loud speaker drowns out his first words and he decided not to continue it further. The doors open up and the student pour themselves into the school. Before homeroom, I step into the bio-class, looking for Mr Shomberg. Finding him by his desk, I ask, "Is the experiment ready to start today?" He looks up and turns to the door, slowly, "Yes... show up after homeroom so you can start." Somebody jumps on my back and tries to get around me, but in a playful way. It was my girlfriend, Mary. Looking inside the class, she finds Mr. Shomberg and asks the same question I just asked, "Is the experiment ready to start today?" He looks at her and gives the same answer, "Yes... show up after homeroom so you can start." She turns to get out of the doorway, but stopping for a second to look at me. I try to turn away to head to homeroom, but she stops me from going further- grabbing at my jacket and holding onto my brace underneath. "What?", I tried to ask. "Nothing...", she says. "Then lets go to our homerooms before we get marked absent...", I complained. "Thats the least of my worries...", she saids before planting her lips against mine, and then runs away to get to her homeroom. All I could do is take a deep sigh and start walking towards mine at the end of the hall. I walk into my homeroom, only to be yelled at by my homeroom teacher that I was late. I did my best to ignore it, and take my seat. Unfortunately due to the nature of the seating arrangement, I can not sit at the table with my old friends from Jr High, but have to sit at the table with the girls from the same school. Except for Mary who was in another homeroom and Wanda and Rachel who are other schools, everyone else was there: Leslie, Solmaria, Patricia, and Lousia. Two minutes remained to the end of the class, and I so wished that the bell would ring sooner. The bell rang, and I got up as part of the herd, rushing out the hall as fast as I can go. But once outside, I wait for a second for the others to step out, Ricky and Alfonso step out from behind me- grabbing on me and pinning me against the wall of the hall. "Well, well... looks who's still alive.", Ricky says. "Why dont we gut him now?", Alfonso says. "Try it and I'll kill you both, I swear.", I tell them. Ricky pulls out a blade with his free hand and places it to my face, but then finds his hand and arm twisted in an uncomfortable and near breaking angle by mine. But Alfonso does the same and places his blade by my face. "Let him go.", Alfonso demands. "Then leave me alone.", I tell him. "Fuck you....", Alfonso says in anger, pressing the blade against my cheek. I react quickly, twisting Ricky's arm a bit more, giving him pain as he drops his knife and lets me go. A bit more and I would have broken his arm. "Alright! Alright!", Ricky yells. "No, its not alright...", I tell them, "I want to be left alone... you understand that?" "Alright, we'll leave you alone...", Ricky yells as I apply more pressure on his arm. I push him away, and he doubles over, holding onto his arm, yelling that I might have broken it. Alfonso tries to step in where Ricky was, but finds my hand wrapped tightly around his neck. "Go ahead, kill me now, and you know what will happen? You'll have a dead man's hand on your neck that you wont be able to remove, and ultimately kill you...", I explain to him. He slowly take a step away, putting his knife away. Alfonso tries to bend over to get Ricky's knife, but I kick it, sliding it to Denis who was behind them with the rest of the homeroom. Denis puts his foot on the knife and covers it. "Why dont you two just leave him alone.", Denis states to them. "Why dont you mind your own business.", Alfonso says. "Minding his business is my business.", Denis tells him. Others behind him nod in agreement. "We'll see about that.", Alfonso sneered at Denis, as Ricky leans over to Alfonso and whispers something towards him. Alfonso nodded at Ricky, and then started to walk away from us. Denis bends over and picks up the knife Ricky had left behind, not challenging Denis or his friends to go get it. Then he steps over to me as I step away from the wall. "Why must you continue to go out with Mary?", Denis asks. "I am not going out with her.", I tell him. "Then why are you two still hanging out together. It does not look good for either one of you.", Denise stated. "We are just doing this one science experiment and thats it.", I try to reassure him. "You two are not going out then?", he asks. "Look, we have not kissed in a while, our last date months ago ended up in a fight, and I just dont want to deal with her anymore, except that Mr Somberg put us together for this science experiment.", I continued to say as we walked down the hall and turn the corner, where Mary and her homeroom friends were. We stop and stare at each other. "You dont want to deal with me anymore, is that it?", Mary asks as she stares at me in anger. "Mary- dont take it the wrong way, Ricky and Alfonso tried to beat him outside of homeroom just now.", Denis tries to explain for me. "And you're blaming that on me, is that it?", Mary tries to inflate the arguement even further. "No Mary, its not it...", I try to explain. "Then what is it?", Mary tries to insinuate. "Mary, I'll see you in the lab later today. Right now we're going to be late for class.", I tell her as calmly as possible. One of Mary's friends pulls on her arm and tells her, "Yeah, we'll be late for class." "Go on ahead without me.", Mary tells them. I signal to Denis to do the same. Relunctantly Denis and Mary's friends leave after a minute of waiting and the hall clearing out. "Look, soon the halls will be crawling with security looking for cutters.", I tell her. "That dont bother me.", Mary says. "Alright, I'll say I'm sorry.", I started to say. "No, you're not sorry.", Mary interupts me. "Then what is it that you want?", I ask of her. "Your honesty. It seems that it is the only thing that I dont have from you though I seem to have all the other pieces.", Mary stated. "Other pieces?", I ask. "Respect, trust, I could even dare say love. But not your honesty. Why is that?", she asks. "You think I'm not honest to you?", I ask. "No you're not.", she says. "Then I'm sorry that you think that way.", I tell her, then I try to step away from her to go to class. She grabs my arm as I try to step away from her and pulls me towards her. "Dont try to walk away from me, Fernando.", she saids. "We're going to be late for class, Mary.", I try to tell her. "I dont care. Besides, we got that lab experiment to start, so we're excused if we go there now and start it right away.", Mary stated. "You want this time to be with me, dont you?", I ask. "No, I want answers. Honest answers.", Mary stated. "Alright, then lets go.", I tell her as I try to step away once again. Again, she holds my arm tightly and keeps me from going any further. "Fernando, do you love me?", she aks. "Why do you ask that?", I ask in return. "Just answer the question.", she refutes. "I do.", I tell her. "Then, why?", she asks. I have to take a deep sigh before answering, "I dont know." "Why are you lying?", Mary asks. "I'm not lying...", I tell her. "Then why the deep breathe? That right there tells me you're hiding something.", Mary argues. "Lets go to the lab and get started, and I'll answer any question you might have from there.", I tell her. She pulls on my arm, hauling me down the hall, "Alright, then lets go." |