I recently received a feedback comment that told me that all my stories are incredibly monotonous. Needless to say, I deleted it simply because the person wouldn't tell me who they were. Jeez, what a coward. I hope that you all know; I've received more good comments than bad, and while I try to please everyone, I know it's impossible. Therefore, I'm going to write to please myself, and all of you fine people who've given me so much praise up to this point, and may God bless you, each and every one.
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"I've got the feeling that I'm never going to see you again," she cried, "And I just couldn't take that, Michael."
"I'll only be gone for sixteen weeks to boot camp," I replied, "Who knows after that, I might even get stationed somewhere on the west coast, and you are going to U.C.L.A., aren't you?
"It won't be the same," she continued crying, "At least not like this."
"Don't cry, Lyssa," I tried to sooth her, "I'll figure something out, I promise."
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My name is Michael Lee Roberts, I'm six feet, three inches tall, and I weigh two hundred and twenty pounds. I have dark brown eyes and long dark brown hair with gray at my temples. I'm almost sixty years old now and what I'm about to tell you happened a very long time ago during a very turbulent time in our great nation.
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I was born and raised in a little town in southeast Texas that I'm sure none of you have ever heard of, and I was in eighth grade when I met a girl named Alyssa Matthews. Her father got a job at one of the refineries that, at the time, were everywhere in that area of Texas, and so she had transferred in from another school out of state. I met her purely by accident one day at school when I saw this guy that I knew, Billy Reece, who had her cornered and was pawing at her.
The one thing I hate more than anything is a bully. I don't understand why someone would want to take advantage of someone who is smaller and/or weaker that than they are.
So, with that in mind, I stepped between this guy and her and said, "Are you having fun picking on this girl, asshole?"
"This doesn't concern you, dickhead," he growled, "Why don't you get outta here before I beat your ass, Roberts?"
"Is that a fact?" I laughed, poised to fight, "Come on then, asshole?"
He took a swing at me, and as I blocked his punch, I hit him as hard as I could across the bridge of his nose, making blood spurt out all over his face.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER," he screamed, now trying to rush me.
I simply sidestepped him, managing to grab a handful of his greasy hair on the way by, and run his face into the wall three times before he wilted like a flower onto the floor.
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Needless to say, I was got suspended from school for three days for fighting. Mom and Dad weren't very happy about it until I told them why I was fighting to start with. And while they agreed with my reasoning, they said I should've called a teacher to intervene. I disagreed, but I kept my opinion to myself.
Just because I was suspended from school didn't mean that I would be allowed to sleep late at home, oh no. Mom woke me up bright and early the next morning with orders that, after I'd eaten breakfast, I would be painting the new storage building that had been delivered the day before.
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I'd done what Mom had asked of me, and as I was in my bedroom getting changed after my shower, Mom knocked on the door and said, "Michael, honey, there' someone here to see you."
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Imagine my surprise when Alyssa Matthews and a lady I assumed, correctly, was her mother were in the living room of our home.
"Hi," I smiled, "Is there something I can do for you?"
With a slight nudge from her mother, Alyssa stepped forward, and while handing me a stack of papers she held, she smiled and timidly said, "I talked to your teachers and they gave me the work you'll be missing while you're out. And I brought it to you so that you wouldn't have to make it up."
"Thank you," I said, "I guess you already know my name so; what's yours?"
"I'm Alyssa Matthews," she smiled, "And this is my mother, Angela."
"It's nice to meet you," I politely replied, "Both of you."
"Would you ladies care for something to drink?" Mom knowingly smiled, "I just made a fresh pot of coffee, and I've got plenty of soft drinks for you kids."
"Thank you, Ms. Roberts," Alyssa smiled, "That would be nice."
"Oh, honey, call me Pat," Mom laughed, taking Lyssa by the hand, "Come on, you two."
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Mom led us all into the kitchen where everyone took a seat at the table, everyone except for me, that is. I helped Mom set the table, and while she poured the coffee, I poured Cokesβ’ for Alyssa and me.
After we were all finally seated, Angela looked at her daughter and said, "Lyssa, honey, isn't there something you wanted to say to Michael?"
Alyssa looked at me with sparkling blue eyes, and then gently taking my hand, she smiled and said, "Thank you for taking up for me. Billy Reece is a creep that, thanks to you, won't be bothering me anymore. I wanted to bring you your schoolwork because you got into trouble for protecting me. Thank you, Michael."
"You're welcome," I smiled, slightly blushing, "But I hate bullies."
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Let me take a moment to describe Alyssa. When we met we were barely fourteen years old, but she was, and still is, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She had long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and from what I could see then, as I look back now, she was well on her way to becoming a treasured beauty.
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"My, my, Angela," Mom said, "Your daughter sure is a pretty thing."
"Thank you, Pat. And Michael makes the perfect knight in shining armor," Angela smiled, "So tall, dark, and handsome."
"Come on, you guys," I groaned, blushing a bright red with Alyssa giggling at my discomfort.
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Because the fracas with Billy Reece had happened on a Monday afternoon, I was home Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so; it was Friday when I got back to school. Apparently I had been the talk of the school, because when I got back that morning, I arrived at my first class to a round of applause from not only my classmates, but from my teacher as well. I do have to say this though; it made me feel good that these people were proud of me. However, it was during my lunch break that day that my life would forever be changed.
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I was sitting with a couple of friends of mine eating lunch when, out of the blue, Alyssa came and sat down at our table, right n ext to me, and said, "My sister is having a barbeque and pool party at my house tonight, and I was wondering if you might like to come?"
"Really?" I smiled, she nodded her head, "I'd love to, but I'll have to ask my parents."
"Don't worry about that," she giggled, "My Mom called your Mom this morning and me and my sister will be at your house to pick you up right after you get home...oh, and don't forget to bring a swim suit," and with that she was gone, giggling and looking back at me as she walked away. I floated on a cloud for the rest of the day...
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"Hi, Mom," I smiled, "Nice day, isn't it?"