Uncle Don

“Rosalinda! Rosalinda! I found your uncle in my yard again! Rosalinda!”

This is my alarm clock that goes off every morning at 8:55. Even on weekends.  I haven’t had a break since my uncle Don was placed on my doorstep on August 13^th, 2005. He was honorably discharged from the Iraq after his tour of duty, and right before he came back my parent’s had pleaded with me to take care of him and would help out financially. They just didn’t want to take care of him is all. And now, while I lie in bed and try to mute of Mr. Panza’s yelling, I get the thought of having my life back. Of being able to live without a normal burden that isn’t a family or a job. I groan and stretch out my limbs, and as I do I make myself feel guilty for having such thoughts. Uncle Don needs someone to take care of him, and that should be me.

“Rosalinda!” I hear Mr. Panza shout again and I reach above my bed to poke my head out of the window.

“Hold on! I’ll be there in a second!” I shout back as I squint my eyes to adjust to the light. It’s too early in the morning for the sun to be so… sunny.

I quickly got dressed, stumbling over shoes and Uncle Don’s toy horse, Rocinante. It fell onto its side let out a loud “neigh” and the legs started to move back and forth. I never knew a toy could be so bothersome until Uncle Don moved in.

As I finally made my way outside, I catch my breath and let out a low sigh. Mr. Panza and Uncle Don were sitting next to each other on Mr. Panza’s porch. I could hear Uncle Don talk about giants and Mr. Panza goading him on, saying that the giants were “actually just windmill’s, dummy.”

Mr. Panza and Uncle Don had been friends for a long time. They were in the same basic training camp together and then in the same unit together when they left for war. Mr. Panza came back before Uncle Don did and apparently he’s lived in the house next to mine before I even considered moving here. He and his family have been really helpful in being there for my uncle.

“Sancho, I know what it was!” Uncle Don exclaimed, “they were there during when we were in Iraq! I remember shooting at them. They never went down, just deflected the bullets!”

“I know, Don! I still have some of the bullet in my calf!” Mr. Panza slapped at the back of his right calf and laughed loudly.

I walked up the stairs of his porch and leaned against the railing. “You know you both might as well become my alarm clock. I’m always awake before it goes off anyway.” I smiled as I chided them. I wasn’t really nagging, it’s the usual banter every morning. It’s all a routine nowadays and I can’t really complain.

“Rosalinda, did I ever tell you about the giants in Iraq? They may have been our biggest foes! There were about twelve of them!”

“I told you they were windmills!” Mr. Panza interjected.

I laughed and shook my head at the both of them. “Mr. Panza can you help me bring Uncle Don back to the house? I have to get him and the house ready for his nurses today.”

Mr. Panza nodded and lifted Uncle Don’s arm around his shoulder, and helping him up.

⦁ ⦁ ⦁

Uncle’s nurse, Andrés, rang the doorbell around noon and proceeded to take care of him so I could have a break. Andrés was cooking uncle breakfast to which he exclaimed,

“I must know these secrets! Tell me, where do you get those nice shoes from?”

What do you mean? I got them from Foot Locker. These are just for comfort.” Andrés looked confused and turned back to making eggs.

“I must know, I must know! Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.” Uncle Don exclaimed, standing up to walk outside. My eyes follow him through the window to see him go back over to Mr. Panza’s front yard. He picks up a gnome and studies it before setting it back down and bowing to it. I see him mumble some words to the gnome and Mr. Panza is back outside next to Uncle Don.

“I must go save my love. Dulcinea, she’s still in Iraq! Why would they take me away from her! When she needs me the most!” Uncle Don cried out to Mr. Panza.

“Don! Don, it’s okay! She’s fine I bet, she knows how to stay alive.” Mr. Panza tried to console my uncle, but he wasn’t convinced. Mr. Panza talked to me about Dulcinea once before. He told me that Uncle Don had made her up in his dreams. Dulcinea was his perfect lady. He says when Uncle Don began talking about her out loud, is when the hallucinations and fantasies began.  He said Uncle Don was able to fool the military for a long time into thinking that there was nothing was wrong with him. He used to bite his cheek to contain outbursts before his superiors noticed, and he would always keep his hat low so no one could see his eyes wander to nothing as he had his adventures.

Mr. Panza is much shorter than Uncle Don and they look so comical standing next to each other. Mr. Panza links his arm around Uncle and brings him back over to our porch. Andrés is standing there waiting expectantly and patiently, and I can just see Uncle Don as he bows to him as well before being brought back inside.

⦁ ⦁ ⦁

           

“Rosalinda, I’m leaving now. I’ve already given your uncle his med’s. He should be asleep within a half an hour.” Andrés said to me as he was heading out the door. We said our “goodbyes” until tomorrow, he shut the door and I was stuck with quiet for the rest of the night. Until Uncle Don woke me up again at 8:55. He was a handful and was always stuck in his mind, but I was surprised when Uncle Don had his moments of clarity and would tell me about his times in the army and when he was young. It was always the same things I already knew though, but I still listened because one never does know.

Right now was one of these moments. Uncle Don had sat on the chair across from me and looked me straight in the eyes.

“Rosalinda, I want to tell you something.” Uncle Don began. I nodded my head and let him talk. He told me about the woman whose name he said earlier, “Dulcinea”. She was a real person Uncle had met during the war. Her real name was Aldonza and she lived in a town just a couple of miles from where Uncle was stationed.

“I used to sneak out and visit her during lights out. I’d run to her home and be sweaty, but she still talked to me and loved me; no matter how sweaty I was.” Uncle looked down at his folded hands and continued.

“I loved her too, and I still do. I used to call her Dulcinea because she was my sweetest. We would meet and talk to each other for five of the eight months I was stationed there.” Uncle Don had let out a long sigh, and then there was silence.

“What happened between you both?” I questioned, and I had seen Uncle’s eyes were glassy and red.

“Well, her home was bombed, by insurgents. She was inside at the time and she died along with the rest of her family members. I remember I had snuck out that night, and was prepared to go see her, a big jolly grin on my face. I had ran there, two or three miles it didn’t take that long. It never did. I thought I was lost when I didn’t see her home. It was just open space where her home stood hours before. No one was around to tell me what had happened. I walked around the rubble and almost stepped on something. It was her hand. I know it was her hand. It was burnt badly and I almost vomited, so I ran away back to the base camp.”

Uncle Don stopped there and stood up, stretching and yawning loudly. I stood up with him and linked my arm with his.

“Let’s get you to bed.” I said, and walked with him to his room. I watched him as he got settled into bed. We said our “goodnights” and I closed his door.

As I walked to my room, I realize that my understanding grows more and more of my Uncle as our time together grows. He isn’t really sick to me, just lonely. Living in a fantasy where Dulcinea is with him. I lay in bed and try to get in as much sleep as I can before 8:55.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality

by Brian Cleary

           

            Bright green rays shot out from the power button on the video game console as the flashing HD graphics on the television lit up the dark bedroom. Donny sat upright in his bed and glared at the screen as his fingers rapidly pressed button combinations on the controller. His only concern was to beat the current level of SynWars. SynWars was the newest and hottest video game on the market. Donny repeatedly tapped the "A" and "B" buttons in hopes of making the ultimate move to defeat his opponent, but taking down the creatures of the AK Tribe was no simple task. These monsters were some of the most dangerous and lethal characters that the Syn Galaxy had to offer. His hands began to sweat on the controller as he watched his attempted moves begin to fail.

            "Could this really be happening?", Donny thought to himself. For the third night in a row he had faced defeat from level seventeen of SynWars. His bedroom went black with the change of the television screen as the words, "Game Over" appeared. In frustration, Donny threw his head back on to his pillow and let out a heavy sigh. He couldn’t help, but to feel upset over this game that he had grew so fond of over the past few weeks. Donny was basically to the point of addiction. He'd fallen in love with the way that he was able to use his mind and skill in order to control the main character, Space Cadet Tommy Trix. The whole main idea of SynWars revolved around Trix and his abilities to  use strength and courage to defeat the numerous villains and controversies that surrounded the Syn Galaxy.         

            With the console and television turned off, Donny began to relax and started to think to himself. He dreamt of his adventures as Trix. He dreamed of having the same attributes as Trix and being able to fight endless monsters of the Syn Galaxy. However Trix was also a symbol of justice and a symbol of standing up for what is right. For Donny, Trix was a virtual figure that defined what every man should be. As his mind continued to race, Donny's eyelids grew heavier until he eventually fell asleep.

            The beaming rays of the morning sun crept threw the blinds of the bedroom window as Donny slowly removed himself from bed. A swift swing of his hand and the slap of a button put a silence to the annoying ringing of his 7:30 am alarm. As he stood up to stretch, he began to look in the mirror. For a reason that only his imagination could explain, he felt different today. He felt like he was ready to take on the day as a better man, a man of a much higher caliber. In fact, on this day, he came to the realization that he was indeed, Tommy Trix. It was as if his dreams and relentless thoughts had finally twisted his mind enough to know that this was right. This is how he was meant to be.

            He quickly went to his closet. The first thing he grabbed was his SynWars collector's edition t-shirt. Then right after he put on a brand new pair of dark jeans, his black leather Tommy Trix replica boots, and topped it off with his black leather jacket. On his left wrist he sported a flashy watch, almost as if it were the same gadget that Trix used to project holograms and teleport back and forth from the SynWars headquarters. Last, but not least, Donny put on his black sunglasses. He looked back into the full length mirror on the wall next to him and firmly stated, "I'm ready". He continued to talk to his own reflection with his best impression of Trix, "I'm ready to take on any challenges that this world and this galaxy may bestow upon me!". Donny's mother couldn't help but, to hear Donny's voice from the hallway. She knocked on the door and yelled, "Donny you're going to miss the bus!" He quickly snapped out of the moment he was having, grabbed his book bag and headed downstairs and out the front door.

            With his sunglasses blocking the powerful lights coming from the sky above him, he headed down the street to the corner. Approaching the stop sign was a spaceship that stretched over 50 feet long. Its shining chrome exterior was strong enough to deflect any space debris that may disrupt it's flight. Donny boarded the ship, gave a nod to the pilot, walked down the aisle to the last seat on his left and buckled himself in. Donny noticed the other SynWars fighters were staring at him. Surely they were just impressed by his intimidating stature and his sharp looks. It's not every day you share a space shuttle ride with the strongest fighter in the Syn Galaxy.       

            The students began to stare at Donny. They struggled to understand his odd appearance and the fact that he had buckled himself in so securely to the bus seat. Donny was always a quiet kid and none of the other sixth graders ever felt any incentive to try and talk to him. A girl sitting diagonal from Donny turned around to get a glance at his humorous outfit. She giggled to herself and turned back to talk to the girl next to her.

            From under his mysterious shades, Donny was able to notice the girls talking about him. He recognized the girl that had turned around to look at him, her name was Abby. Donny had seen her on the spaceship numerous times before. She was one of the most beautiful girls throughout the Syn Galaxy and definitely worthy of galactic royalty. Not to be distracted from his previous mindset, Donny returned to his view out of the spaceship window and regained his thoughts. The spaceship should be arriving at headquarters any minute.

            As soon as Donny entered the front doors of headquarters and walked down the hallways, he received a similar look of curiosity from the other space cadets.            Oblivious of the other kids at Mid-Valley Middle School, Donny just continued down the hallway to be sure that he wasn’t late for his first space training of the day.

            The teacher waited outside the door of the classroom to watch for her students to enter before the bell rang. She noticed Donny walking down the hallway in his black leather outfit and black sunglasses. Donny approached the classroom while Mrs. Toliver, his math teacher, politely asked, "Donny could you please remove your sunglasses while you're in the classroom?" Donny gave a confused looked as if he didn’t know what issue she was addressing. He simply smiled and walked in to the classroom and sat at his desk with his sunglasses still intact. Today was a test day for Mrs. Toliver's first period class. Once all the students sat down she briefly read over the directions and handed out the tests.

            Donny immediately knew that this was a set up. He'd seen this before. The headmaster was trying to see if his galactic combat knowledge was up to date. Donny flew through the test and answered every question correctly. Before he handed his paper in he signed at the top, "Tommy Trix". Mrs. Toliver looked at his paper as he turned it in and she was awfully puzzled by Donny's name choice. Donny exited the classroom and went on with his day attending his other space training sessions. Eventually, it was time for lunch and he walked over to the cafeteria.

            Donny looked around the busy dining hall and scanned for any trouble that he knew the Syn Galaxy was notorious for. After he deemed the place to be safe he moved on to find somewhere to sit. He noticed one table where one space cadet was sitting alone. Donny walked over and sat down next to him. It wasn’t the ideal place to spend his time, but he knew that no one deserves to be alone, not in this galaxy. The boys name was Sam. Donny introduced himself and began to tell Sam all about his thoughts of SynWars. He explained how he has set out to spend his day fighting for what is right, just like Trix would. Sam didn't necessarily understand Donny's mindset, but it was simple enough to understand he was a friend.

            Donny and Sam headed out for a little recess time instead of hanging out in the cafeteria. Donny quickly found out that something wasn't right, but Sam wasn't as quick to pick up on the situation. Donny sprinted over towards a small group of trees. Sam asked, "Donny what are you doing over here?" Donny replied frantically, "Can't you see that we are under attack? These are the creatures of the AK Tribe, some of the most powerful monsters in the Syn Galaxy!"

            Donny began to run around kicking and hitting the trees as if he was going to take them down. Sam sat back and was amused by Donny's poor combat skills. Donny was doing cart wheels in order to dodge any plasma rays that the monsters could fire at him. Another kick, another dodge. Donny stepped back and was breathing heavily. "I don't think I can finish them off, let's get back to headquarters before this gets ugly." Donny told Sam. Sam told Donny once they got back inside the school building, "You know you were kicking a bunch of trees right?" Donny glared at Sam in disgust and replied, "I know I wasn’t able to do much, but I had to try my best." Sam shrugged his shoulders and they continued down the hallway.

            The school day was nearing to an end and Sam and Donny had met up after their last period class. They began to walk down the hallway and Donny asked Sam how his space training had gone. Sam was still slightly confused by the whole thing, but he replied that it was going well. They walked and talked about the day as the left to the school to head for the busses, when all of sudden they noticed a group of kids congregating on grass over by the trees. Donny asked, "What's going on with all those space cadets gathered over there?" Sam started to run, "I think it's a fight!"

            Donny zoned in on the group as he got closer. He saw a creature that he was not able to recognize. It was a monster of rather large size and surely more strength than he's ever seen. The monster had a firm grasp of one of Donny's respective space cadets. In a moment of confusion Donny said to Sam, "I've never seen a creature of his sorts." Sam replied, "I think he is a kid from the High School. He's trying to steal that kids money or something."

            Donny was sure that this was a villain from somewhere outside the Syn Galaxy. His next step was to figure out how to take him out. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something on the ground. He ran over and picked it up. It seemed to be some sort of galactic space sword. With both hands he firmly grasped the sword and sprinted at the crowd. The space cadets got out of the way once they saw Donny running straight at them. He sprinted towards the back of the monster and raised the sword high above his head. In a glimpse of a thought, Donny thought of Trix and all the enemies of the Syn Galaxy that he had defeated. Now was Donny's chance to stand for all that is good. With all his might he swung the sword at the back of the monster and hit him with a powerful strike. The monster let out a cry and tumbled to the ground, releasing the innocent cadet from the grip of his giant hands.

            The kid had no idea what had hit him. The high school bully got back to his feet and scurried away with his other high school friend. The students that had gathered cheered for Donny, but quickly dispersed and ran toward the busses as they saw teachers running over from the school. The kid that Donny saved said thanks and followed with the others toward the busses.    

            Mrs. Toliver ran over to where the scene had previously taken place. She saw Donny standing there with a rather large stick in his hand and Sam was right behind him a few feet back. She frantically asked the boys what had happened. Donny paused and thought to himself before answering, "We just did what was right for the good of the galaxy." Mrs. Toliver was mind boggled by the response and sent the boys to their busses after making sure they were unharmed.

            Donny boarded the space shuttle again, but this time it was headed for home. His work in the galaxy was done for today. He returned to his same seat and buckled himself in for lift off. As he looked up, he saw Abby walking down the aisle, but this time she wasn’t headed for her usual seat. Abby stood in the aisle in front of Donny and told him, "What you did out there was really brave. I've never seen anything like that." Donny bashfully replied, "Oh it wasn't really anything. That's what is expected when you're fighting in the Syn Galaxy." Abby did her familiar giggle and smiled at Donny. "Well can you tell me more about this galaxy?" Donny was shocked by her intrigue. Fighting all his nerves, Donny replied "Uhh…yea. I mean yea! sure!" Abby sat down in the seat next to Donny as he began to explain. Abby was fascinated by Donny but, it wasn't because of his stories of SynWars and Tommy Trix, it was the way that he thought and how it was so different from the other kids.

            The bus came to a stop. Donny got up, said good bye to his new friend Abby and headed for home. Usually Donny sprints home to get back and start playing his video games again, but today was different. He removed his sunglasses and thought about the day. His craving to play SynWars wasn't as high because in his mind, after what he had done today, he had already beaten a new level.

A Knight in the Big City

A Knight in the Big City

            It was just a normal Friday night as Gabriel Thompson was driving home from his double shift at the office in the glamorous New York City. Mr. Thompson wasn't just an ordinary office drone in the corporate world, he actually had an interesting job as a children’s book writer focusing on adventures of a different time and land. Little did he know, that night as his overtired body and mind were focusing on the fact that his body was deprived of sleep, he was going to fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident that would alter the rest of his life. Once recovered by the first responding EMT’s, Gabriel awoke with a head wound altering his perception of reality. Left inside the hospital he was alone, for his wife was on a business trip and his family estranged.  But Gab didn’t know he was in a hospital, after the crash it led him to believe he was back in medieval times, like in the story he was just working hard that evening to finish for the approaching deadline. Gabriel glanced around astonished at the new world around him, he wasn’t just writing about a knight, but he was a knight himself, Sir Gabriel.  

            He believed he was in a dungeon and he must get out at all costs. Gabriel grabbed his suit of amour and swiftly started walking out of the room. A doctor started to chase after him telling him he hasn’t been discharged, Gabriel swiftly turned around pushed the doctor down and told him that “A dungeon keeper cannot stop him not even the King himself can stop a knight from fulfilling their destiny”. Once that happened security was called, he took this as an opportunity for him to test his skills in stealth and agility. Ducking and dashing Gab went from room to room staying out of sight from the guards. After several minutes of this cat and mouse game he emerged from the dungeon of a building we call a hospital.

Now alone in a place like New York City the only thing Gabriel knew to do was to search for his princess, for he believed she would know what to do. Wondering aimlessly Gabriel asked everyone on the street and every car on the road if they have seen the beautiful Princess Malinda. With receiving nothing but dirty looks, and the light growing dimmer his search was at a dead end. Gabriel decided the best thing to do was to get a goods nights rest under this large bridge nearby. Underneath this bridge he found a group of beggars huddling around a fire in tattered clothing and dirty faces. In his mind they looked like villagers in need of rescuing, they must be save he thought. “I shall help all ye if it be my last breath, to make your lives better is my mission but first I need help finding my maiden, princess Malinda, will anyone assist me on my quest?”. Of course these were no villagers, they were hobos huddling under a bridge seeking a place to rest their heads and most did not pay any attention to any of the nonsense Gab was muttering. They all believed he was crazy, yet one man by the name Edward stepped up and talked to Gabriel about helping him, believing that although his request was outlandish he would truly help them. After a night of sleeping on a trash bag and soda bottles Gabriel had decided to allow Edward to come with him on this journey. They set off that day but neither knew where to even go. Edward had to teach Gab about streets, cars and technology (though he wasn’t educated himself). They didn’t know how to get money for food and water and they were in need of resources. As a knight Gabriel wouldn’t beg for that is a poor man’s doings so Edward begged for a while and got enough money for some drinks and sandwiches. After a day of wondering about Gabriel decided if they were going to find the princess they needed a swift steed. For the princess was far away and the men wouldn’t be able to get there on foot anytime soon. Realizing that he couldn’t just take these creatures on leashes called “dogs” he must find another way of transportation. Edward and Gabriel found two bikes unchained outside a grocery store and took off with them. But there was a problem, Gabriel did not know how to ride one so he rode atop Edwards handlebars. A funny sight to see they rode off as the sun started to go down once more. After finding an empty lot the two men conversed about their lives and Edward realized that there was no way Gab could actually help when he needed help himself. When awaking the next morning Gabriel was left alone, Edward was gone and so was the bike, it seemed to him he had lost his helper. On his own, Gabriel just wandered towards the direction he believed the princess would be found. Gabriel passed an alley where he heard a women yelling and in distress. A maiden was being robbed by a thief, trying only to help he attacked the robber and tried to save the women. She ran off screaming and the robber ran too leaving him standing there in the alleyway. . Seeing the women fleeing a police car stopped to investigate what Gabriel was doing. The policeman asked what Gabriel was doing and he said fulfilling my duty as a knight and saving the damsel in distress. The cop found this explanation absurd and started to approach him figuring he was the robber himself. Gabriel started to run away from this unknown man and the police officer caught up and shoved him to the ground. Unknowing to what would happen to him he fought back with all his strength but it was no good. Next thing Gabriel knew he was being shoved into a larger moving chamber, with bright lights and fast wheels. The whole way back to the station he asked questions like “where am I?” “Where are we going?” and “Who are you?”. The cop stayed silent due to him not wishing to alert and upset him anymore. Once at the station Gabriel was put into a cell while the cops tried to figure out who this man was. After sitting there for hours in silence, a cop finally came up to him and said he has been released. At the end of the hallway was his princess, his wife Malinda. Now calm and relaxed that his princess had been found Gabriel was taken back to the hospital and tests were run to figure out the severity of the brain damage.  It was found that the damage caused by his accident was irreversible and he would be stuck in that state for the remainder of his life. Next, as found to be too much of a burden on his family Gabriel was then then placed into a mental institution. Malinda visits him every day and even helped the homeless people under the bridge by giving them food, water and money one day. The story he wrote that one night he crashed actually became a big hit with families and it was called A Knight in the Big City. So that one book provided for his family the rest of their lives, so that knight was both a blessing and a curse.   

Julia, the Queen of Greenville

Once Upon A Time there was an old lady named Julia who lived in a modest house a located in a town named Green Ville a couple minutes outside of the city. Julia's house was surrounded by a huge garden full of roses and sunflowers. That garden was everything for her but the most important thing she had in her life was her dog named Champion. After her husband died Julia found company, friendship, love and loyalty in her dog. Champion was her partner, best friend and only family. Julia used to talk hours and hours to her dog and he will sit next to her and listen. Sometimes it looked like Champion could really understand what she was saying and that was all she needed. Everybody in town loved Julia because she was a sweet and lovely lady. People would invite her to any activities promoted in the town so she wouldn’t feel alone and sad. One morning like usual Julia woke up and the first thing she did was get food ready to feed Champion. Champion! Champion! Come here buddy! She said 3 times. After the third time she knew that something was wrong. Champion was dead lying down on his bed. Nobody knows what the cause of his death was but what everybody knew was that Julia’s life wasn’t going to be easy after that. A couple days after Champions death people noticed that something was different in Julia. She was acting weird out of the normal. Some people thought she went crazy because her two love ones were gone. But deep inside she wasn’t crazy, well maybe she started to experience a loose mind but it was a way of protection. Julia’s stage of mind was very different now. She created her own magic world where her dog and her husband were alive and living with her. But with the difference that now Julia thought she was the Queen of the town and her husband the King. Because everybody really loved Julia they didn’t treated her like a crazy person they actually follow what they thought it was a “Game”. Julia would walk around in her imaginary carriage with horses and her dog sitting next to her. She wanted to help the town to be a better place to live in and because she was the “Queen” she wanted to do something about it. In her magic world, Julia was living a happily ever after story with her lovely husband and her loyal dog. Everybody treated her like the Queen of the town and took on mind any advice and complain that she had. Maybe because she was old or because people knew that she was acting that way for a reason. Her loose mind was consequence of the pain she was going through. Julia was lonely now and this unwanted behavior was a way to escape from her feelings and thoughts. A couple months later a close neighbor found Julia’s body lying down next to her husband and dogs Rip. She was dress like the queen she was and she finally was resting in peace. Julia was remembered by everybody in the town as the lady of the Queen Greenville.