Seeing Him again: Nicole (By Nick C)

 Today I woke up thinking that it would be a normal day. My daily routine; get my uniform on, eat breakfast day, brush my teeth and go to school. However  At school I had gotten an unexpected visitor. It was Francis Cassavant! Francis Cassavant… The boy whom used to be my greatest friend who had become my greatest disgust. I used to feel like a reckless car back in those days, always changing direction, not following a smooth path. I went from a great life to a dreadful one, all because of that boy. And after the “event” that occurred that night I was in such a state of despair I would not allow anybody to help me. I even rejected Francis causing him to join the army. The last I heard from him was he got the Silver Star for covering a grenade to try and save his platoon. And the last time I saw him was when I was yelling at him all the way from the piazza to the ground for not being there for me… But I have moved on and have grown stronger from my past and reside with my current life. When I first saw him I was happy and sad that he was here. Happy because I hadn’t seen him in a while and I wanted to make sure he was all right from the grenade but sad because he betrayed me about not keeping his promise. It was hard to recognize him with a scarf over his face. Most of his face was blown off, he has the necessities like eyes nose and ears but there is dangling flesh on his face. I knew that he had traveled from far distances to come and see me. He was in WWII then Frenchtown and now here. The first thing I did was asking him about his face, hopefully it wasn’t rude of me to do that. He answered by saying that it isn't as bad as it seems but I know it is bad. He got maimed from jumping on a grenade and earning the Silver Star. He quickly changes the subject because he didn’t want to talk about the grenade anymore. I had been planning to say sorry for what I had did on the piazza but I never saw him again so I thought right now would be good. He looked surprised when I said I was sorry. He thought that it was his entire fault and I had the right to yell at him. He then brought up the fact that Larry LaSalle is dead. I felt sad that he died even though what happened. Larry always made me feel special, like a ballerina. He made every one feel special at the Wreck Center. I asked Francis was he was going to do now and he is not in the army. He said that he would try to finish high school and then go to college. That made me very happy because I still do want Francis to succeed and be the best that he could be. I suggested that after college he should become a writer because even as a kid. In the end Francis asked me if he could visit again sometime. But I didn’t think I could take the emotional pain from another visit. So I told him to “have a nice life” I did not want to see him again. I wanted to basically start all over again, on a brand new canvas to paint my life portrait,  without anything or anyone from the past distracting me. A moment of silence came over us and then bell separated it and so I did what I has to do and go to my next class, creative writing. And the best story came to me it in that class it was about a man chasing his true love to the exact location just to say that he was sorry about what happened many years a go. It was the story of Francis Cassavant. 

Finally seeing her again: Francis (By Nick C)

            Today I found and visited Nicole Sisters. On the train to her school thoughts bounced around jumping from one side to another side in my head. Since this was the first time I would see her I was very nervous about what would happen between us and if she would ever forgive me . I was so nervous I could feel my stomach twisting inside of me. This was the first time I have seen her in years and at first I failed to recognize her. She was the love of my life and at first I didn’t even know who she was! I just hoped that she could recognize me from first glance. I wouldn’t blame her if she couldn’t since I was wearing the scarf covering my face. The conversation between us was very awkward there were many pauses and long moments of silence between us. While we were talking she brought up that she was sorry of what she did. That surprised me a lot because she didn’t do anything to me it was I who didn’t keep my promise. The promise that I did not keep destroyed my life and made Nicole come to this school. If I had kept my promise we could still be in Frenchtown with all of our friends and be in our 4 in high school getting ready for college and maybe I could be a writer. While we were talking she suggested that I become a write after going to college. But I haven’t ever thought about what to do after college. My plans were to kill Larry then find Nicole. My plan was to try and get her back but it was difficult and if she would agree it would change my mind about the gun. I later decided to not kill myself and go to college then write about my experiences. This would include all of my life about before the incident and after. The reason I didn’t choose the war was because that wasn’t my biggest conflict it was just a solution for what I did to Nicole. The last word that I ever heard from Nicole was the words “Have a good life Francis. Be whatever will make you happy.” The world had frozen in time for a moment. This really hit me as I would never see her again and that she never wants to see me again. But how could I get over her if my whole life was devoted to finding her and being together again. Although she would not want to see me again I feel a little better now that I can accomplish what Nicole told me to do and become a writer.  But the only one I love, I would never see Nicole Renard again.  at her new private school, St. Anne’s, “an Academy of the Sisters…

The day of our "Heroes's" return: Nicole (by Danny Dontoh)

     They were like a cluster of fans in a stadium, that crowd was dense and packed and considering that fact this was during a hot humid afternoon, it literally felt like a sauna. But I guess it was worth it though, that way we all got to finally see our new town heroes Larry Lasalle, after he had been awarded with the honor of being granted a silver star, from his visit in the steaming  jungle of Guadalcanal. After all the good that man had done, helping Francis in table tennis, me with dancing, now an honorable U.S. Marine star. He if anyone, he in the whole wide world would have been the man who deserved it. To get ready for the event in Larry’s honor I was helping around by preparing food kits for the service men, since I was a Monument red cross volunteer. Frankly I did rush, after all I did promised my really good friend, Francis, that I would meet up with him at the time of Larry’s arrival. Just I was about to finish  my last few kits, one of the head volunteers behind me had said, “ Its fine Nicole, you did a lot of work today. I can handle it from here.” I smiled delightfully and said my thanks, “ Now go off to that “boy-friend” to yours.” She had said with sarcasm. I turn around and playfully roll my eyes at her with a smirk, and scurried off. 

     As I squeeze myself through the narrow crevasse of the crowd, I peer over the crowd and I see someone in the distance. Its Francis! He was moving his head through the crowd as if he was looking for someone, which was probably me. In an instant I begin to gesticulate my hand towards him in hopes that he could see me. A few seconds later his face of wonder looking from one place to another, had turned into a face of jubilance and delight, he found me. Francis was looking straight at me as did I, smiling back. As I tried to push through the dense crowd to reach Francis, all of a sudden I heard a sound. TOOT TOOT!!! I could hear a piercing blast of a high pitched horn, then a thunderous mighty chug of an engine, finally a snake hissing sound of steam. It was the train, Larry had arrived! Through the crowd I could not see too much, but did see a bleary figure of a  man in a green- like uniform. Everyone began to roar with praise and cheer. That was Larry all right. He then moved into the middle of the crowd with everyone surrounding and embracing him and welcoming him. He smiled back to then had moved his eyes among the crowd looking at one person to the next until he was looking at me. He had a strong sense of affection and fondness on his face while gazing upon me unlike anyways else he looked at with tender smile. It my have looked strange through others eyes, but never the  less in respect, I bowed tilting me head as if a proper ballet dancer would. In return he had tilted his head as well in return, and a tingling feeling had swept through my body in which I had blushed a bit towards him.

      Larry’s attention diverts from me and then I see the Mayor walking up to him and talking to him. I saw him mouth some words ( I cant hear to me. “I’ll never leave you.” He said in response, which had made me feel so much better as we continued to parade our way through the streets. After a while we had finally reached our “surprise”, we were infront of the Wreck Center! Then Larry had lead  well over the commotion of the crowd), probably about how honorable Larry was or something like that. After everyone had settled down other officials had made speeches for him, and even though some were pretty long and mind-numbing, Larry had still stood there modestly until it was his turn to speak. Afterwards Larry had said his thanks to everyone and how he was so happy he was home, we all were. I go to tilt me head to get to Francis but as I do so he is only a foot away from me! The crowd must have moved me without noticing. I cautiously extend my hand to his, and grasp it. He grasped back. At the time, we were both just so happy that our biggest childhood hero had finally returned home. Right then everything felt just so great, but I knew the celebration would be even better! It lasted pretty long by the way, all the way from the afternoon to the night, but I think I enjoyed myself during the afternoon part more… 

     Anyways, the celebration had taken place in the City-Hall, and I must say I had one great time! People were dancing, Mingling with one another, and just enjoying themselves. It was a blissful sight. While they were inside Francis and I were at the balcony, as I gazed in admiration the dresses of the city officials wives. He teased to me about he would get me one of those dresses someday. It made me smile. I had grasped his hand again squeezing it, then I had gently leaned in towards him and had pressed my check against his. At that time I felt so relaxed with Francis, so safe…  Afterwards Larry, Francis, and I (being as silly as we were at the time)  had paraded through the streets together with our hands on one another hips. However as we traveled through the ominous shadowed streets I had no idea where Larry was leading us to.  No when I think of it I don’t think he ever told us. It felt sort of weird now, and I felt a bit nervous. When Larry wasn’t looking I slowly tilted my head towards Francis and faintly whispered for him to stay close to me. “ I will never leave you” he whispered back, which had made me felt so much better, as if I completely forgot what I was complaining about. After a while we had finally reached our destination, Larry had lead us to the Wreck Center! Ah the good old time we had their with the “Wreck Center gang”. The tough of it made me softly giggle at the time…

      Larry had escorted us and bowed leading us inside, saying that he had arranged Henry Roussier the old retired janitor, to sweep and clean up the center or a “special night”. As we entered and Larry turned on the light a waterfall of memories were flowing through my head. We saw the table tennis table, Francis and Larry would always play on, a table with cans of soda pop candy bars, which Francis and I would love to eat, going back their felt so good. I felt like I was at home, and boy did we have fun. I got to see Francs and Larry play some table tennis, like old times, as I changed the records on the phonograph. After the few people that were there left there was just us, Larry, Francis, and me.

       Now after all of the things that I did begin to get bit tired and I indented on telling Larry and Francis that ii would head back home. However before I could say a word he had swept over against Francis and I and embraced us saying, “My favorite champion and my favorite dancer,” I faintly smiled at him, and then Larry had told me to go find Dancing in the Dark ( one of the records) I was a bit puzzled on why he would want to get that particular song, but I didn’t ask and I went off to go find it among the records. As I did, from the corner of my eye I saw Larry put his arm around Francis telling him something, but I couldn’t exactly hear what they were saying. After I had placed the record on the spindle, turning back towards Larry and Francis, I had glanced at them wonderingly in regards of what they had wanted to do next. 

     Out of nowhere Francis had told me he “had to go” saying that Larry and I needed on last dance. IT sounded peculiar so I frowned suspiciously towards him. Thoughts went through my head, but they were just thoughts… I had whispered directing Francis to stay and watch. Strange enough Larry also agreed with Francis saying things about he was tired and he wanted to leave. Something wasn’t right, a faint electric like chill of uneasiness surged by body. I didn’t want Francis to leave asking him to stay, yet he insisted on leaving.  My heart raced like a stampede, gradually beating faster and faster. As I saw Francis leave the room my heart had completely been submerged in bath fear and intense apprehension, and that was the last time I had seen Francis… Francis my friend… The notes from the song eerily filled the room, “ Dancing in the Dark. Till the tune ends…” It was just me and Larry… But it didn’t have to be. Francis could have helped, and done something! Why just why! Oh why did Francis leave me…