ch . 8 A song and a stranger

Sept. 21 1985- Saturday afternoon

I'm walking with my friends from school on my way back home.

We just finished our football practice. I'm currently carrying my duffel bag, with a bit of sweat on my face. My legs are sore, and I'm tired as heck, but I show a big smile on my face.

My second year in primary school just began this month. So we're a little hyper after the long summer break. Living in Europe, I discovered football, and I'm loving it.

At first, I just want to include a physical activity in my daily routine to strengthen my body. Knowing the possibility of having Brad Pitt's abs really helps motivate me.

At first, I tried to do the Saitama routine. You know, 100 Pushups, 100 Sit-Ups, 100 Squats and a 10KM (6.2 Mile) Run every day. But that kind of became boring really fast. Running on the school oval track w/o music in my ear is really boring.

I saw the latest Walkman and bought one. But as someone who experienced the convenience of MP4 and iPhone, cassette tapes are a nightmare.

Then I saw some of my classmates playing with a soccer ball on the field. They invited me to play and we just clicked. I asked Nana to buy me shoes and kit needed after that.

Nana advised me to make the most out of my second life as a kid. Which I'm happy to follow. Why do you ask? Because I really didn't have a great childhood in the past. So before facing my inevitable long life as a High Human, I want to experience everything, even those that most people take for granted.

"Bye guys. See'ya all on Monday." I waved goodbye and split from the group, taking a turn toward our house.

There is still a good distance away, so I started singing…

🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶

I've been reading books of old

The legends and the myths

Achilles and his gold

Hercules and his gifts

🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎵

I was so lost in singing and didn't realize there was a person following me.

When I reached our front lawn, I realized there's a bearded man looking at me with a smile.

"Sh*t!" I cursed.

He startled me. But I stared hard at his face. If you look pass his full beard, I swear he can pass as ADAM LEVINE's twin brother.

He stopped his approach when he realized I'm wary of him. He raised his hands in surrender to show he didn't mean any harm.

I saw he has butterflies tattoos on his palms up to his forearms. I silently questioned his taste in body art.

"Hey kid, I'm not a creep. Chill!" He backed off a little and continued, "I heard you singing,. Who wrote that? Is it your original work?".

'Ohhh So that's why.'. I replied, "You can say that it is an original." I'm pretty sure, since the entertainment scene in this world is not the same in my past life. Not only that, but I hadn't heard any song from my past life here. Even with literature. I remember looking for Oliver Twist and Moby-Dick for a class assignment last year, and I had received a questioning look from the librarian.

He smiled and said, "Can I buy it?"

*cricket *

I analyze the situation a little bit and asked, "Can you wait for my Nana? She should be on her way back. Then we can talk."

Nana gives pretty much everything I want so I never had any need to rack my brain to come up with my source of income. But the Idea of earning simply by writing songs I remember from my past is quite appealing.

He nodded and said he'll wait by the fence. I'm not going to invite a stranger in. Specially, someone that look like a hipster with butterfly tattoos. I'm aware how cute I am.

I walk toward the front door and took out my keys. Then I saw a sticky note on it with Nana's handwriting. I'm shocked when I read it and turned to look at the guy by the fence, then he noticed my stare.

I yelled, "What's your name?!

He was surprised by the question but answered, "Francis!"

I looked at the note again and yelled, " You can come in. Just wait in the living room for my Nana."

I open the door. He has a look of surprise but still follow me in. I pointed to the couch, and he sat with a furrowed brow.

"Water?" I asked out of politeness. He said, no. I went to my room to get my towel and proceeded to the bathroom for a quick shower.

After 10 minutes, I came back in new clothes. Went straight to the kitchen and grab a banana. I sat on the stool in the kitchen facing the living room. I looked at the grandfather clock that shows it's 4:58pm. I waited while eating silently.

Francis now has a perplexed look on his face. He's probably wondering why I'm being nonchalant with a stranger in the house.

Then at exactly 5:00pm the front door open with Nana Dora holding a bag of groceries. She looked at me and said, "Marshall dear, I have Ice cream. You can have one scoop while I entertain our guess."

"Yehey! Thanks, Nana." I ran cutely and took the grocery bags and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I went back on the kitchen counter top and open the tub of ice cream, scoop a spoonful into a tea cup. I placed the tub in the fridge and sat back on the stool, slowly savoring my early dessert.

Nana didn't move from where she is standing even when the door shut close by itself. She then looked at the person in the living room with a stern face and greeted, "Hello, Francis."

Francis stood up immediately and stuttered, "Wa.. wa. Why are here, Aunt Zephy?!"