A First Day Can Lead to Another World

Finley Clarke rummaged through his grandmother’s closet, confused as to why she had asked him to fetch her golden lamp. What was so special about it? He thought. As he threw back, mounds of old garbage and wrapping paper. Considering the closet was overflowing with boxes and clothes, he wondered if she was trying to get him out of his bed, still sulking about being suspended from…the incident.

Just a week ago, he arrived at his new middle school and started trying to find his first class when he noticed some of his classmates laughing and snickering behind him. He felt something on his back and quickly ripped it off. It was a piece of paper that said, “Hi, my name’s Idiot; what’s your name?” Ugh. He thought. What he would give to be a normal person. He tore the paper into bits and threw the remains in the trash. He bit his lip and felt blood trickling through the cut. He clenched his fists and dashed out to anywhere, but there. His brows furrowed as he tried to wrap his head around being loathed the second he came to school. Finley blinked back tears and walked quickly to where he hoped was his class. He kept his head down the entirety of class, and when it was time for lunch, he wanted to get down on his knees and scream. Who would want to sit with the only new kid?

Keeping his head down, he swiftly moved to an empty seat in the back of the cafeteria. Before he could arrive, one of the guys who was laughing at him before tripped him. Ttray was thrown up into the air, while he slid under to unwittingly create the bully’s utmost satisfaction. “Plop!” The food came down on him, a cartoon-worthy moment. Classic. Wonderful! I’m being humiliated on my first day. It took everything in him not to punch the guy, but how could he when he was covered in spaghetti and chocolate milk? The cafeteria erupted in laughter, and someone even started recording with their phone. Cameras flashed in Finley’s face. He buried his face in his hands. What did I do to deserve this?

The rest of the day passed quickly until it was time to go home. At the pick-up zone, the jerk had one more trick up his sleeve and pushed Finley into a puddle, getting his clothes wet.

“What is your problem? You stick bad notes onto me, trip me in front of everyone, and push me. Why?” Finley furiously demanded.

“Ha! Jerk! We’re just playing, no need to get frustrated,” the bully replied with a sneer.

Finley was never the type of person to punch someone in the face, but that day, he could not tolerate this guy anymore. He tasted the metallic blood in his mouth and his nails dug into his palm. Frustrated, he punched him, while dripping wet and did not notice the principal who was standing next to the two the whole time. He was immediately sentenced to a 7-day suspension and was given a long talk. Finley’s stomach dropped and he nodded quietly, vowing to get back at the bully.

“It’ll give you time to reflect on what you did.” The principal had said. Finley scoffed. The bully started it first, but he knew it was no use arguing with him.

Back in the present, angrier than ever, Finley rummaged through photos and boxes. Where was the lamp? Ughhhh….Why would my grandma do this to me? Why did it smell so weird in here? Finley grumbled in his thoughts. Ah! Finally! He pulled out the glimmering lamp and sprinted back to his grandma. Almost immediately, the lamp pulled him inside and he was sucked into another world……