Monday, March 26, 2007

   Work: More work - Less work

Well, I should begin by explaining the title of this post. I have been getting more real work to do lately (perhaps I should think of it as a birthday present?), and there's been little time to spend on MyO other than posting comments, so I'll have to cut down on my posts to maybe once or twice a week. If my own home computer was working, I'd keep up the posts and proliferate from my mind many more pictures that are all pretty and photoshopped for your viewing pleasure. I'm also constantly being bugged to use my 1337 5|<1|_|_Z to beat Guitar Hero after work, and thus shortening my time at work (where I have the time and comfort to write everyday).

Valet Parking

Now that I'm 21 years of age, I'll be a quick hire for a valet parking agency I've had my eye on for several months now. I drive a standard, and they need all the skills that I happen to have. The pay may be meager, but the tips are not. I really either need to take this second job, or begin a budget for myself and I'm not the type to keep myself in between a noose and a Ziploc bag.

The Story I Want to Hear

Kai was dragging his feet on the way to school, expecting everything to be wrong with him. He was still angry about Booshi's test on the night before. His face was sullen and expressionless, though he didn't intend it to be. His life at home was nothing to be happy about, and his face never showed it either. At the academy gate just ahead, a small group of teenagers suddenly stopped talking and turned around to look at Kai. Their clothes were somwhat strange and mostly black. A couple of them carried katanas on their backs. Kai trudged on, knowing they could'nt decide whether he was afraid or not. When Kai was about to step through the gate, someone's foot stepped on his and he almost lost his balance.
"Just where do you think you're going?"
A larger, but definitely younger boy continued to put his weight on Kai's foot.
"Oh, so you're here to give me the friendly welcome? Booshi, told me I might ask you to show me around when you stopped me at the gate."
That was a lie, of course, but Kai really needed to see just how much influence Booshi had in the village. Kai's ruse worked to his pleasure as the large boy's foot immediately was lifted away.
"B-Booshi, you say... I did'nt expect him to be your tutor. He hasn't even taken a student before. I was beginning to think he never would."
The boy was obviously not too bright by the way he spoke, and the surprise on his face told Kai just how much respect he had for Booshi.
"So, is there a tour, or should I find someone else?"
The other boys all stood by silently eyeing the larger one. The boy felt that the others were not thinking of treating the new kid nicely, and Kai also noticed the intense staring.
"I don't know..." replied the boy.
"How about I tell Booshi what a big help you were to me today?"
"Fine..." he finally gave in.
The eyes of the other boys followed them until they entered the building and they did'nt say a word.
"My name's Kai, by the way."
"Oh, mine is Yoshi. Hey, how did you Booshi know that I would be stopping you at the gate?"
Kai was considering telling the truth when he realized that he had just taken this boy away from a group of thugs that were using him to pick on other people.
"What if I tell you that he didn't?"
"You tricked me? Why I..."
"Hold on there! What were those guys to you?"
"They're my friends."
"What are you to them then?"
Yoshi stopped walking altogether and thought for a second about it.
"They only like me for my muscles," he said regrettably.
"See, you don't need them to make you feel strong. What you need is a friend, okay?"
"Yeah, alright."
Yoshi showed Kai around the school until class had finally started.

---

The homeroom was large and setup quite like a lecture hall. The teacher walked through the door and set his books on the table.
"Today, we will talk about the theory of..."
Kai was sleeping already. Time passed quickly, and very soon Kai was being shaken awake by Yoshi.
"Class is over, it's time for recess."
"Recess? That's for little kids."
"You've never been to a recess in a ninja village."
As they walked through the doors to the yard, and what Kai saw was not slides and swingsets, but a slew of adolescents wielding quarterstaves and wooden swords. Some of the younger ones using nunchaku like blackbelts in Kung-fu.
"Different than you expected, huh?"
"Probably what I should have expected."
"You dont seem to be trained in any weapons, so I'll take you to the wrestling ring."

---

Well, since noone commented last time, I figure I'll just ask again.

1) What is your name?
2) What is your quest?
3) What is your favorite color?

Sayonara and arigato gozaimasu,
Krusty K
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