Hard as Stone

My blood was pulsing against my temples, and my body was getting weaker, I was edging toward passing out.
"Five, four, three, two, one...okay, you're done." I let out my breath slowly and sucked in the fresh morning air. Me and my father were outside,practicing our family tradition of absolute self discipline and control over our body. Although being up at four 'o' clock in the morning wasn't my thing I had been doing it since I was able to, so it was normal for me. My straight back was another one of our family traits that I can prove is medically benefical.
"Once more then we head in." I took in a deep breath, preparing for another round of two minutes of no breathing. I listened to my Father's steady breathing to forget what I was doing. Soon I was sliping out of reality again. My brain was fully alert, now even as my body weakened I could feel my brain waves becoming stronger.
"Five,four,three,two,one,now come on let's eat." I eagerly followed my Father across our large lawn to our perfect white house and walked in to the wonderful smell of bacon and eggs being cooked. How my mother manages to cook anything without putting a spot on anything in our clean white kitchen is beyond me. I sat down at my usual place at our square kitchen table and waited patiently for Mother to set a plate loaded with two eggs-sunny-side up-,about six pieces of bacon-fried until it was just crispy and perfectly juicy on the inside- and two pieces of toast one with butter and the other one bare. I was free to choose a topping of my own. I went to the fridge and pulled out my favorite, strawberry jam. I shut the stainless steel door and walked to my plate silently. That's how most of my family meals are, silent, but I don't mind it that much anymore.
At five 'o'clock I was done breakfast and I headed upstairs to make sure I had done all my homework. I walked out of the kitchen made a right to the main hall of our house and then climbed the straight stairs to the second floor of our home. I turned left towards my room then walked all the way to my room, passing the family area. I walked past me when I was born, one, two, three, four, five, -then a school picture-six,-then a school picture- and you get the point. There was a picture of me at the beach feeding Sea Gulls too.There was even one of me at my soccer championship competition. Too bad we didn't win that year, oh well there is always this year. Now I don't mind being the only child in the house-I can't say I'm an only child, before me my parents had twins and when they moved out they had me- but sometimes I do miss Victoria and Elizabeth, my two older siblings. Both of my sisters are tenth degree belt in some karate studio of some sort or what ever. When I reached my room I took off my tee-shirt and started to put on my school uniform when I heard something moving in the attic. Now granted my house is old but these noises were different, each noise was distinct, like footsteps. I paused a minute waiting to here more but none came so I finished getting dressed and headed to my desk. My oak desk is a family hand-me-down but I actually like it so it's not that bad. On the desk today was a rather large pile of paper and workbooks. On top was my History. I pulled out my adgenda to make sure I'd done it all.

1st:Language Arts- Read Chap. 7 in Harry Potter/page 94 in workbook
2nd:Computers-None
3rd:History-page 122 in textbook #s one through five
4th:Spanish-None
5th:Lunch
6th:Math-page 253 in textbook (all of it)
7th:Science-Define all(15)vocab using glossary
8th:Gym-None

I pulled out each piece seperately, looked over it, and slid it neatly into my backpack. I put everything in school order; Lauguague Arts, History and so on. This is also the way I came home everyday after my soccer and martial arts classes after school. I zipped my backpack shut and hung it on my doorknob. I went down stairs to complete my daily morning routine, my chores and warm-up.
After sweeping the front hall, taking the trash to the compost pile, taking the recycling to the curb, cleaning my room, making my bed and ironing tommorrows school uniform it was about five thirty in the morning. I went outside to run around for a while and strech out. When I was done jogging the perimeter of our 4 acre property I sprinted back to the house and streched out all my muscles. About then I had to leave to have time to run to the bus stop. I rushed upstairs and grabbed my bookbag. I called 'Bye!' to my Mother and Father and slung my bag over my shoulder as I broke into a fast jog.
I came to the edge of the drive way just as the bus pulled up and hopped on board lightly.
"Good morning Mr.Dempsey!" I said brightly as I passed by.I walked toward the middle of the bus and plopped down in the seat across from Jessica Murphy.
"Good morning Jess!" she turned to face me dark rings under her eyes from not sleeping well.
"Hey Indy!" she said weakly, she wasn't a morning person.
"How are you this morning?" my unflagging enthusiasum seemed to brighten her damper mood a little.
"Life-ish," I raised my eyebrow "Okay, okay, tireing. I haven't been able to sleep for days now! It's really wearing me down!" I scooted over into her seat and quietly asked "What this time?"
She shrugged out of her jacket and rolled up her shirt sleeve. The large black and blue bruises covered her arm and I gasped in shock. It never fails to amaze me how insensitive Jess's parents are. She looked away and pulled her sleeve back down and slipped back into her jacket.


More to come soon, I'm still working. If you have any ideas or questions for me, comment.