Mikey Mike

Life. Life is crazy, but especially for Michael Falls. Michael doesn’t want a lot from life, at least not that he knows of. He enjoys things that way. Although everyone has their own opinion of Michael he likes to think of himself as simple. Just simple.

Mike hadn’t been that happy to hear the bell ring since yesterday. His stuff was already packed, he didn’t have much. He enjoys sitting in his chair while everyone else leaves. Maybe he likes the conversations he hears, maybe he just wants to be different, maybe not, whatever it is Mike is never in a rush. Judy always sits next to Mike and it seems she doesn’t mind letting him borrow her pens. She got up before he did, of course, and walked out the door not saying anything to anyone, but smiled out of courtesy to Jimmy, the class clown. Jimmy would never stop talking, Mike enjoyed it sometimes. Harry and Stephanie walked out together talking about nothing that meant anything to anyone. Mike wondered how they have stayed together so long, he didn’t like them much. He couldn’t help but wonder if what they talked about even mattered to them. Mike feels uncomfortable talking about things too deep, but feels more awkward talking about things that mean nothing at all. Just as the lovely couple walked out Eddy came fumbling into Mike’s view. Eddy pointed a finger at Mike and winked like an overdramatic actor. Mike never knows what to do, so he just smiles, that’s what works best for him. Eddy was hilarious to Mike. They had met a couple times, but never hung out. It wasn’t that Mike thought he was too good for Eddy, it was just too hard to Mike to stop laughing at him. No one but Mike knows when it’s the right time for him to get out of his seat and head back home. Mike knew it was time, so he got up slowly and confidently with the same posture as always. Mr. Buckle was still erasing the board, Mike thought about helping but decided against it. Probably out of laziness, maybe something deeper. Mike isn’t necessarily an awkward guy, so he thought of something short to say to Mr. Buckle on his way out. Most people don’t understand Mike so he figures it’s the same story with Mr. Buckle even though he is smarter than most. Mike doesn’t have to reach deep into his pocket to grab his music player, he has had it in his hand all class. He plugs the headphones into his ears; he paid more for the ones that fit just right. Music was important to Mike. Maybe too important, so he figured the headphones would be a good investment. As he walked out and the door shut behind him he passed Sam. Sam was the new kid who thought he was great. Mike knew better. Mike couldn’t play guitar very well, but he knew Sam wasn’t as good at it as everyone thought he was. Actually, there isn’t much Mike can do very well. At least that’s what he thought. Maybe that’s why Mike loved listening to music so much. It didn’t require any skill, it didn’t require anything at all. Mike knew no one would have the nerve to call him a bad listener. Now that he had his headphones on the day has begun. He has a lot of acquaintances but his best friends come through the white skinny wire plugged into his pocket. His music choice was mainly inspired by the people he looked up to. Which isn’t very many people. Mike respects the most odd people, for the little things they do. He respects people for driving beat up cars and he admires those who wear the shirts from the father’s closets, he mainly looks up to those who don’t try and don’t realize their not trying. Mike loves people who don’t try to fit in, who say whatever is on their mind especially if it is completely random. Mike wants to be more random himself, he just doesn’t know how to go about it. He can tell the difference between those who are trying not to try and he hates that more than anything. Mike is an odd guy, most people wouldn’t know it though, maybe when he gets older people will understand, but probably not. He admires them from a distance. He doesn’t exactly know what kind of music these people listen to, but he figures they enjoy the same stuff. Mike keeps walking down the hall, now that his favorite song is on he completely forgets about how much he didn’t like Sam, he forgets about how funny Eddy was and the meaninglessness of Harry and Stephanie’s conversation. Mike is in his own world now and people understand him here. He doesn’t care about anyone else in the hall, he might as well be alone . . . he is alone. Mike loves this feeling. He feels like he is in a movie and the cameras are on him. He walks a little faster now that the snare is kicking in. People might have tried to talk to Mike but it didn’t really matter. Mike wasn’t there. He was in a movie and he was the star. Well, maybe not the star, but he was an essential character. Mike had friends, but he never saw them much. He couldn’t skip them or turn their volume down, he couldn’t replay them or turn them off, and he didn’t like not being in control. The end of the hall came quickly and Mike’s world got much bigger when he pushed through those double doors. Mike looked around at the trees and the clouds, he looked at the sun too, but not for long. It was a nice day, nicer than it had been all month and that made his favorite song so much better. Mike lived across the street and was in no rush to get home. Today he was so glad he walked because he wasn’t ready to turn off his song to get into the car. He walked home slower than usual that day, he loved that song and of course, he wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere. Michael Falls had a good day, things are better now. He’ll listen to the same song tomorrow.