Essence: The E.S.T. Org. Read Free

was short, with rarely washed mousey brown hair, and a little chubby. She always wore clothes that looked two sizes too big. They couldn’t look more opposite.
    Nicky’s mom and dad were still sleeping, exhausted from the long drive home.
    “So how was the trip?” Sue asked.
    Nicky almost spilled the beans about what happened. “I fell and the most amazing … well I mean I hit my head and went to the hospital, but besides that, not much really.”
    “Really? I’m glad you’re okay. I thought you would have all kinds of stories for us. Well, my brother is out of jail and back with us. He promised not to set fires and my mom really believes him this time. Oh and remember Karen? Well, her parents divorced and her dad fled the country. Oh, and Joe from three blocks down, well he got a job, but was fired after crashing a company car in to someone’s living room. Anyway, let’s play some ball!” Sue was a very quick talker and rarely stayed on a single subject for too long. She was known as the neighborhood gossip.
    “Okay, let me ask my mom and dad.” But as Nicky turned around to go ask his parents if they could play basketball, he felt a sharp pain in his head. He cried out loudly, “Oww!”
    Nicky’s scream woke up his parents. They ran to him. “What is it?” his dad asked obviously shaken.
    “I don’t know, Dad. I just saw a light and felt a sharp pain in my head.”
    “How do you feel now?” Mom asked concerned.
    “I’m okay. I don’t feel any pain.”
    “Okay, just remember Nicky, all the tests came back fine,” Dad tried to reassure Nicky.
    “I know … I just want to go hang out.”
    Out the door the three of them went.
    “I don’t know what more we can do. I just want to help him but I don’t know how,” Dad said.
    “All we can do is just trust that he’ll be fine,” Mom said.

Chapter 8 - Rocket
    “Are you okay?” Becky asked Nicky just outside his house.
    It was a sunny, hot and humid South Florida morning. They lived in a typical middle class neighborhood that was built in the 1990’s. A place where the single story stucco houses were too close, but the lawns were green and manicured. All of the flower beds were lined with the Homeowner’s Association compliant red mulch.
    “I’m fine. I told you I bumped my head. Really, it’s fine.”
    “Okay. So, you want to race there?” Becky asked.
    “Okay.” Nicky didn’t really think about his new found speed and forgot he ran like a shuttle taking off now. He was already at the half-acre neighborhood park, while the girls were still far behind. When they finally arrived, they looked at Nicky shocked.
    “How did you do that?” Sue asked.
    “ Oh no ,” he thought. Then he said to Becky and Sue, “Well … it’s just … these new skate shoes.”
    “Oh really?” Sue said scratching her head. “Well those shoes are amazing.”
    “Yeah, we could barely see you," Becky said.
    “Ha-ha, yeah they’re really cool, electric powered for extra speed. Anyway, let’s play.” Nicky wanted to quickly change the subject. They played basketball in the hot sun for hours. Nicky made sure to hide his new ‘abilities’ even though he still needed to win.

Chapter 9 - Hole
    Nicky was still dreaming when his dad’s voice woke him up. “Good morning Monkey, first day of school, buddy. Eighth grade already! You are getting so old.”
    Groggily Nicky replied, “Okay … I’m up Dad.”
    “Now remember, don’t tell anyone what happened or let them know about your new … skills.”
    “Okay, okay Dad, don’t worry. Can I just sleep a little longer?”
    “No! Get up; don’t make your mother late.”
    He got on his favorite red shorts that probably should have been thrown away six months ago and a solid black top. Nicky was sad, there was no salmon today, just a bowl of cereal.
    Nicky’s mom drove him to his first day of school. She was a sixth grade math teacher at the school. A lot of the other kids thought Nicky got preferential