Archive for September, 2018
My Short Fiction Story | “Early Advice from the Future!”
Wednesday, September 26th, 2018
It was the end of 7th grade, and I had never felt more satisfied with life. You see, 7th grade was horrible, and I would have hated to have to relive it again. But looking back, maybe part of the reason that year was so bad was because of me. I was shyer, lazier, more easily upset, more of a pessimist, a perfectionist who was angered if the slightest thing was wrong… The list is endless, basically. However, the good thing is that I have improved since then.
Or maybe that year was bad because of the school itself. To be honest, I never really liked the middle school I went to, and I have not had that many fond memories of it. There is no single reason for this—the teachers, the homework, the annoying classmates… This was also the year in which I started to feel more self-conscious. I really am not kidding when I tell you that I never want to go back. Like, ever.
In hindsight, the summer before 8th grade is what I would consider to be the best summer of all. I was finally free from school for three whole months, and I feel I used it wisely. At least, that is what I thought, until one day that quite frankly changed my life forever.
It was about a week after the last day of school. I was playing a video game I really liked in my room, when suddenly a mysterious portal appeared. This both startled and intrigued me, so I paused my game and looked towards the portal. That was when my mind was blown—someone entered my room, through the portal.
“Who on earth are you?” I asked.
The person looked to be high-school age, with a taller stature and a faint mustache starting to grow. And, perhaps weirdest of all, he looked just like me (except without braces).
“I’m you,” the person replied in a voice noticeably deeper than mine, “from the future.”
I was bewildered. Just how could this be? I was prepared to ask him every question in the book, in hopes that somehow he would explain all of this, but he stopped me.
“Please refrain from questioning any of this. I promise I will explain everything,” the future me said.
“I sure hope so,” I replied. “You, sir, have lots of explaining to do.”
“Then I shall explain,” said future-me. “Okay, so firstly, I am you from three years into the future. The year is 2015, and you just started your summer vacation, correct?” I nodded in reply, and then he said, “All right, good, I’m in the right time.”
“Okay, so then why did you come here?” I asked with utter curiosity.
“Be patient! That part’s next,” answered future-me. He paused a little before saying, “I have some bad news. There really is no easy way to put this, so I’ll just say it straight—you will be moving to the state of Oregon in about three years.”
I froze, trying to process what I just heard, and then asked, “W-What…?”
“Yes, I am afraid it’s true.”
“B-But I literally just moved apartments last summer! Does Mom seriously want to go someplace else already?”
“Well, actually, she got a job there. And she was initially unsure about it, but Dad pressured her to keep going when she was interviewing with them.”
“Man, that really stinks!” I lamented.
“Yes, it most certainly does,” came the reply. “And if you want specifics, then you’ll want to know this—you will get to spend 8th grade and the first two years of high school here, but July 31st, 2018 is our official moving date. After that, you will spend another month and four days in summer vacation before starting 11th grade. In the school I go to now, they start in September and end in June.”
“I am totally unsure of how to feel right now,” is all I could think to say.
“Well, wait a minute, because I’m not finished yet,” 2018-me said. “This is the part where you really need to pay attention.”
Despite having a problem with focus, I listened closely in anticipation. I will never forget what he said to me…
“Here is my advice—you have the entire summer vacation, plus three more school years in Kansas, plus another summer vacation before it is too late. Do not waste any of that time. If there is something you want to do before you move, then do it, as soon as humanly possible. Use any free moments you have. And lastly, enjoy your home while you still have it.” He paused again before saying this: “In other words, don’t do what I did. Trust me, if you follow this advice, don’t be lazy, and try to be positive whenever possible, then the move will not be as bad.”
I thought for a second. He was right. Deep down, I was amazed to have grown into such a wise person. And that sort of made me trust him more.
“Okay,” I said, “I’ll do it.”
“Good,” future-me replied. “I should probably be heading home. You can resume playing now.”
“All right, bye!”
Future-me waved before going through the portal again. In an instant, the portal disappeared, and then it was just me, in my room. From then on, I knew what I had to do.
I would not let my future down.
THE END
