Part 2
I just realized that I haven't told you the boy's name! I called him Lois, and he called me Braun- these were some of the more uncommon names at the time, you know. It made us feel so special to be different!
I suppose I should stop rambling. I can't say I remember why, but when we were a little older we both ended up moving away from our hometowns- Perhaps because the farming was bad?
There was a school nearby- what do you call it here? A public school. It wasn't quite as bad as you might be led to believe, our teachers were nice and the food was good. Keep in mind we were ten and twelve at the time- practically men! We had such a grand old time at the public school, Lois was one of the most charismatic children there, you know. Talented speaker, even at such a young age.
And then, his brother died.
His name was Edmund. When I was young, a long time ago, we didn't have all of these vaccines and doctors. We were still healthy, mind you, but measles wasn't as rare as it is now.
Ah, I'm rambling again. Edmund died to measles. I don't know how old he was. Too young. I remember seeing what effect it had on the family- Lois became withdrawn. He used to be so happy, it broke my heart to see him in such a bad place. His father and Lois became so divided, they would argue every day. This often ended in beatings, but young Lois always joked that it was fair- He got to practice his speaking, and his father got to relive his own childhood.
Lois was only twelve, I wonder where he got such ideas. Looking back, he never did make many jokes after Edmund died. He buried himself in his books, let his friendships rot. I like to pretend that he kept me around because I could help him, but the truth is that I had no idea what to do.
I do know that he trusted me- and sometimes I wish he had not. When we were in the school, these terrible children would constantly make Lois feel terrible. He would never cry, not for them. At this point he was hardened far more than any child should need to be.
He had a book, something about strategy, and showed me what it said. I have trouble remembering, but he made a plan from it. Defeat in Detail, I believe. When the boys came back, they would try to attack Lois- he would make sure of that. Then myself and a few of my friends would take out each individual by themselves, so that no one could fight back. He was a clever boy, Lois. The fight would be at our lunch break.
Lois was sitting alone at a table, eating his food in silence. He had assigned myself and my friends to specific tables, so that we would be closest to our marks. When the boys came, I remember nothing but silence. The tables were under several pine trees, and nobody wanted the needles in their food. We were picky children then!
All of the conversations stopped when the boys approached Lois, who stood up and looked the closest one in the eye. Then he smiled.
Lois did not show a happy smile, nothing reached his eyes. I remember feeling cold when I saw it- as if the warm spring weather had suddenly frozen, as if the plants had withered and the sun went out.
We still followed the plan, of course. When Lois snapped his fingers, the boys hit the ground almost all at once. I had convinced four of my friends to join us, you see- so we had two men for every one of the bullies.
Lois and I went after the ringleader, the fight was over in less than a minute. A few teachers had heard the commotion and did their best to stop the brawl, I remember all of us running and leaving our victims in the dirt.
We all clapped Lois on the back, congratulating him on being such a masterful tactician- and at the ripe old age of 12! He rarely smiled since Edmund died, but he was laughing and cheering with us all now.
It was as if the world was perfect for him again.
