Lord of the Guys

The Sound of the Megaphone

Ralph Golding stepped off of the plane and planted his feet on solid ground. His trip to Britain had been amazing but the plane ride was absolute torture, Ralph was horrified the entire trip. Ralph's father pushed him forward and he stumbled a bit before walking with his father to a taxi. 

Ralph thought of all the fun that he had with his father during the summer, while they took the taxi ride home. It had been the most fun since Ralph's mother had left them a few years back and Ralph felt as though he had truly seen his father in the first time in forever. Being in the military, Ralph's father had always been gone, leaving Ralph alone feeling like he was abandoned on his own little island. 

Ralph looked at his father now, only a year ago he had stopped calling him "daddy" like a child, now he calls him by the more formal version of" father." His father's hair was silvering but his green eyes had gone from dull to piercing like Ralph's. Ralph remained with gold hair and while his father's body was developing wrinkles and becoming slouchier Ralph developed more muscle and his skin was completely clear. 

School would start back up in a few days, Ralph couldn't wait. Pacific Island High School was his life. He worked hard to make it on the basketball team and become point guard. Even Ralph's best friend Piggy, Patrick, made it on the team, although just as the waterboy. Ralph heard a new student had transferred from the neighboring High School, Savager High, and would start the year with the rest of the senior class. 

"Maybe", Ralph thought to himself, "the new kid could help Piggy and I with the new littluns, I heard they was supposed to be even worse this year. There's a reason we's started callin' them littluns, 'cause they act like 'em."

The taxi came to a halt in front of Ralph's large brick house. The dark of night blinded Ralph and he walked straight into the metal mailbox. Finally, he reached the door and opened it, he searched for a light and switched it on. Ralph took his suitcase up to his room, not bothering to unpack, and flopped down onto his bed. 

He shoved his face into his pillow and turned his head to the side so he could breathe. Ralph fell asleep and let out small, airy snores, his father came into hand Ralph his stuffed rhino and saw that he was sleeping. He lifted Ralph up and lifted up the covers, he set Ralph down and covered him up, sneaking the rhino under his arm. His father took a last look at him before turning off the lights and going to his own room to sleep. 

* * *

Ralph woke up before his alarm went off. He was so excited that he took a quick shower, got dressed and ready, and ate breakfast all before seven o' clock. He still had another hour before he had to drive to school so he plopped himself down on the couch and turned on the T.V. The episode of Doctor Who ended so he grabbed his stuff and headed out the door to begin his first day as a Pacific Island Senior. 

Ralph's shoes seemed to never touch the pavement walkway as he walked through the big doors of Pacific Island High School. Ralph was greeted by the school's cheer squad and a giant neon green banner that read in bright orange "Welcome back to PIHS!". Orange and green, the school's colors, balloons were tied to the giant white pillars by the double stairway. 

"Ralph! Hey, Ralph! R-ralph!", a voice called. Ralph recognized the high pitched, squeaky voice as Piggy's. Ralph turned on his heels and saw Piggy wiggling his way past other students. Piggy was cradling a megaphone in one arm while waving at Ralph with the other.

"Hey Piggy, have a good summer?", Ralph asked when Piggy reached him.

"Yeah, yeah, it was great. Lots of fun was had. Look the new kid!" Piggy pointed over at a crowd of people. Ralph couldn't find anyone he didn't already know. Ralph took the megaphone from Piggy's hand and ran up the staircase. He pressed the little red button on the side on the megaphone and spoke into it. 

"Welcome back Pacific Islanders!", Ralph yelled and everyone turned to him he was too far away he couldn't see anyone's faces, "Remember if you're new here you can come to me with any questions." Ralph brought the megaphone away from his face and walked down the stairs.

Ralph walked over to a table that had a piece of paper taped to it that said "Helpdesk", Ralph took a seat and let the familiar faces come. He knew everyone from the junior high so he recognized everyone. Then walked up an unfamiliar face. 

The boy had red hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in a leather jacket and paint stained jeans. He looked to Ralph and in a rough voice asked him where the bathroom was. Ralph told him and he walked off without another word. Ralph, despite only knowing the boy for a matter of seconds, knew he would be trouble.