As It Is -16- Martin's Great Test

28th Week, year 1

6 to 12 de july

Dear Daniel, as you've gone on vacation, I'm just writing a letter for the whole week, focusing on the more important and/or interesting stuff. I also get more time to do fun stuff! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Room matters

As James has home leave, I'm alone with Kevin in the room. That's no bother, except Kevin needs full time cheering up, so I'm adulting up the best I can, despite I'm almost two years younger. I say almost because my birthday is so close. („• ֊ •„)੭

Well, I'm just mirroring what the best adult I know do. And I'm adding some loony kid stuff to make him laugh a bit. And Kevin isn't doing that bad, we're still doing our homework, more or less, and playing as much as we can get away with.

(⸝⸝> ᴗ•⸝⸝)

No, really, we're still doing our homework. You can check with Staff Ana when you're back.

Wary of Arthur

They have let Arthur to go back to the yard. And, I, might be a coward or something, or it's just the best thing, but I'm spending most time in the study room or in the Computer Club, two places Arthur always avoid.

I thought that would solve everything. But it didn't! Arthur went where Kevin was playing with his other friends and told him.

“I have a fun secret, want to hear?”

And that caught Kevin off-guard, because Kevin did not want to be mean with him, and that Arthur just shouted the grossest things right into Kevin's ear.

Kevin didn't hit him back, but Arthur had to run, because... let's say Kevin's friend almost... but staff intervened soon enough. I'm sure Arthur is blaming everybody right now.

( ◺˰◿ )

When Kevin told me, the first thing I wanted was to, I'm making up the words, to make Arthur's bones rather crusty. But I had to care for Kevin, because he was all down, so I just helped Kevin. Kevin is still rather weak, emotionally I mean, so even if he's older I feel like he's my younger brother.

I'm not going after Arthur, promised. But can't you send him away, anywhere?

A good-bad thing doing sports.

This happened to me while doing surfski. Mandy, who is a girl, shared a double surfski with me. And we were all nice and fun. And, at some point, Coach Anne addressed me as Puffin. It suits me for I've been calling myself that anytime any body asks me if I'm cold.

“I'm not, I'm a puffin.” (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

So Mandy told me I was rather cute, and something like I was a good boy and I just said thank you, as you have taught me to, Daniel. But then she began saying like I had to be innocent, that the judge had made a mistake and all that. And I had to tell her I used to mess a lot, etc. And she said nothing else, but I think she still thinks I shouldn't be here. (ᴗ_ ᴗ)

Well, even if I should be somewhere else, it's here where I am. And, in many ways it is better than when I was before, when I was free. Here staff cares if somebody wants to get you, and many other things.

29th Week, year 1

13th-19th july

Dear Daniel,

I'm thirteen already! That was on Wednesday, and I got a small birthday party at the surfski club. They even brought a chocolate cake, with candles and everything. And I got one present, most of the kids helped to buy: some sport sunglasses, for the cost of 45 Federal Dollars. That almost made me cry.

I asked Coach to keep them for me, because I'm not sure I can wear here in Cape Shrine, probably not, and, besides, it's paddling when I need them. I already tried them, and they are good not only protecting eyes from the sun, but also from other kids splashing a paddle-ful of sea water. Yes, it happens, and it isn't on purpose, sometimes.

Daniel, there's something, they are taking me

July, 20th, Monday

year 1

Dear Daniel, I was finishing last entry on my bed, at hospital. It ended a bit like a cliffhanger but it doesn't matter because you don't need to wait to know what happened.

Yeah, and they'll probably have tell you everything already when you get to read this, so I don't need to worry about worrying you. I'm fine at hospital, the bed is so comfy and the nurses are treating me princely, even though they know I'm from Cape Shrine.

Yes, I told them everything, even The-Fear I did. But nobody is wary of me. You might even say they care more for me after knowing that. Unless I'm imagining things up.

What happened

So Arthur was back on the yard, and I was too. And Arthur was dealing with Ron, one of the new kids, the one who's a bit chubby and looks so scared. It has to be so sad to lose your freedom precisely when you're on vacation.

Well, Arthur was like playing at bumping at Ron all the time. Like it was a game, but it wasn't. And Ron moved away but Arthur kept doing that. So I got somehow angry and I got myself literally in front of Ron, to shield him. I hoped Arthur would've stopped.

I was so wrong. I should have helped Ron some other way, because Arthur is against me.

Well, instead of stopping, Arthur kicked me. I didn't do anything back because... The truth is that I don't know, I guess I don't want any more trouble. Besides, Ron had already run away, and by the time I was about to decide something Arthur charge me into the ground and kept on hitting me until staff got him.

By the way: Some staff should always be on the yard, and pretty close. Please, consider that.

Well, that's why I'm at hospital. But I'm not too bad. Cops came here to ask me, but they were very nice this time. I think it's Arthur who's going to be in trouble.

They are taking another X-Ray of my head. I don't know why, they didn't find anything broken and I'm not bleeding any longer. Don't worry, I'll be fine.

In case this is The End, it was nice to have you around.

J

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(I hope)

(っ◕‿◕)っ If you have read to this point, it's pretty clear you care about Martin. Imagine you are Daniel, his care worker/supervisor. What would you advice or tell Martin once you are back from your vacation?

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