Joe Boi is the name I inherited from my father. Our family crest is a four winged condor. It is the one thing I cherish as close to my siblings. It proves that we aren't a family of beggars, we were once great people. If only mom and dad were still around, maybe I would have some more leeway in seeking out the truth of our blood. Well it's not all bad, adorable brothers and sisters keep me going on this island of depravity. Every day I wake before the birds have time to notice. I tidy what I can, cook my family the fuel they need for the day, and I set off to work my morning shift at the current construction of one the Xykens new villas. Supposedly it's an honor to work on such a prestigious family's abode, but I can only smile wryly at the thought. Heavy bags of cement, logs too long to be carried by my lonesome, and lots of heavy waiting in the heat of day.
I get just enough time to change and head to school. They are generous enough to allow my precarious job to happen. I am more than thankful for their leniency. For that I can not slack on my education. Although I am quite a bit older than most in my classes, it is what it is. I don't get the luxury of sitting at a desk all day.
Night hits before I ever realise it, luckily my siblings are at a point where they can take care of each other. In the past I would have to walk them to and from school, stopping me from earning enough. I always make sure to prepare food in advance, just in case I come home late. This particular night left me too exhausted to swallow, the creaking door that was barely locked wasn't even an annoyance that night. I can't even recall if I made it to the bed, for all I remember is the cold embrace.
"Morning Bob," I greeted the old gentleman down the road.
"Morning boyo, not on the site today?"
"No, it looks like the recent rain has slowed things."
"No school?"
"Luckily it's the one day of the week where there is none."
"Hmm, I see. Then you don't mind helping an old man out."
"I surely don't."
"Come'ere then, I got some stuff I wish for you to carry."
That morning I helped sir Bob unpack a few things from his case, we, as in I, had to carry them all the way towards the Shatow hills. It was one of the more exhausting mornings I had, but Bob was family. When asked for a favor, I develop a difficult time saying no. I suppose I am too soft.
Later that same day I was confronted by four daring gentle men. They were large in stature, dressed in black, I found the appearances the least bit intimidating. Like so many nights, the pride of others in the face of a name they think of as simple hyperbole, is certainly confronted with the sad truth; I am what they say I am. Depressingly so, I had to destroy their jaws, break their legs, and worst of all, eradicate their spirits. Every month or so fools like them jump on the chance to fight me. I always question why that is. Is it because they see me as the weakest of the five, am I just that easy in their eyes? I'm unsure. I just know that if I don't keep at it, then my family will fall into peril. All I must do is keep moving forward, forget the intentions of others, and keep fighting. Be it through intellect, resourcefulness, or brute strength.
Every now and again I am greeted with these silly underclassmen of mine. Jinu, he visits me the most. He reminds me of myself quite a bit. He's a little louder, but his insecurity oozes off him where even the densest individual could probably notice. In a weird way I find it charming, he challenges it in his own way. Other than him though, well his friend Jeanne, how do I put it. He doesn't feel human, but I have no real right to judge. He's polite enough. The problem comes when the trio comes around. They aren't just rowdy, they are a whole force in and of itself. It boggles my mind how they think acting the way they do is appropriate.
Last time they were over they broke our door, ate all our food, and made Liddy cry. My youngest sister by the way. It was total chaos. Reasonably, I wish for them to never arrive together again. Just like the rest, I find it hard for me to dislike them, on an individual basis they are all good kids; if not a bit full of themselves, but good for the most part.
This week has been rather slow, but I can't hate it for that. At the end of it all I play cards with Methuselah, he's pretty weird, and his accent couldn't be more than off compared to some on the island. Out of the five of us "young ones" who have authority, I find him to be the most normal. He has a charisma I can't really explain, people are just drawn to him I guess. In a weird way, I too wish I had the same power.
"Cards… Hey Joe, how about something more exciting? Let's have a quick spar. Been a while since I could let loose." I looked at him with tired eyes, he would bring this up more than I'm comfortable remembering. Perhaps it was the lackadaisical week, but I promptly nodded.
"Sure, why not?"
"Sweet!" A red blur, that's all it was and I was on my back. All I could was laugh, he really was strong. He's closer to a god of war than a teenager.
"You're something else…"
"Wanna go again?"
"Eh, sure."
Like that my night ended with me being thrown around, I woke up the next morning with a back redder than ever before. To all these people I meet on this island, I hold them as dearly as my own. For when I arrive home, I know that our peace can only be brought by others. That joy shouldn't be thought to only be in my possession, they too are the reason I wake up every morning. This land is my family, and I would do anything to protect it.