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Chapter Two- Nyx in Turmoil

So my name is Nyx and I was born blind. I used to really feel sorry for myself until the day I met Kylo. He’s my best friend but it’s weird that people are scared of him. Not sure if I understand it but it seems that he’s part wolf and part person.

He doesn’t have many friends but neither do I. I go to what I call La-Stupid School for Da Blind. Not the real name but it’s what I think of it. Everyone there is blind but there are a lot of people that are jerks. I’m told every school is like that but that’s why I hate school. Word got spread when I first started going that my mom makes me wear overalls.

Overalls are out of fashion and most of the kids at school thinks they’re a sign of weakness. My mom is afraid that If I wear pants that have a zipper, which is like everything, I might hurt myself because I can’t see when I go to the bathroom.

I’m not clumsy so I don’t know why she would think that but she is my mom. I sometimes lie and say I’m not wearing them just to throw everyone off but then they start reaching out to feel what I have on. Once they do and they know I lied they make fun of me even more.

I get called a baby and asked if I’m wearing a diaper. This always makes me mad because there are blind students that wear diapers because they can’t go to the bathroom without making a mess. They never get made fun of because they are special yet the other kids have no problem making fun of me. It doesn’t happen often but it still makes me hate school.

My best friend is a kid named Kylo. He’s a werewolf but nothing like the werewolves I hear about on TV. I had never felt one before so I had no idea how hairy they are. I have a Chewbaca action figure from Star Wars and he is a Wookie. They are naturally very hairy but Kylo is no way near as hairy as that.

What I like about him is that even though we are both different he doesn’t make fun of me. I don’t make fun of him for being a werewolf and he doesn’t make fun of me for wearing overalls. Though technically I wear them because my mom forces me to not because I chose to.

“Did you try it?” I asked Kylo. We had been talking about movies and he was asking what it is like to be blind and watch movies. I told him to watch a movie but keep his eyes closed the whole time.

“Yeah, but I’ve seen all my movies before so I can see them in my mind while I listen.” Kylo said.

“Then you need to watch new ones but not watch them. You know what I mean.” I said and I heard Kylo chuckle. I instantly felt better that he wasn’t mad at me. He can be so serious at times that I worry he’ll get mad and we won’t be friends anymore.

“Wanna play beep baseball? I got my blindfold in my pocket.” Kylo asked and I faked a smile. I was not a big sports fan but Kylo liked to play even though he wasn’t very good at it. He usually struck out or if we mounted the ball on a stick he still managed to miss it.

“Sure.” I lied but it made him happy to set everything up. I heard him running to get ready and he was placing the base down as they landed with thuds on the ground. They made soft beeps so that I would know where they were. The beeps were distinctive than the one the baseball makes so you could tell the difference.

With his hearing he should be a pro at this yet he messed up more than I do. It’s funny in a way because with everything I hear, it seems as if Kylo is a real klutz when it comes to beep baseball. I tried telling him to play without the blindfold but he said that is cheating. Of course I wouldn’t know either way but I do feel bad that he has such a hard time when he seems to love the game so much.

We played for about an hour and finally I was able to get him to wanna play something else. I got him to watch TV with me and he agreed to listen with his eyes closed. I tried picking something he never saw before so he'd have no idea what was going on. I made him wear a blindfold so that he doesn't cheat although I know he isn't like that. I know I can trust him.

My mom walked in the living room where we watched TV and she called for Kylo for some reason. I was curious so I muted the TV and strained to listen in with them.

“Kylo, you're been a very good friend to Nyx.” She started and I wondered where this was going. “I need to point out that I've been watching you play and I see that you're holding back. You play Beep Ball like a klutz in order to let Nyx win. I know you're better than that. Plus if Nyx figures it out he'll be upset that you are pitying him.”

“I never thought of it like that. I thought he'd push himself to get better so we could have fun.” Kylo said, his voice full of sorrow.

“I know but pity is not what he needs, he needs a friend to push him not pity him.” My mom explained.

“Sorry,” Kylo said. Normally you would think I would get mad but I was actually touched. He wasn’t trying to be mean to me and we’ve been friends long enough that I know what he is like. I was n’t about to let them talk about me behind my back forever so I decided to step in.

“Hey you guys! I can hear you!!!” I shouted and I heard feet shuffling then whispering. I could not hear what they were saying but they must have realized they were busted. It took a few minutes then they returned to the living room to discuss this.

“So what did you hear? Honey.” My mom asked and I heard Kylo nervously scraping his sneaker on the floor. I smiled and told them everything that was said. I heard a soft whine from Kylo and I guessed he was afraid I was gonna be mad at him.

“I’m not mad. I’m actually touched because it's the kinda thing I expect from my best bud. If it was me that had super cool wolf powers then I’d do the same.” I explained.

“Really? You’re not mad?” He asked shyly and I laughed.

“Kylo, the truth is that I hate sports. The kids at school play but they are way better than me and I get teased for not being as good as them. I hate it but I;’ve been playing because it seems to make you happy.” I said and I heard my mom turn and leave us alone to hash this out. I think she did not want to interfere any more than she already had. Plus I think hearing that I get teased at school bothers her.

“I can try and help you get better, if you want.” Kylo said and although I thought about it I shook my head. I did not like sports nor these dumb overalls I have to wear. Better for him to convince my mom to let me dress as a big kid.

“You promise not to laugh?” Kylo asked and this surprised me. I would never laugh at him like the kids at school do to me. I nodded my head and he lowered his voice in a whisper.

“I… I like playing catch. I think it is the wolf side of me. When a ball gets thrown I like to chase it and catch it in my mouth.” He confessed.

“Eeeew, I’m not judging but doesn’t that get slime and drool all over it?” I asked hoping I did not just hurt his feelings after the promise I just made.

“I dunno, but no one likes to play with me so I can’t say.” He replied. This struck me as odd for a second because he never told me he likes to play games like dogs do. I wondered if this was him trying to trick me into playing Beep Ball again. He wants me to get good at pitching by pretending we are playing catch.

“Is this a trick? Are you trying to trick me into playing Beep Ball again?” I asked.

“Nope… well maybe a little. See we both get to do something we like. I get to play catch my favorite game and you get to strengthen your pitching arm to impress the kids at school. It’s win, win.” He said and I thought about it. It might not be too bad because he was going to be doing all of the work. The thing was that it was turning him into a dog and although I always wanted a pet. I did not want my best friend to become a pet just to make me happy.

“Can I think about it?” I asked and sensed his disappointment.

“Sure.” He said halfheartedly. Mom called us for supper and asked if Kylo was staying. He said he had to get home and left. This made me upset because I was afraid I had hurt his feelings. I didn't mean to but I was just so confused. I mean Kylo is a person and not a dog. Why should I treat him as one?

It seems that both of us have been bullied for who we are and that that led us to become friends. While the whole world made fun of us we still have each other. It’s nice to know that you are not alone in this cold dark world, as I see it. Kylo carries the best parts of me because he was blessed that he can see what I never will be able to.

He can see what I look like and while I have an idea about him I’ll never be able to see his eye color or his fur. He can see what everything looks like when he watches a TV show but I have to guess. He lowers himself in order to keep me happy so that I’ll be his friend and yet that makes me sad. I see us as equals and not as me being better than him.

“You’re awfully quiet.” My mom remarked as we ate. I had been doing a lot of thinking and I was getting nowhere. I decided to tell her what I was thinking and hoped that maybe she could give me some good advice.

I told her everything and explained the parts where I was confused and had no idea what to do. I even brought up the overall thing and she listened with interest. I think I did more talking than I ever had but she quietly listened.

“I think Kylo is a good friend and you both seem to need each other. You both seem to have been alone for so long that you’re both now stuck being afraid you’ll lose each other. The school thing is my fault.It’s just that when you were a baby it was easier to dress you in overalls for when I was going to quickly have you use the potty.

I guess I forgot that you grew up and still see you as my little boy. I see that I was wrong and have made you miserable. We’ll go shopping tomorrow and I’ll get you some new, adult, clothes. At least the kids at school will be nicer to you, even if it is a little bit. Kids are mean and just because we get new clothes doesn’t mean that they will instantly like you. They will try to find other things to make fun of you for.

If you do make some new friends at school don’t forget your friend Kylo. He can’t make friends as easy as you can and he’ll be very sad if you forget him because you made new friends.” She explained.

“I’ll never let that happen!” I said firmly. I knew that Kylo and I were going to be friends forever! I just knew it.