Jason Woods stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his worn leather jacket over his crisp white shirt. He smoothed out his dark jeans, making sure they were wrinkle-free. His eyes, a deep brown, sparkled with determination as he gazed at his reflection. He combed his hair and applied his favorite wax lotion on the hair to bring out the waves.
He thought about the day ahead, his first day at Howards High. A school for the privileged, where the wealthy and influential sent their kids to learn and socialize. Who would have thought that he would get into such a prestigious institute?
Jason's mind wandered back to his old school, Apex Public High, where he had spent the last five years. He remembered the worn-out textbooks, the outdated equipment, and the overworked teachers. The school has seen better days, built over two decades ago by a Joint Foundation of leading companies in Morgansville. They felt they were doing the city a favor when they had strategically built it close to the Oasis. Now, years later, the school had nothing to boast about. Well, except for the fact it was beating other schools in sports competitions.
He was going to miss Apex High. The funny classes, the wise words of their principal - Mr. Kawasaki, his girlfriend, Amber. But most of all, he remembered the basketball team, his teammates, and the thrill of competiting in the annual school league and tournaments. Apex High had several sports programs ongoing in its early years, but somehow it had been reduced to the Basketball team, the Athletics team and the swimming team.
Jason's thoughts drifted to the annual joint high school basketball tournament last year, where Apex Public High had faced off against Howards High in the finals. He had been a standout player to be picked ahead of most of the seniors. He recalled the rush of adrenaline as he sank the winning shot, securing the championship for his team and school. The crowd had gone wild, cheering and chanting his name. Jason's heart swelled with pride as he remembered the trophy and the Most Valuable Player award he had received.
But then his thoughts turned bittersweet. His dad hadn't been there to see him win. He never was. Jason's expression darkened as he thought about his father, a drunkard who had never been there for him or his family. Jason's mom worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, while his dad squandered what little money they had on booze and who-knew-what-else. He used to be a construction worker under the Goodman Constructions but somehow he had been selected amongst those the company were firing for being excess to expenses.
Life for the Woods took a dramatic turn and everyone suffered as they downsized. The family bore the heat of the frequent aggression of Mr. Richard Woods. He became very hostile, abusive and nonchalant towards the affairs of his family.
Jason shook off the bitter thoughts and focused on the present. He had a chance to start anew at Howards High, to leave the poverty and struggles of the Oasis behind. The scholarship he had been offered was a rare opportunity, one he couldn't afford to waste. He had been susprised when several orderlies had approached him after the tournament and provided paperwork for the scholarship. But Howards High? They were the rivals
Dressed, Jason thought about the conversation he had with his best friend, Tommy, over the summer. Tommy had told him that leaving Apex Public High and his friends behind wouldn't be easy, but it was a chance for Jason to become someone better, to escape the ghettos and make a better life for himself. Jason had agonized over the decision, but ultimately, he knew Tommy was right.
Jason left his room and walked into the kitchen, where his mom was packing lunches for his younger siblings, Keisha and Allen. The kitchen was small and worn, with faded linoleum floors and chipped countertops. But it was clean and warm, filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and the sound of sizzling bacon.
"Hey, Mom," Jason said, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
"Hey, baby," she replied, smiling. "You look sharp today. First day of school, huh?"
Jason nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "Yeah, I'm a little anxious."
His mom placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You'll do just fine, Jason. You're a smart boy, and you've got a lot of potential."
Jason knew that was a huge lie. He wasn't as smart as his grades showed. He had Tommy and Amber to aid him in assignments and tests. However, he felt his academic prowess would be exposed at Howards High.
'We'll cross that bridge when we get there,' he thought.
"Where's Dad?" Jason asked about his dad, expecting a lift in his truck, though he resented the thought of him showing up at his new school in his dad's rickety truck. His mom's expression turned somber, however.
"He didn't come home last night, Jason. I don't know where he is." She sighed and fished some dollar bills for the bus.
Jason's face twisted in anger, and he muttered a curse under his breath. His mom reprimanded him, "Jason, watch your language. Your siblings are listening."
Jason apologized, feeling a twinge of guilt. He ruffled Allen's hair, winked at Keisha, and hugged his mom goodbye. "I'll see you later, Mom. Take care."
His mom handed him a lunch bag and a bottle of water. "Stay out of trouble, Jason. And don't forget to eat your lunch."
Jason grinned, feeling a sense of determination. "I will, Mom. Don't worry."
As he walked out of the kitchen, Jason's eyes landed on his older brother's motorbike, inside the open shed. It had been unused for months, ever since his brother, Tyler, had disappeared.
At first they had thought he had been abducted or faced some mishaps until Tyler wrote secretly to Jason and his mom telling them he was okay, though he never said where he was. Jason felt he wanted to get away from the abuse of their father and had pledged to do the same thing until he realized his mother and younger siblings needed him.
Jason's dad had forbidden them from using the bike or anything that belonged to Tyler. Jason sneaked around and rode the bike whenever he wasn't around. All it cost was to pay a little bribe to Keisha and Allen to keep their mouths shut. But Jason felt today was an exception. He needed a ride to school, and the bike was his best option. There were no public buses to the suburbs of Morgansville, where Howards High was located.
Without hesitation, he strapped on the helmet and straddled the black and chrome bike, kicking it to life. The engine roared, and Jason felt a rush of adrenaline as he sped out of the shed and into the streets of the Oasis.
The Oasis was a world apart from the affluent neighborhoods of Morgansville. The streets were narrow and winding, lined with crumbling buildings, trash-filled alleys, and flickering streetlights. The air was thick with the smells of exhaust fumes, garbage, and cooking oil. Jason navigated the bike through the crowded streets, weaving past pedestrians, cars, and bicycles. It was a sorry sight, indeed.
Jason at times felt the rich and influential paid no heed to the suffering plights of those who lived in the Oasis. It felt wrong to him. The crime rates were high, gang wars were frequent and the laws were least respected in Oasis. But, what could he, a teenager at the peak of his senior high education do?
As he rode, Jason felt a sense of freedom he hadn't experienced in a long time. The wind rushed past his face through the opened visor and he felt alive, ready to take on the challenges of Howards High and make a difference.
Or maybe it was just a fleeting thought.