theboywiththebook | 9th Tale: Losing Hope

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[A little over two months he's been dealing with this. The inability to read anything. While he's held onto the hope that he knew he'd get to read soon, he just had to see if he could do it on his own again. Maybe by some stroke of luck or miracle he could finally read the pages of his book.

But, instead of staying at home and reading, where Steve and Bucky are, he's in the village square. If Bucky and Steve saw him looking so upset while he read they'd only feel worse. They were there when he died and they blamed themselves for it. He doesn't need to give them that kind of stress or depression. They've dealt with that stuff enough.

Sitting by the fountain he stares down at his story book with a very focused look. He can do his. Henry can read it. But, he sits there for hours by the fountain continuing to look at the one page he's stuck on. No matter how hard he tries none of these words are recognizable. They may as well be chicken scratch.

It gets to the point where Henry can't stand it any longer. Slamming his book shut, he hurls it as hard as he can.

Does it hit someone passing by or land at their feet? Either way Henry folds his arms and just kicks the ground in front of where he's sitting.

Later, when night starts to come, Henry's sitting by the lake. It reminded him of Storybrooke, Maine. They were always close to the water and when he had his castle he would always retreat to it whenever he was feeling like this. Angry, upset, all of it. Watching the waves helped leech all those bad feelings away, and watching this lake had a similar effect.

He loses track of time, 8 PM, 9 PM, 10 PM. The hours tick on by as he just sits there. But, it gets to the point where he realizes it's probably time to get back.

He now wanders back to the apartment in silence.]

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That's good.

[Oscar nods in approval, though he finally takes the book back and glances at the cover.

"If you can read it maybe." It makes him wonder.]

What's this book about?

It's a book of stories that really happened.

[It's really one of the simplest explanations he can give. And it's honest at least.]

But, there's no point in keeping it now.

[A history book? He glances at it, then at the boy.]

Why not? It's always good to learn from history.

[He pauses, giving his book a look of longing. He really did just want to read the pages once more. To be able to find the hope he once had and that his story book gave him. It was for not as the Malnosso had made it so he wouldn't find that hope anytime soon.

Henry looks to the stranger for a short moment and bites his lip a bit.]

It's not that I don't want to read it. I just can't, not right now. And it sucks.

[Oscar blinks, his curiosity piqued. No? That's a rather vague way of saying he can't, because the reason could be anything, so Oscar decides to nudge:]

Why can't you?

[He doesn't want to outright say it, but, there was no point in hiding it. Instead he answers with a question:]

Have you heard of penalties?

[His gaze drifts for a bit as he searches his memory. He remembers, and when he pieces that together with the current situation, he nods knowingly to himself.]

It must be hard for you.

[Henry returns a nod.]

Yeah...it is. And the Malnosso don't make it any better for what they do to us.

[There's a small pause as he looks up to the blond haired teen.]

My name's Henry by the way.

[A beat. He really needs to get more used to sharing his name.]

I'm Oscar.

[He offers the book yet again to Henry.]

Even if you can't read just yet, you should still hold onto it. Things could change.

[Henry looks to his book almost tempted to hurl it once more, but, Oscar could've just gone and thrown it out or lost his temper about this all. So, with very little hesitation he takes it back.]

Yeah, I know. It's just been months now that I've been waiting. And it's just not fair with what the Malnosso does to everyone here.

[Pleased that Henry has taken the book at last (it would be such a waste to discard it), Oscar looks thoughtful for a moment.]

I suppose, but they're not the only ones. There are a lot of other people that do unfair things. [A beat.] The most important thing is to wait, so keep holding on. Change will come.

People have to be able to make that change though and we're supposed to be the ones that do that, right? We don't even have a way to fight back right now.

Right . . . but if there isn't a way to fight back, then there's no use in worrying right this moment. You just have to wait for the opportunity.

9th Tale: Losing Hope

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