Wings And X-Ray Eyes

I remember like it just happened on Monday

Except it did happen at the start of the week

I have a good memory, what can I say

We had a new student, some could call a freak

To us, he was far from it, actually the opposite

The boy went by the name Joshy, that’s all

No last name or nickname was said

He didn’t walk to his seat, but flew, we weren’t sure what we saw

The boy had a pair of wings on his back that made him fly

All his shirts had holes cut in the back

Then he also shared that he had x-ray eyes

None of us really knew how to react

Everyone worried if they should cover up themselves

Joshy said I can see through skin, not clothes

A little better, just then, everyone felt

Needless to say, Joshy became pretty popular, don’t ya know

At lunch, people would ask him to watch them with his vision

Or look through various objects, like doors or walls

He flew around the hallway when there was traffic during transitions

And he did more, that was not just all

In gym Joshy excelled, the wings giving extra speed

He always knew what was coming, he could see all, nothing was surprising

Everyone liked him, except one, the popularity they would not feed

Joshy never knew of this, it was never on his horizon

Then at the end of thirty days, he won the student of the month award 

It was the second time in a row, this was the first time that had occurred

Honestly, Joshy didn’t care, but he accepted it saying, ‘sure’

Everyone was happy for him, then in the hall his curses he heard

Alone in the abandoned hallway, a kid was blowing under his breath,

“Joshy, I hate that guy! He’s the worst! I hate him so, more anything else!”

After listening, it sounded like this guy hated Joshy to almost death

Joshy decided to confront him to see why this way the kid felt

The kid was Gerald Petersen, freckled short and the stalky lad

He was letting out his rage alone by his locker

Joshy flew slightly, trying not to be caught even a tad

So when he finally appeared to Gerald it was a shocker

He cried, “What do you want? Why are you here?

To show off some more about how great you are?

I’d wish you’d just poof and disappear

Or move away somewhere long and far!”

These feelings Joshy still did not understand

He asked, “Why do you hate me? What have I done?

I try to be myself and always do the best I can

Whatever I do I like to make it fun

I don’t see how it has an effect on you.”

Though Gerald was annoyed, he somehow let it all out

“Have you seen yourself? If you only knew!

You act all cool, seeing through things and flying all about!”

Joshy was puzzled, he said, “This was just how I was born

Why does it all matter so much

I don’t see why you are so hurt and feel torn

I just don’t understand, give me a hunch.”

“Because you are so cool, I can never like that

There are nothing wings on my back, my eyes are plain

So I can’t fly and see through things, that’s a fact

Looking at you and then myself, I’m pretty lame.”

Now the whole situation made a lot more sense

Joshy had an encounter like this once or twice

It was time to make things lot less tense

And point something out, hopefully, Gerald won’t want to fight

Joshy asked, “Say, what’s your grade in English class?”

Gerald was confused and stammered, “aaaannn A.”

“Oh, in that class I having trouble, I can barely pass.”

Not following, Gerald was not really sure what to say

“Haven’t I seen you play chess afterschool? Are you any good?” Joshy questioned

Gerald answered, “Umm, yeah, I play a lot. I won the school championship last year.”

He also won a weekend tournament, a recent feat Gerald did not mention

Joshy replied, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to play, good thing I bumped into you here.”

It was weird direction yet Gerald forgot about being upset

Joshy said a chess game they go start and play

So off to play and teach Joshy, they went

Being able to share made Gerald feel okay

They got to know each other and became good pals

You can’t compare yourself to others, especially to a person like Joshy was

Focus what your own special talents and you’ll be sure to smile

Chances are they got do it as well, for its who they are, just because

Gerald forgot about what he didn’t have and focused more on what he did

He tutored Joshy and taught him how to excel at chess

He realized he was good at things and that he was liked by other kids

Joshy is teaching him to fly, at that, they’re trying their best

A kid with wings and x-ray eyes might sound like a spectacle

Don’t be too wowed by it though

Not saying you should feel skeptical

Just look inside and your own wings will show