The Mysteries

"To all"

-M.N

The Mysteries

Part One

Chapter 1: Adolf 

Hi. I'm Adolf. This isn't World War II where Hitler was trying to starve out of the British soldiers with the famous U-boats. 

Adolf is really a very common name in Germany, if you want to know. It really is. But people don't believe me and they make fun of my name. 

I live in New York City, the "Big Apple" as the New Yorkers call that big city. The perfect place where many people of many nations come and work in jobs. That's all I have to say, really. 

Chapter 2: The Three Boys

School in my opinion is the worst place in the world. I'm serious. And it's not because of the homework or the teachers or whatever, it's the bullying. 

Remember how I told you about how nobody believes my name is German? In school, this is what happens. The people that like to poke around with people's names make fun of mine and that's why I hate school. 

I actually like homework and school. Learning new things, going to nice places, even some of the teachers I get are nice. 

I walk to school this morning like any other school morning and eat breakfast and walk to my school. It's not that far away from the apartment building I live on with my mom. 

Soon I arrive at the school and I walk into the hallway where many students are waiting for the bell to ring in the next two minutes. Suddenly three boys with long black hair and blue jean and black t-shirts come up to me. This is bad. Very bad.

These boys are one of the groups of people in the school who bully me at school. Wait, I forgot to tell you two things. One, today is January 25th, 2005. Two, this is a middle school called New York Middle School. Not very important, but useful. 

"Hey Adolf, having luck with the book?" asked one of the boys. 

Then they all laugh and go away, far away from me. 

What they were saying was that " the book" was a book called "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle in German), a book before World War II that Hitler wrote about how life was when he was in prison. 

The book made about ten million dollars. But the reason it was made was so that he could have World War II in the tip of his palm. It made so many countries and people go to war with the other countries that Hitler didn't like. That book made so many people die and struggle for survival. 

Suddenly the bell rang. Time for homeroom.

Chapter 3: Homeroom

In homeroom, we were all seated. The teacher in homeroom was checking off the names of students who were here today. All 36 of us.

Finally the teacher called my name.

"Adolf?" she called.

"Here" I answered.

Then some guy called out to the teacher "Where's Adolf from?"

"From New York, of course" said the teacher.

"I thought Hitler was born in Germany."

"Hitler was really born Braunan Am Inn, Austria" said the teacher. "Not Germany. But good guess."

Then the teacher went on calling the names. Why did the teacher spill the beans about me? Why did she need to answer the student's question? I knew that student. He's a good lad. 

Chapter 4: Pavle

Hello, my name is Pavle. I'm a grade 6 student who loves math and like to read and do hard puzzles with math and words. 

The name "Pavle" comes from the name "Paul". It is a Slavic name. I have Bosnian  blood, as my parents said. 

Luckily, people don't make fun of my name like Adolf's. He's a boy in my school. Adolf is always made fun of. It's very mean. 

People don't find the name Pavle very normal in this country. This is very sad. I thought people came to the United States to have jobs, live a happy life, but people haven't gotten used to different names like Adolf's. 

People know about World War II and the bloodshed Hitler caused. But people don't know about World War I. Everybody thinks it's Hitler who caused it. 

But no, he didn't. I don't know who caused it, but I know it's not Hitler. 100% sure.  

Chapter 5: Lunchtime 

After all of the boring classes and talks about history and all that, it was lunch. And lunch is a great time to talk to people. 

Most of the students at school eat their lunch in the cafeteria where there are big groups of people who talk and laugh about their topic of what they're talking about. These groups are called "The Wolves". Big popular kids who bully people like Adolf and many others.

Speaking of Adolf, I'm going to sit next to him. Give him a little welcome. I want to be with him. He needs a friend in his big empty heart. 

I found Adolf in the edge of the cafeteria all by himself. I greeted him and I asked if I could sit with him. He agreed. 

Chapter 6: Eating with Adolf

Lunch with Adolf was very, very quiet. I know that Adolf is always unhappy and very nervous at times, but he never talks. 

I didn't mind. I've been with a lot of people who are quiet and shy like Adolf. It's a feeling that I'm used to. So being with Adolf, eating lunch, was new to me. 

Then Adolf spoke. 

"Hello."

"Hi" I replied back. 

"What's your favourite subject in school?" asked Adolf. 

So he can start a conversation. Interesting. His question?

"P.E" I answered. 

"Yours?" I asked. 

"Mathematics" Adolf answered. 

He likes Math. Nice. Math in my opinion, is not one of my favourite subjects. I don't mind the work, just the people who sit beside me. They don't like math and all they do is snicker and burst out laughing. The teacher doesn't move them from me.

Before I could ask a question, the bell rang and Adolf left the table with a word.    

Chapter 7: Chatting Before School

I wanted to get a little info out of Adolf. I wanted to see what he liked, his inside circle, his life. I'm a guy who likes to find out about things. 

The next day, I walked to school like everyday. I hope today is a good day. It feels like it. I have that gift for fortune. That's what my dad said to me two years ago. I believe him. 

Suddenly Adolf appeared. He was wearing a sweater and blue jeans. Adolf's causal clothes. 

He came to me. We greeted each other and chatted. Just before the school bell was soon going to ring. 

Then the bell rang. We both walked inside the school to homeroom. 

Chapter 8: New Information

Adolf gave me some new insights. I know that he loves to play baseball, likes to read and draw. Adolf also likes to go to Long Island Sound in the summer with his mom. 

It may be not be the greatest news you might heard, but to me, it matters a lot. It really does to me. 

I'm not a stalker or a widow or any of those names. I'm not very popular like Adolf, so I'm not a light to the moths. I'm in the middle of the food chain, to say. Not popular, but not unpopular. Just in the middle. Stuck in the middle. 

Not that I want to use Adolf to be popular. I don't. I like being in the middle because I'm sort of a middle person. I just am. It's in my blood. Time for lunch. 

Chapter 9: Locker Problems

It was finally lunch. The classes that I have are very, very boring. That's why that's lunchtime so everybody can talk to each other during the fifteen minute break.

In the cafeteria, I couldn't find Adolf. I looked in the library, the office, all of the classroom; I couldn't find him anywhere. 

Then I looked in the lockers. I went to Adolf's. There he was, with a black eye and multiple scars. He was hurt bad. 

Chapter 10: Healing

"Adolf!" I shouted to Adolf from across the hallway. 

I took him to the office and the nurse and we cleaned the stinging pus and blood with first aid cream. And the black eye was healing with an ice pack in paper towel. 

After that, the bell rang. We had missed all of lunchtime because of Adolf's cuts and bruises. But he's my friend. I would go to his aid than to do something else. This is what friends do. And he's my friend. His only friend because of the name he was given. 

Why was his name Adolf? Why do people bully him because of his name. It's like the racism people do to coloured people and vice versa. 

What kind of people are we? Some people are just a bunch of people who are doing bad things and saying bad things to other people.  

Chapter 11: The Walk Back Home

It was 2:44 PM. Just one, one more minute and then that bell rings. Then it was 2:45 PM on my watch and then the bell rang. The call of freedom but also the caller of work. 

Then I saw Adolf walking to his house, all alone, nobody to talk to, nobody with him. So I ran to him and greeted Adolf. 

"Can I walk with you?" I asked. 

"Sure. I don't mind" he said. 

Then we walked together. But like I said before, Adolf is a quiet person. So Adolf and I didn't talk about sports or school or anything. 

Soon we arrived to Adolf's house. 

"Bye" I said. 

"Bye" Adolf answered back. 

And then we went our separate ways.  

Chapter 12: More Signs of Hurt

It was after school. We were walking together to Adolf's house, then that's when the bad things happen. 

There were three teenagers sitting around the street, smoking what looked to be Weed. I saw a little black skull tattoo on one of the teenagers. This was bad. 

Then one of the teenagers asked Adolf a question: what's your name?

But Adolf didn't know not to talk to strangers, especially ones doing drugs. So Adolf said his name. 

That's when the teenagers punched his lights out.  

I panicked and ran, dragging Adolf's body to his mother, where she called the police and an ambulance. 

The police and the truck came very quickly. The police asked me what happened. This is what I told them.

Chapter 13: In the Hospital

Right now, Adolf is in the hospital sleeping. Adolf's doctor said that Adolf is suffering a black eye and a broken leg. He will have to stay in the hospital for two days and stay from school for two weeks.  

Two weeks? That's a long time to be out of school. I never have been out of school for that long being sick. Adolf must be unhappy by the changes of school and his medical condition. 

He told me that he likes school. That's pretty amazing since most people don't like school. I feel bad for Adolf. I hope he gets better soon. 

Chapter 14: Getting Better

Today is Monday. Adolf is now at school, which is nice, but his left leg in a cast. That's the bad news. But the people at school are used to others in casts or limping. Even people with other medical problems.

I don't think Adolf is going to be made fun of at school. When there's a student at person at school, they are a god. People help the person do all sorts of things like running or walking. Even eating.  

Maybe Adolf will get better treatment at school because of this broken leg business. I feel bad for Adolf for the broken leg. It must of hurt really bad. But Adolf might get respected for once. 

All I hope is that he gets better. Soon. 

Chapter 15: Something New

Today was Tuesday, a normal, nice feeling day. Adolf and I had our classes. They were boring, but not bad today. Sometimes they're worse. Then lunchtime. My favourite time of the school day, of all the five hours, the fifteen minutes are the best. 

I went to find a seat at a table with Adolf when I saw a little boy being bullied by some older kids in grade seven. There were holding his lunch in the air, so he couldn't reach it. They were teasing him about it. 

So I went to help him. I chased the bullies away from the little boy. Then I gave him his lunch. 

"Thank you" thanked the little boy. 

He was little with blue jeans and a yellow t-shirt. 

Then he ran away, quick as a mouse. 

Chapter 16: Meeting Again

It was Wednesday. Wednesdays are not bad, but not good. Wednesdays are different from Tuesdays, but are almost the same sort of day. That's why they're close together. 

I walked to school. It was 8:15 AM when I arrived. I arrived fifteen minutes earlier than my usual is because I wanted to find that little boy who got bullied yesterday. 

So I began my search for the little boy, looking in the lockers, the bathrooms, the gym, the baseball n diamond... And alas, I found him later in the lockers, at 8:45 AM. 

"Hi" I greeted. 

"Hello" answered the little boy. 

"What's your name?" I asked. 

He paused. 

"What's the matter?" I asked. 

"Will you not move a muscle?" he asked. 

"Sure..." 

"Napoleon. That's my name. "

"Napoleon, Napoleon, nice. Cool name" I commented. 

 "Shush!" shushed Napoleon. "I know, Napoleon Bonaparte, one of most political people in the history of the world, but that's not why I was named."

"I won't tell anyone" I promised. 

"Thank you and good bye" said Napoleon. 

Then the bell rang.

Chapter 17: Adolf Alone Again

The classes are getting slower nowadays; not because I'm not patient, it's because Pavle is not talking to me because he has a new friend. 

He is with this guy named Napoleon. Napoleon. The name of that shorty who was the ruler of France, then all of Europe. But Russia destroyed his army. 

I don't think Pavle was trying to dump me, but he just found a new interest. That's all. I know him. He's good once you get to know him. 

But now I'm alone again. Though I'm used to this. Why, I've dealt with this from all of my life. I'm used to it, but I'd like a friend again.   

Chapter 18: The Old Man

The next day as I was walking to school, I saw an old man walking on the sidewalk, having trouble with the cane he was walking with. 

Of course, it's just an old man and his cane. I meet those people every single day. Why this is New York City, home to about 10 million people, the population of a small country.

But the old man had me thinking; should I help him or should I just be getting along with my own business? What should I do?

I finally decided that I should help the old man with his cane. It's a good deed. People like to do good deeds because in their heart it makes them feel good. 

So I helped the old man with him putting his weight on me. And so I helped him to walk to the next street, which was about 50 feet away. 

"Thank you young sir" thanked the old man. "Here, take my card."

It read:

Aniol Haks

7774 Small St.

Come quickly 

Chapter 19: To Aniol Haks

After school, I walked to Aniol Haks house, which was on the other side of New York. The walk would take me about an hour plus traffic, about a hour and a half. 

So I began to walk, avoiding traffic and walking across the crosswalks past the busy bodies of people talking on cell phone or just walking across, minding their own business just like me. 

And finally I made it to Small St. Now it's just to find the right house. The houses on the street were huge. Like mansions, but a little bit smaller. 

But still, most people in New York live in apartments, big, small and medium, any size is available. But houses are not. Houses in big cities like Los Angeles or Toronto, houses are rare. Like gold. 

Then I found the right house. I knocked on the house. Then the old man answered. I was allowed in. Then there was another knock on the door. It was Napoleon and Pavle. 

"Come in" said the old man. "Now you are all here." 

Chapter 20: The Old Man Speaks

"You are all probably wondering why you were given these cards and sent to here? But before I do that, I'll tell you about myself."

"I'm Aniol Laks, a Polish-American. I'm 66 years old. But these are just boring old facts that are useless to the brain. I'll tell you my life story" said Aniol.

"I was born a few years before the World War II. Really only a few months. So I was a little baby during the war, so I was crying a lot because of the slack of milk and baby food because Germany was invading Poland and many other countries and all of that."

"So when I was a year old, my family moved to the United States and wow, it was a place! Milk and clothes and food in every store. But when I was three, the Americans were at war with Japan and Germany and I think even Italy" 

"Then food was running out. No more red meat and sausages. No more milk and very little food. Billions of dollars were spent on military and weapons. Pearl Harbor got bombed. So did some cities. We were losing hope."

"Then the Americans planned bombings on Japanese cities. Very helpful for us. Then the war started to end. "

"Well, that's my story." 

Chapter 21: Adolf's Life Story

"Let's hear for Adolf!" shouted the old man.

"I'm Adolf. People think I'm German, but I'm American. Just like everybody in this house. Everybody laughs at my name and makes jokes about me" said Adolf. 

"The truth is, that I don't who I am and what I am. Sometimes I just wish I could die. But that would be pointless. Dying because of my name." 

"I wish I knew the truth about myself" Adolf finished. 

"Well, Adolf. You're Austrian. Not German. They speak the same language, though. Your mother is a third German, but Austrian born. Moved to Germany in the 90's, then the United States in '97. That's the truth" said Aniol. 

"How do you know all of this?" asked Adolf. 

"I just know" answered the old man. 

Then Adolf left the house. 

Chapter 22: Pavle's Story

"I'm Pavle, just another regular American boy. I'm not made fun for or teased like Adolf. I'm just a normal guy, that's it" said Pavle. 

"And I'd like to know who's going to win the next Super Bowl" asked Pavle. 

"New York Giants" answered Aniol. 

"Yes!" cheered Pavle

Then Pavle left.  

Chapter 23: The Story of Napoleon

"I'm Napoleon, not Napoleon Boneparte. I'm twelve years ago and I'm in Grade 6" said Napoleon. 

"My family moved to this country in World War II. They were from France. I have a little brother. That's my story" finished Napoleon. 

"And I'd like to the treasure" said Napoleon. "If you know what I mean."

The old man handed Napoleon a map. 

"Thank you!" thanked Napoleon. 

And then he left. 

Epilogue

Adolf

One year later

I'm told people at my school the truth, and they believed me. Now I'm treated with respect and kindness. I'm not made fun of or teased. But I'm not popular, but at least I got what I wanted. 

Five years later

Now I'm in high school. I like it. In the big leagues, I like to call high school. My mom passed away a year ago, but I'm now legal to be a guardian according to the State of New York. 

I'm now in Grade 11, which is very hard to master like all the other grades before. A grade is like a wall; when you smash the wall, a new one is replaced. But you know from the next time. 

Pavle

I'm in Grade 11. It's cool. I have lots of friends, but sadly none of them are Adolf or Napoleon. They moved to different states. Well Napoleon did. He moved to Florida. 

I'm still in the Big Apple, in the same apartment in the same room. All in the the same. But Adolf and me do hang out every once in a while on the weekends. 

I won 10,000 dollars in a bet against an old man in Ohio who said he was good at betting. We were betting on the 2006 Super Bowl. New York Giants won. Just like the old man that I met in Grade 6 said. 

So I got a bank account with 10,000 dollars for a car or something in the future. I might as well save up.



Napoleon

I'm living in Florida. It's very sunny, yes, but not as good as New York. In New York, you have lots of freedom and in Florida, not so much. That's the problem.

But life in Florida is fun. I live in Orlando, the capital of Florida. It's fun to live in and really nice, but not as good as in New York City. 

I'm in Grade 11. It's fun. It's cool. I have lots of friends and lots of fun times with them. I like my life here and that's all I have to say.