[center][h1][color=LightCoral]Emery Randal[/color][/h1][/center]
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The cool afternoon breeze, the tree branches swaying and dancing to the rhythm of life, the playful chirping of birds as they flew across the sky, the sunlight shining through shifting branches. Emery absorbed all this as he sat on a large oak branch a few feet above the air. Even though it seemed that nothing was going on here, Emery still felt energized knowing that everything as far as his eyes can see are full of life. From that high up, Emery can see everything from his modern house and his neighors to the tall buildings on another sector of Esperanza. 

Emery only heard tales about the really harsh life majority of the people having on Esperanza from his parents. After all, his parents had been there and did all they could to make sure their children won’t experience this again. Emery is truly grateful to them except that they could be a real handful sometimes. 

He glanced down towards his house when he saw his father waving down on him. Emery climbed down the tree in a matter of moments. He’s become an expert at climbing trees despite still having a frail body where he can easily be defeated in bouts, though anyone who truly knows him know he’s too timid and graceful enough to be singled out in a fight. 

Emery shook off and removed some leaves and twigs that got caught on his long overly sized white t-shirt and light blue flanned pajama pants. He walked towards his dad who’s dressed like the usual: silver grey suit and pants with a white undershirt and black leather shoes and tie. He looked at the time at his gold-colored wristwatch as he carried a leather bag on his other hand.

“Another meeting?”, Emery asked.

“Yep, just like the usual”, his father said as he removed a few leaves that got tangled in his son’s shoulder-length hair. “We’re finalizing some plans for the university which would be done already if one of my co-board members wasn’t allergic to ink.”

Emery raised his eyebrows a bit. “What pla-“

His father shushed and put a finger on his son’s mouth before he could finish. “You keep on asking the same question and I’ll be giving you the same answer every time: it’s top secret.”

“But it’s been going on forever. Besides, why can’t you trust me? I don’t have that much of a circle of friends to tell someone anyway.”

“It’s not like we don’t trust you, pancake, and I really understand your impatience. I myself am over this plan to be finished so I can relax and watch a movie with your mom but alas, that is not just the way of life.”

Emery’s father looked at his wristwatch. “Well kiddo better get going now. And uhh”, he leaned in closer to whisper at Emery. “I left a few hundred dollars at your wallet. I know your mom doesn’t like you going out that much so be careful. Make sure you use them wisely yeah?”, he said with a wink.

Emery beamed and hugged his father. Then he did a series of high-fives and punches with his dad.

“Honey? We gotta go or we’re gonna be late”, Emery’s mom called from their car at their driveway. She too was dressed in a professional way with a matching silver-grey suit and women pants with a white blouse and black heels, her hair in a tight bun. She saw her husband whispering something to Emery, making her scratch her chin and squint her eyes.

Emery’s father waved and rubbed Emery’s head before he jogged to their car. “Bye pancakes!”, Emery’s mom shouted as she waved and blew a kiss. Emery waved and smiled in response as his parents go into their car and his mom seemingly suspicious and asking his dad, no doubt curious about what he whispered to his son.

As Emery saw them pulling out of their driveway, he immediately went back inside his home and went upstairs to his room, showered and put on some new clothes before getting his bag with the wallet full of cash his dad gave him. On his way out, he passed by his sister’s room and knocked. “Going out now. Might return later.” He heard a groan from inside the room which means his sister just woken up and is currently in the process of becoming a human woman.

Emery shouted a final goodbye as he hurried out of the house to his bicycle at their garage. A smile was painted on his face as he pedaled away to the new day, excited on what he might see and learn today.