The Coming of Age and The Invasion

I woke up early in the morning, the outside was still dark. I started to change my Pj into training clothes for Mama Cathleen both for me. I went to the bathroom and washed my face to get rid of my sleepy face. I went outside of the bakery, when I opened the door grandpa was already waiting for me outside.

"And this is the first of the month, and you already know what I mean right" grandpa asked.

"Yes sir, today I'll be doing 100 push ups and the others and 20 laps from here to the gates" I replied to him.

"Good you may start now" he commanded while banging the pans with spatula. 

So I finished all the regime in time before breakfast started.  While we four on the table 'that is right, FOUR on table' the news member is Jillian short for Jill. Mama Cathleen and John's daughter, she was born last month and now she's 1 months old.

Mama Cathleen couldn't cook this morning because she was taking care of Jill last night. And John worked patrolling around the town at night until morning so he felt tired and had little time playing with Jill and Mama Cathleen every weekday except for weekends. 

Mama Cathleen gave Jill a breast milk to her and she was so very cute like mama Cathleen. We are talking our shops and other thing else. 

"Umm... Jack," grandpa called me. I raised my head and replied "Yes? grandpa" 

"After you finish washing the dishes , go to the back yard and we are going to start training you in combat and weapons. but I might only be teaching a bow or crossbow and a knife" said grandpa Vince. He might consider teaching him how to skin the animals and beasts or monsters. 

Little while later after I'm done working. I went straight away to the backyard where I saw grandpa was waiting for me. while he was testing the bow and the crossbow. 

"Ohh you are here, perfect timing i have the weapons for you. Since you are so small, I just made you a costume bow. It's a little small but it's perfect for you" Grandpa said. He handed me the small wooden bow. 

As soon as I received my own bow we started training until it was dawn.  I sweat alot and my finger feels numb because I pull a lot on a string bow.

...

The day was coming of my age, and i now learn little bit mastering bow class. Grandpa said that after the coming age two days from now on. We're going to the forest to hunt. I was full of excitement and anticipation of this event that I can go to the wilds and see more beasts and animals. 

Mama Cathleen prepared me clothes while I took a shower and later on I put on clothes that were mama Cathleen both for me. I looked at myself in the mirror, I was amused by how cute I am. 

I went out of my room and saw mama Cathleen with her daughter carrying in her arms. while grandpa Vince was standing besides her. They start clapping their hands and the baby also starts clapping. I guess she likes to mimic around her. 

"Here's our little bakery prince coming out" they made fun of me. But I went along with their jokes "Hohoho thank you, thank you" I puff my chest high and mighty. 

"It's time to join with the other kids, Jack, here bring this along with you for the offering of church." Mama Cathleen handed me a flower and basket of full different kinds of bread we bake. 

Later on I join with the other kids same age as me. The place was feel fiesta, a petal of flower that throwing at us like we are walking in glory for the city. As we walked towards the church I saw many people smiling and some I saw were wearing hoods in the corner, some on the top of the roof. 

I thought to myself I guess this is the norm. In the distance I saw familiar behind his back. I'm not if is him cause he wearing a girly clothes with a flower on here head. To make sure if that person i knew, I rush toward the familiar figure. I rush out my hand behind his or her shoulder. And the familiar looking woman turn around and said

"Yes?..." yup it's my best buds and I was shocked.

"..."

"Oh, hey, Jack..." Alex greeted me. But have stuped fide on my face like in my thought 'is this realy Alex the boy I know that has super brute of strength like a gorilla.' 

"Ohh ahh hey Alex..." I said nonchalantly while scratching my heads and shaking her hands. " I didn't know that you were so great," I said. I felt so embarrassed inside of me because of the pass. 

She's blushing and replied "ohh thank you..." If she knew what I'm thinking in a second without hesitation she would pummel me down here in the crowd. 

"So you are a girl, huh." I murmured but since she was near me and could hear me clearly. She smack behind my head. "aww... what was that for?" I said.

"Think about what you just said earlier'' she stared at me coldly. That stare, I knew what she was thinking. She would be merciless the next time we meet in the spring. 

"Ahh... okay, okay, fine you win" I scratched behind my head that was still numbing and I felt like I had a bump behind my head 'tsk, what brute.'

 We arrived at a big building that was painted with white and the windows had many kinds of colors with pictures of people and animals.  I guess it's kind of history or miracle happen when gods gave a message or something. We formed a line to get inside the cathedral or church where the servant of the pope was waiting at the door to welcome us. In the back of our line was our familys who was coming along to get inside. The church only invited to those people who was escorting their children or those kids who will be blessed by the gods. 

The inside was so massive it can feel about 200 people inside or to fully feel it is around 300 or more. I can't stop staring everywhere, I saw 12 statues carved by stones and a size around 12 ft height. I don't know who these statues are but I know for sure they were gods or goddesses. The ceiling was also painted in representative of each god and goddesses of what they do in their power and how they helped their believers. Each of the pillars and the statues have candles and in the ceiling too just like having a chandelier that is bundled by a candle or it is.

We walk toward the podium where the pope and others are waiting for us with his bibles. He wore white robes and a big hat that was around twelve inches in size. He has a ling bier like Santa Claus. Will he just look like him? We halted our steps when we were in front of him. Our family was behind us sitting on long chairs just like one of those big churches or so. 

"Greeting the childs of Destiny, we'll welcome you at the house of the gods and goddesses for you to be blessed by them..." Said the pope. Oh man he talks a lot like a duckling who quak a lot it almost makes him fall asleep. I guess he might be a good bedtime story for us. I almost fall asleep when I felt someone's pinch me on the side. 

I couldn't help by saying out loud with the pain "I WATCH" The pope halted his preaching, and everyone was staring at me. Man I'm so nervous about this when everyone looking at you. So I said "Sorry Father..." I apologize but I don't know why I said this "your preaching is like a bedtime story so I couldn't help but to doze off." I felt said a insult to the pope. 

"And she pinch me tho on the side of me" I pointed to the girl next to me, it was Alex. She suddenly had red in her face. Not knowing why the pastor knit his brows so whisper next to Alex 'Hoho it's your fault for pinching me. so I'm gonna drag you down with me..." 

"Ahh... let there be many gods and goddesses to give you and make sure do not dooz off or you will not get your blessings or may be punishing you..." 

"Waa" I was so amused inside of me that the pope was a goodman. So he continued his preach and as for me I didn't fall asleep. As the person who keeps staring at the corner of her eyes that makes me want to be dead. I felt a shiver in my spine. "he e ee eee..." 

After the end of his preaching, suddenly those twelve statues start glowing colorfully. Like a rainbow washing over us. I felt something touch me and it made me comfortable like someone embraced me. Yup it felt like I was back into my infant where my father and mother hugged me. And also don't want to open my eyes and stay there for a long time. But it didn't last long until a ramble beneath our feet. 

Everyone got startled and panicked, and suddenly the ground burst out behind the pope. Big humongous shadows came out. I couldn't see properly because of the dust and debris are flying everywhere. I thought to myself if these gods and goddesses punished me. 

I saw Alex get knocked unconscious so I hurriedly dragged her with me. Ooh girl no wonder you are strong, you are also so heavy. I can't help but to drug her on the grounds. Everything was mess up, each of the family run towards to save their own kids. All those children either got knocked out or have their bruce on their body some are injured. 

Once me and Alex was safe distance, I saw big humongous monster like a worm or it was a worm that has razors teeths have no eyes, dark red skin. Suddenly the worm dove down to the ground and made another holes instead of going back to the hole where it came out. We are hiding behinds of the statues that was holding a shield and spear like one of those 300s movies. 

I saw grandpa running toward mama Cathleen. "Hey kid are you okay?" asked grandpa with a concern in his face. 

"No, grandpa I felt pain" I said to him. I felt like I was back in my previous life where I discovered myself having bruce and blood all over me. 

"Good you can still speak, don't worry about your bruce first let's get out here" said grandpa

"You are right, but first can you carry her? '' pointed to a girl next to me.

"Alright," grandpa reassured me and he carried the little girl on her shoulder and ran toward the exit. But before we even reach the exit there's suddenly a shadow showing up in front of us.

"Stop right there or else you will be dead..." Suddenly threatening voice came out. We held our escape, my heart beating faster. "Live her here and you can leave" The shadow was pointing to grandpa.