The World Changer

"Nooo" Neon gurgeled, choking on her tears that ricocheted onto the concrete curb and ran down onto the black tarred road.Six years old stumbling after her father as he dragged her by her hand past the shops to their home. This day once a bright,joyful,sunny day started to get dark. The clouds were coming together and gathering water drops, or even preparing for a storm.

Her father suddenly stopped,swerved around roughly picking her up and sprinting to the door of their house across the road. His black hair combed now unruffled, as the small hairs flew with the wind coming apart from the cone shaped hairstyle. His large dark shoes rubbed against the ground as his suit and tie twirled against the force. Barging through the door Neon slid hurriedly out of his grip racing to her mother's room. Her mother lay in bed still,her blonde hair rested on her shoulders and her pointed nose was connected to the breathing tube that hung from the pole beside her. Her father came up behind Neon, as her mother whispered hoarsely. "Neon?"
"Mommy."
"Hey sweetie"
"What's happening?"
"I'm going to go away for a while"
"Nooo, don't leave....you can't...its not fair"
"Its out of my control... It was gonna happen anyway but its sooner." Her mother said with years rolling down past her nose.
"But...but,but..." Neon weeped.
"Remember, you are a world changer, I love you." Her mother replied as she lifted Neons head so she could look in her eyes. Her father then took Neon and her mothers hand as Neon bellowed while her mother's heart stopped in their home.

Seven years later after Neon's family disease took her mother away, she never forgot.

Her body reacted simultaneously as her alarm clock blasted on. Neon's hair stuck up like a comical lightning bolt, yellow and all. She sat up awakened from deep slumber,resulting in body parts clicking when moved. Sitting on her single bed, posters circumferencing Above her head of promises, tv shows and bands. Directly in front of her were bookshelves full of books and a desk covered in papers. To her left the only double windows, separated by curtains remained. Stepping off her bed, she got dressed and walked slowly past her mat, into the doorway. Meeting her father at the breakfast table, "Today I will be at The Times building until seven tonight, I'm sure you'll be fine." His smooth, quiet voice spoke.
"OK, Dad"
"Oh, and tomorrow I'll be going away for three days"
"Another story?" She cut in
"Yeah. Maybe when I get back  we could do a story together?" He said with eyebrows arched imitating a persuasive manner, up and down his eyebrows went.
"Oh, so you need my reporting skills... It'll cost you." She said with a grin and a gleam in her eyes.
"Bawahahaha." He burst out laughing then added, "I've got to be going now." He jumped off his seat,rattled his keys and his shoes squeaked as he rushed out the door. The noise of an engine started with a puff and traveled on its way. "On nom nom." As she gradually ate cheerios and recounted over her schedule for the day. Remembering that it was the holidays she sighed in relief as her skin glowed. "I know I'll write some sort of story, I'll have to drop by the company then." Gulping down the rest she swiftly put the bowl and spoon with a splash in the sink, in one motion. Then took her bag and tenderly locked the white oak door. Turning slightly to face the path and the park across from her, Neon jogged through the town center, heading straight to the widest building. One noise broke the silence when Neon was nearly a feet away from the step's entrance. "Berawwwr" Neon's eyes widened, her feet froze, her hands dripped sweat and her stomach churned with shock. "Berawwr." This time the noise was from her tummy. She twirled suddenly and spotted a girl younger then her, curled up in a ball. "Berawwr" it came from her. She shyly approached her and said in a sweet tone "Hello."
"Hi" the girl replied quietly and  slowly looked up at her through her thick fringe.
"What's your name? I'm Neon."
"Vanessa." She whispered, once again looking up at her but avoiding eye contact.
"Are you hungry?"
"Berawwr, yes" Neon bobbed down and took off her bag to get a sandwich from it, which her dad had kindly made this morning. She looked back at Vanessa as she handed it to her and saved one for herself. Sitting down beside her on the gritty curb Neon asked " what are you doing here?"
"Munch,crunch,om nom nom,swallow." After swallowing, Vanessa looked back at Neon squinting her eyes and observing her features. Consequently Neon's face was in direct alignment for the sun to cause a twinkle in her green and brown eyes. Vanessa could feel strangely Neon's aura of a warm person and giving her a sandwich proved that much. She inhaled then replied; "Thankyou  for you kindness but it doesn't concern you." Neon knew Vanessa expected a reaction from her but she wanted to show her that she was also respectful. Unexpectedly Vanessa  nodded her head, got  up gracefully and brushed off the stones, as she spoke again; "Thank you once again, I hope you understand but I've got to be going now." And with that she left.

Neon muttered under breath as she continued up the stairs "strange and mysterious person." Creaking the door open she could see in the corner of her eye that Vanessa had doubled back and came around the opposite of where she left. "Ehhhh" Neon reluctantly walked in and shut the door.

VANESSA:

Meanwhile; Vanessa stealthily walked back. She was now behind the shop that she was infront of before. She was waiting there all day for the owner to take a lunch break. And was still thinking about Neon as she sneaked past the door and entered. The walls were gray, and the white metal shelves held all the products in aisles. She could see the checkout clearly and smelled the stuffy dust. Trembling she had to push herself to the cash register that sat abandoned, " cha ching!" It opened. Vanessa was straining to stop shaking as she tried to pluck out the notes but she couldn't, she couldn't will herself to do it. Neon was still on her mind, going over her encounter with her, she wanted to be like her. Vanessa pulled back closed the cash register and scrambled out, her feet sliding on the floor. She raced unsteadily to the park that had hedges circling the outside, with a pathway leading to the seats in front of the water fountain. Vanessa heaved deeply as she caught her breath and sat on the seat tearful and empty handed.

NEON:

Neon had finished her story and was at her house door with the key in her pocket that was now in the key hole. The door swung open. She wearily bent over to untie her shoes. Upon entering she quickly opened the fridge to get the leftover lasagna from the other night. Placing it in the microwave she turned towards her room to have a shower.

Friday, the rubbish would be collected so Neon was up early. Three days had passed since she met Vanessa and her father had already left for Japan.So she was standing outside her house waiting for the rubbish truck to come, so she could help empty her rubbish. "Vroom vrroom." The truck pulled over and two girls jumped out one of them was Vanessa. The first girl spoke "hello, I'm Carmen."
"I'm Neon and this is my rubbish!"
"He he" Vanessa chuckled, she looked a lot happier. They all managed to empty the rubbish and the truck loudly drove away as they both waved at Neon. Neon was on many peoples minds specifically Vanessa who was delighted to see her again. Carmen was deeply thinking about the difference in treatment that she had, had when emptying other citizens rubbish. Like when somebody pranked her by squirting glue where you were supposed to hold the bin.

CALVIN:

Neon's father Calvin had already arrived in Japan and stayed a night at the hotel. He was now at the radiation plant to write a report of the measure of radiation, in countries; for his newspaper. His pen flew as he observed and wrote, asking questions along the way to the supervisor, but he could only understand and speak a little Japanese. "When was the radiation discovered?"
"I don't know, maybe ten to twenty years ago?"
"Has the radiation amount increased?"
" I don't know."
" How has it increased?"
"Seeping in from the earth"
"Can you be more specific?"
" uhh" he shrugged.
"What is the highest amount of radiation here?"
"Its hard to estimate because there's more underneath."
" What is the country with the highest amount of radiation?"
"I don't know, never been anywhere else."
"Okay, thank you I will just take some pictures now."
"Remember to wear the protective gear." But Calvin was to far away to hear.

NEON:

Calvin had returned home and his story was printed in the paper. Neon woke up on Tuesday the second day her dad was home. "Thud,boom,silence." Neon got up smoothly ran past her slippers to the kitchen, her dad lay on the floor. She knelt down beside him searching for a pulse,then picked up the phone and called the ambulance. He was in the emergency department, she had to wait outside the door by herself, tears silently splattering her tunic. The doors burst open and the doctor spoke with sad eyes,"Do you have any family members, you can call?"
Neon replied as one tear dripped down her cheek; "No"
"Um, well, do you have any friends, aunties?"
"yes, but I don't know their number"
"Do you know their full name?"
"Its, alright I can handle it, just tell me; is my dad ok?"
"ermm, I think we should wait until someone comes to support you." Suddenly behind the doors they were standing in front of. There was a lot of Commotion, machines were growing louder, the nurses were talking in desperate, rushed voices. The realization of what might happen suddenly became very real. The doctor's eyes grew and he dashed towards the doors, but not before Neon could pinch his clothing and make him stop long enough to urgently ask again. With glassy eyes full of a determined look, she forcefully spoke "What's wrong with my father???!!" Taken a back and realizing that she was in the way of his entry, the doctor spoke panicky; "your father has cancer it has already developed." Her heart almost stopped there and she felt like locking herself in a vault. The feeling of being stuck outside the doors, separated from your loved one, fighting for his life, was all to familiar but what was new; was being alone through it.

 Three hours later, the staff was finally able to stabilize him and the doctor came out again. "I'm sorry but there's nothing else we can do. We've managed to keep him in a condition long enough for you to speak with him." Feeling the overwhelming sense of fear she rose against it and went. "Dad not again" she sniffeled her whole body shaking
"Honey, I'm sorry"
"Ahhh" she buried herself in the bed he reached over and patted her hair, "I love you, remember you are a world changer."

Issue #74 The Times Newspaper front page read: Calvin Fudge Founder Of Times Newspaper Passed Away.The report said all about his last words and what happened it even included an invitation to the funeral. Written by the Times Newspapers successor: Neon Leah.

The whole funeral was a silent type of "We will remember." Fifteen citizens had come, there were no speeches just silence. Neon had dried her tears and dropped the first flower then everyone did it. The weather that day was wonderful but the task before them not. The coffin was lowered into the grave dug out at the park.Carmen and Vanessa had read the paper and came, so she was no longer alone. They hugged her and then whispered "you are a world changer just by being yourself." Neon smiled.