“We’re playing a new game later,” Harlow announced at lunch. “Which is?” I prompted, grabbing the cheese grater and sprinkling some of its contents onto my pasta. Today was Thursday, three days until the dance. “A variation of Circle of Secrets. We spin the bottle, but instead we try to help the person think, like, better of themself I guess? Or like, change their worldview. But no negative changes, like, no making them think red is green or something like that.” This game was directed at me and most of us knew it. But I agreed nonetheless, it would be fun to see how my friends would try to persuade me. After school, we met in Naomi’s room. Harlow brought the bottle and we sat in a circle. The bottle was spun, and the first victim - I mean person - it landed on was Calli. Brazen took the lead. “Your fidgeting isn’t bad, you don’t need to hide it.” Calli turned slightly red. “I do not-” “Yes, you do. I can tell. But it’s not bad, it’s part of you. So go ahead and tap all you want, no one’s going to care.” Calli smiled slightly and unhid her hand, using the other to spin the bottle. It landed on me. Of course. I leaned back against the bookshelf. “Go on. Convince me.” Harlow attempted first. “Wolf, you know werewolves aren’t bad-” “I can know that all I want, but tell that to society. Make them know that. Maybe it’ll change something! Maybe it’ll change the fact that so many werewolves are being oppressed for who they are. Maybe it’ll change the fact that Professor Janet had to skip over the chapter on werewolves because it put us in such a bad light. Maybe it’ll change the fact that so many people are getting bitten every single full moon. I know that werewolves aren’t bad. But that isn’t going to change anything.” I finished my little outburst and sat back against the shelves. Brazen tried next. “Nothing I say is going to help, but can I just say this? You have a healthy substitute for chocolate that actually tastes like the real thing. If that isn’t cool, then I don't know what is.” I smiled slightly, but he was right. It didn’t really help. It was Calli’s turn to try next. “‘Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.’” After a brief pause, she continued. “That probably helped nothing, I just wanted to say it.” It was Naomi’s turn next. She took a deep breath, forced me to meet her eyes, then spoke. “Nothing I say is going to help, but that’s not because I’m not going to try. It’s because there’s only one person who can change your worldview, and that’s you. No one else can control your thoughts or opinions, but you can. If you can change your worldview, or better yet, if the world can change for you, that way, you’ll accept who you are. “Professor Janet skipped over that chapter because she cares about you and your kind. Cozbi wasn’t bluffing. I read his mind, remember? What he was offering was legitimate. But you choose us over your supposed heart’s desire. Maybe that’s a sign that your heart’s desire isn’t what you think it is, it’s the one the world made for you. It’s what society has drilled into your head. But hey, if you press the right button, the drill can turn the other way.” She finished her speech as the dinner bell rang. I didn’t let on if she’d actually helped or not, but in truth, she had. That night, instead of thinking up all the cons of being a werewolf, I tried to think of the pros. It was hard, believe me, but I had a feeling that with time, I could turn this supposed curse into something better.
Notes/Credits: So, I am writing a story. It's called The Wolf Boy, and it's about a werewolf. This is Chapter 54. New chapters will come out whenever I add something new. You guys are all up to date! Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534060010/ Chapter 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/534063855/ Chapter 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/524407102/ Chapter 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/535116523/ Chapter 5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/539191166/ Chapter 6: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/541091515/ Chapter 7: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/542478639/ Chapter 8: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/543943477/ Chapter 9: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/545518981/ Chapter 10: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/547310742/ Chapter 11: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/547908874/ Chapter 12: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548716751 Chapter 13: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720777/ Chapter 14: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720823/ Chapter 15: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720878/ Chapter 16: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720909/ Chapter 17: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720955/ Chapter 18: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548720993/ Chapter 19: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721015/ Chapter 20: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721051/ Chapter 21: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721077/ Chapter 21.5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721102/ Chapter 22: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721149/ Chapter 23: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/548721182/ Chapter 24: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/555107764/ Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/559056137/ Chapter 26: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/559059376/ Chapter 27: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/562161495/ Chapter 28: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/580981293/ Chapter 29: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/580981445/ Pt. 1 Chpt 30: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/590179892/ Pt. 2 Chpt 30: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/590181274 Chapter 31: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592461067/ Chapter 32: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592825702/ Chapter 33: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/592826345/ Chapter 34: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/601750650/ Chapter 35: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/613171541/ Chapter 36: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/618235455/ Chapter 37: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/625746500/ Chapter 38: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/626070189/ Chapter 39: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/627201519/ Chapter 40: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/627803183/ Chapter 41: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/628181522/ Chpt 42 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/628701334/ Chpt 42 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/630308123/ Chapter 43: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/636369660/ Chapter 44: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/642806310/ Chapter 45: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/643434560/ Chapter 46: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/646272241/ Chpt. 47 Pt. 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/646797751/ Chpt 47 Pt. 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/646875431/ Chapter 48: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/649244858/ Chpt 49 Pt. 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/649636167/ Chpt 49 Pt. 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/649636428/ Chapter 50: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/649938057/ Chapter 51: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/650108118/ Chapter 52: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/650584176/ Chapter 53: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/651692799/ Credits: Me, for writing it. @aqua_di_angelo for being the first reader & giving feedback. J.K. Rowling, The Princess Bride, Eoin Colfer, & Shannon Messenger for some inspiration.
