A Life Of My Own

A LIFE OF MY OWN

YAMI
I’M YAMI ATEMU AND HAVE I GOT A STORY FOR YOU, YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT MY DUEL WITH YUGI, IT WAS CALLED ENDGAME, IF HE WON, I WOULD RETURN TO MY RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE AFTERLIFE, BUT IF I WON, I WOULD STAY IMPRISONED IN THE MILLENNIUM PUZZLE FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS, I WAS KIND OF HOPING THAT I WOULD WIN, BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE YUGI.

YUGI
I’M YUGI MUTOU AND I’M SURE MY COUNTERPART HAS TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SITUATION, I WAS KIND OF HOPING THAT YAMI WOULD WIN, I REALLY DIDN’T WANT HIM TO LEAVE, BUT I KNEW I HAD TO WIN, IF HE WAS TO REST IN PEACE.

YAMI
BUT WHAT WE WEREN’T EXPECTING WAS A DRAW AND BECAUSE OF THAT DRAW, I BECAME REAL, PHYSICALLY REAL, GRANTED IT WASN’T THE BODY I WAS EXPECTING, I LOOKED LIKE YUGI’S IDENTICAL TWIN, WHICH I DIDN’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I WANTED MY OWN BODY, MY EGYPTIAN BODY, SO WE WENT TO THE PALACE AND BENEATH THE THRONE WAS MY SANCTUARY WHERE MY LIFELESS BODY LAY, I LEFT STRICT INSTRUCTIONS THAT I WAS NOT TO BE TAKEN TO THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS RIGHT YET SO THEY PUT MY BODY IN A CHAMBER HIDDEN BENEATH THE PALACE. A RITUAL WAS PERFORMED BY THE TOMB KEEPERS ISIS ISHTAHL AND HER BROTHER MERRICK TO RETURN MY SOUL TO MY BODY AND IT WAS A SUCCESS. WE THEN GATHERED UP ENOUGH RICHES FROM THE ROYAL TREASURY AND RETURNED TO DOMINO CITY, I STAYED WITH YUGI FOR A BIT THEN DECIDED TO VENTURE ON MY OWN, WHAT ELSE COULD I DO, I COULDN’T IMPOSE ON YUGI FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I THEN MOVED TO AMERICA AND THAT IS WERE I MET HER…ANGELA, WE STARTED HANGING OUT AND BECAME REAL GOOD FRIENDS, BUT EVENTUALLY OUR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING MORE, BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND, I PAMPERED, WINED, DINED AND SPOILED HER ROTTEN. WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO, I HAD ALL THIS MONEY AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT AND SO I SPENT IT ON HER AND GAVE A LIFE THAT PEOPLE COULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT HAVING, BUT LIKE EVERY OTHER RELATIONSHIP, WE DID HAVE OUR PROBLEMS AND IT EVENTUALLY TOOK IT’S TOLL ON US.

Angela: Yami, I want to go to the mall, I need a new wardrobe.

Yami: As soon as I pay this month’s bills, I’ll take you shopping.

Angela: But I want to go now.

Yami: I’d love to take you baby, but the bills have to come first.

Angela: We have more than enough money, I’m sure we can afford to splurge a little.

Yami: That’s the problem sweetheart, you always want to splurge a little.

Angela: You want be to be happy, don’t you?

Yami: Of course I do love.

Angela: Then take me shopping.

Yami: Alright, let’s go.

Angela: You’re the best honey.

Yami: I try to be.

Angela: Well you are and that’s why I love you.

Yami: I love you too Angela.

SO WE ENDED UP AT THE MALL AND I SHIT YOU NOT, SHE MAXED OUT MY CREDIT CARD, WHICH WILL PUT US BEHIND IN EVERYTHING, BECAUSE OF THOSE DAMN INTEREST RATES, THOSE INTEREST RATES WILL SURELY PUT YOU IN DEBT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE HIGH INTEREST CREDIT CARDS IF NOT A FEW, ANGELA NEARLY MILKED THE ACCOUNTS, BUT WOULDN’T YOU KNOW IT…I LOVE HER, I’D HATE TO SEE HOW OUR CHILDREN WOULD TURN OUT, IF WE EVER DECIDED TO GET MARRIED. THEN IT HAPPENED, WE CAME ACROSS A BRIDAL SHOP AND SHE WANTED TO GO AND LOOK AROUND, I KNEW A HINT WHEN I SAW ONE.

Angela: This wedding dress is so beautiful, don’t you think so?

Yami: It’s very beautiful and you would look great in it.

Angela: You really think so?

Yami: I don’t think, I know.

I BOUGHT HER EVERYTHING SHE WANTED AS USUAL, MAN SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER HER BIRTHDAY ROLLED AROUND, SO I WENT OUT TO THE JEWELRY STORE AND BOUGHT US A WEDDING SET, ENGAGEMENT RING INCLUDED, AND IT COST ME A FORTUNE…BUT SHE’D LOVE IT.

Angela: Where have you been?

Yami: I went out for a bit, I can go out, can’t I?

Angela: Of course you can, you don’t need my permission for that.

Yami: (box) Happy Birthday love.

Angela: For me?

Yami: Who else would it be for?

Angela: I don’t know, your other girlfriend maybe?

Yami: You know me better than that Angela.

Angela: It was a joke Yami.

Yami: I would hope so, because no other girl could ever take your place.

Angela: You are so sweet.

Yami: (one knee, opened box) Would you give me the honor of becoming my wife.

Angela: Are you serious?

Yami: I have never been so sincere in my life as I am now.

Angela: Yes Yami, yes I will marry you?

SO I SLIPPED THE RING ON HER FINGER AND WE KISSED AND WE ENDED UP IN OUR BEDROOM.

ANGELA
I AM SO EXCITED THAT YAMI AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED, I THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER ASK. WE STILL HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS, BUT WHAT COUPLE DIDN’T. WELL ANYWAY WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON OUR WEDDING, BECAUSE IT’S WHAT I WANTED, SO THAT’S WHAT I GOT, HE IS SO GOOD TO ME.

Yami: Why do you insist on such an expensive wedding?

Angela: Because, I want to have the best wedding possible, I want this to be perfect. Now for the perfect music.

Yami: What have you got?

Angela: How about some Air Supply and Journey, well you get the picture right?

Yami: Yeah I get it.

Angela: Good, now go on out and get some party favors for the reception.

Yami: Yes dear.

SO HE WENT OUT AND DID WHAT I ASKED HIM TO DO AND HE FINALLY CAME HOME AND SHOWED ME ALL HE’S GOT AND THEY WERE PERFECT, SO WE PUT THEN IN THE SPARE ROOM WITH THE REST OF OUR WEDDING STUFF, I CALLED IT THE WEDDING ROOM.

YAMI
WELL HERE IT IS ANGELA’S AND MY WEDDING AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS THE PERFECT WEDDING AND THE PERFECT RECEPTION, BUT HONESTLY ANGELA AND I WEREN’T GETTING ALONG AS WELL AS EVERYONE THOUGHT, AS A MATTER OF FACT WE WERE VERY UNHAPPY, WE WERE CONSTANTLY AT EACH OTHER’S THROATS, I GUESS IT’S SAFE TO SAY THAT OUR MARRIAGE ISN’T GOING TO LAST FOR VERY MUCH LONGER. WE HAVE JUST COME BACK FROM OUR HONEYMOON AND SHE WAS PREGNANT WE WERE BOTH EXCITED, BUT I HATED THE FACT OF BRINGING A CHILD INTO THE FAMILY, BECAUSE IF WE ARE UNHAPPY THE CHILD WILL BE. THIS PRENATAL VISIT WE WOULD BE GETTING A ULTRASOUND AND WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TWINS, NOT IDENTICAL TWINS BUT FRATERNAL TWINS ONE IS A BOY AND ONE IS A GIRL.

Angela: Did you hear that Yami, fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, isn’t it great?

Yami: It’s such wonderful news love, we are going to have our hands full.

Angela: Yeah I know, but we’ll love our children.

Yami: Yes we will.

YAMI
OUR CHILDREN JONAH AND AMBER ARE NOW 5 YEARS OLD AND THEY WERE PLAYING OUTSIDE IN THE SANDBOX AND THEY WERE THIRSTY SO THEY BOTH CAME IN TO GET SOMETHING TO DRINK AND CAUGHT US ARGUING AND I DID SOMETHING THAT I SWORE I WOULD NEVER DO AND THAT WAS HIT ANGELA, I DIDN’T LITERALLY HIT HER, BUT BACK HANDED HER, JUST AS THE KIDS WALKED IN.

A LITTLE BIT OF BLOOD TRICKLED DOWN HER CHIN.

Yami: Get out of my sight!!!

THE CHILDREN JUST LOOKED AT ME AND RAN OFF AND I FELT REALLY BAD THAT THEY HAD TO SEE THAT.

Yami: Amber, Jonah…Did you know they were there?

ANGELA JUST TURNED AND WALKED AWAY AND I WENT AFTER THE CHILDREN.

Amber: Did you see what Daddy did to Mommy?

Jonah: Yeah, that wasn’t very nice of him.

Yami: Amber, Jonah, can I come in?

Jonah: Why?

Amber: You hurt Mommy.

Yami: Yes I know I did, but I didn’t mean to, please let me come in.

Jonah: Are you going to hurt us too?

Yami: No I wouldn’t hurt my babies.

Amber: Come in.

Yami: Look, you weren’t supposed to see that, I was hoping that you wouldn’t.

Amber: Why did you do it?

Yami: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your mother, she just made me so mad.

Jonah: Are you going to do that to us, when we make you mad?

Yami: No I wouldn’t do that to you, I didn’t mean to hurt your mother. Sometimes grown-ups get into arguments and there is nothing we can do about it, but you can only have so many, then one of them ends up hurting the other, even though they’re not supposed to. What I did to your mother was wrong and it’s not the first time she made me do that. Don’t worry, I’m going to fix it so you won’t ever see me hurt her again, ok.

Amber: Promise?

Yami: I promise sweetheart…

Jonah: We forgive you then.

Yami: Thank you.

SO I HUGGED AND KISSED THE CHILDREN AND LEFT THE ROOM AND INTO OUR ROOM.

Yami: Angela, we’ve got to talk.

Angela: There’s nothing to talk about.

Yami: Just hear me out, I promised the children that I would fix it to where they won’t ever see me do that again, I have never in my life hit a woman, but you just pushed me to the edge, so I think we ought to get a divorce, not for our sake, but for Amber’s and Jonah’s sake, I think it would be best.

Angela: Fine, if that is our only option, I want the children.

Yami: I see no other option, and equal custody of Amber and Jonah.

Angela: What do you mean by that?

Yami: I get Amber and Jonah on the weekends and every other Thanksgiving and every other Christmas.

Angela: Fine.

LATER THAT WEEK WE WENT TO OUR LAWYER’S OFFICE AND FILED FOR DIVORCE AND SIGNED THE AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE KIDS, I GET THEM ON THE WEEKENDS, EVERY OTHER THANKSGIVING AND EVERY OTHER CHRISTMAS. THEN I ADDED A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA. IF AT ANYTIME I FEEL THAT THE CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF I WILL TAKE THEM FOR MYSELF. ANGELA WASN’T TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT OH WELL. WE THEN RETURNED HOME AND I KEPT THE HOUSE WHILE ANGELA TOOK THE CHILDREN AND WENT TO LIVE WITH HER JUNKY BOYFRIEND.

YAMI
AS TIME WENT ON, THE CHILDREN ARE NOW 10 YEARS OLD AND THEIR MOTHER HONORED OUR AGREEMENT, I GOT THE KIDS ON THE WEEKENDS, AND EVERY OTHER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, SHE WAS ALWAYS CALLING, WANTING ME TO SEND HER SOME MONEY AND THIS TIME WAS THE LAST STRAW.

Yami: Hello?

Angela: Hi Yami.

Yami: What do you want Angela?

Angela: I don’t want anything?

Yami: How much this time?

Angela: Alright, I need a grand.

Yami: A grand, for what, it sure in the hell isn’t for the kids, the last time they were here, you sent old dirty and stained clothes, and they acted as if they haven’t eaten in a week.

Angela: Are you saying that I am not taking care of them?

Yami: Are you?

Angela: Of course I am, why haven’t you sent the clothes you bought with them?

Yami: Because I don’t want the clothes I bought them to end up like the ones you have for them.

Angela: How do I know that you are the one who isn’t taking care of them.

Yami: You don’t, but at least I don’t let their clothes get dirty or stained, and I feed them three times a day.

Angela: Are you going to give me the money or not?

Yami: No, I am not giving you another dime, as a matter of fact I’m coming to get them in the morning and with me they’ll stay.

Angela: You can’t do that Yami.

Yami: Watch me, make sure they’re waiting for me.

Angela: But…

Yami: I’m sorry, but I just don’t think you’re taking care of them.

SO I HANG UP ON HER AND WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS AS USUAL, I TOLD THE HOME ASSISTANTS TO PREPARE AMBERS AND JONAH’S ROOMS AND I LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE HERE TO STAY. LATER THAT DAY I WENT DOWN TO ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ENROLLED THE CHILDREN. AT LEAST THEY COULD WALK TO SCHOOL IT WASN’T ALL THAT FAR FROM THE HOUSE, EXCEPT FOR THE WINTER AND RAINY DAYS, THEN I WOULD TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL.

Angela: Yami isn’t going to send me anymore money Rick.

Rick: Why not, I need that money, or no more candy cane.

Angela: I’m sorry, he won’t do it…I thought I told you two to stay in your room.

Jonah: But we’re always in our room, and why don’t we have our own rooms?

Angela: We can’t even afford to keep food in the house and you want your own room?

Amber: We have our own rooms at dad’s.

Angela: Well we don’t have your father’s money, so we can’t afford to put you two in different rooms.

THAT MORNING I WENT OVER TO ANGELA’S AND SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND WERE PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR AND THE KIDS HAVE WONDERED OFF.

Yami: Angela, it’s Yami…Angela, are you home.

THERE WAS NO ANSWER SO I WALKED IN, THE HOUSE WAS A MESS, NARCOTICS EVERYWHERE, ANGELA AND HER BOYFRIEND WERE PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR, SO I WENT TO THE CHILDREN’S ROOM AND THEY WERE GONE.

Yami: Jonah, Amber, it’s daddy…Jonah, Amber…oh my god they’re gone, oh shit.

SO OUT OF THE HOUSE I WENT, THERE WAS NO SENSE IN WAKING ANGELA UP, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN TRY. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR THEM, THEN I FOUND THEM DOWN BY THE RIVER, PLAYING ON THE TRESTLES.

Yami: Amber, Jonah, get down off the trestles, before you get yourselves hurt.

JUST AS I HOLLERED TO THEM, AMBER LOST HER BALANCE AND FELL.

Amber: Ahhh…!!!…Jonah…!!!

Jonah&Yami: Amber!!!

Jonah: I tried to catch her, Dad, really I did.

Yami: I know you did son…

I RAN DOWN TO THE BANK AS FAST AS I COULD IN HOPES OF FINDING AMBER, WHEN I GOT TO THE BANK AND WENT IN AFTER HER, JUST AS THE CURRENT STARTED TO PULL HER DOWN, I GOT HER AND PULLED HER LIFELESS BODY ONTO THE BANK, SHE MUST HAVE BUMPED HER HEAD ON A ROCK BECAUSE SHE HAD A PRETTY NASTY AND DEEP GASH IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD AND SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND BARELY BREATHING THEN JONAH CAME RUNNING OVER TO US.

Jonah: Amber, are you alright, please say something…Amber please. Can’t you do something dad?

Yami: I can’t, CPR didn’t even work, it’s out of my hands, she has to go to the hospital.

Jonah: Oh no…I tried to catch her, I really did, it wasn’t my fault, I didn’t mean to make her fall.

Yami: I know son, just calm down, the hospital isn’t all that far, don’t blame yourself.

Jonah: But I should have caught her.


Yami: The only person to blame is your mother, I know I shouldn’t have said that, but she is. Just calm down and help me get her to the car, careful now, she might have broken something, so move her very carefully.

WE CAREFULLY PICKED HER UP AND TOOK HER TO THE CAR AND OFF TO THE HOSPITAL.

Reception: Can I help you?

Yami: My daughter is in the car, she fell off the trestle into the river.

Reception: She what…let’s go take a look…oh my god…we have an emergency situation here, a young girl fell of the trestle into the river and she looks like she’s in pretty bad shape.

Dr.: Amber Atemu, right?

Yami: Yes, she’s 10 years old, I’m Yami Atemu, her father and this is my son Jonah. Is she going to be alright?

Dr.: I don’t know, she’s in really bad shape, her lungs are filled with water and she’s got a really bad, deep gash in the back of her head, with bone fragments of her skull embedded into the left hemisphere of her brain, so the right side of her body will not function properly.

Jonah: Why not the left?

Dr.: I don’t know if you have gotten that far in biology, or even if you have biology, but the left side of your brain controls the right side of your body, as the right side of your brain controls the left side of your body.
We will have to take her into surgery to remove the fragment from her brain, whatever she hit she it hard.

Yami: The chances of her survival?

Dr.: Slim to none, she may make it through and she may not. It’s up to you Mr. Atemu.

Yami: Do it.

Jonah: Dad!!! You heard him, Amber could die.

Yami: If it will save her life, it’s worth the risk son.

Dr.: Prep her for surgery.

Wilson: Mr. Atemu, Mr. Yami Atemu.

Yami: Yes, who are you?

Debra: I’m Debra Wilson, investigator for The Department of Children’s Services, I’d like to ask you a few questions.

Yami: Now is not the time.

Debra: We suspect child neglect.

Yami: Then you should be talking to my ex-wife not me. I just went to pick them up from their mother’s.

Debra: And what did you see when you got there?

Yami: When I got there, both Angela and her boyfriend were passed out on the floor, the house was a mess and there was hardly any food and I saw white powder on the coffee table and the children were gone. Angela is the one you should be talking to not me, here’s the address go and take a look for yourself. Now good day Mrs. Wilson.

Debra: But you were last seen with the children Mr. Atemu.

Yami: Like I said, I just went to pick them up. Now if you don’t mind I have more important things to deal with instead of dealing with you.

Debra: This is the correct address.

Yami: If you don’t leave, I will have hospital security escort you out.

Debra: Alright I’m going.

Yami: Good, now get out of here and leave us alone.

Jonah: Why did she come and talk to you?

Yami: Because I was the last person they saw, so they automatically assumed that I was responsible.

Jonah: So you told her how it is?

Yami: I would have told her where to go if she would have given me a chance. Remember this Jonah, always stand up for yourself, your family, your friends and for what you believe in, but never and I repeat never provoke.

Jonah: Ok. Here comes the Dr.

Yami: How is she?

Dr.: The surgery was a success, and now she’s in recovery, but she is in a comma, all she needs right now is your love and support.

Yami: Thank god, may we see her?

Dr.: Only for a brief moment.

Jonah: Hey sis, it’s me Jonah and dad is here too, you have to get better so you can come home. I love you sis.

Yami: Hey Barbie, remember that nickname, you always made life your own creation, whatever you wanted it to be that moment, time, day, week, month, it was whatever you made it out to be, but we need you to come back to us sweetheart.

MEANWHILE BACK AT ANGELA’S…THE INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED AT ANGELA’S.

Angela: Where are the children Rick, Yami was supposed to come and pick them up.

Rick: Don’t worry about it babe, they’re probably still in their room if Yami hasn’t come for them.

Angela: I’m going to see, and could you get the door. Amber, Jonah, you can come out now, that’s probably your father…oh my god they’re gone, the children are gone…

Rick: It’s for you.

Debra: Are you Angela Atemu?

Angela: Atemu was my name, but I’m divorced now…look I don’t have time, I have to go and find my children.

Debra: Your children are with their father at the hospital, Amber has fallen off the trestle into the river, she’s in really bad shape, when she fell into the river she hit her head on a rock and fractured her skull, she is now in a comma, Jonah and Yami is there right now with her.

Angela: I have to go down there, I have to see how’s she’s doing.

Debra: She’s in ICU, but first I would like to take a look around your house, if I may.

Angela: Sure, but I don’t know what you expect to find.

SO MRS. WILSON LOOKED AROUND THE HOUSE AND SAW THAT IT WAS INDEED A MESS AND THERE WAS NO FOOD AND SAW GRAINS OF WHITE POWDER, THAT ANGELA HAS FORGOTTEN TO GET, SHE TOOK A LITTLE TASTE AND HER TONGUE BECAME NUMB.

Debra: Cocaine Mrs. Atemu.

Angela: Me, do cocaine, I wouldn’t, I have children.

Debra: I’m sorry Mrs. Atemu, I’m going to have to remove Jonah and Amber from your home.

Angela: What?

Debra: You heard me.

Angela: Can I at least see Amber?

Debra: Alright I can grant you that.

SO ANGELA WAS BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICERS AND CAME TO SEE AMBER.

Yami: What are you doing here?

Angela: I’ve come to see Amber is she alright?

Yami: Yeah she’s fine, aside from the fact that the right side of her body won’t function properly.

Angela: What?

Yami: When she fractured her skull bone fragments were embedded into the left side of her brain and damaged it, no thanks to you.

Angela: How can you blame this on me Yami, it wasn’t my fault?

Yami: Who else is to blame, it sure in the hell isn’t me?

Angela: Why is it my fault.

Yami: Alright then we’ll blame it on your substance abuse how’s that? If you and your boyfriend weren’t passed out on the living room floor; due to excessive drug use, this probably would have never happened to Amber.

Tell me Angela, is that what you used all the money for, your addiction, instead of spending on the children? (didn’t answer) I’m waiting…(to the officers) get her out of here.

Detective: Take her…Do you want to press charges against your ex-wife sir?

Yami: No, leave it to the state.

Detective: You know that The Department will want you to testify against her.


Yami: I’ll send in a written testimony, all I want is full custody of my children and I want us to be left alone.

Detective: Just send in your testimony and leave the rest to the judge.

WITH THAT I PAID A VISIT TO MY LAWYER AND TOLD HIM THE SITUATION AND TO HAVE HIM WRITE UP MY TESTIMONY AND GIVE IT TO THE JUDGE, I MYSELF REALLY DIDN’T CARE TO BE INVOLVED AND IF I AM I WOULD RATHER REMAIN ANONYMOUS, WELL BECAUSE MY LIFE ISN’T ANY OF THEIR BUSINESS. THE DAY OF MY EX-WIFE’S TRIAL, THE STATE WAS CHARGING HER WITH CHILD ABUSE AND POSSESSION, THEY BOTH WERE A SERIOUS CRIME, SO SHE WILL BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME BEHIND BARS. THE GOOD THING IS THAT THE JUDGE RULED IN MY FAVOR AND NOW I HAVE FULL CUSTODY OF MY CHILDREN.

YAMI
AMBER RECOVERED NICELY, JONAH AND I WERE RELIEVED, BUT SHE WILL BE GOING THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY TWICE A WEEK, WHICH WAS QUITE COSTLY, BUT WELL WORTH IT. SHE HAS TO LEARN HOW TO USE HER RIGHT SIDE ALL OVER AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, BUT WITH OUR HELP SHE WILL LEARN HOW TO FUNCTION FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT SHE DIDN’T LET THAT GET HER DOWN, IT MUST BE THE DETERMINATION SHE GETS FROM MY SIDE OF THE FAMILY, WELL MY FAMILY WAS A VERY DETERMINED FAMILY. THE CHILDREN ARE NOW 12 THEIR FIRST DAY OF JUNIOR HIGH. AMBER IS STILL DEALING WITH HER PHYSICAL PROBLEM AND THEIR FIRST DAY WASN’T EXACTLY THE BEST, AMBER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING AROUND AND JONAH WAS HELPING HER, PEOPLE WERE LAUGHING AND MAKING FUN OF AMBER, BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE WAS WALKING, SHE WAS ALWAYS WALKING CROOKEDLY AND SHE WAS ALSO IN SPECIAL ED, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE KIDS MADE FUN OF HER.

Carla: What’s up with her, she’s all crooked…hey you, you want a stick to keep you straight?

Jonah: (Amber looked at them)Just ignore them Amber, come on, let’s get you to class.

April: I’m sorry we don’t have a crooked hallway.

Chrys: Hi, I’m Chrys.

Jonah: Are you going to laugh at my sister too, because if you are, be on your way.

Chrys: No, I’m sure there is a reason for it.

Amber: I’m Amber Atemu and this is my twin brother Jonah.

Chrys: Fraternal twins, it’s very rare to give birth to fraternal twins.

Jonah: I’ll come and get after class.

Chrys: This is my class too, my brain is underdeveloped, so what happened to you?

Amber: I fell off the Huron Bridge trestle and into the river, according to my dad and the doctors, I fractured my skull and a bone fragment was embedded into the left side of my brain and sustained severe damage and now the right side of my body doesn’t function properly.

Chrys: I’m sorry to hear that, and those girls, don’t worry about them, they’re nothing but a bunch of spoiled rotten rich kids.

Amber: I’m one of those spoiled rotten rich kids.

Chrys: Who are your parents?

Amber: Yami Atemu is my father.

Chrys: Yami Atemu, the game king and owner of The Duelist Within Summer Camp, that Yami Atemu?

Amber: Yeah, that’s him.

Chrys: Oh my god, me and my brother goes to the camp every summer. Look hope I didn’t offend you with what I said.

Amber: In a way you did.

Chrys: I’m sorry Amber, I didn’t mean to.

Amber: It’s alright, not all of us are like them girls. I would really like to be your friend, but I’ll understand if you don’t want to be.

Chrys: Well I like you Amber, I would like to be your friend too.
Amber: Thanks Chrys.

Chrys: My name is actually Chrysanthemum, but people call me Chrys for short.

Amber: Chrysanthemum, isn’t that a flower?

Chrys: Well, yeah, my parents said I reminded them of flowers when I was born, so they named me Chrysanthemum…That’s Mr. Rupert our teacher.

Rupert: Good morning class, and welcome to a brand new school year, some of you are in the 7th grade and some of you are in the 8th grade, as you know this is Developmental Science.

Janet: Special ed, I don’t really belong here.

Rupert: Miss. Hensley, is there a problem?

Janet: I just don’t feel like I belong in special education.

Rupert: Well according to your T-CAP test scores you are.

SO THE DAY DRAGGED ON AND ON AS JONAH AND CHRYS HELPED AMBER TO HER CLASSES, CHRYS WASN’T IN ALL OF AMBERS CLASSES, THEY HAD MAYBE THREE CLASSES TOGETHER, BUT AMBER COULD HONESTLY SAY THAT SHE HAD MADE A NEW FRIEND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER KIDS MADE FUN OF AMBER, SHE CAME HOME CRYING.

Yami: What’s the matter sweetheart?

Jonah: Some of the other kids laugh and make fun of Amber, because of the way she walks. They say she walks as crooked as those zombies you see on TV.

Yami: And do they know why?

Jonah: They don’t care to know Dad.

Amber: They are so mean.

Yami: Just ignore them honey, they only do it, because they have nothing better to do. Aside from that anything good happen?

Amber: I made a friend, she is a nice person, she helps Jonah, to help me get around.

Yami: And what’s her name?

Amber: Chrysanthemum, but everyone calls her Chrys.

Yami: That’s a good thing, is she in any of your classes?

Amber: Science, Math and History, they make fun of her too, because she is also in developmental classes. Why do people do stuff like that?

Yami: Because they have low self esteem and to make themselves feel better, they have to make fun of other people, so just ignore them and don’t let it get to you.

Amber: Can Chrys stay over sometime?

Yami: Of course she can sweetheart, but you have a therapy appointment and you can do your homework when we get home.

Amber: I hate going to the therapist?

Yami: I know you do sweetheart, but you have to.

SO OFF TO THE THERAPIST WE WENT AND THEY DID WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO, HELPING HER MAINTAIN THE FUNCTIONS OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY.

YAMI
IT WAS THE SUMMER BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WHEN AMBER AND JONAH WOULD BE SENIORS AND YES AMBER WAS STILL DEALING WITH HER PHYSICAL SITUATION AND SHE WILL BE DEALING WITH IT FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE, DUE TO HER MOTHER’S INCOMPETENCE. WELL ANYWAY IT WAS THAT TIME AGAIN, TIME TO REOPEN THE DUELIST WITHIN SUMMER CAMP AND I HOPE THE TURN OUT WILL BE AS GOOD AS IT HAS BEEN, BUT THIS TIME I DECIDED TO GET SOME MORE HELP AND YUGI WAS THE FIRST TO COME TO MIND, WELL BECAUSE I MISS THE BOY SO I DROPPED HIM A LINE.

Yugi: Hello?

Yami: Hey Yugi, it’s Yami.

Yugi: Hey other me.

Yami: It’s good to hear you too, I have a proposition for you?

Yugi: What’s up?

Yami: It’s that time of the year again to reopen the camp and I was wondering if you’d like to be a part of it?

Yugi: You mean work at the camp?

Yami: Yeah, so how about it partner, for old time’s sake?

Yugi: I’d love to, when do you want me to come?

Yami: It would be great if you caught the first flight out.

Yugi: Alright, I’ll do that right now and I’ll call you from the airport.

Yami: That would be great Yugi.

SO YUGI AND I HANG UP THEN I CALLED TRISTAN, JOEY, TEA AND DUKE AND OFFERED THEM THE SAME PROPOSITION AND THEY TOO AGREED TO IT AND THEY ALL CAUGHT THE FIRST FLIGHT OUT.

Tea: Yugi, is that you?

Yugi: Tea, oh my god, Tea how’ve you been?

Tea: Great, what are you doing here?

Yugi: I’m going to be working at The Duelist Within Summer Camp.

Tea: Really, oh me too.

Joey: Same here…

Tristan: Don’t forget about me…

Duke: Or me…

Yugi: That’s great, we’re all together again, how exciting is that?

Tea: Very exciting.

Yugi: I had better call Yami and let him know we’re all here, it will save us time.

Amber: Hello?

Yugi: Is Yami there?

Amber: Yeah, hold on…Dad, it’s for you?

Yami: Thanks sweetheart, don’t let your brother leave yet…Hello?

Yugi: Yami.

Yami: Yugi, I see you made it.

Yugi: Joey, Tristan, Duke and Tea are here too.

Yami: That’s great, stay there and I’ll come and get you.

Yugi: Ok.

SO WE HANG UP AND I TOLD JONAH THAT HE HAD TO TAKE AMBER TO HER APPOINTMENT.

Jonah: Dad, my friends are waiting for me at the basketball court.

Yami: They are just going to have to wait a bit longer, you have to take your sister to her appointment.

Jonah: Why can’t you?

Yami: Because I have to go to the airport.

Jonah: Oh that’s right, I forgot, the help for the camp, sorry Dad.

Yami: It’s alright son, it was an honest mistake, meet me at the camp afterwards both of you.

Jonah: Alright, we’ll see you then.

SO I WENT TO THE AIRPORT AND PICKED UP MY FRIENDS AND WE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE CAMP AS WE STARTED CLEANING AND GETTING EVERYTHING READY FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON, ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER JONAH AND AMBER ARRIVED AND MY FRIENDS WONDERED WHO JONAH AND AMBER WAS.

Yami: This my daughter Amber and my son Jonah…this is Tea, Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Duke.

Both: Hi.

Amber: I’m the one who answered the phone.

Yugi: I didn’t know you had children.

Yami: Well we have been out of touch every since I left for America.
SO WE CONTINUED ON WITH WHAT WE WERE DOING AND I COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THEY LOOKED OVER AT AMBER FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN I SAID.

Yami: Her whole right side is paralyzed, that’s why she walks the way she does and she refuses to use a crutch.

Tea: What happened to her?

Yami: When she was 10 she fell off the bridge trestle and into the river and bumped her head on a rock which fractured her skull and bone fragments was embedded into the left side of her brain, severely damaging it and now the whole right side is paralyzed.

Tea: I’m so sorry Yami.

Yami: It’s not her fault.

Tea: You’re not saying it’s your fault are you?

Yami: As much as I hate to say it, it’s her mother’s fault.

Tea: Her mother’s, you mean you are married?

Yami: I was married, Angela was her name, after the divorce, she moved in with her drug using boyfriend, then one day they over dosed on cocaine, and the kids wondered off and that’s when Amber fell. Angela And Rick are both in jail, Angela was charged with child abuse, endangerment and possession of illegal substances, she’s facing prison time, as for Rick, he was charged with endangerment.

Tea: I don’t know what to say, it must be rough on you?

Yami: Hell…I’ve been through worse.

Tea: Is she going to be like that for the rest of her life?

Yami: That’s what they say, the left side of her brain is permanently damaged and since the left side of the brain controls the right side, there’s nothing anybody can do, she goes to physical therapy twice a week and she also gets these severe painful migraines.

Tea: I didn’t mean to stare.

Yami: Don’t worry about it, the others stare at her, I guess I had better them too huh?

Tea: I can tell them for you.

Yami: No, I’ll tell them when we sit down for dinner.

SO WE CONTINUED ON AND FINALLY IT WAS TIME FOR DINNER AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT AMBER AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER, AND THEY QUIT STARING AT HER NOW THAT THEY KNEW HER SITUATION.

Yugi: I’m sorry and I’m sure I speak for all of us, we didn’t mean to stare at your daughter.

Yami: It’s alright. Now you know and as you can see, she’s not letting it get her down.

Yugi: It must be the royal blood in her veins?

Yami: Yeah, must be. Well let’s get some rest, we still have a lot more to do.

Jonah: Good night dad…

Yami: Good night son…

Amber: Yeah good night dad.

Yami: Good night sweetheart…Look guys, don’t try and help Amber all the time, she’s a very proud girl, if she needs help she’ll ask for it and um…they don’t know of my past life and I’d like to keep it that way, unless it’s necessary.

Yugi: Sorry.

Yami: Just leave it alone.

All: Good night.

SO WE ALL SAID OUR GOOD NIGHTS AND WENT TO BED A WEEK LATER WE EVERYTHING WAS READY TO GO AND I WILL BE OPENING THE CAMP THIS WEEKEND.

YAMI
IT WAS QUITE AN EVENTFUL, FUN-FILLED SUMMER THE TURN OUT WAS GREAT AS USUAL, I HAVE THREE CATEGORIES OF DUELISTS HERE, I HAVE NOVICE DUELISTS, INTERMEDIATE DUELISTS AND EXPERT DUELISTS, AND THEY ALL GO THROUGH A SERIES OF DUELS TO SEE WHERE THEY WOULD BE PLACED. THE WHOLE POINT OF MY CAMP WAS TO INTRODUCE DUELING TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED, THOSE WHO WANT TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN SKILLS,


BUT MOST OF ALL THEY ARE HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS AND TO HAVE FUN DOING IT. WELL ANYWAY THE SUMMER WAS NOW COMING TO AN END AND EVERYONE WOULD BE GOING BACK HOME AND TO GET READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

YAMI
DUE TO MY EX-WIFE’S INCOMPETENCE AMBER’S MEDICAL EXPENSES, HER PRESCRIPTIONS, VISITS TO THE DOCTOR AND TO THE THERAPIST WERE REALLY STARTING TO TAKE ITS TOLL. MY FUNDS HERE IN AMERICA WERE LIMITED, UNLIKE MY FUNDS AS PHARAOH OF EGYPT WERE NOT. IT WAS GETTING TO THE POINT TO WHERE IT WAS CAUSING US TO FALL DEEPER INTO DEBT, THAT NIGHT I THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING MY FATHER TOLD ME, I FORGOT WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT HE SAID, “HE WHO SITS UP ON HIGH HAS THE FURTHEST TO FALL,” AND THESE WORDS WERE CONSTANTLY RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD THEN I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING, THE ONLY OPTION I HAD LEFT IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT AMBER’S MEDICAL EXPENSES, WAS TO RETURN TO EGYPT AND ASSUME THE THRONE, IT WASN’T EXACTLY MY OPTION, THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE. SO THAT NIGHT AT DINNER I TOLD THE CHILDREN.

Yami: Jonah, Amber, I have something to tell you. Our fortune did not come from me being the king of games nor did it come from The Duelist Within Summer Camp, our fortune was inherited, Your ancestor my greatest of great grandfather was at one point in time The Pharaoh of Egypt and thanks to him, the family fortune has been handed down through the generations along with the throne of Egypt and as my birthright I’ve decided to take it, so tomorrow I want you two to pack and we’ll be heading out this weekend.

Jonah: You’re kidding right?

Yami: No I’m not Jonah, we are descended from royalty and it is my birthright to assume the throne of Egypt and that’s what I’m going to do. Here our funds are limited and they are running out, due to Amber’s medical expenses, as to if I take the throne, our funds will be endless, even though I don’t want to, but I have no other choice, so please do understand.

Amber: I don’t want to leave.

Yami: I’m sorry, but it has to be done.

Jonah: Alright if it has to be done, I can deal with it.

Yami: Amber?

Amber: I guess I can too.

AFTER DINNER WE ALL SAT DOWN AND WATCHED A COUPLE OF MOVIES AND THEN IT WAS TIME TO GO TO BED.

TO BE CONTINUED…