The Oracle 2020

55 Charred Aspirations

by Ben Packer Winter’s grim persona began to engulf the small town of Ashville, Ohio. Everyone knew each other and the family name still reigned in the minds of the townsfolk. The Bishop family, in particular, held little regard for their shared social values and thus they posed as an embarrassing mar upon the community. Brisk winds whipped the walls of the school, while a consistent warmth permeated its halls. There in the school, Nick, the young prodigy from the Moore family of prominent English ancestry, assured his dominance over the school. Teachers and administrators spent no effort in pursuing the affairs conducted by the boy, and neither would his utterly naive parents. A long time was poured into verbally and physically abusing the inferior Adam Bishop. On top of his economic troubles, Adam struggled with obesity and often found his thoughts drifting towards anguish. After years of abuse, Adam was driven to the point of revenge; Nick’s actions became the kindling for the fire burning within him. Adam’s animosity brought him to Nick. “Someday, I’m gonna kill you,” threatened Adam. His threat was met with a shrug, a smirk, and a dismissive wave of hand.

Years had passed since those school days, yet Adam’s torment persisted. On a much more pleasant summer afternoon, the old town was alive with villagers clustered around the community’s hub, Oak Avenue, which was dotted with small cafes and restaurants. It provided the setting for that year’s townwide parade to pay tribute to the most influential and valued members of their small society. Adam sat down in his favorite restaurant, Terry’s Burger Shack and Grill, at a