This is the first chapter of a story I am working on. It is a Young Adult Science Fiction/Romance story taking place in an alternate universe. I consider the story a work in progress (WIP).
I am open to constructive criticism on this first chapter.
In the distant future in a galaxy far away, there existed a planet called Shelga. The climate of the planet Shelga has varying temperatures. There are forests including luscious rain forests, dry deserts,freezing glacial terrains and suburban areas.
The inhabitants are called Shelgans. The average Shelgan lives in poverty, but according to earth standards most Shelgans are above the poverty line. There are varying degrees of housing conditions which show the situation of the working poor on the planet Shelga. According to the Shelgan Republic, the forty nine percent of Shelgans nineteen and older live in a one bedroom sized apartment home with a family of four. Often times, both the parents work two or more jobs to help with the rent and utility bills. If they have kids, they will often not get a job unless it is to pay for something they want. The other fifty- one percent of Shelgans nineteen and older are single parents who are divorced or separated and and raising two to three children.
Most Shelgans are nutritionally malnourished in some areas and nutritionally over nourished in other areas. The Shelgans tend to be nutritionally over-nourished in white grain intake, protein intake (with some exceptions), fat intake (all types except Omega 3) and tend to consume excessive amounts of salt. Although the Obesity rate on the planet Shelga is lower than Earth, the number of Shelgans who are Overweight is on the rise.
There are varying degrees of literacy with some Shelgans learning to read when they are three or four to some learning to read when they are in their thirties. Of those who learned to read (regardless of the year they learned to read), most of the Shelgan population had difficulty with recognizing extensive use of literary techniques such as metaphors, similes, hyper-boles, irony, and onomatopoeia. Most of the Shelgans could recognize the degrees of sarcasm and slang in written communication and in oral communication. Some of the Shelgans as you will find out have difficulty with understanding and interpreting sarcasm. These Shelgans may take the sarcasm as literal.
Chapter One:Tetsuo Niwa was born different from the other Shelgans.For one thing, the doctors couldn't turn him around and he had to be born vaginally. And his Apgar score was fine, hence the doctors said. But, that wasn't what worried his mother. His mother, Shelly Niwa could tell from birth that something was just, well different. Shelly Niwa had long, curly, dark brownish dyed maroon hair and pale brown eyes. She was thirty years old when she gave birth to Tetsuo. She is part Spaniard Jewish and part Shelgan.
Tetsuo was born very late in the evening at around 10 PM in a chilly December 10th in the year 2020. He was born at the Forbidden Forest Memorial Hospital on the planet Shelga. His father, Akira Niwa came late because he was eating donuts to celebrate. Akira is Japanese and had immigrated from Earth to the planet Shelga. Akira is seven years older than Shelly Niwa.
*****
" Look, I don't see anything wrong with Tetsuo. He seems fine with me. Cause' he's not giving eye contact with the other children and parallel playing with the other preschool children doesn't mean he's you know, not one of us," Akira said.
" I don't know; I think he needs to be evaluated further by a professional" Shelly pleaded.
" Me and you can't afford having him evaluated for a developmental disability," Akira guilt tripped.
" I am still going to get a recommendation. Whether you like it or not." Shelly said.
*****
Tetsuo got diagnosed with High Functioning Asperger's Syndrome at the age of two years old. Back in 2020, it was common to have some autistic trait. The reason for this was lack of government funding for adults and the elderly with autism spectrum disorders in the 2010s. When these adults had children, they had difficulty getting services for their children (budget cuts, political promises that resulted in nothing and pork laws) such as ABA services, Respite care, social skills groups and training for the children, Transition services, School Placements,Peer mentoring, Parent Management training,and DIR/Floortime approach.
She hired a team (a psychiatrist, psychologist and the primary care doctor) to find out what was wrong with her and Akira's son; Tetsuo.The team conducted inteviews of the parents and assessed the child using the M-chat. Shelly had done some online research for the psychiatrist for license disciplinary actions, criminal records,hospital revocations and privileges,ABMS certification,Teaching responsibilties, and Educational Background. She had to pay private pocket for the Psychiatrist and Psychologist. The Primary Care Doctor is on the parent's insurance.
The Psychiatrist, Psychologist,and Primary Care Doctor created a report for her and the husband of some recommended interventions, actions, and resources in her area and state that apply to Tetsuo. The recommendations included ABA service providers, Information about Food Stamps for Tetsuo when he turns 18,a Parent Management Training course,Information about SSI for Tetsuo when he turns 18, Social Skills providers list,A list of recommended books and organizations to get in touch with and some concerns/ strengths.
At times, twenty- year-old Tetsuo pondered if that was a lie.
He believed in getting an education and didn't trust the Shelgan government from the beginning. He wanted to know the truth behind the Shelgan's government. But, as with most of the Shelgans, he was poor, illiterate and uneducated about the government.
Often times, Tetsuo would take walks during his afternoons off. On his walks, he felt a breath of calmness and serenity. One day, while on his day off from training he decided to take a quiet walk down to the forbidden meadow. The meadow was an illusion of beauty and ugliness. He could tell how miserable the Shelgans were who lived there. Some of the Shelgans lived in what appeared to be tiny, overcrowded living spaces that lacked basic access to food and clean drinking water. Most of the Shelgans in the village seemed to show mixed emotions regarding their lives.
But, what interested Tetsuo the most was when he saw a twenty-two year old female Shelgan reading a book and writing notes. She seemed very involved in her studies, but unhappy with something. He gets a closer look at her to see what she is saying to a young male appearing Shelgan around his age with brown spiky hair, dark brown eyes.
“Kaneda, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings and I am sorry...” She said with sadness and guilt.
Tetsuo couldn't hear the part after sorry.
“Well, don't do it again” Kaneda hastily said.
Hmm. Tetsuo thought.
She seems very into her school- work; maybe her parents can tutor me... Tetsuo thought of.
He started to walk away when the male Shelgan, Kaneda, noticed him.
“Thanks for listening in on our conversation” Kaneda sarcastically said.
“I am sorry.” Testuo said silently.
“He didn't mean to Kaneda. We all have our faults sometimes. By the way, I would like to introduce myself to you.... looks at Tetsuo and extends arm to Tetsuo...My name is Sasuke and it is a delight to meet you” she kindly said to Tetsuo.
“ I am Tetsuo” he said with a face as blank as a rock and at the same time was behind Sasuke.
In that moment, Sasuke felt the emptiness again; the wanting of a deep social relationship that had meaning, and knew deep down, that Tetsuo shared the same common thread. That is the thread of the socially isolated ones.
Tetsuo and Sasuke conversed on and off until finally...
“So Tetsuo, what are your hobbies and interests? How old are you?” Sasuke inquired.
“I am interested in learning how to read and write. I am twenty years old.” Tetsuo said with a smile on his face.
''Why should I discriminate against him? I feel this bond in common with Tetsuo, even though he is of a different species''. Sasuke thought.
“I will call Kaneda's parents to see if you can be included in my daily appointments to learn how to read and write” Sasuke said with a smile.
“Ok” He said softly.
The two of them exchanged cell-phone numbers.
“I’ll call you by Friday to see if it will happen or not and when the tutoring sessions are” Sasuke said with a smile.
On Friday, Tetsuo received a call on his cell-phone from Sasuke.
“Hello. Who is this?” Testuo bluntly said.
“It's Sasuke. Kaneda's parents said it was fine for you to go to tutoring sessions with me in the evening at four and that the tutoring sessions are free” Sasuke said in a friendly tone.
''I have no clue what she is saying because she is talking so fast'' Tetsuo thought.
“Sure, that is awesome Sasuke. But, where is his place? ” Tetsuo said.
Kaneda's house is deep within the forbidden forest. The forbidden forest had gigantic trees with vibrant, emerald colored leaves. Kaneda's house was a relatively mid-sized traditional Japanese style house and in the back, it had a Dojo. Behind the Dojo was a path that led to a hot spring and four different tubs of various temperatures. The first tub was blue and ice-cold. The second tub was a shade of blue-green and was cold. The third tub was a warm green and not boiling hot or cold. The fourth tub was deep green and boiling hot.
Deep within the forbidden forest, according to mystical scroll, sometimes one could see the legendary spirit bear, platinum colored bear that is supposed to have healing powers. It is unknown how many of these bears existed.
Tetsuo and Sasuke had arrived at Kaneda's house.
“I'll knock first,” Sasuke said.
“Ok,” Tetsuo said.
Sasuke softly knocked twice on the door and peeked in through the peep-hole.
“Who is it,” the kind, masculine voice was somehow familiar to Tetsuo.
Two weeks before I met Kaneda and Sasuke, I dreamed of that voice...
“It's Sasuke. I have a guest with me. His name is Tetsuo,” She kindly said.
-- Voice. The voice was accompanied by a man with dark brown hair in an aikido uniform. He said his name was Alex. Tetsuo thought.
“My name is Alex and it is nice to meet you,” He said.
Alex had dark mahogany colored hair and was in an aikido uniform.
Hm. It probably is nothing. After all the voice said, “Harness the power of Akira wisely”. Tetsuo thought.
“Nice to meet you too, Alex” Tetsuo said..
Hmm, I wonder if I should mention it to Alex. Tetsuo thought.
Don't mention it to Alex with him around- another voice said.
“Your first day of training is today, Tetsuo. On the first day we will do an assessment to see what you need to work on and what you don't need to work on” Alex said.
The assessment for the first day was in aikido.
“Can I put this on you? It is to measure your Qi,” Alex said.
''Let him put it on you when he's not around''- The voice said.
“What is Qi” Tetsuo asked.
“Qi is the level of positive and negative energy one has.” Alex explains.
Kaneda walks into the dojo.
“Alex, someone is at the door for you,” Kaneda said.
“Kaneda, we're in a private lesson right now. Can you go get the door please?” Alex said.
“Sure” Kaneda said.
Kaneda leaves the scene.
“I don't want the meter on yet. I will tell you when I am ready.” Tetsuo said.
He walked away, Tetsuo. Don't worry.
Two minutes later.
“I am ready now,” Tetsuo said.
Alex put the miniature electronic meter on Tetsuo's shirt.
So, on his days off from training, Tetsuo would very carefully read the children's books and learn to write with Kaneda. In addition, Kaneda's parents taught the two of them some martial arts, mathematics, philosophy, and health education. Kaneda's parents noticed that Tetsuo had his weaknesses. For instance, Tetsuo had a hard time with learning mathematics. He had difficulty understanding several key concepts such as fractions, telling time, and multiplication/division.
A major deficit that Kaneda's parents noticed in Tetsuo was his social communication skills. When Alex would tell Testuo to look at him, Tetsuo's eye contact was shifty as if the clouds moved in and out. Often times, Tetsuo gave no eye contact to Alex, Sasuke or Kaneda when he had a conversation with one, two or all three of them. If Tetsuo gave eye contact, it was seldom appropriate at the appropriate time. Tetsuo would sometimes stare excessively when he gave eye contact to Sasuke or Kaneda.
