M.Y. Diallo - The Invisible Neighborhood

Irresponsible, selfish, tyrants, and inferior of all the creatures made by the creator are what they think of mankind. They always wake up, hoping a different view of the world positively but end up disappointed. Every generation of human brought to life, on planet Earth, was a deception for them, but they didnt care until they felt threatened by Mother Nature because of humans foolishness. They had to make it stop. Otherwise, there wont be home for their descendants. When scientists warned humans about them, no one wanted to believe. Mankind never listens, humans have always thought that they are the only superior kind in the universe. Even after being shown proof by experts that there are other creatures living somewhere, humans still dont believe. Being stubborn as a mule, humans always need evidence; its better to stay away from some evidences. The scariest and most shocking thing is that even scientists didnt know those creatures are among humans. We dont know that our daily life is shared with different kind of species.

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Twenty-three years ago, two computer-programing engineers, Mr. Charles Layoun and Mrs. Olivia Layoun, started their jobs at the NASA. The couple met in college. Sharing the same ambitions and values, which was science, they became closer and fell unbelievably in love. They were the genius couple of their generation in their field. The two scientists were giving conferences at the prestigious University of Harvard. Here, they caught the attention of the NASAs director, who needed young, ambitious, and determined recruits to put the world in a better place.

A year after being recruited, they found out that there is no way out from the strong love they had for each other back in college, so they decided to spend the rest of their lives together. The beauty of their love was exceptional; it was the groovy kind of love.

The couple became important for the agency. Devoted to their job, they almost did not have a social life except for their newly born child. They preferred staying late at work more than going to a cocktail party with important people in suits, who they considered lazy people. Late one night, Mr. Layoun and his wife were about to leave the office when they made an incredible discovery. They prevented its realization temporarily, but they knew it will happen in the futureit was just a matter of time. It has to be stopped before it is too late. Frightened to death, they went to see the authorities with concrete explanations, but unfortunately, enticed by greed and power, the authorities agents were determined to use all in their power to stop the couple from disclosing any information, and use this opportunity for their own agenda. The couple did not have any choice but to withdraw from the world of science because they felt threatened by their discovery. They were trapped between two hostile worlds. Before getting on their way, running for their survival, and their sons safety, they entrusted him and some documents that would be given to him when he reached the age of maturity.

Abandoning him was not an easy thing to do, but it was something necessary. Luckily, they had long-standing friends of trust, Mr. Benyamin Barry, and his wife, Mrs. Samira Barry, a loyal and respected family, living a peaceful life. Mr. Barry was the teammate of James father until he retired.

For any young child, Mr. and Mrs. Barry are the last family to choose to spend the rest of their life with: a family that has never had the chance to know how to raise a child, the situation presented the potential for problems. For Jamess parents; however, it was the right family. It is an extraordinary couple, living an ordinary life far from the prying eyes in the countryside, and they can teach him all about his parents when the time comes. Mr. and Mrs. Layoun standing at the door, remembering the happiness and joy he brought into their lives the day he was born, it was hard for them, abandoning him, knowing that it is going to be a long goodbye or even worse, a forever goodbye.

Time to leave, but Mr. Layoun tries so hard to untie his wifes arms around the tiny child, she did not want to let go. They step out shedding tears, waving their hands, and saying goodbye to James, who was only three years old.

At his young age, James used to be haunted by a dream that he could not understand because of its darkness.

James is now seventeen years old. He has grown to become a lanky mild natured man with his arms as broomsticks, an unusually large head and grasshopper-thighs, his face is covered with acne. Bespectacled, most often when he is stuck in front of his computer. You can recognize him by his old, big, black leather jacket that has contact with water only once a month; this explains his unpopularity in school. James is extremely shy. He will never look at you in the eye, especially if you are a girl. It is his last year of high school. Life in high school is hell for kids like James. Its a jungle where only the law of the strongest prevails. One more year, and he will finally be getting rid of his nightmare.

James is not aware that he is not living with his biological parents. It is time for him to learn who his real parents are, but the couple has some difficulties tackling the issue. One morning, without checking whether James was still in bed or not, Samira asks her husband if he has made up his mind about telling James the truth, because she is not ready yet. He is their only son and they are all attached to him. James hears noises in the living room, and he rises up from his bed. At the moment, Benyamin wants to open his mouth to answer, he sees James coming from his room and interrupting them.