Dominick didn't really get to sleep long. About thirty minutes of tossing and turning, ten or so of contemplating whether or not he should do something about his morning wood. nothing came from it as shortly after he heard the familiar sound of his mother waking up and using the bathroom. Another few minutes passed and Dominick decided that he might as well get ready too. getting out of bed he walked strait towards his closet, a path he was familiar with. he reached inside and grabbed one of his many uniforms; his mother made sure to buy him ten, each one with a dark green shirt. His favorite color. On the way out he grabbed some socks and his bandages, walking slowly towards the bathroom. By the time he arrived his mother was already gone, so he just stepped in and did his usual morning routine.

After using the bathroom, putting on his uniform, and throwing his pajamas into the washbin in the bathroom, Dominick headed towards the kitchen for breakfast. he could hear his mother frying something, and from the smell, it was eggs and bitter melon. As the name implies, it was bitter, but his mother says it's healthy. Dominick didn't have much room to complain, food was food, and if he wanted to eat something else he should have woken up and cooked himself. Upon entering the kitchen his mother greeted him, and he returned the greeting with his own. [b]"Good Morning Mother."[/b] He said in Japanese. His mother would speak to him in a mixture of English and Hmong, peppered with some Japanese as well. It sometimes impressed him how many languages his mother knew. Four, he thinks. English, Hmong, Thai, and Japanese. And she picked up Japanese quite quickly. His train of thought was soon set aside when his mother put a plant in front of him, along with a cup of orange juice. Taking a sip of the juice, it was with high pulp. His favorite.

Dominick and his mother ate breakfast together, while his mother watched the morning news. He listened in on it half-heartily, his mind still lingering on that girl he saw, Violetta. Now that he thought about it, what did he know about her? Next to none really, aside from her name. Not even much rumors of her as far as he could remember. Dominick pondered what would happen if he met her. He wouldn't know who she was on sight and didn't know how she sounds like. She'd have to tell him his name or someone would have to point her out to him. He kept on eating until he heard his apartment's buzzer ring. From there his mother went over to the intercom and asked who it was. Dominick listened in, catching some words. "It's me, Shabazz. I'm here to pick up Dominick."

Shahbaz was one of Dominick's friends. A black kid born in Japan, but both his parents were Americans. Tourist in fact, but his mother left them and his father was robbed, leaving them without any papers to go back home. They waited four years before Shahbaz's father simply gave up and applied for citizenship in Japan. His father worked for Dominick's father, which meant that Dominick and Shahbaz became well acquainted. He was a good friend, served as his eyes around Japan and made sure no one picked on Dominick. They also went to the same martial arts dojo and made sure to give Dominick and good fight when they get to spar. Shahbaz also worked part time at his mother's bakery, so often the two would meet up with each other. [b]"Tell him I'm almost ready to go. I just need to put my shoes on and get my things."[/b]

Indeed, after scarfing down his breakfast Dominick put on his shoes and grabbed his schoolbag. He grabbed one of his walking sticks out from his bag and extended it. his mother kissed him goodbye as he left his apartment to meet with Shahbaz down at the first floor. Dominick was confident enough with his stride that he could take stairs, a simple act that took Dominick month's to relearn. He met up with his friend and the two began to walk towards school together. Shahbaz was quick to start talking with Dominick chiming in every once in a while with a short comment or two. One thing that caught his ear was something about a train yard and a murder. He didn't know if the two were connected, but he also remembered hearing about it on the news. [b]"I wonder what's going on at that trainyard. It isn't too far away from our apartments. Hey, maybe it's someone living in it."[/b] Shahbaz thought otherwise, thinking that it had something to do with the murder of the doctor. Dominick had his doubts. [b]"If you think so, why don't we go look? Not like the police is going to fence the place off."[/b] Shahbaz thought otherwise, making his excuse saying that he had to help Dominick's mom at the bakery, but he knew that Shahbaz was scared. He was superstitious like that.

Either way the subject changed and the two students continued on their path to school. Dominick tried to keep up, but his thoughts kept getting distracted. He couldn't stop thinking about Violetta.