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Ronald Novikov knew he was weird. Not like he hated being weird. He didn’t hate being himself.
If you were to tell him a few months ago that he would become a popular kid and then become a matchmaker for his fellow popular kids, he would ask if you were crazy.
But this isn’t a few months ago, today is Halloween. October 31st, 1989.
Now when Ronald first came to America, he thought the concept was silly. But he saw how happy it made his friends as they talked about their costumes weeks in advance.
David once told Ronald that a costume was supposed to represent you on the inside, and Halloween was the best time to do so. Before he could tell him that wasn’t the point of a costume, Exer quickly cut David off and told him costumes didn’t have to have meaning.
So Ronald compromised with both of their ideas. He dressed up as something that represented him and at the same time wasn’t that meaningful.
Frankenstein.
Besides that being the first word to come out of Jackson Smith’s mouth when he arrived, the concept of Frankenstein always amazed Ronald.
A whole new person or creature created solely by the parts of others! Something amazing coming out of seemingly nothing.
Sometimes Ronald Novikov felt like Frankenstein.
Not in a bad way!
He just finds himself relating to Frankenstein.
But how can you relate to a monster?
Well maybe Frankenstein wasn’t a monster. Maybe he was just misunderstood.
Maybe Ronald was just projecting onto a fictional character.
It’s probably the second option.
Ronald Novikov wondered why people couldn’t just let him be weird. Like he doesn’t get how it’s such a hard concept.
He likes his hair. He likes horror movies. He likes candy. He likes gossiping. He likes playing matchmaker for his friends who are obviously in love but don’t want to acknowledge it-
But that’s not what people see, apparently. Because they ignore all of that and ask the same question-
So are you a boy or a girl?
He doesn’t know! That’s the scary part!
It’s what keeps Ronald awake at nights. It scares him more than any slasher film he’s ever seen.
Because apparently that question has been answered for basically everyone. It’s easy for them.
Maybe one day he’ll figure it out. But that day isn’t today.
Ronald Novikov will continue looking into the mirror, searching for answers.
Because he knows what happens to people
“Like him.”
At his old school, he was bullied for almost everything. He was only transferred so he didn’t worry his mom.
And he knows it’s better in America. American dream and all that. But Ronald wonders if it applies to him. Is he allowed to live his dreams? God, is he allowed to live ? Like live how he wants.
Not how his mom wants. Not how his teachers want. How he wants.
You could say he did, for a bit, at the Halloween Dance. It was truly fun, besides the blackout.
He saw another group of kids when everyone was screaming and panicking. There was one dressed as a dragon, one as Medusa, and one with bright red hair.
Ronald doesn’t know why that red hair has been so prominent in his memory.
Maybe they’ll all become friends. At least he could hope.
Yeah. Ronald Novikov could hope.