Department of English

Spring 2006 High School Edition

The Hidden Enemy

Weston Jenson
Essay (9th-10th)
Third Place
Parowan High School
Teacher: Gail Harris

There is always an event that changes people’s lives completely.  This event changes their thoughts, emotions, but most importantly, their personalities.  This event is usually unpredictable and causes a great amount of pain.  Betrayal is one of the greatest pains they will ever encounter.  This pain changes them into something they aren’t.  It twists and corrupts their emotions and personalities.  It changes them!  Some say change is good, but not this change.

This event in my life changed me into who I am today.  It all started on a cold winter’s day in February.  I was getting ready to move, not a regular move, but a move that changed me into who I am today, a move to Parowan.

I had a close friend named Kade that shared my pains and sorrows.  He was there for me and me for him.  We shared our troubles, but that was not enough to stop this event.  Two weeks before our move, I was attending school.  As the bell rang at three, I was walking in the hall.  As the hall began to fill with eager students, I reached my locker.  I grabbed my books that I needed for homework and closed my locker.  As I did so, Kade walked past me without a word.  I stuffed my books in my backpack and stood up.  As I ran to my bus, I saw him through the window giving me the one fingered wave.

I was shocked that he would do this to me after all we had been through.  I got on the bus and sat in my assigned seat in front of Kade.  At mine and Kade’s stop, I stood up to leave the bus.  Kade followed close behind me.  His breath on my neck sent chills down my spine as I walked down the narrow aisle and down the steps.  I kept walking not even having the will to want to see what was behind me.  As the bus drove down the road, Kade put his plan in motion.

Swinging his saxophone and case, he smacked me on the back of my head, knocking me to the ground.  As I stood up, the warmth of blood on my scalp invigorated my anger.  I turned around just in time to dodge a second blow.  He had done it, enraged me to my breaking point.  I quickly stood up and my fists tightened while he removed his large circular glasses.  Thoughts rushed through my head as I stood there, knowing this would be the end of this partnership.  We had been in fights before, but the next thing I did I had never done before; it was completely out of character.  I swung my fist!

As my tight fist smacked his nose, I heard his cry of agony and a loud crack.  Drops of his blood hit the ground and spread like a flash flood.  I felt nothing at that moment, not even remorse for what I had done.  Then I turned to look at his face.  The red of the smeared blood on his face made me feel joyous. 

This feeling overcame me, making my fears realized.  As I pondered this event that was occurring, I realized I enjoyed vengeance.  As I looked into his eyes, I could see the fear and surprise.  He believed I would never fight back. How wrong he was.  Just before I hit him again, the memory of a forgotten hero made me think twice.  The story of Venom and Spiderman showed me the truth.  Even though Spiderman used and enjoyed the evil suit, he realized its deception.  His joy was replaced by fear as the suit overcame his will.  He fought it and later prevailed.  I then knew what to do. 

Swallowing my pride, I ran home and reported to my mom what had happened.  She shuddered at my actions, knowing I had found the evil within myself at last.  She spoke with Kade’s mother, even though it was pointless because Kade never did anything wrong, and the school, allowing my transgressions to be forgiven because it was an act of defense.  There my darkness was realized. 

So later I realized why he betrayed me: jealousy, the powerful force behind each person, jealousy for what he didn’t have.  In Macbeth, jealousy destroyed the title character’s life and everything he held dear.  Jealousy caused him to kill his king, but even more devastating, it caused him to kill his closest friend, his brother-in-arms.  His jealousy corrupted his wife and caused her to go crazy.  Still, jealousy’s most repulsive act came as Macbeth was killed by his friend’s son in an act of revenge.  Jealousy lead to irony, irony lead to corruption, corruption lead to betrayal, and betrayal lead to demise.  Is this what happened to me? 

Three years later, the music is pounding as I feel a rumble in my left pants pocket.  My phone, I realize.  Leaving the gym I reach into my pocket and pull out a small phone.  As I read the small illuminated screen, I realize that it is my old friend from West Jordan, Levi.  As I answer the phone I speak first, “What’s up, Levi?” 

The other line remains silent until I hear a soft voice say, “What have you done?” 

“What do you mean?”  I reply. 

“Kade just woke up!” 

I paused as I remember hearing that he tried to commit suicide two weeks ago but failed.  Instead of dying, he remained in a coma.  As this event unfolded my mood became even more joyous until Levi finished. 

“The first thing he said when he awoke was, it was Weston’s fault, your fault.  You betrayed him.”  The conversation ended with a loud click and a beep, beep, beep.  Then I hear a voice on the other line saying, “This call cannot be completed as dialed.  Please hang up and try again.”  As I slowly pressed the end key, I couldn’t help but wonder, was it he who betrayed me or was it I who betrayed him?