Character Sketch: Melvin

His name was Melvin. He was 22, and addicted to cleaning his satchel. Every morning he'd carefully load it with pens and pencils, highlighters and post-its, gently lowering his laptop into the specified slot and filling space with notebooks and required texts. Every evening, he'd take these things out, placing them neatly on his desk. Then the pockets would be vacuumed, cleared of crumbs and papers that were usually nonexistent. Finally, he'd polish the brown leather exterior, lovingly caressing it with a soft cloth, buffing scratches with small, circular motions. His older brother Barry had taught him this technique years ago, when Melvin was just 18 and Barry was a worldly 21. It was one of many bonding experiences from their youth.

Melvin never spoke to Barry anymore, not since Barry had moved to Florida and taken that job with NASA. It was difficult to lose contact as Barry was all Melvin had. Their dad had walked out on them over a decade ago, an event that hadn't happened soon enough. When Melvin heard of his death last year, he couldn't muster any emotional response, let alone sorrow. His fathers departure had changed his mother. She turned into a dryer sheet, soft and pliable, clinging to her boys for approval. Melvin tried to support her, but his efforts left him tired and frustrated.

He felt the same way now, as he struggled with his law texts. He read the assigned claim aloud. His voice was low and gravelly, surprising people who judged his tall thin frame as a typical 'geek', not a body capable of this Clint Eastwood worthy tone. It was a voice now pinched with tenseness as he read the next paragraph. It was his one dream: to become a lawyer, to help others and enrich the world. He knew this calling came with a negative stigma, but truly believed he could contribute to the erasure of such views, restoring truth and justice to the world. Melvin would be a modern day super hero, if only he could figure out his homework.