Not where I grew up, but more or less the same
It was one of those October Saturdays that just kind of sneaks up on you, you know. The air was crisp, and there was that sharpness to it that makes your nose tingle. You step outside and instantly feel the cold punch you in the chest, but it’s a good kind of cold, refreshing, like a reminder that fall is really here. The sky was a dull gray, heavy with clouds that didn’t quite look like they wanted to rain but just hung there, waiting. Outside, the trees had already started shedding their leaves, and in the fading October light, they looked like flickering flames. Reds, oranges, and yellows danced and swirled around in little whirlpools at my feet, like embers caught in a gentle wind. The whole town looked kind of sleepy, sort of dead, peaceful in that slow, lazy way they get on weekends. Cars hummed in the distance and a soft breeze rustled the remaining leaves, whispering stories I probably wouldn’t understand. Honestly, it felt perfect... quiet, calm... like the world was taking a deep breath, holding onto that fiery glow just a little longer.
I lived with my older brother at this point in time. He is the one who keeps everything running around here when I am not home. Usually, I am the one making sure the dishes are washed, the laundry is done, and the trash isn’t overflowing. But today, I got the whole morning free. No shifts at the gas station, no chores, no one telling me what to do. I woke up early, as I tend to do even on weekends, and just lay there in my bed for a while, listening to the muffled sounds coming from my old CD player. It became kind of a habit. I have always been a bit strange, I guess. Playing some probably Type O Negative or Slayer, whatever I was feeling that morning. It could have been worse, right?
Just lying there, letting my mind drift.
No real plans, just a vague idea of wandering around town. Maybe hitting some thrift shops or just hanging out in my room with my playlist. I was a Moody Teenager after all. I pulled on my hoodie, zipped it up tight, and threw on my black jeans. My backpack was old and battered, full of patches and pins... mostly skulls and band logos.
Not mine, you get the gist tho
Stuff I had collected over the years. I liked that backpack. It was kind of a mess, discarded. No one thought much of it or paid it any mind. It and I shared that in common. The town was pretty quiet that day. Most of the teens I knew or saw around were probably doing whatever teenagers do. Maybe they were hanging out in some corner, toking up a joint or a bowl. Or maybe just doing the usual... worshipping Satan or a giant burrito or whatever weird thing teenagers where into at this point in time. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to them. I just liked to wander be alone and see what I could find.
So I decided to walk downtown just to kill some time. I pulled my hoodie over my head and went out. My blood-red sneakers crunched softly on the sidewalk. I passed by the old bookstore. It had dusty windows filled with stacks of worn books and vintage magazines. I loved that place. It smells like old paper and ink, like a secret that has been hidden away for years. Sometimes I would go in and read anything that piqued my interest on the shelves. The owner didn't mind. I bought a lot of odd and strange books from her often. I would sometimes drift off, imagining the stories behind those pages. The lives of people who had read them long ago. Sadly, the store is long gone now. The owner had passed away not long after this. I really miss Ms. Jamerson and the Bookstore. It always felt like a home away from home, and she was always nice to the weird misfit girl who often bought the weirdest books she had in at any given time.
I wish I had a picture, but this is pretty close
As I wandered, I found myself near the weird little alley behind what the local kids my age called the junkyard. It was aptly named because people would drop off scrap metal, discarded electronics, and other things for recycling. There was a body found once but it was never solved. Or I never found out who did it. It is a place myself and other teen's would usually go and look for weird and odd things. Some of the older kids always talked about it. Like if you looked hard enough, you might find something cool or weird. Sometimes I’d go there just to see what I could come up with. Just to escape the usual crowd and noise. Today, I wasn’t expecting to find anything honestly. Just killing time and letting my thoughts drift.
Like this, with less crackheads
That is when I saw it. A battered, dust-covered box, half-hidden behind a pile of rusted car parts and broken Toasters and other small electrical items that where long dead. It looked like it had been dumped there ages ago and left to rot in the dirt. But there it was. Just sitting there like a forgotten relic. I knelt down to get a closer look, brushing off some of the grime and dirt. At first glance, I could tell it was an original Xbox. The shape was unmistakable even with all the scratches and the faded logo. There was a sticker peeling off one corner and the whole thing looked like it had been through hell and back. The plastic was scratched, cracked, battered, and grimy. Like it had been tossed around and forgotten for years.
only about ten times more cracked and grimy
I hesitated. It's was definitely not supposed to be there. Just in some random pile of junk. But I felt this strange pull. Like it was calling to me. I looked around to see if anyone was watching. Nope, no one. Just the quiet hum of distant cars and the faint whisper of wind. But I noticed the sticker on it. It said, “Free if you want this junk” That was all I needed. No need to think twice. Hey, free is free.
Carefully, I tucked it into my backpack, feeling that weird rush of excitement. To me, I had found something rare. Something that probably no one else even cared about. I didn’t really think about whether it worked or not. I just knew I wanted it. I loved the idea of having something so discarded, unwanted, and maybe just maybe bringing it back to life.
When I finally got home, I dumped my backpack on my desk and took out the Xbox. It was filthy, scratched, cracked, battered, and grimy. But it looked mostly intact. I reached for my brother’s screwdrivers and a rag. I had snagged some of his tools so I could take it apart without breaking anything. Carefully, I opened the case, feeling the rough plastic under my fingertips. Inside, the chips looked corroded. Dust and grime covered everything. The power supply looked pretty worn out but I didn’t give up. I started cleaning, wiping away the dust and scrubbing off the corrosion. I replaced a few loose connectors I found inside. Just to make sure everything was tight. My brother even rigged a new power cord he had lying around for me. Just to see if I could get it to turn on.
I held my breath and pressed the power button. Nothing happened. I hesitated. I tried again. Still nothing. I waited. My heart was pounding a little. Then after a few tense seconds, I saw it. The faintest flicker. A tiny hum. The green power light finally came on and on the screen that epic classic Xbox bootup screen and sound. I swear my heart skipped a beat. It actually worked.
I spent the next hour fiddling with it. Trying different things. Trying to load a CD. I later had to fix the drive. I forgot to check the local thrift shops for used games. I had gotten so caught up in the moment. I didn’t care. Just knowing it powered up was enough. I felt like I cracked some secret code. I had brought something long dead back to life. That feeling. There is nothing quite like it. It is like uncovering a hidden treasure. Something rare and cool that nobody else would even bother with anymore.
And that is how I got my original Xbox. Just a girl in October, Bored with nothing to do, Finding something no one cared about anymore, feeling abit of kinship with it and bringing it back to life.
It is simple but somehow it made everything feel a little more real. A little more meaningful.
I am always searching for those small moments. Those weird, wacky memories that make life a little more interesting. And honestly, that is what keeps most of us going in the end.
Good find on that OG Xbox!
