He let out a deep, full-hearted laugh.

“Great joke, Mark.”
Truthfully, I didn’t really intend to make a joke but Jimmy hadn't laughed since his mom died 6 months ago. I thought it would be good for him.
“Thanks, man!” I said.
“Hey, meant to ask, you got any plans tomorrow?” Jimmy said.
“Nah, was just going to make a movie marathon.”
“Well, you should come with me to this party later; it is only ten blocks from your house, plus Kate’s going to be there,” Jimmy replied.
“Hey, shut up, you know she is dating that jerk from Eaglewood High.”
“You didn't hear? She is single; she broke up with him,” Jimmy said.
“Alright, alright I'll swing by. What time?”
“6:30,” Jimmy replied.
“Alright thanks, see ya there.”
“Alright see ya,” he said.
To begin with, I probably won't go. But anyway, let me tell you about my life currently. My family literally lives in suburbia in the year 2017. Nothing ever happens around here. My dad is a Walmart attorney. My mom is a stay at home mom. Considering that my dad makes about 5 million dollars a year. I have everything a 16 year old teenager would ever want, but I don't really care. Some people call me a snot, but hey, I'm not self-conscious. So now you have heard about my lifestyle, like it yet?
I walk through the door to my house and my mom is fixing dinner.
  “Hey Mark, how was school?”
Without answering I head up to my room. You may be thinking,”Whoa,   Mark, why are you so rude to your parents?” Well there is a simple reason: I don't care. Yes a little rude, but that's life. I may be a snot, but I own it.
  “Mark can you come down here a second?”
  “Yeah sure one sec.”
As I walk downstairs I run into Razor, our family dog. Did I forget to mention him? Well you know about him now.
I finally reach the kitchen and my mom and dad are sitting around the dining room table.
“Come on son; sit down,” my dad said.
“Ok,” I replied.
I sat down and prepared myself for the worst.
“We want to talk about your grandparents,” my mom said. Oh boy.
“Ever since your grandpa died, grandma has not been taking her medication. She is in the hospital right now and may not make it through tomorrow. I hope you will come with is to the hospital?
“Eh, I was going to go to a party,” I replied.
“Please son, we would appreciate it if you came with us.”
“Ok I'll think about it.” I get up and head for the stairs.
“You don't want my famous casserole dinner honey?” My mom said.
“Eww mom that's gross, no I'll pass.” I head up to my bedroom without eating and immediately fall asleep.
I woke up the next day to a noise coming from the backyard. I head over to check it and realize it's just Razor playing around. I eat breakfast and go through another boring day of school.
Finally school ends and I get ready to go to the party. I leave without saying goodbye to my parents and meet up with Jimmy. We set off for the party. When we get there I am full of dread because the first person I meet is Kate. Do you want some background on Kate? Well it's simple: Kate and I dated back in sophomore year. It went really well until she cheated on me with the guy I talked about earlier. Even after all that I may still like her… I don't know what's wrong with me.
“Hey Kate!” Jimmy said.
“Hey Jimmy, Mark,” she replied.
  “Hello Kate,” I said.
Grudgingly, I walk in front of Jimmy and head for the front door. I can hear Jimmy and Kate talking about me but I try to ignore them. I walk into the house and immediately I realize everybody from our school is here…. great. Of course, when I walk in everybody stops and stares at me.
“Just start the party again,” I said.
Finally everybody went back to their business and the music started again. Oh forgot to mention everybody hates me at school too. Well, besides Jimmy. But again, I don't care. I have enough money to live my life without education but my parents force me to go. I try to have fun at the party.
Nearing the end of the party, Kate comes over to talk to me. Oh boy, I think.
“Hey Mark,” She said.
“Hello,” I replied.
“How’s school treating you?”
“Good, how’s your jerk boyfriend?”
“Uhh, we broke up.”
“Oh right, good for you.”
“Well I'm going to go, see ya.”
“Yeah, bye.”
Ok, maybe a little too harsh but it stills erks me that she cheated on me with that doofus. But hey, I guess I'll try to let bygones be bygones. Anyway, by now the party has ended and we’re heading home. I come home to a crying mother and a neutral faced father.
“What happened?” I said.
“Your grandmother passed away while you were out partying,” my father replied.
“Oh ok.”
“Why don't you care? You should learn to appreciate the things and people you have in life because they might be gone in instant!” my mom yelled.
“Ok calm down honey,” my father said.
I quickly walk up to my room without saying more. A thought blossomed in my head about how I should think back and appreciate things and they poeple in my life, but it was quickly diminished and “thrown” into the dark abyss of the back of my mind.
The next morning I wake up and walk downstairs. I find my mother dead on the counter and my father with a hole in his head and a knife in his hand.
“Oh my God.” I immediately ran to the phone and dialed 911. The police arrived about 5 minutes later.
“What happened here son?” The policeman asked.
“I..I..I don't know I woke up to them like this,” I stammered.
  “Ok well we are going to have to send you to an orphanage.”
“WHAT!? Why?” I replied.
“Because…… you're not an adult yet and all your family members are now dead. So you are an orphan.”
  “Well, where will you send me?”
  “You will be sent to an orphanage in Africa.”
  “Why Africa?” I said.
“Haven't you heard? The new President has ordered all orphanages to be closed in the United States. All orphans are to be sent to available orphanages around the world.” The policeman replied.
I sat down on the curb and thought about everything that has happened in my life. Wow, I am really going to be sent to Africa. I have seen the situation Africa is in right now. Famine, death, disease; not things that are appealing to me. That’s the moment that changes my life forever. I think of all the memories I have experienced with my family and I cried. The only time I have cried for someone in my life. I knew from that point on I would make a change. Some fortunate people should respect the things and people they have in life because it can be taken away from them in an instant. People who are not as fortunate always respect the things they have while more fortunate people take things for granted.
“Excuse me,” I said to the policeman.
“Yes?”
“I need you to take me to the President.”
“What?”
“Please, I need to make a change.”
“A change in what son?”
“I need to speak to the entire nation. I need to tell fortunate people how the rest of the population struggles with challenges everyday. They need to know!” I said.
“I like your idea. I have some children of my own that need to hear it. Ok, I'll get you the connections. You’re lucky I'm the head of the police force here.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Yeah no problem. Come on let's make your vision a reality.”
Mark went on to enlighten kids and families on the issue we face today: ungratefulness. Now I ask you, the reader, think about your life, are you fortunate? Do you have any challenges that limit your way of living? Think about these and if you are fortunate and you have a healthy life, then show some compassion and understanding. Spread the word and help people in need. Thank you for indulging yourself in this story.