The Lost Boy

here, ” I whispered.
    “Really? Cool, ” Larry said, as he chomped on a fruit pie as we were walking outside the store. “Is that why you acted funny at that school?”
    “I … I guess so, ” I answered.
    After Big Larry finished two more cream pies, a few candy bars and two sodas, we set off to the bowling alley. The ride up Eastgate Avenue became too much for me. I hopped off my bike and stared down the street as I walked past. “Stop!” I barked without warning.
    From behind me Larry was panting like a dog. “What’s up?”
    “Do me a favor, ” I said. “Let’s take a break and ride down this street.”
    A cloud of mist escaped his mouth. “Yeah, okay. What gives?” he asked.
    “You promise not to tell?”
    “Yeah man, what’s up?”
    “Don’t tell … but I used to live on this street.”
    Larry’s head swiveled to the street sign. “Cool! Which house?”
    “The dark green one. On the left side, in the middle of the block, ” I said, as I pointed down the street.
    “Hey, man, I don’t know about this, ” he said, shaking his head. “Mom would definitely say no. So, no it’s not a good idea! What if your mother or your brothers are outside?”
    I parked my bike behind a clump of bushes, staying close as I peered down the street. I could hear Larry stumbling behind me. My heart raced. I knew that what I was doing was wrong and dangerous. “If you decide to accept this mission …” Larry whispered, as if we were both working on an assignment from
Mission: Impossible.
    “Come on. The coast is clear, ” I said, giving Larry the high sign.
    Larry shook his head. “I don’t know about this.”
    “Come on, ” I begged. “I’ve never asked you for anything. Mrs C will never find out. Besides, I’ll … I’ll do your chores for a whole week. Okay? Please?”
    “Okay, kid. It’s your neck.”
    I jumped back on my bike and kept the pressure on my brake as I slowly rode. No one seemed to be outside. I could see that the garage door to Mother’s house was closed. As we approached the green and black house, I let out a shriek of joy.
This is so cool,
I told myself. Suddenly a pair of heads popped up from my brothers’ bedroom window. “Shit!” I muttered.
    “What’s wrong?” Larry asked.
    “Just go!” I snapped.
    “What?”
    “I said, let’s go!”
    “Hey man, what’s the problem?”
    “Not now!” I yelled. “Come on! Go! Go! Go!”
    I leaned forward on my handle bars and pedaled so hard that I thought my chain would fly off. I skidded to a stop at the bottom of the street. My heart seemed as if it were stuck in my throat. I waited for the garage door to swing open, followed by Mother racing out in her station wagon or my brothers flying off on their bikes and chasing after me down the street. I had already calculated several escape routes.
    “Did you see that?” I asked.
    “See what? Man, what’s wrong with you?” Larry asked.
    “The window!” I said, still panting as I pointed up the street. “My brothers … they saw me!” My eyes stayed fixed on every sound, every movement, from The House.
    Nothing happened.
    “Man, ” Big Larry whined, “you got too much of that James Bond stuff in your head. I didn’t see nothing. You’re just seeing things. Come on, let’s go. And remember, ” Larry said, as he pedaled off, “A deal’s a deal.”
    “Just as long as Mrs C don’t find out!” I replied, as I tried to catch up.
    Hours later I felt a cold chill as Larry and I returned to Lilian’s home. “What’s up?” I whispered to Larry. He gave me one of his “I dunno” looks.
    “Hey, ” he said, “I’ll go upstairs, get a bite to eat and check things out for you, okay?”
    I eagerly agreed as I watched Larry from the bottom of the stairs. Suddenly Mrs Catanze came into view. By instinct I hid in the shadows. “Larry!” she barked. “Get that overstuffed face up here this moment! And you, ” she pointed her finger down at me, “I can see you! You can wait for me in your room. Now move it! The both of you.”
    My eyes became the size of silver dollars. I smiled wide, showing my teeth as I pointed at my chest. “Me?” I asked. She returned my smile. I could see that her hands were on her hips. That was the moment I knew I was in serious trouble. I waited in my room and wondered what I may have done. I hadn’t stolen any candy from the local stores in the last several days. And Larry Jr and I were staying out of each other’s way. I had no