For the first time in her life, Peter’s sister had nothing to say. She just sat there in Mom’s arms, fingers in her mouth, staring at Grandfather as he stared back at her.
“And this is Peter.”
That was his cue. Peter opened the door and stepped out.
Grandfather’s eyes burned a hole in his skull. “Peter, eh?”
Peter nodded.
“How old are you, boy?”
“N-nine and a half,” Peter stuttered. “I’ll be ten in March.”
“Hrm.” Grandfather turned back to Mom without giving Peter another glance. “So I guess we’ll be moving you in now.”
“Well, we could go on a little tour of the house first. The bags aren’t going anywhere.”
“Hrm.” Grandfather turned and walked up the front steps into the house without another word.
“You coming, Peter?” Mom called.
“Uhhhh…I’m gonna walk around outside first, stretch my legs,” Peter replied.
“Okay, suit yourself.”
“Mommy, he’s a scare-wy man,” Beth whispered a little too loudly.
“No, it’s just Grandfather,” Mom said in a hushed voice. “We’re going to go see your new room now.”
Peter waited until they were inside. Once they were gone, he kicked the gravel in frustration.
Freakin’ – dang it – flippin’ –
Thousands of miles to come live in a rundown shack.
Peter shielded his eyes with his hands and peered up at the house.
A huge rundown shack.
It was kind of cool, actually, in a horror movie kind of way.
He just didn’t want to live in a horror movie, that’s all.
Peter circled the house and counted the odd, mismatched windows. After losing count, he backed up almost a hundred feet to try and see that crazy balcony on the roof again.
“Psst,” somebody said behind him.
Peter whirled around.
About 20 feet away sat a rundown fence made of graying logs and wood posts that were nearly swallowed by weeds. Behind the fence slouched a pale little kid with sunburned cheeks and a blond crewcut. He had on a dirty shirt with yellow, orange and red stripes, and he wore barely tied hightop tennis shoes. Bony knees stuck out of his oversized shorts, which were cinched tight with an old brown belt.
The kid nodded once. “What up.”
Peter raised a hand and waved tentatively.
“You movin’ in?” the kid asked.
Peter nodded. “Yeah.”
“That your granddad?”
“Yeah.”
The kid shook his head like he pitied Peter. “He’s craaaaazy, man.”
Peter smiled a little. “Yeah, he sure seems like it."
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1 comment:
Darren -
You got me. Now I have to watch videos all night. Text is good, but your video brings it to a whole 'nother place.
I read your "Imaginary Friends" intro piece a few years ago and bookmarked you. Surfing old links tonight and wound up here.
Thanks for all your good work. Is the video on DVD yet?
Norman
normzone@hotmail.com
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