Morning all.I hope you had a good night. I was doing fine until a story idea snuck out of the shadows and walloped me at two am. Then to get back to sleep I had to get up, slip to the bathroom without waking anyone and jot down the particulars before being able to get back to sleep. And yes, I keep a small notebook and pen in the medicine cabinet for just such occurrences. But that is for later, now it is time for the Thursday morning writing Prompt. Or whatever morning you are joining me. Or afternoon…fine it is my Thursday morning and your whenever. Regardless, now we write! Timers set? Then lets begin.
Interesting.I’m not exactly sure what Cal is up to, but I want it to be something other than drugs or theft. Just because of the expectations. I suspect I’ll be thinking about that the rest of the day. And possibly adding a disturbing post it note to my collection.Mixed in with the notes about phone calls and scheduling are notes about stories. I always make sure to take them down when we have company.
Thursday, January 14th: His circle of friends became concerned enough to take action.
His circle of friends became concerned enough to take action. It was difficult to do, but the fear of what could happen if they stayed silent outweighed the discomfort of reporting a friend. Mike took responsibility.
As all of their knowledge of the police came from movies and traffic tickets, at first they were uncertain how to begin.
“My stepfather’s brother is with the police,” Shannon said. “We could ask him.”
Mike nodded. “That sounds better than just walking into the nearest station and hoping someone believes us.”
“I can ask him tonight and see what he says.” Shannon said.
The group broke up shortly after that. It was hard to look at each other, knowing what they planned. It was hard not to feel guilty.
Later that night, Shannon called Mike and asked if he could come over. Jared said he can stop by on his way home.”
It sounded so casual. “What…what did you tell him?” Mike asked.
Shannon drew in a deep breath; he could hear it over the phone and knew her fingers had already tied several long strands of her hair in knots as she worried it. “I told him there was an issue a friend of mine wasn’t sure about bringing to the cops but thought it might be best to find out more.”
Mike nodded. “It’s okay,” he said, even though she had pawned off all responsibility on him. He expected it. “I’m the one who was going to talk to the cops anyway.” He reminded her.
“Yeah, but I’m still sorry. I knew if I said it was a group thing that we all knew about they’d want details and I just couldn’t.”
“It’s okay,” he repeated.
“I’m pretty sure they think it’s about drugs or that you stole something. Well not you cause I didn’t tell them it was you, just a friend.”
As usual, his parents were out and no one noticed when he came and went or asked where he was going. Tonight, that was a plus. As he drove over to Shannon’s house he wondered what the reaction would be. He could see Shannon’s step-father thinking his opinions about Mike were now vindicated. He had known Mike’s dad for a while and the two had some long standing animosity. It meant that he was always waiting for Mike to do something to prove he was just as bad as his father.
‘No help for it now,” he said. “I wonder what Mr. McAdams is going to say when he finds out it’s Cal.”
Cal was the golden boy, the shining example other parents trotted out. Why can’t you be more like Cal was a phrase all of them heard quite often. “
“”He probably won’t believe me.” Mike knew it was a risk he had to take and holed Jared McAdams would be more open minded than his brother.
Mike parked in front of the house, saw another car was already in the drive and got out of the car. He found himself counting the steps from his car to the front door as though it would make the walk take longer, extending it magically. He knocked and the door was opened by Shannon’s stepfather.
He gave Mike a small self-satisfied smile. “In trouble then are we?”
Ten til Midnight 