Chapter 4: Our Place

I lean back in my chair. I know Barney hates it when I do that, but his face is funny when he gets mad. Barney looks up from the paper he was reading. He is about to scowl me any second now. He shakes his head at me and looks back at the paper. I cross my arms.

After several minutes of him just staring and get out of my seat and stand next to him. Holding my hand out for the paper. Barney crumbles it up and sticks it his his jacket pocket. I frown. Barney gives me a weak smile and grabs a chair for himself. I sit back in my seat.

"We're really not going to last too long here," Barney says quietly.

"Why?" I ask.

"I think that some man named Jerome Gatone is going to by the property and destroy this house. He's going to build a better place and sell it. That is according to the newspaper piece I tore off."

"We can tell them not to," I say.

"That wouldn't work Clint. They'll know we're free and send us off. Uncle's place will be no more. It's better to keep hiding and try to stop Jerome Gatone from buying this property."

"How do we do that?"

"Two girls might be able to help with that."

"Laura and Jane!"

"Jane gave me their number. She said her parents weren't home this early so we can talk without getting caught."

"Let's do it!"

Barney laughs and goes to the phone on the small table in the hall. He presses down on the numbers quickly. I think he memorized their number. He puts the phone to his ear. His left foot taps at the floor quickly. I smile. Laura. I might see her again. She's so fun to be with.

"Hello Jane. It's me Charles," Barney says.

I listen to him speak. I wish I heard what Jane was saying. I want to know what's going on. I wonder if Laura feels the same way. I go to the living room seeing how the conversation is lasting longer than I thought. I toss a ball to entertain me. Not really working. Still bored.

I get up and go to the kitchen. I grab a banana and eat it. Charles voice still heard from here. He's going on and on about nonsense. I take another bite out of the banana. Chewing slowly. It's like when mom wanted to get more drugs for dad. She sweet talk whoever was on the phone to get a box full of it. I sit on in the chair and lean my head on the table. I close my eyes.

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"Clint. Clinton. Clinton Francis Barton," my brother calls me. I wave him off.

"Wake up you lazy person. We have to go somewhere," he says.

"Can't we go later?" I ask keeping my eyes close.

Barney laughs. "We're going to see Jane and Laura," he says. That's all he needed to say. I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes. It's late in the afternoon judging by the sun. Barney laughs again. I get my shoes on quickly and run back to Barney to tie them for me. I trip on the way, but luckily I don't fall.

Barney ties my shoes. He gives me a hat and sunglasses. He says we're going into town and can't risk it. I didn't care why I was suppose to wear them. I just care about looking cool in them. Laura would love me then. I know it.

Barney makes me wear a big puffy jacket since it's really cold today. I beg not to wear it, but he says I have to. He's a jerk. We go outside to grab our bikes. I take Barney bike and try to get on it.

"Clint, why are you taking my bike?"

"So Laura can see that I'm a man! My bike is smaller and she won't think I'm a man riding that."

"I'm too big to ride yours," Barney says gesturing to my bike. I frown. I give up anyway. His is hard to get on. I get on mine and pout. I would cross my arms, but this jacket makes it hard.

"Laura won't see my muscles under this jacket," I tell Barney. Maybe he'll change his mind. He shakes his head and apologizes. He says he doesn't want me getting sick. I'm a man, I don't get sick. Well I did a couple of times. But that doesn't happen anymore since I'm a man now.

Barney starts riding. I quickly paddle to him. Barney slows down a little. I reach his side. He has a smirk on his face. The wind blows hard on my face. Little pebbles hit my face making it hurt. I like the sunglasses for blocking the little pebbles from hitting my eyes.

I still didn't need this jacket. Thinking about Laura makes me feel warm inside. She'll see me in these sunglasses and fall in love with a strong cool looking guy. My bike swerves a little, but I get it back straight. Barney tells me to watch where I'm going. I will be watching. Watching out for Laura.

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The bike ride took longer than I thought and my legs hurt. Barney carries me since I refuse to walk another step. Barney walks up to an old paint shop that has been boarded up. He knocks on the door. One of the boards move a little. Eyes look at us. The wood board goes back up and the door is unlocked.

Jane smiled at us. She raised an eyebrow at me. Probably because Barney is carrying me.

"What happen to him?"

"He became an early victim of laziness," Charles answered. Jane laughs. She lets us in. Jane scans outside then locks the door. Charles puts me down. I look around for Laura, but I don't see her.

"She's downstairs. Follow me," Jane says. I follow her. Barney right behind me. I hear soft singing. Sounds like Laura. She's pretty and can sing. She's beyond perfect. We get down quickly. Jane leads us pass a bunch of computers. In the corner is a bunch of blankets and pillows. Laura sits there singing to her dolls. Making them dance.

She stops when she see's us. Laura smiles. I run and sit down next to her. She gives me a hug. I smile. Jane tells Barney that she wants to show him a few things. Jane leads him away to the other side of the room.

"You sing pretty," I tell her.

"Thank you!" She says happily. Her eyes get bigger. Her big beautiful brown eyes.

"This is our secret hideout. Don't tell," Laura whispers.

"Cool," I say. "You play here?"

She nodded. "A lot. My parents go to work. Jane brings me here. We play together."

"I like your place."

"You are here now. You know the secret Clint. So it's our place now."

"Really?"

"Yep. Jane said you guys will love it. Let's play princess and knight!"

I smile and get up. Laura goes to a chest and opens it. She pulls out a plastic sword. She holds it out to me.

"Ready?"

"I am your knight princess."

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Update!!!!! Aren't ya proud?  Thank goldblossom , she reminded me. Thank you wonderful friend! Hopefully there was no mistakes in it.

~Iron Hawk 🎩