Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes

Chapters 7 and 8

“Alan,” Tony’s voice came through the closed bedroom door. “The boys have their Scout meeting tonight. We’re carpooling with the neighbors next door. We’ll be back by nine.”

Alan cocked his head to the side as his brain processed a new plan. A dangerous plan that hinged on Tony and the boys being driven by the neighbors.

“Alan? Did you hear me?”

“Uhh—yeah—okay.” Alan could hear Tony’s feet walk across the wood floors soon accompanied by two pairs of smaller running steps.

A small amount of adrenaline oozed through Alan’s veins. He got to his feet and looked out his room window on the second story. Sure enough, Tony and the boys were leaving the house.

Tony was dressed in a Scout uniform that was made for someone a size or two smaller than he was. The two young boys raced each other to the neighbor’s house. They weren’t taking Tony’s car.

You’re going to get in so much trouble for this. But if everything goes well tonight, wouldn’t it be worth it?

Alan made his way downstairs to the house’s garage. He paced back and forth deep in thought. Tony’s brand new Mercedes Benz, sat sleek and beautiful in the dull light practically seducing him to enter.

Alan fidgeted as he walked up and down in front of the car, tapping a forefinger on his chin. “You have to. It’s doctor’s orders.”

Somewhere in the back of Alan’s mind, he knew he was doing the wrong thing. But he had made up a reason to justify his actions. Given his current circumstances, that was enough for him.

Alan was and had always been a great kid. Besides being late to the bus a few times, he was a model student and always obeyed the rules Tony set in place. The possibility that Alan would actually steal his car had never crossed Tony’s mind. Alan knew all of this and almost felt bad, almost.

His fingers tingled as his skin made contact with the cold spare keys Tony hung in the garage closet. His grip tightened around the key ring, making indentions in his hand. He was doing it; he was really going to do this.

Heart fluttering, Alan made sure he had his wallet. It was there like a lump of guilt in his pocket.

You can do this. You can do this.

Alan entered the car’s dark interior. The seats embraced him in their promise of freedom. Alan closed the door beside him, allowing his hands to run across the smooth steering wheel. He trembled with a mix of fear and excitement. He pushed the ignition key, willing the car to life. The engine purred, like a cat yawning from a nap.

Alan had only driven a few times and never by himself. The deal Tony and he had made just a year before was one Alan was positive Tony had only agreed to because he was sure Alan wouldn’t succeed. The agreement was that Alan had to get straight A’s for the year. If he did that, Tony would allow him to take driver’s education, but Alan still had to find a way to pay for it himself.

Alan had made good on his end of the bargain even getting a summer job at the city library to pay for his driving classes. Tony had reluctantly allowed him to get his license but even then, Alan had only driven a handful of times, always with Tony in the car bracing himself against the dash as if at any moment Alan was going to wreck.

However, this time was different. This time Alan was alone. Alan reached a finger to the visor and clicked the garage door opener’s sticky blue button. Mechanical grating overcame the purr of the engine as the door to his freedom opened. The sun’s last setting light showed through the opening door with a soft glow.