Primal

Chapter 3

"Oh Mr. Tansa, who was that guy in the living room this morning?"

"A gentlemen who was looking to buy one of my collectible cards. Quite a nice chap really, I believe he's moving into that big mansion on the edge of town said he needs a more quiet and old fashioned place to live," said Mr. Tansa. He shifted through the magazine they had. "Where's Frankie? He's usually home by now,"

"I have no idea actually and he hasn't picked up his phone for the past 20 minutes since I last called. Might've gone with his friends to the city to find something interesting to do. You should really get a cellphone,"

"How much is a phone?"

"Depends on the plan. You know what, I'll add you to ours and just get you a normal phone," said Mr. Tansa. He picked up a magazine with an attire similar to the group who walked into the store. "Metal Punk Style? Huh, how much for the magazine?"

"10 buckaroos,"

"Ok," he said plopping the ten onto the table and shuffling up to his room to read it. He stayed up there for a few hours until he had to come down to get food. "Hey Frankie, when did you get back?"

"10 minutes ago, Gramps mad at me," said Frankie poking at the half cooked chicken and then at the fully made food in his bowl. "Is it because you didn't tell your grandfather where you went or did I miss something?"

"Frankie was arrested for vandalism," said Mr. Tansa. He turned to Frankie who poked at his food. "Vandalism?"

"He spray painted an auto-parts store and then busted their window with a pipe,"

"Wha-why would you do that?" he said, surprised. Frankie wasn't that kind of kid, not the kind who up and destroy everything in his wake like some vigilante. "Frankie, you're not that kind of kid, to just up and destroy something, what's up?"

"Nothing,"

"Obviously it's not if you go breaking and wrecking someone's store,"

"It is nothing-,"

"Quit lying, you know you're horrible at that,"

"Just forget it-,"

"How can I forget something like this?! Are you crazy?! Was it a small business?"

"Yes," said Grandpa Tansa,

"And it was a small business when you live in a town made of small businesses, Frankie!"

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AREADY!" shouted Frankie. "God you're so damn annoying, why don't you juts remember where you came from and go back there!" snapped Frankie pushing from the table and storming off. It was a slap to the face. "FRANKIE!" snapped Grandpa but Frankie had already stormed away, probably leaving the building. "He didn't mean it, he's probably just going through a phase," sighed Grandpa Tansa but it still hurt. They both ate in silence. "I'll clean up, you can go to bed," he said grabbing Grandpa Tansa's plate and plopping it into the sink.

He stared at the ceiling for hours until he heard the sound of footsteps. Rolling onto his side he closed his eyes and gently snored. He heard soft knocking at his door but he didn't answer, just stayed asleep. He heard receding footsteps and pressed his head to the pillow. Eventually he did drift to sleep.

When he got ready for work he found a small breakfast laying on the table wrapped in plastic with a card that had the word sorry on it. He rolled his eyes, grabbed a bar and headed out, leaving the plate where it was. At his lunch-break he moped up a spill on isle three when he heard soft footsteps behind him. "Hey ugh...Jackie?" said Susy as he turned around. "Hi Susy, where's your mom?"