Run

Chapter 1 - Running

Running through the crowded street. The loaf of bread and water bottle shake around in my bag. The angry shopkeeper chases me, unknowing that he'll never catch up.

"Get back here you little runt!" he screams in my direction.

I thought for a moment, and knew that the old man deserved a chance. I couldn't let him grow to weary. What's the fun in that?

"As you wish, mon ami"

I turned around, then sprinted full speed at the angry man. He looked surprised, and I knew he still had no chance of catching me.

"I've got you now you bas-"

His words were cut off as I dropped to my knees and slid under his legs, the slide carrying me into another sprint away from him. I winked back at him before climbing up onto a car, then using that as my jumping pad. I jumped up, gripping the metal bar that held a blue flag in place. I scaled the wall using various poles and windows, until the roof was in the grasp of my hand.

My hand gripped the brick lining as I pulled myself onto the roof, gaining a view of the shopping square below me. The people bought and sold items, little children ran about, and the shopkeepers held grins as more customers approached. I climbed farther up the roof, seating myself on a nearby chimney as I opened my bag.

"Hmm...the bread broke, but that's alright. Still edible."

I ate slowly. This was the first meal i've had in days, and the police still want to throw me in jail for the last loaf I ate. The water bottle was satisfying enough, but I would need more to drink if i wanted to stay healthy. I walked to the edge of the roof and spotted an open window on a familiar house down below. I jumped off at an angle towards the window, my hands reaching for the ledge.

I gripped the windowsill, then pulled myself into the open window. I hoped I picked a good time. Although, i've only heard few complain about a young french boy falling into their window.

"Randy! What a pleasant surprise!" the familiar voice of Christy calmed me. She never minded me dropping in.

"Bonjour mon ami!" I hugged her gently as my smile made her expression become visibly happier

"What did I tell you before? Just because your heritage is french doesn't mean you have to use it in your speech. You don't even know enough" she laughed and hugged me back, squeezing my back before releasing me.

"Sorry Christy, I've just gotten used to it"

"I know," she replied, "but you don't even have a French name! Randy White sound too Europarican to me."

Seating myself on her bed, I rubbed my eyes and yawned as she sat beside me.

"More food hunting?" she said

"Yeah. I had to eat sometime this week, ne pas?" I replied in a sarcastic tone

"I wish I could help, but my father continues to get angry at me for helping you. I just want to he-" her sentence was interrupted by a banging on her door as her father's voice boomed into the room

"Lunchtime, Christy!" he bellowed

"Sorry Randy. We can talk later, okay? Be safe!" she hugged me again, then yelled to her father.

I waved goodbye before jumping out of the window and landing in her garden below. The small patch of flowers she planted made great cushioning for a free-fall. I studied the darkened sky before scaling another building, searching for a suitable rooftop to sleep on. The city was quiet for once, and I was fed. Tonight was good. Tonight was the last good one for a while.