Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

54

I wake up when I hear a bell. I roll over and realize it's John B. John B hasn't stopped talking about last night. I know he's upset about all that happened.

"It's something about the dude's face, you know?" John B says. "Like the whole, 'No hard feelings, bro.' You know what I'm saying?"

"'No hard feelings.' It's kinda hard not to have hard feelings about that," JJ offers.

"It's just that... that look. That Kook look, you know?" John B says.

"It was clear 'provucation.'" JJ states.

"Provocation," I tell him.

"Provocation, and, uh, I mean, you had to do what you had to do," JJ tells John B. "No choice about it."

John B nods. "Thank you. No choice."

"I'm over talking about this," I tell them. "We need to figure out what to do about your dad."

"Storm is right, we gotta figure out a plan to get to South America, like, yesterday," John B agrees. "I mean they've got my dad."

"You have any food real quick, though?" JJ asks.

"So I was thinking passports," John B says. "We don't have those. Therefore, we can't fly commercial. We need other ideas."

"Okay, well, don't you got the money that you took from Portis?" JJ asks.

"I gave that to my dad," John B explains.

"Okay so then what about a boat?" I offer.

"If we got a boat, maybe we could get down there 'cause the HMS... Yeah, you know about the HMS," JJ says. "Oh, Limbrey! Limbrey has a boat! What if we took that one down?"

"Yeah, no. She took that back," John B tells us. "And the HMS is not gonna make it down to the Port of Spain, so out on the boats."

"So what you're saying is, we don't got any money, and we also don't have a boat that can make it to South America," JJ states.

"Great," John B remarks.

"Good job guys," I remark.

"Actually, I might know a guy," JJ tells us. "I'm onto something!"

"Uh-oh," John B says as he hits the floor.

"You don't start with, 'Uh-oh,' dude," JJ tells him. "You're so negative."

"Get down!" John B whispers. "Shoupe is out front right now!"

JJ and I both crouch down next to John B.

"All right, John B!" Shoupe shouts.

"Shit," I say.

We crawl towards the back door.

"Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?" Shoupe shouts. "John B!"

"Go under there," JJ tells John B. "Under there."

John B hides the best he can under the table. JJ tries to fit next to him. It's not working to well.

"All right, John B, I know you're in there." Shoupe knocks on the door.

I squeeze into the corner of the room just out of sight of the door and the window.

"If he sees you, that's game over," JJ whispers.

"I know, okay, JJ?" John B assures.

"Don't get that," JJ says.

"I know you can hear me in there," Shoupe says. "You need to come out and talk to me. It'll be a whole lot worse if you don't. Okay." The screen door closes. "Okey doke, have it your way! You know where you can find me."