Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)

33. Stay A While, Dude

When we (meaning Max) tell Kieran's mom that we're going for a walk around the block, we (meaning all of us) really mean that we're going to check out the field at the end of the street. I should say that I'm going to check out the field. Kieran and Max have already been there, done that before I came into the picture.

I'm not sure what's special about a field with electrical masts, but...

"Come on," Max says for what feels like bad decisions awaiting.

It's not too far of a walk to the end of Kieran's street. You'd expect there to be a fence or "No Trespassing" sign at the finish. All I see is a metal barrier that Max hops over. It leads into the tree line with weeds, wild Pokémon grass halfway to my knees. Kieran is behind me. I know that he doesn't want to be out here. He's afraid of getting in trouble with his mom when he gets home.

What's his mom going to do, make him complete more chores while his friends are over? Attend a month of mandatory cultural events?

"Hey, Acorn, look at that..."

I can see this in warmer weather. The trees bloomed, the grass longer, grasshoppers jumping all around me in a frenzy. But, this mysterious, magical summer daydream playing out at my feet isn't what Max wants me to see. The grid towers lined up two by two like socially distanced classmates stretch out yonder. There's no main street traffic, no mom yelling about chores, nobody to bother us.

Peace and quiet me time.

"Wow."

A simple pleasure, calming to the senses.

The three of us dip down closer to the grid. My ears pick up on an electrical hum. With it being such an open space, it's slightly chillier than in Kieran's yard.

The best part, though?

There's absolutely nobody here! It's a valley of serial killer nowhere on the east side of town. Looking back, I can see the end of Kieran's street, and the other houses from other dead-ends that border the field. On the other side of the clearing, I see patches of trees, possible homes, civilization. They don't know that we're out here.

If I remember my map, if we follow this clearing to my left for an hour on foot I'd say, then we'll reach the dockyards, or get near them. That's where the power plant is at. If we go right, then we'll cross through Kieran's side of town, over a highway, ending up in the spacious suburbs. The killer that's become a running gag in my head would live in one of those fancy houses to mask his intentions well.

We don't walk in either direction. Instead, Max wants to sit on one of the tower's concrete bases and play on his phone. Kieran, paranoid, keeps looking back. You can go home if you want. I don't think Max would care, a couple snide remarks in good fun...well, fun to him.

"Stay a while, dude," Max tells me.

Not knowing what else to do, I hop on the concrete base. Kieran joins us when he sees that he's outnumbered. We sit on the base, chatting away, Max poking at his phone, Kieran loosening up and wanting to break into a game.