Geff and Jerald

Another Chance

"I've got to admit it, Geff. You've barely been here, and you're already starting to fit in." Jerald told me on the way to the buses. "Oh? And you're not?" He did a hand gesture, which could only mean 'eh, not really.' I wanted to help him, but he's not in my grade, and I don't know how his grade is. There's a bunch of differences scattered around, so that doesn't help. "See ya later then. Hope you make some friends, besides Gabe. He's with me. And you need to get along with the people in your environment. So we split up, and I pulled up my straps. I had to grab the things for my next class, then stuff the backpack into the locker. Doing so, I noticed that there was something new on the board. I didn't know that there was an assignment due today. "Um, what is due today?" I asked. "Don't worry, it's for my other advanced class. There's nothing due today."

Cool... I sped by my classes, ate my micro-sized lunch, and hurried home. I quickly grabbed a snack. Or two. Or three. I was really hungry today. As I sat down, I grabbed the radio and switched it on. The thing was sort of like a jeopardy. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Today, it was kinda fuzzy, but I could make out a few words. "Corn.........another..........." It buzzed some more until the audio was all static. I hit the top and shook the small box. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Don't stop working now!" I switched the channel and switched it back, but something else came on. "Sick......listening......radio stations......paper......new station.....town square........get.......paper.....now......" then the rest of the program came back on. "Huh? They put a new paper station in Town Square? I have got to check it out. Because I AM tired of checking this old whack." I sped to grab one. It took me about a few minutes to realize I hadn't even brought a a quarter. Maybe someone unlucky enough would drop one on the sidewalk, I thought. None. I checked the phone box to see if there was one. Turns out, there was. Bless my luck. I inserted the coin into the small slot next to the door and I heard a satisfactory click. Perfect. As planned, I scampered home and opened the paper. When Mom asked me where I got it, I said one of my friends gave it to me. No way was I gonna tell her I snuck out to buy one. Alone. Quickly flipping through the pages, there was an interview page marked CORNFIELD CATASTROPHE. It immediately caught my eye. Was it another disappearance? I hope not. If it was, it would become more cursed than it already was. I scrolled down and stared at the actual interview. All the dialogue was on it.

Q:So you think you should prohibit people from coming near your cornfield?

A: That's right. I can't risk another fellow getting lost in my field. I can't stand if I were the reason another poor boy passes away on my field.

What?!!? That dirty dealer! He doesn't care about the kids that get lost there. He only cares about his stupid reputation he wants to hold up! No one wants to buy cursed corn from a cursed man that owns a cursed cornfield. Nuh-uh. I had to tell Jerald. "Hey! Bro, you won't believe what I found in the scoop today?"

"What scoop?"

"Y'know, the fuzz."

"The POLICE are coming?"

"No, not that kinda fuzz."

"Oh. You mean the soft drink?"

"What? No! I'm talking about the newspaper!"

"Ohhhhhhhh. The paper? Why didn't you tell me in the first place?"

I smacked the paper down on his desk, still turning to the interview page. "The guy's lying! I'm telling you, his mind is more rotten than the trash can next to the swamp downtown." Jerald scratched his chin. "Look. I get that the man is lying, and the Corn Boy and Gabe and T.J, but we've gotta let it go. I need to study. The test is coming up, you know?"

"Wait. But isn't the farmer's market up that day?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"I might have an idea. Follow me!"