Hatchetfield.

That House On Laston

His parents were arguing again. Max sat on the bottom step of the staircase facing the front door, leaning against the wall, with tears in his eyes. He'd just asked to go out and play. But his dad had been holding one of those brown bottles again, and his mom had tried to warn him, so now he was waiting to be told what to do because if he even thought of leaving now, he'd get much worse than what he'd got.

The red carpet itched against his shins as his legs jumped up and down nervously. He wanted to run outside into the summer sun. Maybe he could take his soccer ball and head to the playground on Laston Street? Stay there until sundown, when he knew he wouldn't be spoken to when he came home again. His mom always left food on the counter for him when he did that.

The shouting got louder and Max hugged himself, pushing his body against the wall as he squeezed his eyes closed. It was going to stop soon, it always got really loud before it stopped. Like clockwork, it did stop. And Max's mom walked out of the living room, composing herself before she saw Max looking at her from between the stairway bannisters. She tutted and wiped her eyes, crouching down in front of him and gently taking his shivering hands. She softly brushed away Max's curls from his forehead, giving him a gentle kiss on the top of his head.

"It's all going to be okay, Maxie." She whispered, holding him close. "Thank you for being my brave boy." Max's arms wrapped around his mom and hugged her tightly, face pressing into her collarbones. He just nodded.

She pulled away slightly, sniffling. "How about you go out and play now, okay? I'll make you some mac and cheese for dinner." She kissed his cheek and stood up as he nodded.

Max watched as she went up the stairs behind him before rushing to pull on his sneakers and leave the house. He felt like he was the fastest boy alive with how swiftly he pulled on his shoes and left.

His sneakers thudded across the sidewalk like his racing heart in his chest. Rubber ball held close to his chest, arms wrapped around it so tightly that it could burst as he weaved his way down street after road. He finally turned into Laston, the colorful playground awaiting him. Except it was usually empty, but this time a girl was there. Reading some book on a swing.

Max entered the park slowly. The metal gate squealing as he did so. It drew the attention of the girl on the swing and she looked up and over. Her hair covered most of her face, but she blinked almost owlishly at Max, like she hadn't expected to see him at all. Max couldn't blame her, he hadn't expected anyone else to be here either. Most kids stick to the playground near the schools.

Max looked at his ball, and back at the girl who was still watching him. He thought to himself before lifting the ball and tilting his head in question at her. He didn't see why he shouldn't offer her to play with him. He had always wanted a playmate. She frowned slightly, pointing to herself. Max nodded with a grin. She nodded shyly, getting off of the swing and carefully placing the book on top of it.

Max dropped the ball at his feet and kicked it over to her.

After a moment's hesitation, she kicked it back at him. Max felt a rush of giddiness reach him as the ball did, the feeling overwhelming him into jumping and waving his hands around slightly. He grinned at the girl and, though slightly taken aback by the initial response, she smiled back at him.

Max kicked the ball back to her.

---

There was so much smoke billowing from Laston Street. It swirled higher and higher and for the first time in what felt like years, Max felt true fear run deep through his gut. He didn't stop moving for a single second. He dreaded what had happened.

He had a gut feeling that curled uncomfortably around the anxiety like a dragon holding it's gold. He knew something had happened but he didn't want to think about what this could mean.

He didn't want to think of what could have happened to Richie.

---

They kicked the ball around for what felt like hours. Neither child kept score, but Max knew that the girl was good at it. He didn't even mind that he didn't know her name, he just knew that he wanted to stay here. He wanted to stay in the little dingy playground in Laston, playing kick about with the girl he found reading comics on the swing set. Maybe his mom could join them? Push both of them as high as the sky on the swings, and cheer as they slid down the slide.

Like how it used to be.

Max knew it wouldn't last forever, though. Especially not when the girl's mom came up to the playground gate, calling for her to come in for dinner.

Max hadn't even realized it had gotten that late. It was one of the things he loved about summer. He could play outside for as long as he liked because the sun didn't go down until late!

The girl picked up her comic book and waved goodbye to him with a small smile. Max waved back, grinning.

He knew he was coming back here again. Even if it was just to play with the girl on Laston again.