A Home Called Cage

Frozen

Sam picked up his still coffee off the stock wood table, taking a quick sip. His eyes darted around the quiet diner, before focusing on his irritation.

Kyle was 15 years old. He still couldn't count to twenty for his life. A horrible accident disabled him mentally a long time ago, leaving a bump in his brown soft hair.

Sam lowered the cup from his lips, raising his eyebrows at Kyle's advance toward him.

Kyle approached the table, licking his lips at the hot platter that awaited him on the stock table.

Sam shifted in his seat as he captured the waitress coming from the back. Kyle sat down, eyes wide looking at his plate.

"How was everything?" She said approaching their table.
"I just got back from the bathroom!" Kyle remarked, "can't wait to ea-"

"Great, great mam." Sam said cutting him off. "Mind if i go to the bathroom real quick? I can pay when i get back haha," Sam said as the last customers left the diner indicated by the entrance bell.

"Alright hun, you just come to the counter when you pay," the middle aged lady pointed her long finger to the register. She soon treaded away. Sam motioned to Kyle to keep his mouth shut by a gesture of zipping his lips.

"But Sam I want to eat." Kyle called.

"Shhhh! Just take the plate with you Kyle," Sam said moving his legs away from the booth.

Sam lurked to the counter, trying to get a glimpse of the diner's employees only section.

Sam lifted an arm and waved Kyle toward him. "Hurry up Kyle, she'll be back any second," he whispered across the diner's quiet atmosphere.

"I dont like... this Sam... Maybe we just tell them we dont have any," Kyle said trembling in his seat.

"You just keep your mouth shut, seriously just COME ON," Sam rolled his eyes still checking behind the counter.

His eyes reflected between Kyle and behind the counter becoming agitated.

Kyle's small structure, got up from the booth and slowly inched toward the endless stretch of tile.

His legs moved like confused toothpicks, "Sam I... Cant..." He said not even six feet from the booth.

Sam pointed his finger at his feet violently, "You dumb bastard, we're gonna get caught."

"Sam no! I dont want that!" Kyle said darting his eyes at Sam.

"Then get to the door! I need to make sure she doesn't see us," Sam said with his eyes locked on the counter.

Kyle quickly made his way to the door as if the tiles were made of lava. He reached the door, using a skeleton hand to open it.
Sam half expected the reaction from Kyle. Sam was barely able to keep up with the small figure's speed. "No dont! Wait!" Sam said gesturing a halting signal with his hand.

It was too late... The door's bell rang as the glass door motioned open. Before Sam could react, the waitress scurried around the corner.

"Where are..." She said puzzled looking between the two. The dead air became noticeable. The lady quickly turned into a panic.

"You boys have to pay!" She said looking dead at Sam this time.

The boy she was looking at quickly ran toward the door, empty pockets swinging.
"Bill! Hurry! Thieves!" The waitress yelled to the back.

Sam had quickly whipped across the room to the glass door. He walked straight pass Kyle who stood frozen.

The waitress's panicked voice echoed through his head. Kyle watched as Sam held the door for him.

His feet felt marble as he watched as Sam's lips moved, as he still held the door. Yet, his eyes moved back toward the counter, now stood an older man with balding hair and a red face.

He felt Sam pulling him out the door, still looking at the approaching man.

The glass closed behind the two. Sam, literally dragging Kyle, was doing anything to get them out of the man's reach.

"You kids get back here! You're paying for your meals!" A deep voice cracked as the clear door reopened. Kyle was still looking back at the man. His Nike shoes skidding across the pavement and his blue eyes wide.

"Help me Kyle! Comon!" Sam yelled almost helplessly. Kyle, unable to move out of confusion, began to hold his head with one hand, sam gripping the opposite.

The man meanwhile glided across the parking lot pavement, easily reaching them.

Kyle felt a large bear hand wrapping around his cat like wrist. Sam, pulling on the other gave out a yell. Both struggled, but soon enough, the man had both mits on the teens.

Sam tried resisting, as the man yanked on his shirt. "We dont have money! We're just starving, let us go!" The man, bill assumably, didnt say anything as he forced them across the parking lot.

Kyle's feet dragged limp as his eyes starred blankly on the cement. Kyle felt as if nothing had happened. Yet, Sam became an uncaged animal wielding his arms anywhere to get out of grip.

Soon enough, the bell rang, as the 3 shifted back into the diner... that still remained silent.