Crash Test Dummy

Chapter 8

After school, I texted Jake and Marlow again. Jake hollaed back, "Sumfin came up mu (met you) crib sus (see you soon)."

When I got home, I changed and headed to the Funk Too. Jake's car wasn't in the street out front. I looked at my phone. "They should be here by now," I thought. I removed the padlock and swung open the door.

"Surprise," a grinning Jake and Marlow hollered. The TV was on and a game of WOW was on the screen.

"How'd you get in?" I looked at the padlock I held in my hand.

"Jake pointed to the back window. "Piece of cake. We ditched school at eleven and headed over here. We knew your Momz would be gone. You couldn't bounce, but that didn't mean we had to stay. This way we didn't have to waste time setting things up. We can just dive right into the game."

"I'm surprised neighborhood watch didn't call the cops. We've got some pretty nosy neighbors."

"We came in the back way," Marlow said, waving towards the ally. "We're pretty good at sneaking around."

I wasn't sure I liked the idea of the B&E, even if it was Jake and Marlow. I didn't say anything, though.

Then I saw the Blue Ox was uncovered. "What've you been doing with the bike?" 

"You didn't tell us you had a Harley," Jake said. "That is cool, dude. I mean, like, it's older than me."

"It belonged to Popz." I walked over and ran my hand over the seat.

"Let's take it for a spin. I got a bike license," he said.

"I haven't found the key yet. I'm waiting for Popz to write and tell me where it is."

"I bet I could hot wire it," Jake said.

"No," I hollered. I know I sounded like a loon, but this was Popz bike.

"Chill," Marlow said. "He was just suggestin'."

I took a deep breath. "Let's just play."

My mad carried over into the game. I played with a tude.

"I thought your Momz didn't let you play this game," Marlow said. "You're sure kicking butt for a rookie."

"I said she wouldn't let me play it on my computer. She isn't hip to what I do on my phone."

"You mean the witch doesn't check your phone, too?"

"She looks at the apps, but I know how to hide them. She's not too savvy."

I went to the fridge to get a coke. When I opened the door, a six-pack of beer stared back at me.

"We went out and bought some brews," Jake said. "Coke didn't cut it."

Marlow saw my frown and caught on. "Look, don't worry about the wicked witch. We'll carry out the empties when we book at 10:30."

I shrugged. "Don't forget."

After that, we were so into the game I lost track of time. When my stomach grumbled, I looked at my phone. It was almost 8. "You guys want some pizza?" We ordered in and kept on playing. At 10:30, we shut down the game and boxed up the trash. "Beat it," I said, letting them out the back gate and into the ally.

I went back into F2 and shut and locked the windows. I locked the front and went into the kitchen. I found a Tupper container of leftovers with a note from Momz. I dumped it down the disposal and ran water in the container.

I was propped up in bed reading when she came in. I heard her moving around the kitchen. When she came up stairs, she knocked on my door.

"Yeah," I said.