The Planet's Always Bluer

Chapter 8-Earth

                  ////Above: Picture of Dad////

The grass smelled good as I cut it. It was a hot day even though it was only May. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Gross. I don't know what I expected. It's not like it's going to smell like daisies.

            I looked out onto the land I was mowing. I'm almost done. Just a couple more acres to go. It was a pretty uneventful day. Yesterday, Dad and I polished up and sent in Adam's application. I just hope he gets the job. It will help everyone so much. It will give Adam a sense of pride and happiness knowing that he's helping us, and of course we get help.

            Just then I saw my Dad. He didn't come up to see me, but I saw him going towards the alleyway to my right. That's not suspicious at all. So, of course, I followed him. This is where my spy tactics come in handy (I went through a phase when I was little). I looked past the brick corner of the building on the left side of the alley. There were two REALLY big dudes next to Dad. Then, a smaller man a few inches shorter than Dad came out from behind the big guys. It was really weird, like a stereotypical movie scenario where a guy owes them money or else. Oh no. What if that's happening? What if Dad borrowed money from these shady guys in a back alley and now they're going to "teach him a lesson"? This isn't good. If only I could here what they're saying.

            They stepped inside the building to their right, and as the last person walked in I sprinted to catch up with the quickly closing door, which I barely caught. I took a deep breath and quietly walked in. Just as the door closed I realized what I had gotten myself into. What was I thinking? Going into a shady building right off a shady alley with shady men who probably do shady business. That's just flat out dumb. I know I might not be the brightest crayon in the box but come on. I turned the doorknob. Locked. Why, world? Why?

            I figured I would make the most of my stupid decision and eavesdrop. I heard a vase break in the room to my right. I crawled over and put my ear to the closed door.

            "Jesus Frank! Do you have to break everything you touch?" I heard a man say. It definitely wasn't Dad talking.

            "That's why you hired me boss," It must have been one of the big dudes. He sounded like the kind of person with a light on and nobody home.

            The boos started spazzing out, "That vase cost me more than double your salary and you give me sass? Well I oughta..." Someone has some issues.

            I heard Dad clear his throat. He has very thin patience and I tell you from experience.

            The spazzy boss spoke up, "I'm sorry, did you have somewhere to be?" Silence, "That's what I thought. Now, it seems that you are behind on your payments."

            What payments? What had Dad gotten himself into?

            "Look, I'm gonna have the money soon. I promise," I never thought I would heard my Dad say that. I didn't think he would stoop so low as to borrow money from three shady guys in a back alley. Wait. Have the money soon. Adam? Is this why Adam needs that job? Just so Dad can pay off these suspicious people? My eyes started watering. I can't believe this.

            "It'd be such a shame for us to take another limb as payment instead."

            WHAT?!?! That's why Dad's arm got cut off?!?! I can't listen to anymore of this. I had to get out of that place. I tried the door again. Nothing. I looked around for a window with no luck. The tears started rolling down my face. I sniffed.

            "Did you hear that?" I heard Frank say. Oh no. This can't be happening. I looked for hiding spot.

            "No one heard nothing you idiot!" The boss yelled. Thank God. I took a deep breath.

            "Uh, boss. I think Frankie Boy's right. I heard something too," Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee... Where could I hide?

            "FINE! If you two are just SOOO CURIOUS, then go check it out. Be back here in FIVE MINUTES!!!!"

            Jesus that guy needs an anger management class or something. Not my problem right now. I heard heavy footsteps coming closer. I jumped up and run to look for a bathroom. I figured I could hide in the shower. I finally found the bathroom and screamed, for there was a dead body in the tub. Then I realized they heard me. I raced to find a different spot to hide but instead I ran straight into Frank.

            The men dragged me into the room I was eavesdropping, "Hey boss, we found something."

            "Tommi?!?!" I've never seen my father so scared in his life, seeing me thrown over Frank's shoulder, "What the hell are you doing here kid?"

            "Shut up!" The boss shouted then looked at me, "Do you know this man?" He pointed at Dad.

            I looked at Dad and saw fear in his eyes as Frank put me down. I realized that if the spaz knew I was Dad's only daughter he would use me, torture me, maybe kill me, just so Dad would pay.

            I looked at Dad and knew what I had to do, "Whose Tommi? No Sir, I've never seen this man."

            Dad relaxed a little, "My bad, you look like someone I know," I knew he picked up on my precaution, if you could call it that.

            The boss didn't let me off the hook, "What's your name kid?"

            "Angie," Don't ask me why that popped in my head but I knew I couldn't hesitate if this was going to be believable.

            "Ok Angie," he took a step closer, "What were you doing breaking into this here establishment?" He actually sounded calm for once. That scared me.

            "Well Sir, I, um..." What was I going to say? I was so wrapped up in spying on my dad that I put my life in danger? Somehow I felt that wouldn't cut it.

            "Come on! Spit it out!"

            I was so pressured this was the best I could come up with, "Excuse me Sir, but do you have a moment to talk about our Lord Jesus Christ?"