Homebound

Chapter 3

          Unable to run anymore, he stops and catches his breath. He finds himself in front of a convenience store. His stomach growls as he sees an ad for fresh donuts and coffee. He glances over his shoulder to check if people are around. No one is, so he quickly gets to work. He successfully unlocks the door and bolts right in. He hastily grabs everything in sight and shoves it into his open bag. When he could no longer push food and drinks into his bag, he struggles to zip it up and throws it over his shoulder. As an extra treat, he jumps the counter and reaches for a pack of cigarettes. It was then that trouble took its chance.

        "Hey! What are you doing in my shop?" A gentle voice asks him. Asher turns around and sees a dark old man with a big and round belly and a bald head. He is a short compared to the average man. Asher smiles and places the cigarettes back.

        "I was shopping alternatively."

        "Well, I think you need to stay. The cops will be here soon."

        "I would love to but I've got somewhere to be. Maybe some other time we can chat. Don't count on it though. Bye now!"

         Asher runs out as fast as he could. Audaciously, he grabs a Snicker bar on his way out and tears it open to eat. He doesn't look back and runs until he feels like he's a safe distance away. He paces back and forth because  it's not good to stop immediately after running. He then observes his surrounding area. Tall apartment buildings tower over him and lampposts flicker. He's definitely on the southside, but where?

         He stops pacing and slides down the wall. He looks down at his exposed snicker bar and chomps down on it. He moans in delight as the chocolatey goodness fills his taste buds. He finishes the bar all too soon. He pouts and shrugs his backpack off him. He unzips it, and the contents spill over. He picks up a bag of Cheetos and frowns. He never liked them; why did he steal them? He wishes he stole more Snickers. He rummages through the bag and picks out a turkey sandwich. When did he grab this? Asher shrugs and tears open the wrapper. He chomps down on it and smiles blissfully as the smoked turkey fills his taste buds. He slowly takes bites of the sandwich, savoring the meal.

        Or at least attempting to savor the meal. He hears the all-too-familiar sirens of police car, and in the next moment the car is in sight. He groans; he couldn't even finish the damn sandwich. He stuffs his half-eaten sandwich in his bag and zips it up. He gets up and swings his bag over his shoulders. The police car halts by him, and the window rolls down.

       "Hey, why aren't you at home? It's late?" The officer asks him.

       "You know, chilling." Asher leans back on the wall calmly.

        "Are those chips on the floor?" The officer glances down at his feet. Asher lets his eyes wander down to his feet. Sh*t. Asher laughs and scratches the back of his neck.

       "That's random, how did those get there?" And he runs.

       "Hey! Get back here!" The officer calls out and drives after him.

       Asher runs fast and makes it to the intersection. He crosses the street and makes a sharp turn to the right. It throws the officer off as he drives straight past. Asher pumps his fist in victory. At least he has a few more minutes to get ahead.

       Once he finishes the block, the police car is at the beginning of the street. Asher pumps his legs to go faster. He notices an alley on the other side of the street. He might be able to climb the fence. He would get away before the officer catches him. Asher dashes across the street and enters the alley. The already dark night seems darker here. Garbage cans line up the sides, and rope with laundry zigzag between the neighbor buildings.

       Asher's plan is logical. Yet, the world doesn't want to be logical with him. Of course, all the worst scenarios happen right now. First, the fence has a barbed wire on the top. Second, there is a wild rabid dog foaming by the mouth and growling at him. Third, the police car blocks the entrance of the alley and there can be no way for him to escape. Asher assesses his situation. Either face the demon dog or the pissed off officer. Hmmm, the dog looks tempting, but he values his life. He turns back to the oh- so welcoming arms of the officer.

       "Hey there officer, long time no see." Asher sticks his hands out, and the policeman places handcuff around his wrist.

       "Get in the car."

       "I was told not to enter a stranger's car." The cop roughly grabs him by the arm and shoves him in the back of his vehicle. "Woah, gentle. Police brutality."

      The ride to the station takes forever without the radio on. Asher dozes off and awakens when the door opens.

     "We're here already? I was hoping for a few more minutes of sleep." The officer has a strong grip on his arm. "It's not like I'm going to run away."

      "Like you didn't before?" The officer scoffs as he opens the holding cell.

      "I had a very good reason."

      "Right. Thieving is a very good reason. I agree with you, kid. I should let you go." and slams the cell shut.

     "I wasn't stealing. I was shopping alternatively!" He calls back, but the officer simply ignores him. "F*ck." Asher sighs and lies on his back on the bench. He wishes he had his bag with him. The officer took it from him before he shoved him in his car. His stomach growls. "I get it. You're hungry. Now let me sleep." He grumbles at his stomach.

      Asher hears his mother calling him.

      "Asher! Time for dinner!" He races out of his room in a flash. His mother is the best cook. He can smell the enticing aroma of whatever his mother made with love. The dinner table is all set with matching plates and one too many forks at each place. He can see his fellow siblings already at the table.

       "Asher, sit next to me!" A little one with big, beautiful eyes call out.

       "No! Sit next to me!" Another with a striped shirt argues.

       "I beg to differ. He'll sit next to me. I'm his favorite." The third one with glasses buts in. Asher is relishing in all the attention.

        "That's enough, children. Let's dig in." His mother smiles at him with so much adoration. They all eat their fill and some more. Asher never felt so content in his life. When he thought he couldn't eat more, his mother brings out a large chocolate cake. Asher licks his lips and is honored to have the first slice. The family talks and laughs like there is nothing else in the world but each other. Asher looks to the head of the table, and there sits a strong man with gentle eyes and a big beard. He looks at Asher with pride and approval.

       Asher beams at all his family. At his mother who loves and cares for him, at siblings who look up to him and admire him, and at a father who wants him. It's a shame that it isn't real.

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           Hey, guys. I just wanted to mention a line in this book doesn't not come from me. ("I was shopping alternatively.") I got that from a book I read. It's called Un Lun Dun by China Mieville. It's a fantasy book. Basically these two girls discover the underground to London. It's a whole different world down there. It's being threatened by this fume. It's basically all the trash of London in one mass. Now, they have to save it. That is my anti-climatic summary. I don't really care for fantasy, but I enjoyed it. If y'all need book recommendations, hit me up and I can help. Stay awesome. 

                                                                                                         Liz