The Trophy

PART I

Blisters bubbled and the asphalt sizzled in the scorching summer sun. A breeze carrying the scent of juicy sausages and buttered buns danced in the air like a carefree gypsy as the giggle of polite conversations and amiable laughter echoed in the small cul-da-sac.

"Alright! Now who wants a big juicy hot dog?" cried out an overexcited man as he waved a crackling, oily bratwurst in the air.

"I'll take one, Dad. As long as it's not one of your burnt ones" a young boy said, adjusting his cap to pivot around his skull. His freckled porcelain skin was starting to burn from the sun's death rays.

"Okie dokie, Abraham! Now would you like some ketchup or mustard?" the father responded, popping his grill pliers up in question.

"Dad! Just call me Abe!" Abraham sneered, yanking the plated hot dog from his father's greasy hands, "It's what I want everyone to call me from now on..."

The boy snatched the ketchup bottle from the nearby prep table and gave it a hearty squeeze onto his meal. Abraham chomped on his hot dog sloppily, not caring to wipe the excess drips of oil and ketchup from his chin.

"Hey! You! Other kid!" cried out a distant voice. Abraham halted his sloppy eating to survey the block party more closely. There were only three sets of adults mingling around with each other, offset with the decor of horrendously unappealing pink balloons. Abe shoved the remainder of the hot dog into his mouth and squinted his eyes to look around the even more closely.

"You look like a hamster I use to have," produced a random voice.

"Mmf-!" Abe choked as he was taken by surprise. Another child, drastically smaller than he, was now hovering by his side with a look of mild amusement behind their glasses.

"Except I overfed the hamster and he exploded and died," The other kid said. He blinked a couple times, his eyes magnified by his thick lenses, causing him to look slightly like a fish. The unknown child shifted closer to Abe, who in turn responded by slightly pulling back.

"I'm Ben. Ben T. Lee. Not like the car, though I hope to own one someday," Ben held out his small slender hand to Abe, who responded with only a nod. Ben then pouted and wiped his hand against his bright baby blue shorts; feigning as if he never offered it to begin with.

"Okay, hi, I'm Abe," Abraham said, using the bottom of his shirt to wipe his mouth. A red ketchup smear appeared at the bottom hem, but he honestly could care less in the sweltering heat.

"So I guess we're the only kids who were dragged to this depressing party huh?" Ben said, his words speeding out of his mouth like marbles tumbling out of a broken jar.

"Uh, I think there's another kid, I saw him earlier," Abe said matter-of-fact-ly.

"Oh?," Ben said, "Well shit. Let's go find that, fucker!"

Abe chuckled and was surprisingly impressed with Ben's usage of adult language.

"I think he's inside his house right now. I heard him say it was too hot out," Abe stated, pointing at a white frilled home around the corner.

"Yeah why not, let's go. And if I hear that old geezer over there scream out if anyone wants a hot dog again I will force myself to shit my pants," Ben said, pushing his glasses in deep and starting a sprint to the frilly home.

"That's my dad!" laughed out Abe as he jogged behind leisurely.

"What?!" yelled Ben.

"Nothing! Nevermind!" Abe hollered back, stifling laughter as he watched Ben's ridiculous run.