Something You Should Never Share - My First Draft

In celebration of the release of my first fiction novel, I have decided to share something that is often swept under the rug:

My First Draft.

First drafts are not for others to look at. They should be hidden in a vault that you forget about and no one sees. 

But, I like to do things a little differently. 

All I seem to be reading on Reddit are posts about people worried about whether or not their first draft is good enough. They want to know how to make it good before they’ve started. They want to make sure their idea will turn out perfect once they finish writing. 

And a lot of people feel down when it’s not.

I want to offer you encouragement and advice. 

You only start the work once the first draft is complete. Everyone’s first draft sucks.

The diference between my first and published draft - you almost wouldn't recognise them as the same story.

To make you feel better, and to celebrate the release of my first fiction novel, I would like to share with you the scariest thing from my past:

The first draft:

CHAPTER 1:

A three story white brick home sat in the middle of an immaculate street by the name of Arney Road. Arney Road sat away from the main roads in it’s own secluded patch of the wealthy suburb, Remuera. The three story brick homes sat side by side of each other. The gates stood like large guards warning others away. Behind these gates were manicured green lawns, fountains with naked men standing in the middle with water spouting out of their penis’. The lawns were untouched and the only people that walked on them were the gardeners that kept them manicured. Children did not run out and play, teenagers did not sit in the sun, adults did not have drinks on the lawn. The residents were like prisoners in their own home. 

Two boys of the age 14 and 15, both with brown curly hair and cheeky smiles, were gathering rocks from their driveway. The rocks had come loose from the stone wall and no one was coming to glue these loose rocks back on until the morning. The only difference between these two boys was their size. One boy was the size you’d expect to be at 15, just shy of 170cm, the 14yr old was a head shorter, he was still waiting for his growth spurt to kick in. The boys had a rock each. They walked out into the middle of the road and placed them carefully down where they suspected car tires would drive over. There were no white lines on the road to signal to the drivers of cars where to drive but these boys had been watching the cars drive by for many days now as it was summer holidays and they were pretty sure of their positioning. The 14yr old sat outside the house while his older brother ran inside to get the two of them a bottle of beer each from their fathers unlocked alcohol cupboard. The two boys sat outside drinking for almost 3 hours before a car drove by and the car drove on the other side of the road to the rocks.

The boys gave up and went inside to watch Netflix in their theater room.

Two young girls sedately walked along the path past the rocks lying on the road. The girls were 7yr old twins, holding their nanny’s hands as they recited the eight times table. The girls looked considerably tanned standing next to their pale white nanny. The girls’ family had gone for a month-long holiday to Italy. They had left the nanny at home to look after the dog. 

At 3pm children of all ages sullenly emerged from their homes, cricket training was on at 4pm. The cricket fields were only a ten minute walk away but the children on Arney road were not known for being late. The children did not wave and converse with their neighbours, most parents were in competition with each other and the awkwardness of the kids reflected this like a mirror. The children merely exchanged polite glances and walked on with their heads down. All the homes on Arney road looked exactly the same - big, well kept and suffocatingly quiet. All except one. Children walked across the street to avoid this one house. This one house was big, just as big as all the others but the grass was overgrown, the garden furniture was rotting, the fountain was developing mold and it was far from quiet. Yips, howls and cries escaped this house which had recently obtained an obnoxious dog. No children ever emerged from this house and only occasionally would they see an angry old lady and a grumpy young man emerge to be taken aback by the sunlight like they’d just been hit by an x-ray beam. Today no one emerged. 

The foye of this home was built with beautiful mahogany wood, an end table sat with a big bunch of wilting flowers which were overdue for a replacement. The dust had formed on the windowsills which had not been touched for weeks. The stairs leading down into the basement were the only part of that room that looked used. The stairs were made from mahogany wood and led down into a bright open spaced basement. The basement was large and held a pool table, a bar, an 85 inch flat screen TV and a couch that had a permanent dent in one of the cushions. Jordy Blount sat on the couch in the permanent dent on the left most cushion. He held a Playstation 4 controller in his hand and focussed his full attention onto the murders he was committing for his online team on UnderLook, his free game he found on his PS4 from the previous owner. Jordy’s floppy brown hair flopped all over his greasy face which he kept trying to puff away with the force of air from his mouth. His hair fell in unwashed locks, like ropes hanging down from tree branches. His pajamas he was still wearing were soaked in sweat due to his lack of thought to turn on the air conditioning. Jordy’s character on the screen fell over in a pool of blood and the words “Killed by sexallday696969” popped up on the screen. Jordy let out a sigh like he was the master of wind and wished to create a gale. He kicked the innocent coffee table sitting patiently in front of him, patiently waiting for a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit to be placed on top of it but instead the table only received perfectly clean feet and greasy PS4 controllers. 

Jordy chose to be the same character - the chick with the biggest boobs, because why not? He went back into play and sent his warrior/fantasy girlfriend into battle. He had her throw a hand grenade and hide behind a wall. His tongue was fiercely being chewed like he wanted to eat the breakfast he neglected to make himself. Another character showed up behind his fantasy girlfriend and punched her until she fell on the ground and a splash of red covered the screen. Jordy bit down on his tongue in frustration and caused blood to ooze into his mouth, he sucked away the iron tasting blood and picked the same girl again. The game stopped. The words “Your team lost” standing in the middle of the screen, rubbing it in how terrible Jordy was at his favourite game. 

“Stupid dumbass team” Jordy cursed, passing the blame. 

A quiet yapping filled the room. Jordy looked around to see where the phantom noises were coming from. His eyes stopped on a fluffy white cloud with four legs, his mind was still fuzzy and still focused on the game. Jordy stared at the white cloud, wandering where it came from. The little cloud opened it’s tiny mouth and let out a wolf-like howl then he or she grabbed a little tennis ball the size of two finger nails put together and dropped it in Jordy’s lap. 

“Oh shoot.” Jordy remembered what this thing was. “Nigel, I forgot to take you for a walk!” 

Jordy threw the ball in his lap expecting it to hit the wall a couple metres away and bounce off but his arm strength meant the ball fell only centimetres from his feet. Jordy proudly lay back in the seat smiling to himself about how well he was taking care of this dog. The dog, Nigel, picked up the ball and dropped it in Jordy’s lap again. Jordy picked up his remote instead and started a new game.

The basement stairs started creaking as Jordy’s wife, Barbara, came down the stairs. Barbara carefully placed each foot slowly on the next step and used the walls surrounding the stairs to balance herself. Barbara was 79 and needed support around the house. She struggled to walk up and down staircases but she braved this difficult venture when she needed to talk to her husband, Jordan, as projecting her voice caused her more trouble than walking down the stairs. Barbara wobbled on the last step but regained her balance just in time. She grabbed the doorknob at the bottom of the stairs and with all her energy she turned it with both hands and pushed through the door. 

Barbara looked at her young husband who was 29 and capable of so much yet he spent his days sitting on the couch in the basement locking his brain into a world that didn’t exist. 

Nigel, the dog they were looking after for the weekend, jumped around at her feet. Barbara was so loved by this dog that Jordy had reverted to locking it in the basement with him to get  an ounce of attention. 

“Jordan, Nigel needs to be taken outside.” Barbara walked towards the couch. She was approaching Jordy's left side so she continued around the back of the couch so as not to disturb her husband’s game. “The door at the bottom of the stairs needs to be fixed, it took all of my energy just to open it.” 

Jordy glanced at where this voice was coming from but the game pulled his attention back instantly.

“I don’t know why you like it down here so much.” Barbara took a seat next to Jordy on the couch. “Jordan, you must have a shower today. Do you hear me?”

Jordy didn’t respond, his entire mind and soul was sucked into his game. 

“Jordan, I had a delightful conversation with my sister just now. She said she has recovered from her cold because as you know colds can hit us pretty hard at our age.” Barbara checked Jordan’s face to see if he was listening. “I’ll just carry on chatting, I know you need to concentrate but you can listen at the same time. I was thinking of going out to bingo this afternoon and my girlfriend had her license taken away because of her eyesight. Honestly, it’s about time. She has been seeing double for months, I always grip onto the door handle very tightly when she drives me. Oh, not the door handle, not since the door swung open that one time. Remember? That was traumatizing, no, I don’t hold onto the door any more. I hold onto that thing, it’s above the door.” Barbara gestured holding onto the handle above the door. “What is it called?” Barbara asked while placing a hand on Jordy’s controller. 

Jordy felt the mild pressure of his wife’s fraile skin as he watched his character die in his game. 

“What. The. Hell. DID YOU JUST DO!?” Jordy’s face went bright red, he threw the controller onto the ground, smashing it and causing one of the buttons to fly off. Jordy jumped onto the couch and stood in the seat’s dent while bending over and placing his face inches away from Barbara’s. “Do you know what you just did? Do you know?”

Barbara stood up off the couch, her eyes sparkling with the essence of tears. “Do not talk to me that way.” She croaked. “You are not a child.” She composed herself. “You are a grown adult and you do not live under this roof for free, I think you should remember that.” Barbara walked back towards the door using the back of the couch to balance her. “You need to join me upstairs for a cup of tea, I think.” She walked slowly out of the room, her composure was waning as she turned her back towards her angry husband. 

Jordy threw himself face first on the couch and started kicking and throwing cushions around the room like a three year old that was denied a lolly pop at the checkout of a supermarket. 

Barbara took one step at a time, slowly and deliberately. Her body shaking after the frightening experience. Tears were falling out of her tear ducts and she quietly sniveled alone on the stairwell. Nigel, the dog, cowardly sulked up to Barbara’s ankle and whimpered at her feet. 

Jordy was beside himself, his anger was controlling his body and he kicked and screamed without a thought. 

He took a breath in.

His anger seemed to have left him.

He looked around the room at the mess he had made and guilt washed over him like a powerful wave. 

Jordy stood himself up and went through the door and up the stairs to see if Barbara was okay.

He found her sitting outside. She was already sipping on a cup of tea and staring out at the overgrown trees on her molding lawn. 

“Barbara?” Jordy said tentatively.

“You sit in that seat.” Barbara said pointing to a chair on her right. “And you be a good husband like your contract says you will.”

Sheepishly Jordy walked over and sat in the seat. 

“The lawns need to be mowed. The fountain needs to be de-moulded. The garden chairs need to be replaced. The trees need to be trimmed. And I want laughter to fill this home.” Barbara sipped her milky white English Breakfast tea. 

“I’m sorry.” Jordy whispered. 

“This needs to be done by tonight.”

Jordy’s foot started tapping. 

“The children are scared of this house and I don’t blame them.”

Jordy’s mind started buzzing.

“I wan go in..”

Jordy was no longer listening. 

“Jordan!”

Jordy snapped to.

“Stop hitting your hands on your thighs.” Barbara stood up. “What am I going to do with you?”

Barbara walked away from the two seats shaking her head. “Sometimes I don’t think you’re worth it, Jordan.”

CHAPTER 2: 

Jordy sat miserably on the couch in the basement. The dent in his favourite cushion sank so low the edge was the same height as the top of his hip. He held the PS4 controller in his sweaty palms and took out all of his miserable energy onto his unworthy opponents in his game. The door at the bottom of the basement stairs swung open and a big man that looked like he could take anyone in a fight waltzed in as if he owned the basement Jordy was sitting in. Jordy glanced at the visitor but the TV screen pulled his gaze back.

“What did you do to Barbara this time?” The man asked.

“Nothing.” Jordy spoke dejectedly. 

The big man plonked on the couch next to Jordy. “She sounded really annoyed when she answered the door.” The man’s black hair was gelled back and if you looked close enough you could see a hint of eye liner. The man’s dark skin went exceptionally well with his dark blue tank top which conveniently showed off the fact that he went to the gym on a regular basis. 

“I might have blown up at her a little.” Jordy said, not giving much attention to the visitor.

“You gotta treat her with respect, man.”

“I know, I know.”

The man, Ethan Glass, was a good friend of Jordy’s.

“So should we play or what?”

Jordy, still in his pajamas chucked Ethan his second controller but continued on with his single player game of UnderLook.  

Ethan stood up from the couch and walked over to one of the windowless walls. He leaned against it and placed his head like he was looking out of a window when it was raining in a romantic comedy. Jordy took no notice and continued playing his game. Ethan opened his mouth and a beautiful rendition of “Over The Rainbow” came out. 

Jordy did a double take towards Ethan who was now producing tears to fall softly upon his cheeks. 

“Shut up, Ethan.” Jordy demanded. 

Ethan’s head swivelled towards Jordy, Ethan stalked towards Jordy, loudly singing Katy Perry’s “Waking up in Vegas.”

“Shut up!” Jordy shouted.

“Shut up and put your money where your mouth is, that’s what you get for-”

“Shut up, you can play next.”

Ethan threw himself over the back of the couch and lay flat on his back. He stretched his legs out and used his toes that had been stuck in his shoes all day to tickle the grumpy cheeks of Jordy. On screen Jordy’s big boobed character died. 

Jordy’s eyes turned dark and he flashed the dark part of his soul towards Ethan.

“Sorry.” Ethan said sitting up and placing his hands in the air like the cops had just caught him smuggling crack after watching a rugby game with his uncle’s best friend.

“Fine, we can play stupid singstar.” 

“Yes!” Ethan yelled triumphantly. “Jordy, you’re the best.”

The two men were jumping up and down around the room shaking their butts and singing Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off at the top of their lungs. Jordy jumped off the couch flailing his legs and kicked a mug off the coffee table, smashing it on the floor. 

The door at the bottom of the stairs swung open and Barbara stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. The men stopped and looked at her. Jordy’s face ran pale. 

“Dinner has been sitting on the table for twenty minutes, Jordan.” Barbara’s eyes stabbed into Jordy’s soul.

“I’m s-sorry.” Jordy stuttered. 

“Get upstairs now!”

“I had better go.” Ethan chimed in. 

There was silence and everyone stared at him as he went to pick up his things from the coffee table. Ethan attempted to squeeze past Barbara but his large, muscley body couldn’t get small enough, Barbara had to move out of the way so Ethan could reach the staircase and then run all the way to the front door and out to the bus stop. 

Jordy trudged upstairs behind Barbara.

At the dining table two candles had been placed on a long wooden table, the lights were low as the bulbs on the roof had blown months before. The heavy hard red curtains were drawn across the windows even though it was still day out. Cauliflower soup sat on two placemats and Jordy and Barbara sat across from each other at either end of the table.

“Jordan.” Barbara began, blowing on her soup. “Why have you not drawn the curtains today? You are aware they are too heavy for me, aren't you?”

“Yes, sorry.” Jordy mumbled as he played with the puke coloured liquid in his bowl.

“Jordan, I have cooked three times this week because you are constantly forgetting.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You are aware that you are here to look after me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Because I don’t appreciate your tantrums, you hiding in the basement with your friends and my being neglected by my own husband.”

Jordy looked down at his dinner. “All you do is nag.” He said under his breath.

“Excuse me!” Barbara shouted.

“So you heard that?” Jordy instantly regretted what he just said and then all his mistakes from his entire life flashed before his eyes. 

“I don’t understand you.” Barbara’s eyes flashed hatred. “I give you everything and you give me absolutely nothing in return.” 

“What are you talking about?” Jordy knew exactly what she was talking about.

“The basement? The bar? Your game? You work for those.” Barbara’s eyes started to fill with tears. “You are supposed to look after me!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“Why don’t you hire a nurse?”

“Jordan.” Barbara took her handkerchief out of her top right dress pocket and dabbed her eyes. “I thought you understood. Nurses are so impersonal, they have so many patients that everyone is just a number to them. They would just stop by the house to see I’m alive and then shoot off again.”

Jordy sat silently, festering in his guilt. 

“I don’t want to be lonelier than I already am.”

Jordy’s face burned red, he stared down at his putrid soup and picked up his spoon to take a slurp.

“Jordan.”

Jordy looked up.

“You need to improve your skills as a husband.”

“I will.” Jordy said sincerely. “I’m sorry.”

“I need you to prove to me that you are trying.”

Jordy placed his spoon into his cauliflower soup and tried to disguise his gag as him stretching his neck. 

“As you know birthdays are important in my family and I need a special celebration this year.”

Jordy looked up. “Of course.”

“One that I will love.”

“Yup.” Damn, yup was a pretty stupid thing to say.

Barbara ignored his casualness. “I wrote my birthday on the calendar in the family room so you have a reference if you forget the date.” Barbara’s eyes fell down to her soup.

Jordy’s nerves started to shake, he was jobless and throwing Barbara a special birthday would require using money. He wrung his hands in his lap. He relied on Barbara for all his monetary needs but he didn’t deserve anything at the moment. He looked at his putrid soup and took a big spoonful.

“Jordan.” Barbara said. “I mean what I’m about to say.” Jordy looked up. “If you don’t prove to me that you care, all of this goes away and you will have to find some place else to live.”

CHAPTER 3:

Barbara was in bed by 7pm while Jordy sat up in the lounge watching The Project on TV3. Jordy was very tired of being nagged by his wife and the noise from the TV was starting to drive him mad, he turned the TV off to hear his own thoughts. His mind flicked back and forth between his computer game Underlook and ice cream as it often did. He got off the couch with a groan and dragged his feet towards the kitchen but something stopped him. He had this feeling like he had forgotten something major, he slowly walked towards the door in the lounge and as he did this uncomfortable feeling got stronger and stronger. He stopped at the door and looked around. He put a foot through the door way into the dining area. The feeling went away. The uncomfortable feeling of forgetfulness was strongest in the lounge… But why? Jordy had a look around to see if there was anything sitting around that could help him place his thoughts, in his search he started swinging his arms around his body and then twirling around the room lost in his own happiness. He crashed into a wall and almost ripped off the calendar hanging lazily on the wall. He scrambled to put his thoughts in order and checked to see that the calendar was still stuck on the wall. Then he noticed in big red letters BARBARA’S BIRTHDAY. He had a look. “Right, that’s what I forgot. Ah well, now I know it’s here on the calendar.”   

Jordy took his heavy lids to the couch so he wouldn’t have to sleep with Barbara in the only bed in the house.

The alarm clock next to Barbara’s bed showed a big red 5am. Barbara was already sitting up at the dressing table, over-drawing her pink lipstick. Barbara slowly walked through the lounge waking Jordy up by turning on all the overly bright lights. 

“Ah!” Jordy covered his eyes. 

“Would you like to come with me this morning, Jordan?”

“No.” Jordy replied shortly.

Barbara walked out of the room. 

Jordy tossed himself off the couch and stood up slowly, stretching his back. He dragged his sleepy feet into the shower and leaned on the tap to turn it on. Jordy stood in the shower for an hour or so until the water turned cold and he became uncomfortable. Jordy stepped out of the shower, while naked and dripping wet he grabbed his phone and texted his friend, Michella, to see if she wanted to do anything today.

Jordy knocked on Michella’s mum’s modest front door. It was a light grey colour and small in size, if anyone was a couple centimetres taller than average, they’d have trouble walking through this door. Jordy was shorter than average but he was wider than average and a lot wider than Michella and her family so he had to squeeze through the door, especially since Michella’s mum, Carol, liked to store boxes of junk in the small hallway where the front door opened up to. Jordy knocked and Carol opened the door almost immediately. Carol was a slim woman with a sharp face and large smile which almost didn’t fit on her face. Carol’s hair was jet black, curly and only just reached her shoulders. 

“Jordy!” Carol flung her arms out and pulled Jordy into a big bear hug. “I’m so happy to see you! Michella will be over the moon that you’re here, she’s in her room.”

Jordy ambled into Michella’s room, he opened the door without knocking and closed the door softly behind him.

“Hey.” Jordy said to his friend who was hiding under the thick covers in her bed.

Michella, a young woman with long, dark brown hair and lightly tanned skin lay in her bed with the covers over her face. Jordy stepped over her pile of dirty clothes and poked her to see if she was awake. Michella’s blackout curtains were drawn and no light was getting into her room but Jordy and Michella had known each other for a couple years now and Jordy was very familiar with her dark and dirty room. 

He sat on the edge of her bed and leant past Michella’s head to turn the bedside lamp on. 

“Michella, are you awake?” 

“Get lost.” 

“I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out?”

“No.”

“We could watch TV?”

“No.”

“You always say no, where did the fun loving french girl go?”

“To hell.”

“Can you move over?”

“No.”

“It’s cold.”

“Get lost.”

“Your mum said you’d be happy to see me.”

“Yeah, really happy.”

“Get up.” Jordy started bouncing on her bed.

Michella threw her bed covers off her and she sat up glaring at her friend disturbing her sleep.

“You’re up! Jordy said gleefully. 

Michella got out of bed not bothering to fix her black shirt that doubled as a nighty that had risen to her hips. She bent down to the floor and slowly, with seemingly great difficulty, pulled up a pair of loose elephant pants that she slipped on, not worrying about underwear. She then sat down next to Jordy and said:

“There, I’m up now.” 

Michella glared at Jordy with beady eyes, he placed his face down and was covering his eyes with his whole arm. She whacked him over the head. Jordy’s head flew up like a Jack-in-the-box.

“What do you think about death?”

“I don’t generally.” Jordy replied. “I would love to turn into an angel at the end of life. Look down on people and laugh at everyone failing skateboarding tricks.” Jordy giggled to himself.

Michella looked at him dully. 

“It would be like watching YouTube.” Jordy continued to laugh to himself.

“Yeah, same.” Michella sighed a heavy sigh. 

“So what do you want to do today?”

Michella groaned. “Nothing.”

“The movies?”

“There’s nothing good on.”

“The park?”

“It’s raining.”

Jordy opened Michella’s curtains slightly to check outside. “No, it’s not.”

“Fine. What about -”

Michella’s mum opens the bedroom door and with a sweet smile says “Jordy, Barbara’s here to pick you up.”

“Thank god.” Michella threw herself back on the bed and pulled the bed covers over head. 

Carol looked at her daughter and smiled to herself. She looked at Jordy “Isn’t she funny?”

“Yeah..” 

“Been this way since her father left.” Carol fake giggled to herself.

Jordy watched where he stood so as not to step on Michella’s clothes while her mum was looking and awkwardly walked out the door to Barbara’s car sitting in the driveway.

The car was overly hot from a broken A/C and the old windows wouldn’t budge so they were permanently closed. The smell of dust hit Jordy in the face like a nest of wasps. His face stung and he sneezed. Jordy was supposed to keep the car nice and respectable but he neglected this responsibility as he did with most things he was responsible for. The car was 20yrs old and still running due to the upkeep it had in its earlier years when it belonged to Barbara’s late husband whom passed away 9 years before she met Jordy.

Barbara drove the car into their two car garage that only housed their one car. She stepped out and walked over to Jordy who was fumbling his way out of the car. He finally stood up and Barbara grabbed his arm and pulled him like a big branch that had fallen in a gail, until they reached the doorway of their house, then Barbara continued her journey into the lounge and Jordy escaped into his basement. 

“Stop” Barbara grabbed Jordy’s arm again.

“What?” Jordy turned to her. 

Barbara was looking around the house with wide eyes, Jordy tried to follow her gaze. He scanned the room they were in but saw nothing.

“Walk with me into the lounge.”

Jordy walked with Barbara at a very slow pace into their lounge.

“Where’s the furniture?” Jordy asked confused. He was staring at a completely empty room. All of a sudden he remembered the calendar that had his wife’s birthday on it. Jordy left Barbara’s side and went to see if the calendar was still hanging on the wall where he had seen it last. 

It wasn’t.

“The bastards!” Jordy shouted. “How! Why! What!” Jordy screamed in a rage.

“Oh, control yourself.” Barbara said in disgust. 

Jordy shot Barbara a piercing glance which was met with a dramatic eye roll. 

“My stuff!” Jordy shot away down the stairs towards the basement. Another scream left his lips. Everything was gone.

“Jordy!” Barbara shouted from the top of the stairs. “Is Nigel down there?”

“Who?” Jordy shouted back.

A loud sigh was heard from Barbara. “Your friends dog?”

“Oh.” Jordy sounded instantly disinterested. “Oh!” He said again, the realisation washing over him that his friends dog could not be heard yapping away as it usually did. Jordy ran upstairs back towards Barbara. “What do we do?” He gasped.

“Call the police, dumb dumb.”

CHAPTER 4:

The Auckland Hospital lounge was packed with elderly people in wheelchairs, young children in slings, bandaged heads, IV lines protruding from patients arms and nurses in uniform. 

Ethan Glass, dressed in a shiny silver costume that was one size too small for him, danced in front of his mildly captive audience. Ethan’s large hands held tightly onto his microphone as he belted out the low notes of his original song “In the dark night.” Ethan impulsively jumped into the air and parted his legs into the splits position, landing painfully on the floor, his legs were not even close to being in the splits, more like in the shape of a square. His pants split in the crotch area as Ethan let out a howl and rubbed his private spot while bent over.

“It’s alright, mate.” An audience member yelled out. “You’re in a hospital.”

“Time!” Ethan shouted, He positioned his hands into a T position. “Ten minute break.” 

Ethan rolled over onto all fours and slowly stood up. He waddled over to a bench in front of a window and took a seat on one of the stools next to his manager/producer. 

“You alright?” His manager asked.

“Yeah, yeah.” Ethan reached over and grabbed his phone which was laying slightly off to his right, directly in the sunlight. “Ouch.” Ethan dropped his burning hot phone on the ground. 

Ethan bent down to pick it up again. It started ringing. He breathed in and checked the caller ID. It was his mate Jordy, he answered the phone trying to ignore the searing pain he felt. 

“Hello. Jordy?”

Jordy rambled on about what had happened.

“What happened?”

Exasperated, Jordy explained again.

“You’re talking to fast.”

Jordy slowed down and described what the calendar looked like.

“What calender?”

Jordy tried the explanation again.

“What happened?”

Jordy sighed and asked his mate to get to his house as fast as he could.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in two minutes.”

Ethan hung up the phone and turned towards his manager who was looking very angry. 

“Don’t.” His manager said.

Ethan held onto his phone a little tighter and tried to shrink as much as he could. “Sorry.” He said as he tiptoed all the way out of the hospital and called an UBER when he was safely outside. His costume shimmered in the sunlight, all of it expect the split in the crotch area.

CHAPTER 5:

Aimi Wieder, a young half-Japanese girl in her early twenties, stood at baggage claim in Auckland, New Zealand’s international airport. After her trip to Bali, Indonesia her skin tone had stayed exactly the same, much to her disappointment. Her long, straight, black hair fell over her shoulders like a silky blanket. A slightly knotted silky blanket after her nine and a half hour flight. Aimi stood at baggage claim and waited impatiently. She let the others know she was impatient by letting out a few groans of disgruntlement. A middle aged gentleman smiled at her, Aimi reluctantly but politely smiled back.  

“This is always the annoying part, isn’t it.” The man began engaging her in conversation.

“Yes, it is.” Aimi politely responded while in her head impolitely telling this man to go away. She had not managed to brush her teeth yet or brush her hair as she had stupidly put both brushes in her check in luggage instead of her hand luggage and she was very aware of this fact. She was also aware this man had not brushed his teeth either. 

The first bag came through on the conveyor belt and everyone turned with utmost attention and anticipation to see if this bag was theirs. Aimi turned also, grateful for an excuse to stop engaging with this smelly man. Aimi watched the bags like a hawk searching for her prey. Her black suitcase with a red bandana tied to the handle finally came through the plastic curtain, she eyed it eagerly and reached into the back pocket of the jeans she was wearing and pulled out a plastic glove which she slipped her hand into like a tired child slips into bed at night. Using her gloved hand she grabbed hold of her suitcase and yanked it off the conveyor belt onto the ground. She checked that the bandana was the same one her mother had tied onto the suitcase weeks before the trip and then re-tied moments before the trip after Aimi removed it and hid it behind the chest of drawers in her room because she thought it looked stupid. But then Aimi herself made sure it was securely on her luggage before leaving Bali as she realised the importance of being able to recognise her rather un-unique luggage in a sea of black suitcases. 

Aimi looked up from her bag to see the friendly stranger waving a polite goodbye to her. Aimi returned the politeness with a grimace as a smile was too much for her to force in that moment, her mind had already turned to all the organisation she had to get through before starting her awful accounting job on Monday. Bali was a nice bribe from her parents to get her to follow through with the degree choice they had forced her through the last three years but Aimi’s knott that was forming in her stomach was making her think twice about the rationality of actually taking up her parents bribe and wondering if it was really worth it. She dragged her bag with her gloved hand and stopped right before the automatic doors leading to the outside. She lay her bag on the ground, opened it and pulled out her sunscreen from the very top of all of her things. She poured a dollop into the palm of her ungloved hand as her phone began vibrating in her pocket. With her gloved hand Aimi reached into her back pocket and pulled out her iphone, the caller ID said Jordy. Aimi smiled as her thumb pressed the green ‘answer’ button.

“Hey!”

“Hey Aimi.” Jordy sounded distant, nervous.

“How is everything? Is Nigel missing me?”

“Yeah.”

“Aw, give him a big pat from me.”

“Aimi.”

“Yeah? Did something happen?” Aimi quickly became frantic and spoke very fast “I’m so sorry, whatever he did my parents will pay for it. Serves them right for not taking care of him while I’m away. Did you know this-”

“Aimi.” Jordy’s voice sounded stern, annoyed.

“What is it?”

“Nigel’s not here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The place got robbed and Nigel is missing.” Jordy sounded apologetic. It almost sounded like he was holding back tears. Aimi hung up on him anyway. She threw her phone into her suitcase and zipped it up one handed. Aimi rolled her baggage into the nearest bathroom, opening the door with her backside and breathing very heavily as the blood drained away from her face. 

CHAPTER 6:

Michella Cameron, a young woman just shy of twenty one years old continued to lie in her dark and dirty room. She had her bed covers pulled over her head even though it was midday. The dim light that escaped through the sides of her blackout curtains irritated her immensely and hurt her eyes. She could hear the rustling outside her room of her busybody mother whom never had enough to do and never had enough time to do it. 

Her doorknob turned jarringly and her door crashed open. Michella slowly rolled onto her side to see who had trespassed into her room. She could see the faint outline of a short woman and the loud chatter of her mother who seemed to enjoy disturbing her daughter’s woeful brooding for no good reason.

Her mother took the phone slightly away from her ear. “Hon, Jordy is on the phone.”

Michella rolled back over to face the wall.

“Hang on Jordy, she’s just getting up.” Carol’s voice was light and cheery. She walked over to her daughter and started pulling back the covers which quickly escalated into a silent tug-of-war. Carol covered the mouthpiece of the phone and spoke harshly to Michella “Se lever et se comporter!” meaning “stand up and behave.”

“Non.” Was Michella’s reply.

Carol turned her attention back to the phone. “Jordy, Michella really wants to speak to you but she had to make an emergency stop in the bathroom. Can I take a message for her?”

Carol listened thoughtfully while ignoring the glares coming from Michella’s deadly eyes. 

“That sounds so difficult, Jordy…….. Let me know if there is anything I can do………. Of course she will be there…….. I’ll see you in an hour…… No, no, thank you for the call.” Carol hung up and threw the phone onto her daughters bed. “Get up!” 

Carol then proceeded to tuck the top of Michella’s blanket under the mattress at the bottom of the bed, open her curtain to let the harsh sunlight into the room and turned the family radio up deafeningly loud. Michella took her time and painfully made the transition from the bed into the kitchen where her mother was waiting.

“I’ll explain what’s happening in the car.”

CHAPTER 7:

Clouds floated in the sky, blue light illuminating the green grass that had been freshly mowed that morning. Huts made out of brown flax weaved together sat in groups of six or seven all around the green grass. Trees grew left, right and centre with their leaves wafting to the ground in beautiful serenity. In one of the flax huts lay the purposefully placed kitchen next to the compost pile which was a large mountain sitting only a hundred meters from the hut which was then used as fertilizer for plants. In the kitchen sat a bench and a bucket of water. A fridge was not needed as the people living in this village were all vegans. They weren’t just vegans, they were also nudists. Kelsey Cameron, Michella’s older sister, was among the tribe. Her curly black locks fell past her shoulders but did nothing for coverage. She was one of the many residents that preferred the simple life of easy community living. Kelsey was incharge of the dishes this afternoon, their lunch had been a beautiful green salad, everything freshly picked from the garden, they had silken tofu which a very talented group of men had prepared over the week. Kelsey was incharge of scrubbing 100 dishes and then she was free to join in the activities she wished. Kelsey laughed and giggled away at absolutely nothing while she scrubbed away at her last dish of the day. She placed the last handmade dish on the rack next to her on the bench and she floated off to the yoga session that was just beginning right outside her very own hut. She skipped along the grass enjoying the sunlight brightening her world and the clear blue sky which swelled her heart with it’s beauty. Kelsey picked a spot at the back and jumped with two feet onto the yoga mat already set up. The other naked bodies were already in downward dog so she copied and sent her naked buttocks straight into the air giving her shoulders a much needed stretch. 

“Excuse me.” a nood boy about fifteen said quietly by Kelsey’s shoulder. Kelsey turned her head and saw some young feet. She slowly brought her bottom down to her mat and sat on her ankles. She looked up to see the bright eyed face of the communities secretary.

“Yes?” Kelsey said with a misplaced air of authority.

“You have a man on the phone for you.” The boy said. “He said his name is Jordy Blount.”

“Oh goody!” Kelsey jumped up and clapped her hands, she walked slowly and serenely with the community secretary to the communications hut on the far side of the community. The communications hut sat overlooking the sea which was only a fifteen minute walk from the nudist-vegan village but it was rarely visited as it was not a nudist beach. 

Kelsey arrived and picked up the phone the young boy pointed to.

“Jordy!” Kelsey announced. “What’s wrong?.........Oh no, I did have a bad feeling about today……. Did that really happen?.............I’ll do anything I can…… I’ll see you in an hour.” Kelsey placed the phone down and ran back to her personal hut. She packed up her clothes she left in reserve for when she leaves the community to visit her friends from the outside. She slipped her toothbrush in her pocket and went to call an UBER.

CHAPTER 8:

Jordy Blount, Michella Cameron, Aimi Wieder, Kelsey Cameron, Ethan Glass and Carol Cameron (Michella and Kelsey’s mother) all stood around in Barbara’s large, empty living room.

“Mum!” Kelsey jumped up and down in enthusiasm and hugged her mother who was slowly entering the room. 

“Kelsey, darling.” Carol hugged her elder daughter tight. “I didn’t know you were coming today.”

“Of course I came!” Kelsey had a gleeful smile across her entire face. 

Carol smiled and let go of Kelsey. “I’ve brought Michella here everyone.” 

Michella found a spot in the corner of the lounge and slid her butt down to the ground. She just sat there. Carol walked into the middle of the room. “What’s everyone been up to? Michella’s been really looking forward to spending the day with you guys and I’m really excited!”

“That’s great Carol.” Jordy said.

“I just came from a live performance.” Ethan piped up. “It was pretty exciting.” Ethan smirked at the memory of jumping around in front of the mildly interested crowd. He still had his ripped suit on. 

“Was it at the hospital again, Ethan?” Aimi asked.

Ethan’s smirked was wiped. “Yeah.”

“Bali was good, was it not?” Kelsey said looking directly into Aimi’s right eye.

“It was.”

Kelsey lifted her hands up to her forehead and spoke slowly. “It was hot.”

Carol rolled her eyes and smiled apologetically at the others.

“The holiday was a nice break but the burden of coming back has taken its toll.” Kelsey opened her eyes to get confirmation from Aimi. 

Aimi’s eyes shifted around the room. “Ah, yeah.. Obviously.”

Kelsey smiled a self satisfied smile, her mother put an arm around Kelsey’s shoulder and smiled patronizingly at her eldest daughter. “Well done, honey.” 

“Thank you.” Kelsey said politely before removing herself from her mother’s grip.

“How was your trip, Aimi?” Ethan asked.

“It was good-”

“Guys, can you see what’s going on here?” Jordy said angrily.

“Be quiet, Jordy, we haven’t seen each other in a while, we need time to catch up.” Ethan shot at him.

Jordy stormed over to the corner where Michella was sitting and joined her on the floor.

“How was it?” Ethan asked Aimi.

“It was really nice. I mean, it was Bali.” She smiled. “It was just so warm and perfect, really.” She looked around the room. “Coming back was a different story, though.”

“Thank you!” Jordy shouted, making Michella jump. “Lets stay on topic.”

“How are you, Carol?” Aimi asked.

“Seriously, Aimi?” Jordy was fuming.

“I’ve been very well, thanks Aimi.” Carol smiled at Aimi and then turned her attention to Jordy. “So, what’s the plan, Jordy?”

“Oh.” Jordy sat up and everyone intently watched him. “I.. I don’t actually have a plan.”

“What!”

“Seriously!”

“What are we doing here then!”

“Come on!”

“Jordy!”

“Everyone calm down.” Carol piped in. 

“I saw this coming.” Kelsey interjected. “We need to call the police.”

“Well, we already have.” Jordy said standing up. “Barbara called before taking herself off to bed.”

“Of course she’s in bed.” Carol started pouting. “The poor thing, I’ll go check on her.”

Carol meandered her way out of the lounge towards Barbara’s bedroom. 

The others stayed and looked to Jordy for some guidance.

“I actually like it better this way.” Michella mumbled. “There’s more space, for like, dancing.”

The room began to giggle.

“You’re so stupid.” Kelsey told her sister and gave her a patronizing pat on the head. 

Michella shrugged and looked at Kelsey rather annoyed, “Well, what is the plan?”

All eyes went onto Jordy. 

“Well… I-”

“I can’t believe you Jordy.” Aimi fumed. “I trusted you and this is what I get?”

“It wasn’t my fault.” Jordy shot back. “Look around, do you think I planned this?”

Carol walked somenly back into the lounge. “I see the bed has gone too, Jordy.” Carol paused a moment. “Barbara should not have to lie on the floor like she is.” 

Jordy’s emotions got the better of him. “It’s not my fault!”

“Shut up!” Michella screeched.

“Mimi!” Carol warned her daughter. “I’m sorry everyone.”

“I can’t do this alone. I need your help.” Jordy confessed to the dirty carpet. 

All that was heard was the breathing of the six people in the room.

Carol took a step forward and placed her hand lightly on Jordy’s shoulder. “I’ve told Barbara you guys are welcome to stay with us.”

“Thanks.” Jordy replied.

“I’ll head off now and set up Kelsey’s old room.” Carol waved to everyone as she left.

“Well.” Michella began. “I haven’t got a ride home so I guess I can help.”

“I did get dressed for this and I feel you will need protection, Jordy.” Kelsey looked at Jordy like he was a lost toddler in a mall. “I’ll stay to help.”

“Well, it is my dog I want back.” Aimi said.

Everyone turned their attention to Ethan. 

“I..” Ethan began. “I have to make a call to my manager but.. Sure, I’ll help out.”

Ethan stepped out of the room to make his call. Jordy looked around at his friends, Aimi’s anger was coming through loud and strong, Michella’s disgruntlement was distinct on her face, Kelsey looked like her head was in the clouds and Jordy was just holding it together and he knew it showed.

“So you called the police, right?” Aimi confirmed.

“Yeah.”

“Have they shown up yet?”

“No.”

“How come?”

“I sent them some photos and they’re gonna ask people around the neighbourhood and let us know if they find anything.”

“They’re not even going to look?”

“No.”

“How come?”

“They want to act on this fast. That’s what they said.”

“Geez.”

“Okay.” Jordy said. “We need to decide what to do next.”

CHAPTER 9:

Kelsey was leaning her head against the wall and had her left palm hovering over her eyes, she was muttering quietly to herself. 

“No, that can’t be.” Kelsey muttered.

Jordy was deep in an argument with Aimi about his carelessness. Aimi was furiously rubbing hand sanitizer over all of her exposed skin while Jordy looked as though he could cry at any moment. Ethan was chatting to Michella, he was telling her about his plans of seeking truth and enlightenment through the act of singing in front of large crowds.

“Sounds stupid.” Michella responded. 

Kelsey gasped loudly and all the heads turned to look in her direction. Kelsey’s eyes were large and wild, her gaze looked as though she was seeing something no-one else could see. She raised her arms until they were parallel to the floor and her lips quivered.

“I have had a vision.” She trembled and gulped hard in an attempt to hold back her tears but one floated down her cheek anyway. “Aimi.” Kelsey walked over to Aimi and stood infront of her, Kelsey allowed the tears to spill from her eyes now. “May I hug you?” 

Aimi was silent. She just shook her head quickly and took a large step back.

“The dog is dead.” Kelsey gasped and everyone in the room looked at her. “And jordy.” She spun around and looked Jordy dead in the eye. “You are next.” Kelsey then dramatically fell to the floor. The room was silent, no one moved. 

Aimi’s head started to raise and she looked to Kelsey’s sister. Michella slowly stood up from her corner and dragged her tired feet over to where her sisters body had fallen. 

“Wake up you stupid moron.” Michella kicked her sister lightly in the head. Kelsey’s eyes flew open and she grabbed her sisters ankle and pulled it so she fell straight to the ground with a little scream escaping her lips. Kelsey held Michella’s weak, struggling body down and sat on her chest. 

“I was being dramatic.” Kelsey said through her teeth. “I hate you.” She then let a little fart out on top of her sister and stood up running quickly to the other side of the room giggling like a little child. 

Michella sat up and glared at Kelsey. 

Ethan walked over to Michella and helped her up. 

“Kelsey, how often do your predictions come true?” Aimi tentatively asked.

“Almost always.” Kelsey said gravely.

Aimi fell in a heap on the floor and her breath came out in heaves. Jordy dropped down next to her and tried to calm her down.

“Don’t listen to her.” Michella said adamantly. “She predicted I was going to be a boy.”

“You are a boy.” Kelsey said. 

“You’re just insane!” Michella yelled. Kelsey’s face turned red and she charged at her little sister, she ran fast. Ethan got in the middle and caught Kelsey before she could do any damage, thankfully Ethan was very strong and could hold Kelsey until she calmed down.

Jordy was still on the floor next to Aimi who only seemed to be getting more worked up. He had his hand on Aimi’s back rubbing slowly and gently. “We don’t know any of this is true, I’m sure it’s all going to be okay.” 

“You’re going to die!” Aimi wailed. She grabbed the collar of Jordy’s shirt and pulled tight. “And it will be my fault.” Jordy’s face began turning red and he looked up towards the others. Michella cracked a smile. “By gum, Kelsey I think your prediction is coming true.”

Kelsey immediately snapped out of her rage and looked over to her friends on the floor and saw Jordy’s red face. “Told you.” She said to Michella.

Aimi let go of the collar. “Sorry.” She rubbed her eyes and slowed down her breathing. 

Ethan walked over to Jordy and put a soft hand on his shoulder. “Hey.” He whispered. 

Jordy looked up at him, he was a few centimeters taller, and knitted his eyebrows together.

“Hey.” Ethan whispered again.

“Hi.” Jordy looked at him.

“Would Barbara be pleased if I were to host a benefit concert in her honour?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to help her out, I can raise the money to rebuild her life here in this house.”

“What?”

“I can raise money from a benefit concert to help pay for all the furniture she lost.” Ethan said a little grumpily.

“No, you don’t have to do that.”

“But I can.” Ethan insisted.

“I’d like to see you try.” Michella snickered. 

Ethan’s head whipped around to look at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Michella walked back to her corner and leaned against the wall. “It’s supposed to mean the only concert you’ve successfully put on is at the hospital and your audience are people who are mostly passing by.”

Ethan’s eyes turned fiery. Kelsey walked over to where Michella was. “I think Michella has had her share of angry people for the day, Ethan. Calm down, she didn’t mean it.”

Michella looked accusingly at her sister who responded by jabbing her in the ribs with a bony elbow.

“Why don’t we just go door knocking?” Michella suggested.

“What are you talking about?” Kelsey asked.

“I’m talking about the fact that an entire house was emptied in a few hours. Someone had to of seen something.”

“That’s a really good idea.” Jordy stood up and helped Aimi to stand as well, he let her lean on him as she was still panicking and couldn’t control her wobbly legs. Jordy pulled out his phone and opened the Facebook app. Aimi peered over his shoulder and watched as his fingers tapped away. He then shot his thumb along the screen and chuckled at the posts underneath his own. He noticed a meme of a dog looking confused with the caption “When your sitting in class and the teacher suddenly calls on you.” He chuckled louder.

“Ain’t you getting distracted?” Aimi whispered.

Jordy mumbled, “from what?”

She whacked Jordy’s phone out of his hands and onto the floor causing a loud thwak of a sound. As Jordy was letting an anxious Aimi lean on him he had no means of picking his phone back up.

Aimi removed herself from Jordy’s arms. “Michella’s right, someone would have seen something.”

“No!” Kelsey screamed. “Jordy will die.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

Jordy’s cheeks burned like fire.

CHAPTER 10:

Ethan was sitting on the toilet while the others continued to discuss their problems. Ethan just sat there quietly scrolling through his snapchat and checking out what everyone else was up to on this fine day. He checked out his music managers snapchat to see if he was still at the hospital after Ethan ditched him or if he had gotten on with his life, and it looked like he had! His latest instagram story was of himself holding the cutest little fluffy white dog with the words “we got a dog” written in gold letters. That gorgeous little puppy looked almost exactly like Nigel. Wait a second, it did look exactly like Nigel. Ethan shut his snapchat app and sat in silence. His manager just got a dog on the same day that his best friend’s dog got stolen. Ethan walked out of the bathroom and walked straight past the sink and back into the lounge. He stood in the doorway and stared at his friends. Aimi was the first to notice his presence.

“Ethan, you okay?” She asked.

“Yeah.” Ethan walked back into the lounge and held out his phone towards Aimi.

“What is it?” Aimi said looking down at Ethan’s locked phone. 

He drew it back and placed it slowly into his pocket. “Actually, nothing.”

Aimi looked at him inquisitively. 

Ethan looked down at the ground. “Just a cute photo I saw but I think it’s the wrong time.”

Aimi looked at Ethan with disgust. “You use your phone on the toilet?” 

Ethan’s skin felt hot and he didn’t know what to do, should he tell his friends that his music manager may have stolen their dog even though the possibility of that was unlikely or should he keep it a secret and let the possibility of that dog being Nigel ‘slip under the rug’? His mind whirred and his thoughts became fast, they ran through his mind as if they were on a treadmill. 

“The concert!” Ethan burst with a large smile, his eyes were sparkling and his focus had sharpened. “I have to get to work.” Ethan’s smile drew even larger and his entire body was glowing. He ran out of the room like a speed of light.

Kelsey’s attention was out the window, she was looking up at the clouds. “Your future will be dark and dim, Ethan.”

Everyone crowded around the window to watch Ethan as he cartwheeled his way down the street. 

“I’ll have what he’s having.” Michella muttered. 

“When did he get a job?” Jordy asked. 

Aimi stood up straight and straightened her clothes, she looked Jordy hard in the eye. “We have to focus.” Jordy nodded. “I’m going to run home and grab my dogs treats and hope he can smell them and follow the scent.” Her lip wobbled and her vision became glossy. She walked out of the room with her head down.

CHAPTER 11:

Aimi opened the door to her family home in a small cul de sac around the corner from the school she and her sister used to attend. She stepped in through the front door and called out to the seemingly empty house to assess who was home.

“Hello!” Aimi yelled.

Aimi’s mother, Aiko, came to the door in her apron. “Aimi-chan, you are hurting my ears.” 

“Gomenasai, Okaasan.” She bowed.

Aiko seemed unsatisfied with the apology but she walked back into the kitchen to attend to her cooking.

Aimi saw her father on the couch watching TV with her older sister. 

“Hey Dad.” Aimi greeted him sullenly. 

“Aimi, greet your sister.” He said flatly.

Aimi’s older sister, Aika, looked up at her smugly.

“Hi Aika.”

“Konnichiwa Aimi-san.”

Aimi rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen. 

“Mama, what are you making.”

Aimi’s mother turned around. “You don’t speak Japanese anymore, why? Did you forget?”

“Iie, Okaasan.” Aimi sighed. “Gomenisai.” She bowed again to show politeness.

“Go out of my kitchen.” Her mother shooed her out in English. “Come back in one hour and Udon will be ready.”

Aimi sighed and sluggishly walked into her room to find her dogs treats. She grabbed them off her dresser and headed towards the door. 

“Where are you going?” Her Dad called.

“Out!”

“But, you only just got home.” Aika jumped up from the couch and ran to her sister and embraced her in a big bear hug. “I missed you!” 

“Get off me.”

“Aika-chan.” Their mother called. “Come help me with lunch.”

Aika let go of her sister and trudged into the kitchen to help their mother.

Ethan stood outside a large brown wooden door, the door loomed over him like a guard and he was afraid to bring his fist up to begin the first knock. But he did anyway. The excitement of possibly solving a crime was buzzing upwards inside him and he had to jump up and down outside the door to release his energy. The door opened a crack and the eyes peering out were able to see Ethan’s arms jiggling by his side. The door opened further and Ethan’s managers wife, Jeannie, was standing in front of him. Ethan smiled a wide grin but looked down as a fluffy white cloud on four legs ran out to greet him.

“Hello Nigel.” Ethan said and bent down to pat the dog.

“What did you call him?” Jeannie asked

“Nigel.” Ethan shook his head infront of Nigel in a kind of hongi action.

“His name is Max.” Jeannie picked up Max and walked back inside. “Would you like a cup of tea, Ethan?”

Ethan nodded his head and joined Jeannie in the kitchen.

CHAPTER 12:

Aimi burst up the stairs and back into the lounge where Jordy, Kelsey and Michella were now playing a live action game of UnderLook. 

“Are you really that addicted?” Aimi judged.

The three of them stopped playing and looked to Aimi. Aimi pulled out a notebook and a pen from her bag and lay down on the floor, she drew a map of the neighbourhood while the others crowded around. 

“They couldn’t have gone far.” Aimi drew a star to symbolise Jordy and Barbara’s house. “How long were you and Barbara out for, Jordy?”

Jordy looked to Michella, “Only a couple of hours I think. Bingo is only an hour or so.”

“So how would they know you were out, get into the house, leave with all of your furniture and hide it in only a couple of hours?” Aimi looked to Jordy like she was a high school teacher quizing her students because she knew they weren’t listening.

“And how did no one notice?” Michella asked.

Jordy looked at her sadly. “This is not a friendly neighbourhood.”

“You mean you all have massive gates outside your house.”

“Stop!” Kelsey yelled. “Look no further and you will find, the culprit is here in our midst.” They all turned to Kelsey. She opened her eyes and pointed to Jordy. “This journey will be your end, find the dog and you will be dead.” She shook her head as if to shake the bad spirits away. “I think Jordy did it.”

“I thought the dog was already dead.” Michella commented.

“His name is Nigel!” Aimi screeched. “This is no time for funny business. Kelsey, be serious!”

Jordy put a hand on Aimi’s shoulder and rubbed it in small circles. Aimi shook it off. 

“I think the only thing to do is-”

They heard the front door slam into the wall and they all sat up straight with their ears pricked.

“Sorry!” Came a voice.

“Mum!” Michella got up and ran to the voice, she swung her arms around her mother’s neck. “Take me home.” 

“Yes, honey. But ask your sister if she wants a ride too and if any of your friends want a lift they are more than welcome.” Carol walked into the lounge with her youngest daughter clinging onto her. Everyone just stared at her. 

“Hi Carol.” Aimi said cheerfully. 

“Hi dear, I’m so pleased you were able to get your dog back.”

“Oh, no, we haven’t.”

Carol looked to Michella with some confusion. “Hon, that’s what you said.” She breathed a loud sigh. “Well, listen. You all have had a hard day and I’m sure you want to stay together so why don’t you all come back to my place for something to eat and a rest? No good looking for a dog in the dark, I’m sure things will be easier tomorrow.”

“Even me?” Kelsey asked her mum suspiciously.

“Yes, of course even you.”

“Okay!” Kelsey readily agreed.

Everyone else nodded in agreement and Jordy went ahead to text Ethan their plans.

“Is Barbara going to be okay?” Aimi asked Jordy.

“Oh, yeah.” Jordy shrugged.

“She’s with her sister.” Carol assured.

Everyone climbed into the back of Carol’s car and clambered onto each-other. When they reached Michella’s house it began to dawn on them how small the families apartment actually was. Kelsey’s room had now been turned into a home office/art studio for Carol so they had to try and squeeze into Michella’s small, dark and dirty bedroom. Michella jumped right into bed and left her friends to figure out where they’re going to sleep on their own. Carol delivered them all blankets and pillows which they held onto while Carol cleaned up her daughters room and what seemed like lecturing Michella in french. Once Carol left the room to make snacks they began claiming their space. Kelsey immediately jumped into bed with Michella, she pulled the blankets out from the end of the bed and put her face near Michella’s feet and then moving her toes closer and closer to her sisters face until they were tickling her cheeks. Michella groaned but her sister wouldn’t stop so she leant over and bit one of Kelsey’s toes. Jordy and Aimi settled down on the floor where they won’t be touching each other and lay down and went to sleep. It had been a big day.

CHAPTER 13:

A quick nap and Jordy was awake, his eyes fluttered open to see a muscular polynesian man in front of him.

“Ethan!” He screamed at the man he had accidentally been spooning. 

Ethan twirled onto his other side and came very close to touching noses with Jordy. Jordy sat up and looked around the room, Michella and Kelsey were chatting in french and Aimi was just waking up. There was a knock on the door and someone tried to push it open but it caught on Jordy’s leg. 

“Sorry.” He said as he retracted his leg and curled up into a ball. 

The door opened slowly and Carol was standing there with a lemon meringue pie cut up into small pieces.

“I made a pie for you all.” She smiled sweetly and handed the pie to Jordy, she handed the plates and knives she was carrying to Aimi who was also sitting near the door. Jordy took a piece of pie and placed it in his lap and then passed the pie plate to Ethan who held onto the pie until he got a plate. 

“So how are we going to fix this?” Jordy asked the room. 

“Where on earth did you go today, Ethan?” Michella asked.

“What?” Ethan’s eyes darted around the room. “Where did you go, I didn’t go anywhere.”

“You went to work!” Kelsey shreeked. 

Ethan laughed and got out of his uncomfortable sitting position, he picked up Michella’s hamper and rested it on his hip. 

“I went to discover something pretty unbelievable.” Ethan said with a sly grin as he took the hamper out of the room.

Jordy looked around at everyone. “Can we talk about how we’re going to fix my problem now?” 

“Your problem?” Aimi questioned. “My dog is out there somewhere, alone and af-afr-” She began to cry. Tears wet her cheeks and she curled into a little ball. Everyone watched her. Jordy scooted over to sit next to Aimi and put his hand on her shoulder but she shook it off. Kelsey jumped off her sisters bed and slid over to Aimi, she wrapped her arms around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

“You’ll be okay, sweetie.” Kelsey tried to comfort. “Nigel will be just fine, he’s a good dog who can look after himself.”

“No he can’t.” Aimi wailed, “He’s an idiot!”

Kelsey hugged Aimi tighter and motioned for Michella to join them in the hug. Michella shook her head but Jordy grabbed her arm and pulled her off the bed. After Michella’s tumble she crawled over to Aimi and awkwardly sat on the other side of her. Kelsey motioned with her head to hug Aimi but Michella just looked very uncomfortable. Kelsey reached over and grabbed Michella’s wrist and pulled her towards Aimi. Michella’s body went flying and crushed against Aimi’s delicate frame.

Ethan burst back in the room with a feather duster he just bought from the dairy down the road and started dusting everyone. 

CHAPTER 14:

They fell asleep except Ethan who sat up to full attention and continued to chat away. 

“I thought you guys were interested in finding this?” Ethan spoke quickly. “I know where the dog is but it might not be your dog so I don’t know do you want to know?”

“What?” Aimi yelled. “Shut up Ethan no one can understand you.” 

Ethan wriggled around in bed annoyed, he kicked Jordy multiple times until Jordy became fed up and moved over next to Aimi.

“Can I sleep next to you?”

“Sure.” Aimi said turning her back to Jordy.

Jordy snuggled down next to her and everyone except Ethan fell fast asleep.

                                                                *

The next morning was a stressful one. Aimi was up early and dressed in a black pencil skirt and a stripy blouse. She thought she was the first one to wake up so she crept out of the bedroom slowly and quietly. To her surprise she saw Ethan was awake and serving up plates of cafe style french toast on an elegantly set table.

“Ethan?” Aimi stopped.

“Good morning!” Ethan greeted Aimi with a hug. “Have a seat I have french toast for you.”

Aimi looked at Ethan sideways. “Slow down your speech, I can hardly understand you.”

“Sit!” Ethan shouted. 

Aimi was taken aback and sat down as she was told. A plate of french toast was already on the table, Ethan handed her a knife and fork and joined her at the table. He sat for two seconds and then stood up and banged on Michella’s bedroom door. 

“Breakfast!” Ethan yelled and sat back at the table. 

Aimi sat there staring at Ethan, too afraid to take a bite. 

“You don’t like it?” Ethan asked. “Give it to me, I’ll make you something else.” 

Aimi shook her head and slowly took a bite.

“Jesus!” Ethan yelled and smacked his hands against the table. He stood up and paced around the room. 

Aimi watched in fear. The others grumpily came out of Michella’s room and just like Aimi was in awe of the work Ethan had done but also became fearful as they watched Ethan more closely. 

“Shut up, Ethan. You’re over tired.” Jordy complained as he took a bite of the french toast. 

Ethan stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door. Jordy looked around at everyone’s reactions. 

Aimi put her head in her hands and began to cry. 

“What’s wrong?” Jordy asked, concerned.

“Everything!” Aimi yelled back. “Ethan’s insane, my dogs missing, you suck and it’s my first day of work today.” Aimi weeped.

Jordy shuffled in his seat and pulled his attention back to his plate of food.

“I’m sure you’ll do great.” Jordy said quietly.

Aimi weeped louder. Michella looked at Kelsey and rolled her eyes which was met with a scowl. Kelsey wrapped her arms around Aimi again and said “I only see bright things in your future.” 

Aimi took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down.

“You are a light.” Kelsey whispered. “A gift from the gods that cannot be re-created.”

Aimi gave her a look out of the side of her eye and tried to wiggle out of the embrace.

“You are beautiful.” Kelsey continued.

“I get it.” Aimi snapped and broke out of Kelsey’s tight hold. Her breath shortened and her mind felt pressed between two brick walls, her vision narrowed and the world became small, her fingers tingled and she felt like she was floating. “Help.” Aimi squeaked. “I’m dying.” She said as she felt her heart race. Aimi was having a panic attack. Jordy rushed to her side.

“Don’t die.” Jordy stammered. 

“The bright light could have been heaven.” Kelsey said.

Michella got up from her chair and whacked Aimi across the head. “She’s having a panic attack.”

Aimi lay her head on the table.

“Did you just kill her?” Kelsey asked.

“No, now she can focus on the pounding and not on her breathing.”

Aimi sat up in her chair, slightly dazed.

“Aimi, take the day off.” Jordy said concerned.

“No.” Aimi said. “I must go.” She closed her eyes and tried to remember her time in Bali. The hot sand and warm sun. The locals that smiled and the food that cost no more than a mcdonalds happy meal. 

Kelsey got up from the table and made herself busy in the kitchen while Jordy tried to comfort Aimi. Kelsey came scuttling back with five cups of tea. 

“Ethan!” She shouted towards Michella’s room. She handed a cup to Aimi, “Here, drink this.” 

Aimi had a look inside her cup. “There’s like two drops of water in here.” She said handed the mug back.

“I know.” Kelsey said. “I want to read your tea leaves.” 

Aimi gulped the small amount of water in her mug and handed it back to Kelsey who took it carefully in two hands. Kelsey looked down at the mug as Ethan burst back in the room. 

“What?” Ethan said grumpily.

“Tea leaves.” Jordy answered. 

Kelsey began explaining what she saw. “Aimi, these tea leaves show something very-”

“Oh, shut up!” Ethan shouted. “Everyone is in charge of their own future, I can’t believe you buy into this, Kelsey is just making up random crap to make you feel good and now I have to go and get your dog back, Aimi.”

Ethan takes long strides and looking like he knows exactly what he’s doing he walks out of the house and onto the street followed by his concerned friends. He spots a gold ford mondeo parked on Michella’s side of the street. He picks up a flower pot lying on the ground out side Carol’s door and he throws it through the car window setting off the high pitched alarm.

Inside one of the houses across the street an elderly man places down his newspaper, pulls himself out of his seat, hobbles over to car key and turns the alarm off before sitting back down in his favourite chair. 

Ethan checks out the pavement and finds a relatively large stone. He grabs it in his hand and smashes it against the ignition which breaks it and exposes wires. He grabs two of those wires, places them together and watches as they spark. The engine begins running. Ethan jumps into the drivers seat and drives off with his friends screaming at him in the dust he left behind.

Jordy pounds the pavement and chases after Ethan. 

“Stop! Stop!” He shouted as he ran. 

Michella watched in silence, she was a statue watching events unravel around her.

Aimi and Kelsey both curled into a ball. Aimi rocked back and forth trying the hold the falling pieces around her together. Kelsey did the same but she muttered to the gods speaking to her. 

A sparkle of sunlight hit Michella directly in the eye, she looked over at the what the sun was reflecting off and she noticed a small rope that looked perfect for four legged creatures with small mouths.

“What’s that?” Michella pointed. “Aimi, oy, is that a dog toy?”

Aimi stopped rocking and looked at where Michella was pointing. She was indeed pointing towards a dog toy lying on the side of the road. She grabbed Michella’s arm and Michella helped her to stand up. Aimi walked towards the toy like a zombie in a trance, she bends down and has a look at the toy.

“This was Nigel’s favourite.” She held the toy close to her chest. 

Kelsey wanders over and places a hand on her friends pained shoulders. “My dear.” Kelsey started. “There was a struggle.”

Jordy comes back and has a look at what Aimi is holding. 

“Give it here.” He said. He took the toy and walked up to the first house he saw. He knocked. A woman answered the door with a little Jack Russel barking by her feet. The woman smiled and thanked Jordy for returning her dogs toy that had been thrown out the window by accident a day previously. Jordy’s shoulders slumped and walked back to the others with only a shake of his head.

Aimi stood up and squared her shoulders. “This is enough.” She said. She went inside to grab her purse and then walked two blocks to the nearest bus shelter.

CHAPTER 15:

“Breakfast!” Carol called from the doorway.

The three friends who were still outside slowly made their way back to the breakfast table. Carol had laid out what was left of the french toast and sat down to enjoy her own.

“You were all up early.” Carol enquired as she took a bite. 

Everyone just nodded and played with their breakfast.  

“What happened to Ethan and Aimi?” Carol asked. 

“Aimi’s at work.” Kelsey told her mum. 

“And Ethan?”

The three of them just looked at each other. Michella shrugged.

                                                                                              *

Aimi sat at her desk and opened up her emails to see what her tasks were for the day. She has already met with the supervisor who said the job was straightforward so she sat down at her desk and got on with it. In her emails it said she has two clients who want some budgetting advice, one is broke without a job and the other is greatly in debt. Aimi looked up from her desk to see who could help her out but everyone looked buried in work and she was nervous to ask for help.

                                                                                              *      

Kelsey sat at the table and pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“Kelsey!” Her mother told her off. “That is very rude.”

“No one is talking mama.” Kelsey took a mindless bite of waffle as she opened up instagram. She pressed on Ethan’s story and saw his latest video. She sat up so quickly she bumped into the table. Everyone looked at her.

“It’s Aimi’s dog.”

“What?” Jordy ran around the table to see. There was Ethan, on Kelsey’s phone, holding Nigel while talking at the speed of lightening about something they couldn’t grasp. 

“Thank god.” Jordy sighed. “Where is he?”

They look to Carol. 

“Mum.” Kelsey said very sweetly. “Can we get a lift?” 

“Where to?”

“Our friends house.”

“Which friend?”

“Ethan.”

“Wasn’t Ethan just here?”

“Please.”

“Fine, do the dishes and then I’ll take you.”

“Thank you!” Kelsey hugged her mum tight and then went over to her little sister and gave Michella a tight hug, she put her mouth near Michella’s ear and whispered, “do the dishes.”

Carol got up to get her keys and Michella put the dishes in the sink and Jordy filled the sink while Kelsey scrolled through instagram.

Carol came back in the room just as Jordy pulled the plug in the sink. 

“I found the keys!” Carol said waving them in front of everyone. “It’s been so hard to find anything since the girls dad left. He was the organised one.” They all pile into Carol’s car.

CHAPTER 16:

Kelsey and Jordy sat either side of Michella in the back seat. Carol drove and told the story of her divorce.

“You see, he was the one that made the first move, his hands were sliding all over the women in the street yet he never touched me once.” Carol took a breath. “I think it was cold outside the day he snuck his lady friend out the window when I came home early with Kelsey because she had stolen something from the school office, what was it again honey?”

“I don’t remember.”

“I think it was a letter of some sort that she wasn’t supposed to take so I picked her up and brought her home.” Carol gathered herself. “That’s when I saw that tramp your girls father was screwing. I must say, she was very pretty so I atleast can understand his motives. If he was someone ugly, boy, would I have lost it.”

Michella rolled her eyes.

“I kept my cool, I looked that man in the eyes-”

“We’re here mum.”

“Oh.” Carol pulled the car over and the three in the back hurriedly got out of the car.

Ethan lived in a modest home, he was one of four flatmates and he hated every single one of the people in his flat. Jordy knocked on the door. Ethan’s flatmate answered.

“Is Ethan home?”

“No.” The door shut in Jordy’s face.

Michella hoists herself up onto the ledge of a semi open window but she loses her balance and tumbles backwards.

“You don’t think the police caught up with him do you?” Jordy asks quite worried. 

Kelsey shrugged. She helped Michella up off the ground. Kelsey then grabs her phone from her pocket and dials Aimi’s number.

Michella and Jordy stand around watching.

“Aimi, Ethan has your dog………. No be quiet, we think the police caught up with him.”

At Aimi’s work she hangs up the phone. Shaking she walks over to her bosses cubicle. Her boss is on the phone so Aimi waits but her boss put her hand over the reciever and said “What?” 

Shaking Aimi opened her mouth but only a cry came out and burst into tears. Her boss looked taken aback.

“Are you.. What’s..”

Aimi was heaving and crying.

“You know what, just go home. Take the day off.” He went back to his call.

Aimi walked away while her breath continued heaving. 

Back at Ethan’s house Michella rang her mum to pick them up. Carol arrived with a big grin and a lot of story to tell. She drops them off at the police station and drives off. The three of them crash their way into the reception area and talk all at once about Ethan. 

“Slow down.” The officer said.

“Sir.” Jordy began. “Our friend is here, his name is Ethan Glass. He would’ve come in on theft, he stole a car and possibly he was falsely accused of stealing our friends dog.”

“Ethan Glass you say?”

“Yes.”

“When did he steal this car?”

“This morning.”

“What was the number plate of the car?”

“I’m not sure, he wouldn’t have been in here very long. Only a couple of hours. He’s a big guy, half Nue’n, half Samoan.”

“Thank you for reporting this.”

“No, we’re not reporting it. We want to see our friend.”

“Ethan Glass?”

“Yes.”

“He is not being held here at the moment.”

“Where is he being held?”

“Nowhere.”

Jordy stopped. Ethan wasn’t in jail.

“Was he released?”

“No.”

Michella whacked Jordy on the shoulder. “What the hell, you just gave him all of Ethan’s information.”

Jordy was pale white. Aimi walked in at that moment to be filled in by Kelsey.

“What!” Aimi sreiked. “He’s got my dog? Where the hell is he?”

“We don’t know.” Michella said.

“Okay, okay.” Aimi steadied her breathing. “Let’s go back to Jordy’s house and regroup.”

Aimi looks back at the cop by the counter. “Excuse me, do you know where we can get a lift to Arney Road?”

The cop looked up. “I can take you.”

The four of them happily climb into the cops car and direct him to Jordy’s house.

As they pull up they see Ethan waving at them down the street. 

“Ethan!” Aimi points. The cop turns on the car’s sirens and drives straight towards Ethan. The four friends hold on tight.

“Get out.” The cop says. The friends listen. He gets out of the car and tackles Ethan to the ground, Ethan is very strong and almost over throws the cop but the policeman put handcuffs onto Ethan’s wrists to restrain him before he had time to pull his arms apart. The cop pushed into the back of the car.

The four friends sulk their way back to Jordy’s house to gather their barings and decide what to do next.  They reach the house to find the front door unlocked. They slowly creep in and see Barbara and another woman standing in the living room.

“Barbara.” Jordy said taken aback.

“Jordan, good to see you.” Barbara replied. “I am pleased to see you are with your friends.”

Jordy managed a small smile. “I’m pleased to see you are with your friend.”

“My sister has been a wonderful rock during this difficult time.” Barbara squeezed the arm of her sister and they shared a smile.

“I think some of us need to look at the house Ethan was standing outside of, see if Nigel is there.” Jordy said turning his back towards Barbara and facing his friends.

“I want to be the one to do that.” Aimi said. 

“And two of us should go to the jail and be with Ethan.” Jordy continued. “Michella, you and Kelsey should go be with Ethan and Aimi and I will look at the house down the street.” 

“How are we meant to get back to the jail?” Michella asked.

“The gods will guide us.” Kelsey said soothingly. 

Jordy turned to Barbara and her sister. “Did you guys drive?”

Barbara’s chest puffed up. “Joan did drive us both here, yes.”

“Do you think she would mind driving these two back to the police station?”

Barbara looked at Joan. “I apologise for his rudeness.” 

Jordy’s brow furrowed.

“I can do that.” Joan said. “Anything for my sister’s husband and his friends. It’s the least I can do for all that you do for my sister.” Joan gave Barbara a kiss on the cheek and then took Michella and Kelsey out the door towards her car. 

Barbara looked to Jordy with an inquisitive smile. “Jordy, it is really lovely to see you today.”

“I’m sorry, I really have to go.” Aimi and Jordy rush out the door and down the street.

“I think it was this house.” Aimi shouted pointing towards a brown brick building with a large black gate that was left open. The two of them ran into the house and Aimi knocks loudly on the door. They are greeted by a middle-aged man in a suit. 

“Hello?” He said.

A fluffy white cloud with four legs and a muzzle ran through the mans legs and jumped up onto Aimi with his tail going round and round like a helicopter. 

“Nigel?” Aimi knelt down and took the muzzle off her dog. Nigel yapped happily and furiously licked Aimi’s face. The man bent down and picked up the dog. 

“This dog’s name is not Nigel.” The man said as he began to shut the door. Aimi placed a foot in the doorway to stop the stop the door closing.

“That is my dog, give him back.”

“His name is Buddy.”

“That’s my dog!”

“Sir.” Jordy began. “Where did you get this dog.” 

“At the pet shop.”

“This dog is the exact description of my friends dog here, a dog I was taking care of while she was away and now someone has that dog and that someone is you.”

“No, now please remove your foot so I can close my door.” 

Aimi cried.

Jordy shoved the door wide open and stormed inside. The man was taken aback.

“Where is the rest of the things?”

“Downstairs.” The man said in shock.

Jordy guided Aimi downstairs into their basement which was massive. It was the side of Jordy’s basement in his Barbara’s place and this basement could fit everything Barbara owned. Jordy knew this because he was staring at all of Barbara’s furniture right in front of him. 

“You really need to look after your dog better. This dog was disturbing the entire neighbourhood.” The man let the dog go and Nigel ran straight to Aimi who picked him up and held him close.

Jordy was opening draws, looking through furniture, eyeing the man watching them but he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

“I found it!” Aimi cried. She was looking inside a cupboard. Jordy ran over to have a look and there it was, the calendar with Barbara’s birthday on it. Jordy opens the calender to have a look and he sees where Barbara has marked the calender. Her birthday is today!

CHAPTER 17:

Jordy, Aimi, Kelsey and Michella stood around Barbara’s lounge as the movers were putting everything back in their rightful place.

“How was Ethan?” Aimi said stoking Nigel who was curled up on her lap.

“Couldn’t see him.” Michella replied. “They wouldn’t let us.”

“He’ll be just fine, he’s tough.” Kelsey said.

In Ethan’s jail cell he lies on the cold, hard ground not moving and breathing slowly. His cell mate kicked him and freaked out, he began yelling for the guards.

Back to Aimi who’s phone rang and was answered quickly as it was her boss on caller Id. She listens and then hangs up. 

“I was fired.” She said. 

“What?” Jordy looked shocked.

“You don’t deserve that!” Kelsey comforted.

“Why?” Michella asked.

“Apparently I behaved inappropriately on my first day and the contract I signed was a casual one.” Aimi laughed. “I’m really happy.”

Her friends surrounded her in a big group hug.

Barbara walked into the room. “Jordy, I want you and your friends to leave.”

Jordy looked up at her.

“Happy birthday.” Came mumbled groans from Jordy’s friends. 

“Happy birthday, Barbara.” Jordy walked over to her. “This is what I did for your birthday,”

“Get out.”

They all leave while the movers are still doing their thing. Michella calls her mum and they go back to her place.

The door opens and Carol is standing there with a wide grin. 

“My daughter is an inspiration!” She hugs Kelsey tightly. “I am going to take life by the reins and do what I desire. I’m going to travel the world.”

“What?” Michella asked. 

“Don’t worry hun, you and your friends can stay at your Dad’s house.”

“I don’t want to stay there.”

“That’s too bad, I’ve told the landlord's I will be leaving tonight.” Carol kissed Michella on the cheek. “Your dad is very excited.”

Carol dropped her daughters and their friends off at her ex-husband's house.

“Bye everyone, have fun!”

Michella poked her tongue out at her mum as she drove away. Michella was the one who knocked loudly on the door and then screamed. “Dad, open up!”

Jordy feels something vibrating in his pocket and he reaches in to grab his phone. He is hesitate to answer as it is an unknown caller but he picks up anyway. 

“Hello?” He said. “Oh, good. We’ll be there right away.” Jordy hung up. “Ethan is being released.”

Michella’s dad opens the door. “My daughters.” He said with a big grin. “Come inside.”

“No, can we get a lift to prison?” Michella asked.

Kelsey screamed in the moment, she is looking at something no one else can see. “It’s them.” Kelsey said.

“What?” Aimi asked.

“Death.” Kelsey said gravely. She started swatting away something with her hands. Her vision was swiring all around her and there were mutant ferries fluttering around her ready to attack. “Help.” She squealed.

“Am I dropping all of you off?” Michella and Kelsey’s Dad asked. 

“Yup.”

“Okay, get in the car.”

Jordy was the first to greet the cop. The cop pointed to Ethan who was sitting in the waiting room  by reception, he was staring into space with his eyes glazed over. Jordy went over to him and shook him. 

“What’s wrong with him?” He asked the cop.

“Not sure, honestly I just thought he didn’t like the cell. Best to get him home and have him sleep it off.”

With Aimi under one arm and Jordy under the other they helped Ethan out of the police station and into the sunlight. Michella’s dad was waiting outside with his daughters in the car. Aimi and Jordy manage to get Ethan in the front and the two of them shared a seat in the back. 

When they got to Michella’s dad house they placed Ethan in the bed and they all sat around on the floor, it had been a hard day.

Jordy’s phone rings and he answers it to Barbara’s sad voice. He talks slowly and then hangs up.

“Her sister died.” 

“What?” 

They sat in silence for a while and processed this news.

Ethan’s mouth slowly started to move, Michella leaned closer to hear what he was saying. 

“My manager dropped me.” He whispered.

Again, more silence. Jordy stood up and walked outside to the steps. He sat there. Aimi sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder.

CHAPTER 18:

The day of the funeral. Everyone was in black. Ethan was feeling like himself again so he, Aimi, Michella and Kelsey attended to support Jordy and Barbara. The service was beautiful. 

At the end of the service Jody and Aimi stood outside under a tree. Jordy was finding the day very difficult. Aimi took Jordy’s hand and squeezed it.

Kelsey exit the doors and screamed “I am pregnant with a virgin baby!” and then continued walking.

Jordy sees Barbara hobble down the stairs and he walked right up to her.

“Barbara.” He said but she ignored her. “Can we talk about this? I can be a good husband this time.” Jordy’s eyes were wild. “I promise.”

“Jordan, now is not the time.”

“When is the time, because I think now is perfect. Please.”

“Never, will I ever let you back into my life.” Barbara hobbled away to join a large group sitting down in the sun.

“Jordy.” Aimi said behind his shoulder.

Jordy turned around. “If I don’t have her house, I’ll have nothing. I have nowhere to live.”

“You can live with me.”

Jordy’s face was still sad but he managed to lift his mouth into a small smile.

The four friends went back to Michella’s dad’s house who had a bowl of white chocolate pebbles sitting out on the table. They each took one with a glass of water and went off to sleep in Michella’s room. They all had sweet dreams that night.