An Excerpt from a Writing Project

From Rockybado 2: A Run in the Game

Brody Ingram and Andrew McCalsky said nothing else. They did their stretches for about five minutes in the driveway of Brody’s house. And they were a little too focused on what they were going to do instead of thinking about what happened to Brett. Right now, it wasn’t really all that important.

After a few more minutes’ worth of stretches, lunges, push-ups, and all the whatnot, including taking a few puffs on their inhalers, the two boys were off. And they were probably not going to be home for another thirty minutes or so. Actually, maybe closer to an hour. This gave Brody’s mom enough time to order Chinese food and pick it up. 

The first few minutes of the boys’ run started off normally. The two boys did not say a word to each other for another couple minutes into the run. Once Brody and Andrew left Garfield Court, and headed toward Hayes Street, they noticed that things were still normal. And then, Brody broke the silence.

“We’re closing in on your house!” Brody exclaimed.
“I know!” Andrew replied with almost as much excitement.
“Is David home?”
“I don’t think so. I actually think he went bowling with his friends.”
“Dawson and Brett already went bowling.”
“Oh yeah. About Brett?”
“What about Brett?”

Great. Brett was on their minds again. Brody knew exactly what happened when Brett was at the bowling alley. Andrew, however, had an idea of what was going on. Even though that was the case, the two boys chose to not think about it. They decided to enjoy the run. 

The next five minutes were still quite normal. Brody and Andrew did not say anything else to each other. Instead, the two boys decided to look at all of the scenery around them, such as the houses, the flowers, the somewhat uneven pavement on which they were running. All of that. 

And things were the same as always. There were some people playing outside. There were some people walking around the neighborhood. There were some people running around the neighborhood, like Brody and Andrew. There were some people driving around. There were even some people getting into or out of the car. 

Depended on the household.

“How long have we been out?” Andrew questioned his best friend.
“I think about fifteen minutes,” Brody replied.
“Oh. So we are halfway into our run.”
“I guess so. We could possibly go for an hour.”
“Maybe. It depends on if Mrs. Ingram is home.”
“True that.”

And then things grew a little fishy. There were some people playing outside. There were some people walking around the neighborhood. There were some people running around the neighborhood, like Brody and Andrew. There were some people driving around. There were even some people getting into or out of the car. However, there were also some people who were acting a bit questionable tonight.

At one house….

“DANNY, IT SMELLS LIKE TUNA OUT HERE!” A neighbor shouted at the top of her lungs.
Brody and Andrew looked at each other and then shared a laugh. Why would anyone think that it smelled like tuna outside? At least the two boys didn’t think that this was the case. On the other hand, if the outdoors really smelled like anything other than the nice summer air, then many people would probably hope that it smelled like bacon. But tuna?

Absolutely not.

“That was weird,” Brody said matter-of-factly.
“I know,” Andrew replied.
“Do you think it smells like tuna outside?”
“No. Do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then, why do you believe they think that?” Andrew questioned his best friend.
“From what I understand, they are quite a weird bunch,” Brody replied.
“I think I will have to agree.”

End of conversation. Brody and Andrew kept on running. Mindless of everything going on around them. They basically forgot about the neighbor who complained that it smelled like tuna outside. However, they still remembered the story about Brett. Or, at least, Brody still thought deeply about it. But Andrew still didn’t think so deeply about it.

Another two minutes passed, and then Brody and Andrew came across a young man, probably around Dawson’s age, dancing on the lawn in his pickle boxers. And he had headphones in his ears. So, he was probably listening to good R & B music while dancing in his boxers.

Brody and Andrew ran past him. And the young man did not appear to be phased. He was just dancing in his pickle boxers with his headphones on. Even though many girls would probably think that was the most repulsive thing they have ever seen, many boys, such as Brody and Andrew, would think it was pretty funny. 

“Who is he?” Brody asked.
“I don’t know. He appears to be of some mischief.”
“He obviously appears to be of some comical mischief.”
“Obviously.”
“But I still thought that was pretty funny.”
“I did, too.”
“Seriously, you don’t always come across a guy dancing on his lawn in his boxers,” Brody said.
“I do,” Andrew joked.
“You do?”
“I dance on my lawn in my boxers.”
“What?!”
“Fooled you.”
“I didn’t think you did.”