An Excerpt from a Writing Project

From Rockybado 2: A Run in the Game

Brody and Andrew got ready for their run, and the thought of Brett was still fresh on Brody’s mind. Andrew knew what was going on, but he didn’t really want to think about it as much. He was a little more concerned about having fun with Brody on their evening run.

And then, it occurred to Andrew.

“So, what was it again that you told me about Brett?” Andrew asked his best friend.
“He saw a girl who was stunning,” Brody replied blankly.
“He saw a girl who was stunning?”
“He saw a girl who was stunning.”

Brody and Andrew 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.”

A few more houses down, there was a bonfire. A few more houses down from where the bonfire was, there was another party. And yet a few more houses from that party, there were some kids playing on a water slide. At around 5:30 in the afternoon. What a perfect time to play on a water slide.

Things appeared to be quite normal again for another minute or two. And then, it happened. Something weird and somehow comical. There was a lady and a man, assumed to be either boyfriend and girlfriend, fiancée and fiancé, or husband and wife. And, then again, it might have been brother and sister or cousin and cousin.

The lady and the man were standing outside on their lawn singing songs to each other. However, what Brody and Andrew heard the two singing was not in English. It might have been in French, but neither of the boys thought that was the case. It couldn’t possibly be Spanish. And it was most certainly not in German.

How did the two kids know that? Both boys have heard enough of the Spanish language in their lives. Not that their families have ever had Spanish as the primary language in their household, for that was not the case. However, Brody’s brother is fluent in Spanish after seven years of learning the language. As is Andrew’s brother.

There were two choices left: Latin or Pig Latin.

“What language do you think they’re singing in?” Andrew questioned.
“It does not sound like Latin,” Brody replied.
“Then, what do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, then I can’t answer that question,” Brody said.
“Well, let’s just assume that they’re singing in Pig Latin,” Andrew replied.
“Never assume anything, Andrew.”
“I wasn’t assuming.”
“You just said you were!”

Brody and Andrew shared a laugh. Both boys are pretty smart, but, especially when on a run, Andrew tends to lose focus on what he’s even saying. Oh well. Brody has always forgiven him for that. Even though it happens quite frequently.

When on a run.

Both boys agreed that the lady and the man were singing in Pig Latin. Even though neither boy could really decipher the words. It was still pretty funny, according to Brody and Andrew, that they were actually singing in, what the boys assumed to be, Pig Latin on their own lawn. All of their neighbors could possibly hear them. But, obviously, what did the lady and the man care? They were just having fun.

And then….

“Hey, guys!”

A familiar car and face pulled up to the two boys. Brody and Andrew quit running and walked over to the car. It was Brody’s mom, and she had some Chinese food in the car. She was, of course, on her way home.

Both boys decided that they were a bit sore from their evening run. They did have a blast, though. Even if they did encounter some weird neighbors who thought it smelled like tuna outside, who danced on the lawn in their pickle boxers, who sang songs in what was assumed to be Pig Latin.

Oh well.

Brody and Andrew got into Mrs. Ingram’s car, and they rode back to the house. The aroma of Chinese goodness emanated through the whole car. It could have been a Chinese buffet inside. But it was all just due to the boxes that contained all of the good food.
And now, the thought of Brett popped back into the boys’ heads.

“How’s Brett?” Brody asked his mom.
“I don’t know. Why do you ask?” Mrs. Ingram answered.
“He was acting weird today.”
“Did he meet a girl at the bowling alley?”
“….Maybe.”
“Maybe he won’t be ‘acting weird’ when we come home. He might be playing his guitar. He might be playing video games. He might be helping set the table. He might be doing anything and everything.”

Then, Brody, Andrew, and Mrs. Ingram were at home.  The two boys helped bring in the Chinese food, since there was actually quite a bit of food for everyone to carry. And then, when everyone came to the table, they all had some delicious Chinese take-out.