The Other Side
Part Six
Mark sat on the front steps and waited for his brother. It was nearly four o'clock, he realized, and his concern was therefore mounting by the second. Where could he be?
As the oldest in the family, Mark had always simply accepted his role as the responsible one. He wasn't completely comfortable with it, but he protected his younger brother through thick and thin. Now that their father was gone, he accepted more responsibilities than before, and took them more seriously.
School had gotten out at least forty-five minutes ago yet Buddy wasn't home! Where could he be? Mark was getting worried. They only lived ten minutes away on foot!
Mark decided to give up on sitting there worrying and go look for his brother. He simply had to find him.
He stood up to leave and heard a whimper behind him. Peanuts was giving him puppy-dog eyes.
"What's the matter?" he asked the dog, wondering if by some chance the dog was able to sense his worry and concern. The dog just whined.
"Do you want to come?" he asked. The dog whined again, stood up, walked towards him, and whined once more. Mark took that as a yes. He sighed.
"Okay," he agreed, and grabbed the dog's leash from its' spot on the front porch. He clipped it on to his collar and headed in the general direction of Buddy's school.
"No, mom, I swear, I haven't seen him since this morning," Mark told his mother. He had resorted to calling her at work when his search for his brother turned up empty-handed. As he'd expected, she was worried.
"Where did you look?" she asked. "You called the school?"
"Yeah mom, I called the school, I went to the school, I checked the neighborhood, I asked the neighbors. I don't know where else to look!"
Mark's mother sighed. "All right," she told him. "Just stay calm, I'll be home in about ten minutes." Mark could tell she was trying hard to stay calm. "Just stay there, okay?"
Mark nodded. He heaved a sigh, trying to keep himself calm as he sank into the kitchen chair. Peanuts lay his head on his lap and whimpered slightly. Mark petted his head lightly.
"I know, pal," he whispered. "I'm worried, too."
Back to main page
Back to part five
