I
Ryan kicked the empty soda can along the sidewalk as he walked
home from school. It had been an entire week at the Santerville High School!
He had just moved into town, and no one had even asked his name. He felt like
a foreign visitor to a country where no one speaks your language and everyone
looks at you funny. The only one who he knew over there was his friend, Kyle.
He had known Kyle since preschool and when Kyle moved away, Ryan figured it
would be the last time he saw him. Then Kyle showed up in Santerville, and
they had been best buddies ever since. Suddenly, Ryan heard a noise in a bush
behind him. I knew somebody was following me! Then, three guys emerged from
the bushes in front of him. Startled, Ryan stepped back. Two guys behind him
blocked his way.
"Alright! We know you have money! Hand it over!"
shouted the leader, who towered above everyone else.
"And what are you going to do if I don't give it to you?"
Ryan shouted back. The gruff leader whipped out a little water pistol.
"Oooo! What are you gonna do, shoot me?"
"No, I save that job for my buddies." Ryan whirled
around. The four other guys jumped into the bushes and appeared again with
the biggest portable versions of a hose Ryan had ever seen.
"Ok, guys, uhhhh..."
"Grab him!" the leader ordered, "Ok, let him
have it." All four of them soaked him down.
"Now! Hand over the money. Its probably pretty soggy by now. Or do you carry your money in change?" The thugs laughed together at this joke. Ryan slowly produced his money and ran as soon as the thugs let him go.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You're kidding!" Kyle exclaimed.
"Do you think I'd lie to you?" Ryan asked, "You
can even ask my mom if I was soaking when I came home!"
"Okay, okay. But you have to admit that it's pretty hard
to believe that five thugs held you up with water guns!"
"Yeah, I know, and I'm still trying to figure that part
out. But if you don't believe me, then you can walk home with me and see if
anything happens."
"Hey, I just might take you up on that one."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So, according to you, they should be jumping out of the
bushes right about now," Kyle joked to Ryan.
"I don't know. They might not come this time..."
"What was that?" Kyle exclaimed.
"What, are you getting scared on me?" Ryan laughed.
"No, I'm serious. I thought I heard something."
"Okay, just walk a little faster. Don't panic, but I think
they're..."
"COMING!" both boys shouted.
"Run!" screamed Ryan. Ryan bolted off in the opposite
direction, leaving Kyle alone.
"No, wait!" Kyle yelled. But it was too late. Ryan was gone.
