ACROSS THE STREET AND TWO DOORS DOWN by Spanky de Bautumn

The following morning. Jamie’s mom handed him the keys to her car and told him she was putting her faith in him to be a good driver and watch over his sister, don’t let her eat too many sweets, and to be home in time for dinner. Jamie asked her, “How do you expect us to have any fun?”

She pinched his cheek and replied, “If you don’t, it will be a long time until you have any fun again.”

“Okay.”

“I hope you have some money for gas.”

“I got it covered.”

“Good, now you better get going. Your sister is chomping at the bit. Be good and have fun, honey.”

Jamie sat in the car waiting for Patty, who went to get Matt and Itsy. The girls sat in the back and Matt hopped in front.

Matt said, “I haven’t been to the park yet, I’ve wanted to go since we moved here, just never got the chance. I’ve seen the adds on TV, that Python Roller Coaster looks awesome. Have you been on it?”

“No, the last time I was there, they were just building it. That was about five years ago. But, yeah, it looks insane. I can’t wait.”

“I’m not going on that thing,” came Itsy’s voice from the back seat.

“Oh, come on, Itsy. If you're scared, I’ll hold your hand. It’ll be fun,” Patty said.

“Maybe, we’ll see,” says Itsy.

“Girls,” Jamie says turning to Matt, slowly shaking his head. “You know what I mean?”

“Yeah, girls.”

It was a half an hour ride to the park, the girls were all giddy in the back seat, Jamie was concentrating on the traffic and humming along to the Lady Gaga song on the radio. He looked in the passenger side mirror to see if it was safe to change lanes when he caught Matt staring at him. He changed lanes and looked at Matt who was looking straight ahead. Maybe it was just my imagination, Jamie thought.

After a few more miles, Jamie glanced to his right and there it was again, Matt just looking at him with that stupid grin on his face.

“What?” Jamie asked him. “You see something you like?” Jamie said with a laugh.

“And what if I do?” Matt replied.