[Andy chooses Bassey Park. It's a decent day out. Not the best, some overcast up high, but it makes sense for kids to want to play outside.
He doesn't find Bax, but he does find three other kids: Beverly, Ben, and Stanley. They're holding ice creams and they were in deep conversation, but noticing the look on Andy's face they approach, apprehensive.]
Hey, Andy! What's wrong, kid? [Beverly ventures. Ben looks worried behind her, sensing something deeper in the other boy's expression than a lost kite or a dropped dollar bill. Stanley, who always looks like a little adult in his fully buttoned shirt and trimly tied shoes, frowns a polite frown, but there's a sharp look to his eyes that says he's following Ben's train of thought.
[ andy has to pause to catch his breath because he bolted the entire way here, heaving like a bellows and fighting the stitch in his side. reaching down to try and fix the part of trainers where the sole has started to come loose.
he hates the looks. the way they already seem to know. the pity. the fear. he thinks about a great bird, swooping down to pluck someone off the face of the earth and fly off. ]
... Have you seen Bax?
[ it feels sickening to say it. like a confession of sin. ]
Stanley speaks up.] That's Del's little brother, right? The really tall kid, from third grade? No, we haven't seen him. But...
[The three look between each other. Something sharp and alert passes between them. Then they look to Andy, hesitating. It's as if all four kids are too wary to speak a shared truth aloud.
It's Ben who steps forward.]
But we'll look for him. You never know...Anything could have happened. So we'll look. If he's not here then we'll check the playground by the school, maybe the library?
[The other two nod. Beverly balls her hands into fists and Stanley—
(Please tell them)
Stanley gives Andy a nod.]
And don't tell the police yet. Or any grown ups, for that matter. Not until we're sure. They might not be able to do anything.
[Beverly almost opens her mouth. Then she shuts it, and instead touches Andy's arm softly.]
We better hurry. If we find him, we'll keep him at the library. All right?
[All three nod, and set off on their mission. Perhaps nothing needs to be said at all. They pitch their ice creams into the trash on the way, and set off at a sprint.]
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holyspirits) wrote2025-03-09 04:46 pm
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He doesn't find Bax, but he does find three other kids: Beverly, Ben, and Stanley. They're holding ice creams and they were in deep conversation, but noticing the look on Andy's face they approach, apprehensive.]
Hey, Andy! What's wrong, kid? [Beverly ventures. Ben looks worried behind her, sensing something deeper in the other boy's expression than a lost kite or a dropped dollar bill. Stanley, who always looks like a little adult in his fully buttoned shirt and trimly tied shoes, frowns a polite frown, but there's a sharp look to his eyes that says he's following Ben's train of thought.
Do you tell them about Bax?]
no subject
he hates the looks. the way they already seem to know. the pity. the fear. he thinks about a great bird, swooping down to pluck someone off the face of the earth and fly off. ]
... Have you seen Bax?
[ it feels sickening to say it. like a confession of sin. ]
no subject
Stanley speaks up.] That's Del's little brother, right? The really tall kid, from third grade? No, we haven't seen him. But...
[The three look between each other. Something sharp and alert passes between them. Then they look to Andy, hesitating. It's as if all four kids are too wary to speak a shared truth aloud.
It's Ben who steps forward.]
But we'll look for him. You never know...Anything could have happened. So we'll look. If he's not here then we'll check the playground by the school, maybe the library?
[The other two nod. Beverly balls her hands into fists and Stanley—
(Please tell them)
Stanley gives Andy a nod.]
And don't tell the police yet. Or any grown ups, for that matter. Not until we're sure. They might not be able to do anything.
no subject
I wasn't going to.
[ the police never do anything for anyone. grown ups never do anything for any of them. ]
... Hey, have you--
[ No. Better not to mention it. The rest of it. ]
no subject
We better hurry. If we find him, we'll keep him at the library. All right?
[All three nod, and set off on their mission. Perhaps nothing needs to be said at all. They pitch their ice creams into the trash on the way, and set off at a sprint.]