Post by mrman on Oct 31, 2005 22:17:50 GMT -5
Chapter 10
While walking down the trail I couldn't but help to wonder how they snuck the money into my pocket. I normally notice everything that happens around me… Oh well. I still couldn't believe I held near $1000 in my pocket. I really wouldn't want anyone to find out and try to pit-pocket me when we got to the city of town wherever we were going. I looked a Teddy for a second. Never mind. I'd feel sorry for the guy who pit-pockets us… I pictured the scene in my head. I chuckled out loud.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing… just chuckling about something funny I thought about…"
"Like what?"
I explained my thoughts to him as best I could. He lightly chuckled as well. It took some time to pull him off the ground. It was to hard considering the fact I could probably carry him if I wanted to. But it must have been hear 90 degrees out and I really wanted to get down the hill. I wanted water. I wanted shade. I wanted to- nuts! Hikers! They just turned the corner up ahead and their coming right at us! What do I do! I've got nothing to cover my wings (note to self: by sweatshirt at target at next town/city), Teddy- wait. He's fine. He's in human form. But I’M screwed because their gonna come past us and ask a bunch of questions and stuff.
"Oh crap… their gonna find out about us…"
"Just shut up and act calm, let me use my 'special charm' if I have to."
He rolled his eyes at me! How rude! I don't see why he isn't so scared as me. Their for sure t find out!
100ft!... 50ft!... 20ft! Oh man… 10ft!!!!
"Good afternoon, nice weather isn't it."
"Er… indeed it is."
And the passed by just like that?! NO WAY! After they were a ways behind us I started up conversation again with Teddy.
"I was so scared they were going to bug me about being different and-"
"Dude. Your just paranoied."
I just walked straight ahead without looking at him.
"Uh… oh. Ok… that makes some sense…"
"Heh, were you always this paranoied even before you met me?"
"Probably…"
He was chuckling pretty hard now. I looked behind me took for the hikers. I couldn't see them. I lifted my right wing and unfolded it slightly and thumped him on the back of the head 'slightly'. Put a lot of emphasis on the slightly part, but not to much. I folded my wings back up tight took innocent as possible. Heh. Fat chance. He knew I did it. No way is some big bird going to come out of no where and smack him across the back of the head. I really don't think he cared. I think he liked the fact that he had gotten to me. We kept walking down the mountain at an even steady pace. It was a while before I started back up conversation. And now with more people passing us different directions (we were obviously at a more important part of the parks trails) I was a little less nervous about the people noticing my wings. I did receive a few remarks however on the cool pattern on the back of my t-shirt. A few asked where they could get one like it. I'd want to say, 'get abducted by some evil scientists who want to perform genetic experiments on you and once they force your body to grow wings, cut a pair of holes in any shirt, and vuila! Your done making this cool shirt.' But I really said;
"The store that makes them went out of business… sorry…"
And then they were sorta bummed… Actually… now if I think a little ways down the hill, I DID say what was on my mind to one couple and their little daughter in a stroller. Their response was;
"Oh! So you’re a Maximum Ride fan too! I just loved that book and so did my husband! Were reading a chapter our daughter every night it's such a good book! No, but really, where did you get that shirt? The feathers look so real- OH! And they FEEL real too!..."
Oh… that’s what I was trying to successfully forget about but miraculously remembered once I forgotten it… Anyway, one thing still bugged me. I had to ask Teddy.
"Hey Teddy? If we go into town, I've got to hide my wings from potential Erasers there and from cops. Plus, we don't smell so good… and I don't think any amount of deodorant is going to stop that… so what do you recon we do?"
"I dunno Will. You have a point that we can't afford to let the school find us after loosing them so far… I've got an Idea about how to hide your wings. You can wear my shirt and I'll ware yours. Mine doesn't have holes for wings in them and it should keep them hidden as my shirt is bigger than yours by a little bit."
"What about you? What if my shirt doesn't fit you?"
"I'm buff enough to go shirt less if I have to…"
Figures he would be one to say that. He did fir the 'buff' part. We cruised on over to the nearest restroom and made use of the facilities. And after that, what luck, these restrooms had showers. Cold water, yes. No soap, but still refreshing. Teddy kept watch while I took my shower as they were open shower head in the bathroom and I wanted to keep as few people knowing about my wings as possible. No one came in. And no, for you sick and twisted people out there. We wore our boxers in the shower. Enough said. We exited the park in a calm manner, me with Teddy's shirt on, and he was going out 'girl fishen' as he jokingly called it. He had a few hits, but he had to let them go. Not his type he said. I assumed he intended the pun. We got on the nearest bus. Paid him a little extra as Teddy was 'supposed' to have a shirt on. We got to the nearest target shortly and Teddy was stopped at the door by security. Well, actually, he wasn't stopped at the door. He got inside fine. He just got kicked out fast. So I told him I'd come back out once I had gotten my stuff and then he could go get his stuff once I came back from the bathroom from changing back into some new clothes and applying some deodorant. I picked out a black cheapy back-pack to carry the deodorant, a darker than tan pair of cargo pants (my signature clothes for when I was in school, no not the institute school…), a blue shirt that said 'I'm really excited to be here' for in case the School ever caught me again, a grey sweatshirt which was thin in cloth but baggy in general (If I need to stay warm I've got my wings as a blanket.), and pair of vans shoes. I like my vans. They were a little run down, and I needed new ones. I got a few other little thingies, and I headed for the check out line, bought my stuff, went and changed into my new stuff, threw away the old stuff, and went to Teddy to let him have a turn. When he came out, he had a dark attire as well as I did, and he had on running shoes as well. We put a few extra items in the bad and we set off to the nearest park bench to catch a few much needed z's. Teddy and I took turns sleeping and staying awake. By night we were refreshed and ready to hit the road again. But we didn't really know where to go… Teddy just had a road to live on… I had a family and friends. I had a place to back to. Teddy had nothing… I felt sorta bad for him and I promised him that once were safe again, and that if I ever went back to my parents, I'd only go with them if he could come with. Teddy was very pleased at that. He had never had somebody care for him like that. Let alone someone outside of me care for him at all for who he really was and not just another dispensable object. So we decided to find out where the heck we were and once we knew exactly where we were at, I would call my family and I'd find a way to get home. Even if I couldn't stay permanently at home. As Teddy tells me, the Erasers won't care if there are people there to protect him and I. If the School is threatened, then they will kill the experiments threatening them. I didn't particularly like the sound of that…
Chapter 11
So the best place to go I have found it to the town hall or the community center to fin out where you are. Or any other place like that with maps. So naturally, it being about midnight, they weren’t open. Not really a problem. Because we don't really know where the nearest place is at. At all. So you could basically say we were wandering the streets looking for someplace to look into when they opened. And I still needed to cut holes in my shirt. Why didn't I think of that early in target? They had knifes in there… oh well. There was a really fancy building up ahead which looked like it could serve a purpose to us. So we walked up to the steeps to the door and took a look at all the flyers and posters tapped onto the side of the door. It said that they open a seven in the morning. I tried to look inside to see if there was a clock inside to look at. What luck, an illuminated clock which said 6:00 am! What joy! Just another hour until the place opened! They had computers lined up long side the walls in the back of the room, and a pay telephone. Does it take $20? Eh. If not I'll get some change. I sat down and Teddy sat down with me. He fell asleep quickly while I stayed awake. I can figure why. I'm the only one between us to that has to worry about getting caught by someone outside of the School. I'd be hunted by the bad guys and the OTHER bad guys: the media. I don't like them very much… they don't give all the truth. Just their idea of the truth and it's normally negative anyway… Oye, its cold out… I wish I could rap my wings around me to keep me warm… or better yet, I wish I could stretch them… I've been getting stiffer and stiffer through the cold… I'd probably hear a bunch of pops and cracks next time I spread em' wide… I looked down at the busy street in front of me. Cars zooming back and forth… people passing on the sidewalk… the parked cop across the street looking in my general direction… Wait. Cop?! What does he want with Teddy or me? Aw, crap. He knows I see him. He's getting out of the car and coming across the street. He looks sleepy and slightly disorganized.
"Good morning boys, you're up a little early."
"We're waiting for the place to open up. We need use the computers."
"Ah… I see… You don't have a computer at your home?"
"Yea, we do just no internet… I-It's been out for a while…"
"If you want I can take you down to the station and you can use the computers there… Their really fast…"
"No, no… it's ok… We can wait a while longer for this place to open…"
"Will… what's goin' on? Who you talking to?"
Teddy was just waking up.
"It’s a police officer. Its fine man. You can go back to sleep…"
He sat up and looked at the police officer. I could almost see the hamster in his head waking up and start to move in its wheel. It didn't take him long to figure out our situation.
"Oh. Were fine officer. You don't need to worry about us…"
"It's my job to worry about people… and what did you say your name was again? Will, was it? Sounds familiar…"
"It's because it’s a popular name"
"I know that. It just- Oh, right. It reminds me of the report of a missing child a month or two ago about some kid by the name of William… His parents were really depressed by his disappearance…"
He stopped talking and looked at me in the eyes for a second. He then fumbled out for a piece of paper and a flashlight. Holy crap… he thinks I'm him… Wait. I AM him! Ho. The irony… a blessing of being found and then being returned to my parents, but yet a curse because the Erasers will be right behind the media and everyone else to kill me… He put the flash light on my face. My pupils dilated. He checked his paper and me several times.
"Hey... YOU'RE this William kid…"
"Officer, please do not tell anyone you saw me until after I get home… I will admit I saw you but PLEASE don't tell anyone. For our sakes."
"But why? You're safe now from whoever abducted you-"
"Officer, you don't understand. The people who abducted me are looking for me now. If they know where I'm at they will not hesitate to kill either of us-"
"You don't get it kid. They never do… Once you're in our custody, NOBODY can hurt you. Your safe, ya hear?"
I looked over his shoulder and saw a dark, unmarked van pull up behind his cruiser. A can of Erasers…
"Sir, you have no idea what has happened to me…"
I pulled of my hoodie fast and put it in my back pack. I then spoke to Teddy.
"We have some company. Cut me some slits."
"Wha… oh, right."
He stood up next to me and using his claws or something else, quickly and skillfully cut two long slits in the back of my shirt. Perfect spacing and position too. The Cop drew his firearm and pointed it at him.
"Don't Move!"
"Its ok sir, I wanted him to cut my shirt. And point your gun at those things across the street if you really want to help me."
"No. I'm not going to let you out of my sight."
I spread my wings slowly out of the slits so I could fold them back down onto my back. I need a camera to take with me when I do this… I love the expressions I get on peoples faces… Oh. And I was right. I did get a lot of snaps and pops when I spread my wings. I saw the Erasers draw their firearms and unsafely discharge them in my general direction. Teddy grabbed my hoodie and pulled me to the ground while the poor, good meaning cop took the rounds. All I can really say about what happened to the poor guy is… Well, let's just say I could vaguely give you the colors of a few fluids you wouldn't normally see. Or want to see. He never got a chance to fire his gun as it clattered bloodily next to me. Any intelligent, illegally genetically engineered person would grab for the gun when you're being shot at. I griped the standard issue police weapon and slowly on my elbows position my self to take a few pot shots at the Erasers. I've only shot a pistol a few times in my life. They were either in a firing range or out in a forest in the middle of know where. So I'm not exactly the best shot, and the street is in a pandemonium over the shooting, while I'm trying to defend myself from, let me check… One... two… four… five. Five Erasers. And I have to hit every single one or I'm in deep- BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Wow! That’s loud! I point my gun down towards the street from the top of the stairs of the building's entrance. BOOM!!! What a miss! BOOM!! BOOM!! If this is the clip I'm thinking they have in this gun, I only have 9 rounds left. Not a good ratio.
"Gimme that!"
"Wha?"
Teddy takes the gun from my hands and empties the clip. The Erasers are lying in their own filthy blood.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?!"
"Guess."
"Oh…"
We run down the steeps into the screaming pedestrians. Their screaming and yelling and hollering and calling the police and what not. We run over to the Erasers. I grab my own pistol and I pick a few clips from each Eraser for defense while I put it all in my cargo pockets. That’s why I love cargo pants. You can carry ANYTHING in them if their big enough.
"Will! What do we do from here?"
"I dunno! One sec!"
I run over to the nearest stressed person.
"Where are we?!"
"What? Oakland you retard!"
I give him a nice firm pat on the back. I wanted it to hurt.
"Thanks buddy! Teddy! Were in Oakland, California!!"
"K! What do we do now!?"
"Come 'ere!"
Teddy jogged over to me and I grabbed him around the middle. I never was a good gambler. Maybe I'd get lucky tonight. I got a good hold and I spread my wings wide as I could. Smacked a person or two and began flapping hard. I rose to airborne, but not as quickly as I would have if I was flying without dead weight. The crowd below screamed and yelled and pointed. And it was still to dark for cameras! What luck and joy! I rose to a few hundred feet with Teddy. He was clinging to me the way your clothes do when you get in a squirt gun fight and you lose to the guy with the hose. But I could still breathe and I was getting good exercise. I could see the bay bridge and a few other details from my excellent eyes and altitude. The sun was slowly starting to rise and I needed a place to land…
-Mr.Man
While walking down the trail I couldn't but help to wonder how they snuck the money into my pocket. I normally notice everything that happens around me… Oh well. I still couldn't believe I held near $1000 in my pocket. I really wouldn't want anyone to find out and try to pit-pocket me when we got to the city of town wherever we were going. I looked a Teddy for a second. Never mind. I'd feel sorry for the guy who pit-pockets us… I pictured the scene in my head. I chuckled out loud.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing… just chuckling about something funny I thought about…"
"Like what?"
I explained my thoughts to him as best I could. He lightly chuckled as well. It took some time to pull him off the ground. It was to hard considering the fact I could probably carry him if I wanted to. But it must have been hear 90 degrees out and I really wanted to get down the hill. I wanted water. I wanted shade. I wanted to- nuts! Hikers! They just turned the corner up ahead and their coming right at us! What do I do! I've got nothing to cover my wings (note to self: by sweatshirt at target at next town/city), Teddy- wait. He's fine. He's in human form. But I’M screwed because their gonna come past us and ask a bunch of questions and stuff.
"Oh crap… their gonna find out about us…"
"Just shut up and act calm, let me use my 'special charm' if I have to."
He rolled his eyes at me! How rude! I don't see why he isn't so scared as me. Their for sure t find out!
100ft!... 50ft!... 20ft! Oh man… 10ft!!!!
"Good afternoon, nice weather isn't it."
"Er… indeed it is."
And the passed by just like that?! NO WAY! After they were a ways behind us I started up conversation again with Teddy.
"I was so scared they were going to bug me about being different and-"
"Dude. Your just paranoied."
I just walked straight ahead without looking at him.
"Uh… oh. Ok… that makes some sense…"
"Heh, were you always this paranoied even before you met me?"
"Probably…"
He was chuckling pretty hard now. I looked behind me took for the hikers. I couldn't see them. I lifted my right wing and unfolded it slightly and thumped him on the back of the head 'slightly'. Put a lot of emphasis on the slightly part, but not to much. I folded my wings back up tight took innocent as possible. Heh. Fat chance. He knew I did it. No way is some big bird going to come out of no where and smack him across the back of the head. I really don't think he cared. I think he liked the fact that he had gotten to me. We kept walking down the mountain at an even steady pace. It was a while before I started back up conversation. And now with more people passing us different directions (we were obviously at a more important part of the parks trails) I was a little less nervous about the people noticing my wings. I did receive a few remarks however on the cool pattern on the back of my t-shirt. A few asked where they could get one like it. I'd want to say, 'get abducted by some evil scientists who want to perform genetic experiments on you and once they force your body to grow wings, cut a pair of holes in any shirt, and vuila! Your done making this cool shirt.' But I really said;
"The store that makes them went out of business… sorry…"
And then they were sorta bummed… Actually… now if I think a little ways down the hill, I DID say what was on my mind to one couple and their little daughter in a stroller. Their response was;
"Oh! So you’re a Maximum Ride fan too! I just loved that book and so did my husband! Were reading a chapter our daughter every night it's such a good book! No, but really, where did you get that shirt? The feathers look so real- OH! And they FEEL real too!..."
Oh… that’s what I was trying to successfully forget about but miraculously remembered once I forgotten it… Anyway, one thing still bugged me. I had to ask Teddy.
"Hey Teddy? If we go into town, I've got to hide my wings from potential Erasers there and from cops. Plus, we don't smell so good… and I don't think any amount of deodorant is going to stop that… so what do you recon we do?"
"I dunno Will. You have a point that we can't afford to let the school find us after loosing them so far… I've got an Idea about how to hide your wings. You can wear my shirt and I'll ware yours. Mine doesn't have holes for wings in them and it should keep them hidden as my shirt is bigger than yours by a little bit."
"What about you? What if my shirt doesn't fit you?"
"I'm buff enough to go shirt less if I have to…"
Figures he would be one to say that. He did fir the 'buff' part. We cruised on over to the nearest restroom and made use of the facilities. And after that, what luck, these restrooms had showers. Cold water, yes. No soap, but still refreshing. Teddy kept watch while I took my shower as they were open shower head in the bathroom and I wanted to keep as few people knowing about my wings as possible. No one came in. And no, for you sick and twisted people out there. We wore our boxers in the shower. Enough said. We exited the park in a calm manner, me with Teddy's shirt on, and he was going out 'girl fishen' as he jokingly called it. He had a few hits, but he had to let them go. Not his type he said. I assumed he intended the pun. We got on the nearest bus. Paid him a little extra as Teddy was 'supposed' to have a shirt on. We got to the nearest target shortly and Teddy was stopped at the door by security. Well, actually, he wasn't stopped at the door. He got inside fine. He just got kicked out fast. So I told him I'd come back out once I had gotten my stuff and then he could go get his stuff once I came back from the bathroom from changing back into some new clothes and applying some deodorant. I picked out a black cheapy back-pack to carry the deodorant, a darker than tan pair of cargo pants (my signature clothes for when I was in school, no not the institute school…), a blue shirt that said 'I'm really excited to be here' for in case the School ever caught me again, a grey sweatshirt which was thin in cloth but baggy in general (If I need to stay warm I've got my wings as a blanket.), and pair of vans shoes. I like my vans. They were a little run down, and I needed new ones. I got a few other little thingies, and I headed for the check out line, bought my stuff, went and changed into my new stuff, threw away the old stuff, and went to Teddy to let him have a turn. When he came out, he had a dark attire as well as I did, and he had on running shoes as well. We put a few extra items in the bad and we set off to the nearest park bench to catch a few much needed z's. Teddy and I took turns sleeping and staying awake. By night we were refreshed and ready to hit the road again. But we didn't really know where to go… Teddy just had a road to live on… I had a family and friends. I had a place to back to. Teddy had nothing… I felt sorta bad for him and I promised him that once were safe again, and that if I ever went back to my parents, I'd only go with them if he could come with. Teddy was very pleased at that. He had never had somebody care for him like that. Let alone someone outside of me care for him at all for who he really was and not just another dispensable object. So we decided to find out where the heck we were and once we knew exactly where we were at, I would call my family and I'd find a way to get home. Even if I couldn't stay permanently at home. As Teddy tells me, the Erasers won't care if there are people there to protect him and I. If the School is threatened, then they will kill the experiments threatening them. I didn't particularly like the sound of that…
Chapter 11
So the best place to go I have found it to the town hall or the community center to fin out where you are. Or any other place like that with maps. So naturally, it being about midnight, they weren’t open. Not really a problem. Because we don't really know where the nearest place is at. At all. So you could basically say we were wandering the streets looking for someplace to look into when they opened. And I still needed to cut holes in my shirt. Why didn't I think of that early in target? They had knifes in there… oh well. There was a really fancy building up ahead which looked like it could serve a purpose to us. So we walked up to the steeps to the door and took a look at all the flyers and posters tapped onto the side of the door. It said that they open a seven in the morning. I tried to look inside to see if there was a clock inside to look at. What luck, an illuminated clock which said 6:00 am! What joy! Just another hour until the place opened! They had computers lined up long side the walls in the back of the room, and a pay telephone. Does it take $20? Eh. If not I'll get some change. I sat down and Teddy sat down with me. He fell asleep quickly while I stayed awake. I can figure why. I'm the only one between us to that has to worry about getting caught by someone outside of the School. I'd be hunted by the bad guys and the OTHER bad guys: the media. I don't like them very much… they don't give all the truth. Just their idea of the truth and it's normally negative anyway… Oye, its cold out… I wish I could rap my wings around me to keep me warm… or better yet, I wish I could stretch them… I've been getting stiffer and stiffer through the cold… I'd probably hear a bunch of pops and cracks next time I spread em' wide… I looked down at the busy street in front of me. Cars zooming back and forth… people passing on the sidewalk… the parked cop across the street looking in my general direction… Wait. Cop?! What does he want with Teddy or me? Aw, crap. He knows I see him. He's getting out of the car and coming across the street. He looks sleepy and slightly disorganized.
"Good morning boys, you're up a little early."
"We're waiting for the place to open up. We need use the computers."
"Ah… I see… You don't have a computer at your home?"
"Yea, we do just no internet… I-It's been out for a while…"
"If you want I can take you down to the station and you can use the computers there… Their really fast…"
"No, no… it's ok… We can wait a while longer for this place to open…"
"Will… what's goin' on? Who you talking to?"
Teddy was just waking up.
"It’s a police officer. Its fine man. You can go back to sleep…"
He sat up and looked at the police officer. I could almost see the hamster in his head waking up and start to move in its wheel. It didn't take him long to figure out our situation.
"Oh. Were fine officer. You don't need to worry about us…"
"It's my job to worry about people… and what did you say your name was again? Will, was it? Sounds familiar…"
"It's because it’s a popular name"
"I know that. It just- Oh, right. It reminds me of the report of a missing child a month or two ago about some kid by the name of William… His parents were really depressed by his disappearance…"
He stopped talking and looked at me in the eyes for a second. He then fumbled out for a piece of paper and a flashlight. Holy crap… he thinks I'm him… Wait. I AM him! Ho. The irony… a blessing of being found and then being returned to my parents, but yet a curse because the Erasers will be right behind the media and everyone else to kill me… He put the flash light on my face. My pupils dilated. He checked his paper and me several times.
"Hey... YOU'RE this William kid…"
"Officer, please do not tell anyone you saw me until after I get home… I will admit I saw you but PLEASE don't tell anyone. For our sakes."
"But why? You're safe now from whoever abducted you-"
"Officer, you don't understand. The people who abducted me are looking for me now. If they know where I'm at they will not hesitate to kill either of us-"
"You don't get it kid. They never do… Once you're in our custody, NOBODY can hurt you. Your safe, ya hear?"
I looked over his shoulder and saw a dark, unmarked van pull up behind his cruiser. A can of Erasers…
"Sir, you have no idea what has happened to me…"
I pulled of my hoodie fast and put it in my back pack. I then spoke to Teddy.
"We have some company. Cut me some slits."
"Wha… oh, right."
He stood up next to me and using his claws or something else, quickly and skillfully cut two long slits in the back of my shirt. Perfect spacing and position too. The Cop drew his firearm and pointed it at him.
"Don't Move!"
"Its ok sir, I wanted him to cut my shirt. And point your gun at those things across the street if you really want to help me."
"No. I'm not going to let you out of my sight."
I spread my wings slowly out of the slits so I could fold them back down onto my back. I need a camera to take with me when I do this… I love the expressions I get on peoples faces… Oh. And I was right. I did get a lot of snaps and pops when I spread my wings. I saw the Erasers draw their firearms and unsafely discharge them in my general direction. Teddy grabbed my hoodie and pulled me to the ground while the poor, good meaning cop took the rounds. All I can really say about what happened to the poor guy is… Well, let's just say I could vaguely give you the colors of a few fluids you wouldn't normally see. Or want to see. He never got a chance to fire his gun as it clattered bloodily next to me. Any intelligent, illegally genetically engineered person would grab for the gun when you're being shot at. I griped the standard issue police weapon and slowly on my elbows position my self to take a few pot shots at the Erasers. I've only shot a pistol a few times in my life. They were either in a firing range or out in a forest in the middle of know where. So I'm not exactly the best shot, and the street is in a pandemonium over the shooting, while I'm trying to defend myself from, let me check… One... two… four… five. Five Erasers. And I have to hit every single one or I'm in deep- BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Wow! That’s loud! I point my gun down towards the street from the top of the stairs of the building's entrance. BOOM!!! What a miss! BOOM!! BOOM!! If this is the clip I'm thinking they have in this gun, I only have 9 rounds left. Not a good ratio.
"Gimme that!"
"Wha?"
Teddy takes the gun from my hands and empties the clip. The Erasers are lying in their own filthy blood.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?!"
"Guess."
"Oh…"
We run down the steeps into the screaming pedestrians. Their screaming and yelling and hollering and calling the police and what not. We run over to the Erasers. I grab my own pistol and I pick a few clips from each Eraser for defense while I put it all in my cargo pockets. That’s why I love cargo pants. You can carry ANYTHING in them if their big enough.
"Will! What do we do from here?"
"I dunno! One sec!"
I run over to the nearest stressed person.
"Where are we?!"
"What? Oakland you retard!"
I give him a nice firm pat on the back. I wanted it to hurt.
"Thanks buddy! Teddy! Were in Oakland, California!!"
"K! What do we do now!?"
"Come 'ere!"
Teddy jogged over to me and I grabbed him around the middle. I never was a good gambler. Maybe I'd get lucky tonight. I got a good hold and I spread my wings wide as I could. Smacked a person or two and began flapping hard. I rose to airborne, but not as quickly as I would have if I was flying without dead weight. The crowd below screamed and yelled and pointed. And it was still to dark for cameras! What luck and joy! I rose to a few hundred feet with Teddy. He was clinging to me the way your clothes do when you get in a squirt gun fight and you lose to the guy with the hose. But I could still breathe and I was getting good exercise. I could see the bay bridge and a few other details from my excellent eyes and altitude. The sun was slowly starting to rise and I needed a place to land…
-Mr.Man