by Milo Abrams
better then, too." He picked up a black and white magazine with a UFO on the front. "Look at this. The Daily Spill. I used to read crap like this, too." He handed it to James who flipped through it seeing headlines like, BIRTH OF A CENTAUR, and GOVERNMENT REPTILE ALIENS.
"These aren't real, are they?" James asked squinting at some of the black and white pictures.
"Nah, it's all made up funny stuff. Entertainment."
After filling up the truck, they were back on the road. James hadn't been back in the city for the better part of a week and the first thing he noticed was the smell.
"Wow, what is that?" he asked plugging his nose.
"That's city living," Nolan replied.
James tried unplugging his nose and breathing deeply, allowing the stink to swim up his nostrils and desensitize his olfactory receptors.
Nolan laughed at this and for the first time in a good long while he saw his son as the little boy that he was. He had forgotten in his absence how small he still was and the way his hair behind his head curled like a baby’s when it was wet. This realization allowed his mind a good clear conscious moment, and he thought that maybe the fake news magazines about monsters and aliens might have stirred up some fear in his son. "Say, I have an idea. I'm pretty sure I'll have to work tonight, so how about we swing by and grab Duffy to stay with you?"
This caught James off guard. “Really?"
"Yeah, Duffy deserves to experience good country living too, I'd say."
James wondered why he hadn't thought of that sooner. No one really had. Maybe his dad was just afraid that Duffy would ruin his new house.
"Just don't forget to take him outside."
"Dad," James said with sass, "I've had that dog as long as I can remember. I think I know how to take care of him."
"I know, I just think about the gas can," Nolan joked.
As they pulled into the driveway of James's house, he noticed how much different his dad's house was to those in the city. The first thing he noticed was all of the wires. There were cable and electrical lines everywhere as if all the houses were hooked up to life support. For a lot of city folks, that's how it was, too. The city and its electricity was their lifeline and without their modern-day conveniences they would just stand around like dead leaves at the mercy of the wind. Some people, like James's friend Jack, couldn't imagine a day without their cell phones.
James was surprised to see his mom's car in the driveway. "Weird, Mom's home," he said.
"Yeah, she's taking vacation from work, you knew that right?" his dad said.
James hadn't paid attention to much around him, especially not his parents, but they obviously were telling each other a lot more than they were telling him. Thinking about his mom taking vacation while he was gone for the summer made him sad. His dad was moving on with a big house in the country, with dates and work, and his mom preferred to take vacation without him there. He felt that if he just up and disappeared then they wouldn't even go looking for him.
"Does she know that we're coming?" James asked his father bitterly.
Nolan didn't pick up on the layers of dissatisfaction in his voice. As far as he was concerned, there wasn't some secret communication loop that James was out of. "Nah, this was kind of a…last minute idea."
Nolan went in ahead of James, and as the door opened, Duffy came barreling out in a fury of fur and tongue. He jumped onto James and began mauling him with love. Nobody knew what breed Duffy was, Nolan brought him home as a birthday present for James's fifth birthday, and the short-haired pile of pudge had been in love with James ever since. Although no longer a puppy, Duffy thought that he was and often jumped on everyone's lap for a little extra attention.
After a minute, Duffy was satisfied and relinquished his attack on James. As he recovered and wiped the drips of slobber from his face, Duffy ran behind him, disappearing behind the driver’s side of the truck.
“Ahh!” a scream echoed through the yard.
James followed the scream to the other side of the Red Rocket and saw Duffy lovingly smothering his neighbor and best friend, Jack Reeves.
"This is why I never come over!" Jack yelled beneath Duffy's furiously licking snout. James stood and laughed until Duffy had his fill and settled down enough to pee and eat some grass.
"Guard dog," James said pointing at Duffy who sneezed out a mouthful of grass, leaving a few blades hanging from his nostrils.
Jack wiped off his shirt as he got up. "I thought you were at your dad's for the summer?"
"I am. We're just stopping in to pick up Duffy. So, you guys still don't want to come out and check out the place? It's pretty great."
Jack raised one eyebrow at James as his fingers flew across the screen of his smartphone like hummingbird wings. "You're really that bored, huh?"
"No, I mean it. The place is all brand new and super nice. There's a ton of a space, no neighbors and an awesome hayloft in the barn."
"Yeah, Owen said it’s a total dead zone. He'll be over in minute, by the way.”
James's mom, Margaret, came outside with Nolan. "Hey, boys," she said.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Callum," Jack replied.
"So, James, you homesick already?"
He started to answer her but then Nolan interrupted, "No way, James is a natural born hillbilly. We just figured it would be good for Duff to get some fresh air, too. You know, run around and wear himself out." He didn't dare mention that he thought it would be a good idea because James was having fears of monsters in the woods. He didn't want to simultaneously embarrass his son and ruin his summer vacation in the country.
"That sounds like a great idea," Margaret said smiling. To James, she seemed much happier than normal. She was getting along with his dad and being very nice to him, too. It made him a little suspicious. Both his parents were being extremely nice to him as if they knew something he didn't.
"Jack," she said, "why don't you go spend a night out with James and Duffy? It would be good for you to unplug, too."
Jack hesitated but he could feel the pressure of everyone's eyes on him. He was very impressionable, and without the stronger and more rebellious Owen there to back him up, he caved. "Sure, sounds great," he said with an unsure tone.
The awkward moment was interrupted by the obnoxious dragging sound of Owen's back bike tire as he slammed down the pedals to skid across the driveway.
Owen looked up and saw everyone staring at him—he loved being the center of attention. "Hey Mrs. Callum." He looked over at Nolan and pretended to tip an invisible hat. "Doctor," he said with a smirk.
Everyone laughed. "You know, Mr. Sawyer," Margaret said, "I don't appreciate you skidding across the driveway like that. It ruins the curb appeal."
"Sorry, Mrs. C."
Owen was not only the youngest of the three boys but also the shortest. He made up for his lack of height with his attitude, which was reflected in the hot pink baseball cap which he always wore backwards.
"What's up, bros?" Owen asked as he rolled over to Jack and James.
"I got sucked into exile, that's what," Jack whispered to him. This upset James but he wanted to impress his friends.
"Seriously guys, I have to tell you something," James whispered. He knew that if he told them about the monster in the woods they would come over in a heartbeat. Especially Owen, who was obsessed with adventures and evil creatures. He didn't know how to say it so he just he pulled them to the back of his dad's truck.
"What's up?" Owen asked.
"Guys, there's something in the woods behind my dad's house."
Jack and Owen both stared at James. "Okay?" Owen asked.
"I mean something weird. A creature. A monster."
Owen leaned in closer. "Monsters aren't real, James. Man, you've really lost it out there in B.F.E."
"No," James snapped, “I'm serious. I've seen it."
13
James looked back toward his house to make sure no one was watching them or within earshot. "I've seen it every day since I've been t
here. The backyard is nothing but a huge field and behind that are some woods. Every day I've seen it out there, staring at me."
"Are you shitting me?" Owen asked, extremely excited.
"Swear to God. That's why I'm in town, my dad's getting a game camera so I can get a picture of the thing."
"Your dad knows about it?" Jack asked.
"Well, not exactly. He doesn't believe me. I tried to tell him but he won't listen. He thinks the camera is so that I can watch deer."
"I'm coming out too then!" Owen yelled. "Hey, Dr. Callum, is it all right if I come stay the night too?"
Nolan smiled, "Of course. Slowly converting you city boys, one by one."
"Wait," Jack said, "how are we all going to get out there? There's not enough room in the truck for all of us, plus Duffy."
Margaret looked thoughtfully at Nolan. "He's right. Take my car, you boys shouldn't be driving in that thing anyway. It could fall apart at any minute!"
"The Red Rocket? Never!" Nolan slapped the hood, knocking some rust onto the driveway. "It's settled then. Get your stuff boys, we'll run up to the sporting goods store then we'll grab some wings for dinner and head out."
James ran into the house and grabbed Duffy's leash while Jack ran home to pack a bag. Owen didn't bother, he figured it was one night and anything he needed he could get the next day. It seemed everything was coming together for James. His best friends would see there was a monster in the woods, and then maybe he could catch it on camera and prove he wasn't crazy.
Everyone piled into Margaret's four-door sedan while Nolan took the bag of deer feed from his truck and put it in
