by Orca Various
Is that what you are doing? I asked. Kid napping?
Yes she said.
And who are you kid napping?
You she said.
Oh rite I said.
That was this morning.
Last nite I didnt see her. I only saw the guys who took me out of the car. 2 of them. Pretty big guys with parkas and gloves and those ski masks with holes for the eyes. They dragged me out of the trunk and into the house and took off my skates witch I still had on from skating at city hall with my brother Spencer. The skate laces got into a not and one of the guys had to take off his gloves to undo them. He had white hands with dirty nails. The 2 guys dragged me down the hall and then pushed me down the stares. I was still feeling pretty bad. My head hurt and my legs didnt work rite. You know when your foot is asleep and you cant stand up? Like that only both feet. I fell all the way down the stares and lay at the bottom. The guys rumbled down after me and threw me into the room.
I didnt know what was going on. Thats normal for me. But this time I didnt have any idea at all. I mean nothing. I shivered all nite long.
In the morning an other guy came to see me so there were 3 guys in my room. The new guy was bigger than the other 2 and fat and his ski mask was red. They watched him. He didnt watch them. He was the boss.
I thot about standing up but I was feeling creeky. Also I thot that if I stood up the boss guy wuld nock me down and if I stayed sitting then he wuldnt. And if he nocked me over when I was sitting down then I wuldnt fall as far. Anyway I stayed down. He stood in front of me and asked questions about Mr Clean. At least thats what I thot he said.
Who? I asked.
I wasnt sure I herd rite. He talked English ok but with an axent. He missed some words and he said other ones kind of funny.
The guy on TV? I said. The bald guy?
I am not knowing if he is on TV said the boss. He waved his hands around when he talked. His voice made me want to clear my throat.
He wanted to know where he kept things.
Mr Clean? I said again to make sure. It really didnt make sense.
Yes Mr Clean he said. Where would Mr Clean keep things?
He pounded one hand into the other like it was a baseball glove. He turned and said something to the other 2 guys.
Yes Yes they said nodding. Mr Clean. Mr Clean.
They were all talking together.
It was cold in the basement. We wore parkas and our breaths made clouds.
I tried to remember the last time I saw Mr Clean on TV. He was bent over and he was rubbing a stove and making it shine. The woman with him was smiling. It was all pretty lame.
Hes got a bucket I said. He keeps stuff in there. Sponges and cleaning stuff.
They wernt interested in Mr Cleans bucket.
Somewhere else said the boss. Where does he keep papers?
I felt dum witch I am used to. I wished Spencer was there to xplain what they wanted. Hes smart and good at xplaining. He xplained what was going on at the cottage when we found the pictures and stuff. I didnt know why DJ was so xited until Spencer xplained to me.
I did my best here.
Mr Clean doesnt have any papers I said. Xept maybe a coop on. Do you mean a coop on? By 1 and get 1 free? I think he has those. What papers do you want?
And then he said—the boss guy said it and the others nodded there heads like they were saying uh huh—he said The Anthem. With capital letters like that—like it was important and I shuld no it. Like it ment something.
The Anthem.
I nodded. I no what the anthem is.
O Canada I said.
Cause that is our anthem. We had to learn the words in French and English in Grade 4. I remember some of them. Carton brass a ton eh something Il say portay la craw. Or something. Pretty cool. Something about a cross witch is not the same as in English. In English we stand on gard a lot.
OK I said. Mr Clean has the anthem and you want to know where he wuld keep it. Rite?
When you put it like that it sounds dum eh? It sounded dum when I said it. But the boss guy nodded his red mask and said Yes yes yes. And the other 2 guys nodded there black masks. And then the door opened and Vi came in.
This was the first time I saw her. She didnt have a mask. And she said my name.
Hi Bunny she said. Im Vi.
Hi I said. I stood up. It seemed like the rite thing to do. So there we all were standing up in the basement. It culd of been a party but there was no snacks and we all had our coats on.
I was hungry and I wanted to go to the bathroom. No wait—I wanted to go to the bathroom first.
Vi was tuff but pretty. You know. Like she wuld fite you and look good doing it. Her parka was fluffy.
Hows our hoss stage? she asked me.
What?
Thats what you are Bunny she said.
Oh I said.
I didnt know what a hoss stage was then. I do now.
Vi was the first 1 who called me by name. Later they all did but she was the first. And she talked normal. Like me I mean or Spencer or DJ or the Creekside guys. She didnt have an axent is what I am saying.
Has Bunny told us anything? Vi asked. Has he helped us?
Hes going to help us now said the big boss guy with the red mask. He is going to tell us where is the anthem. Arent you Bunny?
He said my name a bit different from her. Vi said Bunny like I do. He was more like Bun neee.
That is what we want said Vi. Where wuld your grampa keep the anthem?
What? I said. Is this about Grampa? My grampa?
Of course she said. Your grampa has our anthem and we want it back.
Oh I said.
David McLean is your grampa rite? she said.
Not any more I said. He dyed. But he was my grampa and that was his name.
The guys in the black masks were nodding and saying McLean McLean. I got it now. They wernt asking about Mr Clean. They didnt care about him or his bucket.
I xplained the mistake to the boss guy—mixing up Mr Clean and Grampa.
I didnt understand you I said.
He got mad and pushed me. My legs were still feeling num and I fell down hard and hurt my sholder.
Careful! said Vi.
You are stupid! he shouted at me.
I know—I shuld not of stood up I said.
GRAMPA.
So many things have happened to me because of Grampa. When he dyed he gave me a task—a thing to do. He had tasks for the other cousins 2. DJ went to Africa to clime a mountain and Adam found a painting and Steve had to go to Spain and like that. Webb went up north to do something I didnt understand. My brother Spencer had to get a kiss from an old lady actress witch was funny and also strange because his task got mixed up with mine. My task was to get a tatoo. It was a big deal for me. I got the tatoo all by myself and all sorts of things happened because of it. I am in a gang—sort of—who are pretty cool guys thanks to Grampa and his tatoo. And Jade is my frend thanks to Grampa. These are good things that happend. Also I am in Creekside—witch is not good. We call it Creekside or Hall but it is jail. There are fences around it and you have to get a note from a PO befor you can go away and you have to be back when the note says.
A PO is a prole officer. Mine is named Roz.
Jail is not all bad. Benj and Lukas are cool and Mr Wing is an awe some teacher who likes my riting a lot.
But jail is mostly bad.
I am not in jail because of Grampa. He didnt send me there. But I got my tatoo for Grampa and I wuldnt be in jail if I didnt have the tatoo. Ive been away since befor Christmas. Roz said I had to be back by New Years or else Id be in trouble. I dont know how I can get back now Ive been kid napped so I gess I will be in trouble. More trouble I mean—Im in trouble now.
Heres what happened. Everybody in Creekside went home for the holidays xept for Benji who doesnt have any parents and Asa who lives far away. I didnt stay home for long tho. The day after Christmas mom left for a crews and dad flew out to BC to do weird camping s
tuff and me and Spencer drove up to Grampas cottage with our cousin DJ. There are 7 grandsons and a bunch of us got together up there to remember Grampa.
DJ is the oldest cousin. Hes like 18. Im 15 and Spencer is 16. Mom talked to Anty Ann who is DJs mom and they both said DJ culd look after us at the cottage. I didnt mind. DJ is bossy but OK. And he is just DJ after all. If he asked me to do something I didnt want to do I wuld say no.
So anyway there were 5 of us grandsons at the cottage—DJ Adam Webb Spencer and me. We were making a fire in the fire place when we found all this cool stuff—pass ports with Grampas picture on them and money from other places. Lots of money. And golf balls—I remember them. This stuff was secret. It came out of the wall. There was even a gun. I know because I fired it. I didnt think it wuld go off but it did. Bang. I was surprised.
They all got xited about the stuff we found. DJ and Adam and Webb did—and even Spencer did a bit. I didnt care. Grampa was dead. He culdnt use the pass ports any more or shoot the gun or play golf. They kept talking tho. They culdnt decide if Grampa was working for us or for them. I didnt say much. I didnt want to spoil things by asking dum questions like—What work was Grampa doing? And—Who is us? Who is them?
Later Spencer xplained that the stuff we found in the wall was spy stuff. That was Grampas work.
Like James Bond I said.
Remember the picture in that movy? Spencer asked me. You said it was Grampa.
That was a spy movy?
Maybe.
Last time Spencer came to Creekside to visit me he showed me a home movy with a picture of Grampa in it. At least I thot it was Grampa. Spencer wasnt sure. He showed the picture to mom and dad a few days ago and they wernt sure ether. So Grampa was maybe a spy.
But I still didnt get about us and them. Whoever he was working for was us wasnt it? I asked Spencer.
It’s about how much you trust Grampa he said.
We talked more about it on the way back to Toronto the next day. DJ was driving me and Spencer and he talked a lot. He had plans for finding out about Grampa. He was dropping us off on his way to the air port. I have to go to the air port he said. Thats the sort of guy DJ is. An air port guy.
I just wanted to go skating. Thats the kind of guy I am. And Spencer said OK. So DJ dropped us at city hall and we went skating. This was around dinner time. It was dark. I got some skates and zoomed around. I like skating. Spencer went to get some food and I was skating back ward and the next thing I new I had a bag on my head. I felt a pain in my side like somebody stabbing me. I yelled and then went to sleep and woke up in the trunk of a car at the Newman place feeling like blah.
Was it only yesterday?
THE MASK GUYS
wanted me to tell them about Grampa and papers but I didnt know much. The big boss in the red mask got mad.
Where does McLean keep papers? he shouted. Where is the anthem? Where?
He took a gun out of his pocket and started waving it around.
Talk! he shouted. Or I will shoot you!
I wuld of been scareder but I had to go to the bathroom. Its hard to be scared when you really have to pee.
Vi stepped in between the boss guy and me.
Let Bunny alone. He doesnt know anything she said.
She pushed him out of the way even tho he was much bigger than her.
The three mask guys went off and talked to each other. I didnt understand what they said but I herd the word Spencer.
Spencer is my brother I said.
So they started to ask me about Spencer.
Does he know where is the anthem? asked the boss.
I dont know I said.
Spencer is a smart guy. He doesnt always see stuff but he knows stuff. He didnt see Grampa in the video we looked at. Even tho it was clear to me.
I wanted to call him but I didnt have my phone. It was in my pocket when I was skating but I didnt have it now. Did Spencer know where I was? Probly not. Was he worryed? Probly.
We will call Spencer the boss told me.
Can I talk to him? I asked.
No said the boss.
He left with the other 2 mask guys. It was only me and Vi.
Sorry Bunny she said.
Thats ok I said.
No it isnt. We shuld treat you better. I believe in our cause but I dont want to hurt you.
She was talking soft. Her eyes were big and wet like she was about to cry. Im sorry she said agane. What can I get you?
Uh I said.
Wuld you like something to eat?
Yes I said. But uh first—I was hopping up and down.
Oh she said.
There was a black mask guy standing at the top of the basement stares. He nodded down to me. The bathroom was small and dusty. The stone floor was cold on my winter sock feet. I didnt care at all.
When I got back to my room Vi had a paper and pencil in her hand.
Rite a note she said. Put down what you know about what is going on and I will deliver it. Do you want to go to the police? I will take it to there. What we are doing is rong. I am on your side she said.
I didnt know what to say.
Trust me she said.
And she left.
That was a few minits ago. I wrote the note about what I culd see from my window—the barn and the speed limit sine—and now I am wating for Vi to come back so I can give it to her.
I CAN TAKE THIS TO THE POLICE SHE SAYS.
She is wearing a scarf now.
Sure I say. Or give it to somebody who can give it to the police.
I dont want you to get in trouble I say.
That is okay she says. I do not like what Lubor is doing to you. He is mean.
Who is Lubor? I say.
I dont know how to spell the name. It may be Lewbor or Luboar or something else. But Lubor is what it sounds like so that is how I am riting it.
Lubor is the boss of this sell says Vi. He is in charge of us.
Oh I say. Then I have to ask what she means.
What is a sell?
We are. All of us in the unit says Vi. Lubor is in charge. When he said we were going to Toronto to kid nap someone I thot we wuld be nice. I didnt know how mean we culd be she says.
She reads the note again and nods to her self.
Is this all you know Bunny? she says. Do you know where is the anthem? Where your grampa wuld keep it? In his house? In his bank?
No I say. Spencer mite know but I dont.
She puts the note in her pocket. I hate that Lubor she says.
He is the big guy in the red mask?
Yes Bunny. I am on your side not his. I will take this letter to the police. Wait for them, ok? Do not try to escape—I dont want you to get hurt.
OK I say.
Great she says. We are on the same side now.
And she leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. She smells nice.
Thats our secret she says.
And she goes.
Its cold in the basement but I am not cold.
I WAIT FOR THE POLICE ALL DAY.
They do not come. I think about good and bad and James Bond. Is he a good guy just because he is on our side? If he was on the other side wuld he still be a good guy? And what if we were on the other side? Wuld he be a bad guy even tho he is James Bond? I start to get confused and switch to thinking about Grampa. Was he bad or good? I gess it depends what side you are on.
Vi is good. She doesnt like Lubor and she kissed me. That’s one way to tell if someone is good. If they kiss you.
I keep looking out the window to see if the police are coming. A truck goes by and a car—but not a police car. It slides sideways down the road. It is not going 40—more like 10. A mask guy comes down with a sandwich and some more water. He takes me to the bathroom.
1 time when I am looking out the window I see the guys in the black masks working behind the wood fence with shovels and you will never believe what they are doing. Go on gess.
They are getting ready to skate.
&nb
sp; There is a rink inside the fence and they are cleaning it. It doesnt take them long. Soon they are skating. I see them bent over going fast and faster around the rink. One of them is a pretty good skater and the other is pretty bad. That is a way to tell them apart because other wise they are the same. There is just the 2 of them for a while and then 2 other guys come out. They dont have masks.
They play hockey for a bit. I see there sticks. When the puck goes over the bords they get it. One of them has boots on and the others have skates. Every body is breathing hard. I cant tell about the guys with masks but the guys without masks are smiling. Where ever these guys are from they like hockey.
I shiver in my blanket all nite long. In the morning the window is frosted over. I cant see anything. My breath is frosty. A mask guy takes me to the bathroom witch is so cold the tap doesnt work. Time passes slowly. Like it has big boots and can not lift its feet.
Vi comes in with breakfast—toast and jam and water like yesterday. She smiles at me.
I handed in the note she says. I didnt have a lot of time in town yesterday but I ran into the police station and gave it to them.
Great I say. So when are the police coming?
Soon she says. You wait here and you will be ok.
I wonder if she is going to kiss me again. The last person to kiss me was Jade. Its not like shes my girl frend but still. I wonder how old Vi is? Older than me but how much older? A black mask guy comes in and Vi goes away. Oh well.
The mask guy talks to me while I eat.
You are a boy from Canada he says. You have skates.
Uh huh I say.
I am thinking that rite now my rented skates are all I have. My boots are back at the city hall.
The guy talks some more. He tells me about himself. He is not from Canada. His home is a place that sounds like Pee and Vee. He asks if I have heard of some guy who plays hockey for Vancoover in the NHL. This player is from Pee and Vee he says. He is a hero there.
I have never heard of Pee and Vee. I do not know if it is a country or a city or what it is. I do not know the NHL player ether.
