The Three Trips

July 13 2022; people 109

Wow. This is really old. I wrote this in 2018.

HONK! A motorcycle's horn blared at the boy as he thoughtlessly stepped into the street, right into the path of the dangerous road ripper. His brother watched helplessly while the horror of the impending doom seemed almost set to the music of squealing brakes. The boy leapt back as the motorcycle nose-dived into the pavement like a fish diving into the water. The boy slammed to the ground with his feet, with such an impact that sent him reeling into his brother and sent them both sprawling on to the concrete. The lion of a motorcycle roared off at the missing of its prey.

“Jeff, are you alright? You almost got bulldozed by that motorcycle.” Thomas dragged himself to his feet, helped his brother up and began to collect the scattered jars and cans. “At least, nothing was broken; you or the groceries.” He looked up to see Jeff still looking down at his clothes which looked like they had been dragged behind a wild horse on a dirt road. Thomas could tell his brother was still shaking, the aftermath of adrenaline. His brother's face was masked in white, a deathly pale of such a hue that competed with the moon.

“I'm fine...for now. Until Mom sees me.” His voice regained its steadiness as he continued. “I have never been so scared. Seem like every time we go to the market something bad happens.” He paused. “Last time, it was that banana peel in the store. I slipped and clobbered you in the face.”

“Yeah, that was pretty bad. I never saw what was coming. What do you say let's wait for the walk sign to glow this time before crossing? And let's avoid the market for as long as possible.”

“That might be a good idea. It might.” They traveled back home safely without another incident. Their mom would never learn of their latest close call; because when they reached home, they left the bag in the empty kitchen and dashed upstairs to change. However, it was just the very next day they were called to go once again to go the store.

“Boys, would you please run down to the store, get flour and sugar along with a dozen eggs. Make sure you get the five-pound bag of flour. I'm baking a cake for company tonight.” Their mother requested as she reached to preheat the oven.

“Why does it have to be us?” They grumbled as they warily staggered out of the house. This time they made it through the grocers' place without another accident. Thomas's hand found his face and they slapped in greeting.

“What's wrong?”

“We forgot to get the eggs.” Jeff lurch to the wall; a pretend knife in his back, stabbed to the hilt.

“I'm staying out here this time. You can't take me back in there, please no... ah... help!”

“I'll go back in myself. Don't torture yourself with such a horrendous thought. I'll be right back. You keep the groceries.” Thomas walked into the store and returned in less than a minute. But there was no Jeff waiting. “Jeff, where are you? This is no time for games. We got to get home. Mom needs the groceries for tonight's cake.” He settled down to wait for Jeff to get bored and come out of hiding when out of nowhere came a club hard to the head. He clutched the eggs, as he reeled from the blow.

“You’re the second kid I got today.” Thomas saw the owner of the voice, a scraggly man with a thick voice and a strange accent. He slipped a sack over Thomas's head and then tied the hands together. The man tried to wrestle the eggs from Thomas, but Thomas held fast to them. “Okay, keep your eggs. Kids these days are awful attached to their groceries.” Thomas was dragged to a building and through a door. “Maybe you two bagged humans would like to get to know each other. You are in for a long wait.” Thomas heard the door shut and using his hands as one he retrieved his pocketknife. He cut his bonds and tore off the bag. The great unveiling revealed a great darkness where light was but a faint dream.

“Hello, anyone in here?” The emptiness resounded his question.

“MFF...MFF” The sound came from the corner. Thomas stumbled toward the origin of the sound and in the process tripped over a lying figure. Thomas blindly searched for the cords binding the prisoner. He cut the ropes and tore off the bag. The person was his brother. “Thanks.”

“We're trapped.”

“I know.” Jeff sighed.

“Well, we need to come up with a plan.”

“Uh-huh” And so they thought of million plans that would have made a scroll mile long. But none suited.

“Why don't we just throw eggs in his face.” Jeff sounded listless.

“That it! Jeff, you are a genius!”

“What did I say?”

“We'll throw groceries at him.”

“Not bad. Let's do it.” The boys prepared the ammunition, eggs. Later, when the man opened the door, he received six eggs... in his face. The boys made a breakthrough the door. The noon day sun lashed down into their eyes, temporarily blinding them. They scrambled out to the main street. “Yahoo! It worked!”

“We need to refill our inventory, in the supermarket.” They made haste for the grocery store. They re-bought the groceries and returned home. The sound of cleaning reached their ears. They obviously were not missed. Relief washed over the twosome.

“Well, that was a pie in the face.”

“No, it was an egg in the face.” Jeff grinned.