Random Stuff (Nerd Edition)

I Can Change

Just a little sneak peek of a book I might write. Enjoy!

      (Time: October 1st, 1987.)

"Come on Harry, you're too slow!" Richard whined as we ran through the dock of South California Beach. "No I'm not!" I protested as I dodged a woman chasing after her small dog. My footsteps thudded heavily to my heart beat as I struggled to catch up. It was a frigid October day, due to the ocean breeze tearing at my bare arms and legs. Orange, red, and brown leaves were scattered everywhere from children making and jumping into leaf piles in front of their houses. I shivered and rubbed my arms and paused to cross my legs for body heat. My twin brother and I were orphans since we were born, which was thirteen years ago on Our mother died in child birth and our father didn't want to raise us by himself. So his solution was that he threw us in a cardboard box on the side of the highway. We've been sent to foster homes, a new one each week because the parents didn't like my twin brother's 'behavior'. Each time we were moved to a new home, we escaped the following night. For right now, my brother and I live under the dock where people can't see us. I preferred it to be just my brother and I now since we've been on the run since we were eight. My brother convinced me to help him steal from a house. I only agreed because it was just food and I was starving. We were almost caught by the neighbor for raiding the home's fridge. We narrowly escaped, but my brother took more than just food. He took two phones, a watch, and a wallet. To make matters worse, the family had some security program, so we were officially on the police radar.
"Hey, want something hot to drink?" Richard called out behind his shoulder as he slowed to a halt in front of the bank. "Cider...please." I panted, out of breath from trying to keep up with my brother. He was definitely more fit than me. While he had toned abs and thick muscles, I had noodle like arms and legs and flabs instead of abs. Both of us had short, scruffy auburn hair with dimples and hazel eyes. The one thing that set us apart was how we dressed. My brother always wore a vibrant red sweatshirt and jeans while I sported a blank white shirt and jean shorts. Neither of us had shoes or socks, which led to our feet being cut on the broken shells on the shore. We stayed near the beach because it was so beautiful at night and it was better than the highway. At night when everyone has left, we would dig our toes in the sand and let the ocean water roll over them in waves, then lay down on the sand and count the stars. I knew all of the constellations by heart now. We had to steal our clothes from the donation bins outside charity buildings. "Um, there's a small problem." Richard held the black leather wallet he stole upside down and shook it. Other than crumbs, the wallet was empty. Great. "Now what?" I whined. Richard normally had an idea, but now he was pacing outside the bank furiously while scratching his head. Arubtly, he froze mid pace, a wide smile spread on his face. I knew what that face meant. We were going to do something illegal. Again. "What?" I groaned. Richard just stared at the bank. "No way." I shook my head no vigorously as Richard's smile widened. "Come on, this will be the last time we have to steal. Just think. We could buy a life time's supply of food. No more eating scraps from trash cans. No more being hot or cold. No more just 'picking up things on the way' to learn. We could have the life we should have had. School, friends...a home." I cringed and turned away from Richard so he wouldn't see the tears streaking down my dirt covered face. I've never had any of those things.
      The one friend I made was a stray male tabby cat I named ami, which was French for friend as my brother taught me. He had ran away and never returned. I was in school once but my brother and I got expelled because my brother threatened a kid with a knife because he called me a dorky loser. That was in second grade. Since then, we learned things from the people we met and the places we stole from. As far as 'home', the closest I ever got was our last home we stayed at. It was a summer home we found in the woods while hunting for food. It was an abandoned log cabin stocked with food and various other supplies. We had to leave when the family came back, but we still stole their stuff. We now had two sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, and two back packs stuffed with food and other needed items. My most treasured possession however was a teddy bear I nicknamed 'Barry' since it rhymed with my name. Richard stole it for me when I was only six.