Random Stuff (Nerd Edition)

I Can Change

(Flashback: 1980.)

      "Richie, I'm hungry!" I complained while clutching my stomach. "Hang on Harry, we're almost there." My brother consoled me as he shushed me. We were hiding behind a small, white house. "Wait right here, I'll be back, okay?" I nodded to show I understood. Like a monkey, my brother climbed up the back of the house by using the rain pipe bolted on the side and crawled through an open window. I could hear clanging and creaking coming from the house and see lights being turned on and off. After a tense ten minutes of waiting, my brother poked his head out the window with a hand behind his back and in the other hand a grocery sack of food and water. "Come on!" I whispered sharply. I didn't want to be caught. Richie nodded and clambered back down the house. "Look Harry, I found you a friend." From behind his back, he produced a short, soft, furry, brown teddy bear with a black bow tie and big, brown eyes . I squealed in joy and yanked the toy from my brother's hand. I've never had a toy of my own. I've seen kids play with things like this all the time. "Thanks Richie!" I hugged my brother and the bear tightly. "That's what family is for." Richie smirked and noogied my head. My hair stood up straight and crackled with static electricity. "I'll never leave you...Barry. That's it. I'll call you Barry." I decided as Richie took my hand and led me back to our hide out in a tree house we found in a backyard not too far from here.
I remembered the memory fondly like it was yesterday. Back then, it seemed like Richard acted like the older brother. He still acts that way sometimes. I sighed contently as Richard nudged me playfully in the ribs with his elbow, yanking me from my thoughts. "Ready?" I closed my eyes and took a long, shaky breath. "As ready as I'll ever be." I replied, still uncertain if this was a good idea. My brother could sense my hesitance. "Just think, this will be the last time we have to steal, okay? I'm sorry you don't like it, but I love it! The rush of adrenaline-" I cut my brother off with a glare that suggested he stopped talking before I slapped him. He closed his mouth instantly and gestured for me to go first. "What's the plan?" I asked. Richard shrugged and gently pushed me forward through the door.
      I froze, terrified. Normally, Richard led all of the illegal stuff, not me. I glanced behind me for signs of my brother. He mouthed good luck and darted off. I made a mental note to myself to personally punch Richard. If I actually pulled this off. With as much confidence I could muster, which wasn't much, I strode up to the female accountant behind the register. "Exucse me ma'am, but I'm doing a project for school about how to use a banking account and the history of our fine bank." I gestured broadly around the spacious, red brick building. It seemed mostly empty, which was good. "What school are you from?" She asked politely. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know the names of any of the schools here. From behind the lady, Richard had two burlap sacks filled with money. "Um, I gotta go, my...dad wanted me home at..." I glanced at my watch frantically. "4:30." I lied, wincing on the inside. I so sounded like I was lying. "Oh, okay then. Have a good day!" She seemed slightly taken aback, but at least she was not suspicious.
      I jogged out of the bank, glad I was done lying. Richard was waiting for me outside impatiently. "Come on, I hot wired a car we could use to get out of here." Parked in front of the bank was a pale blue buggy. "How did you..." I trailed off, unable to find any words to say. "Hotwire the buggy? I'll tell you in the car." Richard hopped into the driver's seat and opened the passenger seat door. I opened my mouth to ask how he unlocked the doors, but he answered it for me. "Remember, I can pick locks?" He retorted as I climbed into the car. "You know how to drive, right?" Richard bit his lip nervously. "Not exactly-" "What!" I shouted. "You hijacked a car, but you don't know how to drive?" "Do you know?" Richard snapped. I sighed in defeat and shook my head. I didn't know either. "It can't be that hard." Richard shrugged. He gingerly pressed his foot down on one of the pedals. Gradually, the car inched forward. "See? Not that hard." Richard flashed me a wide grin. "Richard watch the road!" I commanded. He turned to look at the road and slammed his foot on the pedal as a man walked across the street. "That's not how you stop a car!" I yelled in alarm. Richard's eyes widened as he slammed his foot down on the other pedal. I leaned over quickly and rotated the steering wheel. The car swerved and began spinning in a circle. "Um, am I the only one who notices the ground shaking?" I assumed it was the car or my nerves, but my brother was right. I could actually see the the ground shaking. "Um, Richard?" "Yeah?" "We should get out of the car." "Agreed." Both of us swung our doors open and leaped out if the car. Underneath the car, a large crack in the ground snaked towards us. The car suddenly disappeared into the large gap that appeared. "Run!" Richard and I took off sprinting down the street. Around us, buildings collapsed into piles of rubble. People's screams of fear and cries of grief and pain filled the air. "Where do we hide?" I coughed dust out of my lungs.  "Find the nearest building and stay under the bed. Go!" Richard dragged me by the arm to a three story, red brick apartment. "Wait." I halted mid run, yanking Richard back. "What?" He snapped impatiently. "Listen." I demanded. He cocked his head to the side and ceased talking. I could hear creaking and the rumbling of the ground. "I don't think the ground is creaking." I muttered, uncertainty creeping into my voice. "It's the building." I breathed. "Run!" Richard and I dashed down the broken street. I tripped over a crack in the road and fell face first onto the ground. "Richard!" I cried. A large crack spread out in between the two of us. "Jump, I'll catch you!" Richard extended his arms towards me. I hoisted myself off the ground, blood dripping from a cut above my eye. I took a couple of steps back and ran as fast as I could towards my brother. I jumped in the air, soaring over the crack. I missed my brother's hands by mere inches. I fell a short distance and grasped the edge of the split apart street. "Give me your hands!" I had both hands holding the edge for dear life. I cringed and released my hold on the road. I short scream ripped from my throat before Richard grabbed my hands and attempted to yank me up. The gap continued to grow wider and wider by the second. Rubble of homes and buildings were lying all over the street. Richard struggled to lift me up, his feet digging into the ground. "Let me go." I ordered tearfully. Richard can't save me. No one can. "No, I'm not leaving you. Not ever. We're  family, and family sticks together." Richard grunted, sweat pouring down his face, soaking his red sweatshirt. "Goodbye." I whispered shakily and slid my sweaty hands from Richards. "Harry!" Richard sobbed and scrambled to catch my hand again, he leaned forward and faintly, I heard him say something. "I'm not leaving you alone." Richard leaned forward all the way, arms spread out wide. And he fell forwards into the hole. I twisted my body back as I fell. His eyes were staring into mine. I reached out with my arms and wrapped Richard in a tight hug as the wind rushed past us. "I'll never let go ever again." Richard promised. I buried my head into the nape of his neck, my tears staining his red sweatshirt. "I'm sorry." Those were the last words I ever got to say. The hard packed earth rushed up to greet us. Blackness and stinging tears enveloped my vision. I could hear and feel all of my bones cracking and breaking once I made contact with ground. The pain was unbearable for a moment until finally, all pain went away.