School Shoes

Chapter 1

There were only a few more minutes left until the end of class. I can't tell you how ready I was to just bolt out that classroom right then and there. Just let me tell you there's nothing worse than sitting in a class where you couldn't care less about what the teacher is saying.

The bell rang finally. Everyone was pushing each other out of the classroom eager to get to out of there and get home, I was too but something caught my eye on my out of the grounds. No sorry, it was a someone. He was wearing brown pants, a light blue bottom up shirt with a dark blue tie and jacket.

He stood outside the school waiting by the gate, he seemed young enough to be one of the parents just picking up his kid from high school, but I could tell he wasn't or rather not one of the regular grownups here. How do I know this you may ask? Well, you can say I'm a bit nosey.  

I was just going to walk straight past him but my curiosity got the better of me. I know, I'm not supposed to talk to strangers but I couldn't help it. Who could this man be, a boyfriend of newly divorced parents, a nanny or maybe someones much older boyfriend? Okay, maybe I'm letting my imagination get away from me but let's be real he could be. Whoever he was I just hope he'd be some good gossip.

"Looking for someone?" I said all calm and cool like. 

He looked at me and let out a sigh "Do you happen to know where I can find a kid named Mason Evans?"

 "Why, who's asking?" I said putting my hands in my pockets just like a bad boy you'd see on some show on tv. 

I watch him carefully still maintaining my bad boy pose, as he reached into his jacket. He takes out a badge, a note pad and a pen. 

"My name is Steve, I'm a private investigator I would like to ask you some question about a kid named Jacob Fisher,"  he says showing his badge to me. "I hear that you know everything that goes on in this town," he says putting his badge back into his jacket.

"Ah, private investigator asking about Jacob, you must be new here".

He continued, ignoring what I just said. "Do you remember the last time you saw him, did he seem off to you like something was troubling him?"

"Oh, he's missing again, is he? Well, when isn't he missing these days." Steve stood there quiet. I could see him losing a little bit of his confidence, so I continue to see what else I could get out of him. Now, this was getting juicy.

"Now my question is who hired you, his parents?" No reaction, "I doubt that he has disappeared more times then they know what to do. His friends?" nothing still, "Maybe if he still had any that cared about him. Maybe his sister then?" There, got him "It is, isn't." I let slip out a small mischievous giggle.

"Just answer my question, please," he said. Any confidence he had at the start was gone.

Great now I feel guilty. Maybe giggling was a bit much. Yes, I like to gossip but it's not like I'm evil or anything. To be honest, I was a little worried to hear that he was looking for Jocab. We were sort of friends once. I guess I'm a little bitter still.

I sigh, "Fine, I saw him about three days ago, and he's almost always a bit off, ever since he found out."

"Found out about what, exactly?" Steve seemed to feel better now that I'm answering his questions instead of asking my own.

"Well, when he found out that his so-called sister is really his mother and that his parents are his grandparents." Okay, that came out a little colder then that was supposed too. 

All this questioning business was starting to get me down. I've never really been into any of that family drama. I prefer the shocking kind of gossip like who's dating who or did you hear what so-in-so did last night. I guess they both come with being noisy.

Steve seemed like he was going to ask some more questions but I cut him off before he could. "Sorry, but I should be going home now".

He nodded, seeming to have got his confidence back. He reached back into his jacket to put away his pen and pad and pulled out a business card out and hand it to me.

"Please, stop by if you have the time or give me a call, I still have some more questions for you".

I took the card from him and put it in my jean pocket. "Sure, whatever," I said still wanting to keep up my bad boy act.

Without waving goodbye, I then turned in the direction of my house and started to walk. I let out a heavy sigh, I need a shower or something.