Page 6 of Something New

"Yes, they're mad. My car got wrecked last night, and they have to help me pay for it. Plus, they're just disappointed in me in general. They don't like my cool kid glasses."

"Because they're too big," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, staring at me with a serious expression and causing me to laugh lazily.

"You're funny, little man." I blinked slowly, letting my eyes stay closed for a few long seconds, enjoying the weather. My ears were still ringing from all the loud music, but I was used to this feeling, so it was normal to me.

The words in the distance didn't make sense at first, but I could faintly hear a frantic cry.

"Ethan! Ethannnn!"

I heard the name in the distance. It kept repeating.

"Are you Ethan?" I said to the boy.

He nodded.

"You better go."

He took off, running in the direction of the lady who was yelling. There was a large clearing and then I could see the path to the tunnel that my brothers were building. From my perspective near the firepit, I couldn't see the house or anything on the other side of that tunnel. The woods were thick enough that I could see nothing. I assumed that the boy was headed to the right place when he disappeared toward the tunnel. The yelling continued.

"Ethannnn! Ethan Jaaaames!"

I was about to get up and check on the little boy when I heard the woman exclaim like she had seen him. There was a shriek and I could clearly make out the words, "There you are!"

I smiled and adjusted my bag, making it a comfortable pillow again. I knew the boy was accounted for, and it took me no time at all to relax and fall asleep.

I breathed one time, and just like that I—

"Excuse me."

I heard the woman's voice loud and clear, and I woke up to find her standing over me. I squinted and sat up. I had been out cold for however long it took for her to walk over to me. She was holding the boy on her hip, and staring at me with a concerned expression. I scrambled to sit up, trying to look as presentable as possible. I was glad she couldn't see my eyes because I blinked constantly.

"Yes. I’m sorry."

"Who are you?" she asked, glancing at my bag and then back at me for clues.

"Oh, my brothers are building that tunnel right there."

She obviously knew what tunnel I was talking about. "Phillip and Salem are your brothers?"

"Yes. They're coming back. They had to run into town for something at the hardware store."

"Okay. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes."

"Were you sleeping out here?"

"Uh, yes. I work nights, and then I got into a car accident on my way home this morning. I was at the hospital, and then my brothers gave me a ride from the police station, but they were coming straight out here, and they're mad at me, so they…" I took a deep breath. "Them being mad has nothing to do with it. They told me I could go to the store with them. I just chose to stay here because I was tired. I'm sorry I was sleeping on your ground. Is this your house? My brothers said the owners hadn't moved in yet."

"We're moving in this weekend," the lady said. "My name is Amanda, and my husband is Ben Kennedy."

"Nana?"

"Yes, Nana," she said, looking surprised.

I gestured at the boy. "I met Ethan James."

She let out a sigh and looked at him. "I'm still shaking right now. I can't believe he got away from me. No, Ethan, no sir. You're not getting down right now. We're going back up to the house, and we're going to have a talk about what Nana means when she says stay in the yard. This is not the yard, baby." She looked at me. "I told him to stay in the yard, and I turned my eyes for one minute, and he was gone. My husband and I bought Camp Eden. Your brothers have been working on the tunnel for us. Ethan saw it the last time we were here. It stood out to him. And the firepit. I should have known he would come out here. He, my husband and I met out here, so he knows the story of… I'm sorry, I'm out of breath. I'm just so thankful he didn't go too far. Ethan, baby, this was too far. You have to stay in the fence next time. I'll show you, okay?"

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