Page 27 of Hide and Sneak
It sure is. Complete with a tiny basketball goal that connects on one side. Amos and I both give each other a look trying to figure out what the hell he’s thinking. Sutton rushes out to his truck and returns with a large box full of plastic balls.
“Dude, I don’t think you’ll fit in that,” Amos says as Sutton opens the box.
“It’s for Dusty. Watch.” He whistles and Dusty comes galloping down the hall. “Look what I got you, boy,” he says,his voice full of excitement. He holds the box up high and starts letting the balls fall into the pit.
Dusty loses his furry little mind. He bounds into the pit, jumping around as the balls surround him.
It’s the cutest thing ever. His barks echo through the trailer, mixing with our laughter. For the next hour, we all end up on the floor, playing with Dusty, tossing the balls for him to chase, and chucking them back into the pit.
Sutton tries to teach Dusty to put a ball in the little basketball hoop, but each time, he just grabs it and runs around, too excited to pay attention. All in all, it’s not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.
When it’s time for Amos to get ready for work, Sutton sits at the kitchen table with his computer. Judging by the little smirk on his face when he glances at me, I have a suspicion about what he’s doing.
“Are you playing Third Place?” I demand.
“Of course not. I’m watching porn. Leave me alone.”
Amos walks in and stops in his tracks. “What?”
“He is not. He infiltrated my neighborhood on Third Place and he’s messing with my Smalls.”
Amos shakes his head. “That game is boring as hell.”
I’m too busy retrieving my laptop and logging on. Damn it. His Small is now in love with mine and he’s leading her toward the bedroom. “Stop trying to hubba hubba me!”
“What the hell does that mean?” Amos snorts, then holds up his hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. Try not to kill each other.”
“I’m not promising anything.” At least I have my Small set up as child-free so she won’t get pregnant. Trying to keep kids in this game isn’t fun. “Oh, before I forget, there’s going to be a neighborhood pool party this weekend. It’s the last night theyhave the pool open. Everyone will be grilling out and drinking. You can bring Mandy if you want.”
“Sounds good. I’ll ask her.”
Heavy rain and storms continue over the next couple of days. It’s often like this when we hit that line between summer and fall. I’ll be attending the party this weekend but there’s no way I’ll be swimming. That pool water will be freezing even if the temperature rises again.
Each evening, I end up playing Third Place for at least an hour, locked in battle with Sutton. Stone successfully sweet talks my Small into bed twice, but I’ve finally managed to put some distance between them again. I had to take all the doors off my house and trap the horny bitch inside for a while.
In retaliation, I filled Stone’s house with garbage, then broke his showers. Now every time he goes back home, it makes him stink. All the other Smalls avoid him, waving their hands in front of their faces and running away.
“It’s okay if you want to keep Stone all to yourself,” Sutton says, grinning at me from across the room.
“What I want is to dip him in lighter fluid and toss him in a volcano. Along with his creator.”
A pop up appears at that moment that reads.Congratulations, Lila is pregnant. Better prepare the nursery!
“No!” I shout. “You son of a bitch. She’s childfree!”
“Not anymore.” Sutton beams from ear to ear, typing away.
“Absolutely not. What’s the mod for an abortion clinic?”
He throws back his head, laughing. “There’s no virtual abortion clinic.”
Amos comes out of his room to see what the yelling is about. “What are you two arguing over?”
“He got me pregnant!” I snap.
Amos whips around to face Sutton, his eyes bulging.
“On the game!” Sutton exclaims, leaping up from the couch and holding his hands out in front of him. “My Small got hers pregnant.”
