This story was posted a few years ago. I have re-written it and tidied it up for re-issue. I worked at making the situations and characters both plausible and authentic.

All the usual disclaimers apply.

This story is completed in 5 parts and I will post them, one after another.

Any comments should be posted to jet2larkin At Gee mail dot cum.. (reinterpret)

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The Running Boys

by Larkin

Part 5

Conclusion

The summer was coming to end:

"What do you think?  Should I try and talk to Randy's father and see if he could start school here with us?"

It was my mom's suggestion and I liked the idea because Randy and I had become brothers.

A few days later: 

"Randy, your father can't even take care of himself, I don't see how he could ever take care of you.  You better stay here with us."

A week after school started:

"Hello, anyone one here?" I opened the door and let the woman in.

"Is Randy Ryder here?"  She gripped car keys in one hand and had an erect cigarette in the other. 

Randy appeared at the foot of the stairs.

"There you are honey, aren't you glad to see your mother?"

Randy stood there, his face was without emotion.

She wore earrings, jingling bracelets and had on brightly colored clothes. She opened her arms to Randy but he just stood there.

"I have missed you so much honey!"

The fact that there was no physical demonstration between the two didn't seem to bother her.

"Randy, get your things, you are coming home with me."

Randy slowly looked over at me and said nothing.  

"What's your name honey?" 

I told her I was Trevor and that my mother was at work and would be home soon.

"Come on Randy, get your things I want to be on the road before it gets too late."

My mother arrived home and the two women greeted each other.

"I'm Randy's mother, Jeanette. Thank you so much for taking care of him. You know that you can't rely on his no good, drunken father."

They set up in the kitchen having a talk and Randy and I went upstairs to collect his things. The idea of Randy leaving and going away had never occurred to me and I was stunned. I didn't know what I would do when he was gone. I could tell that Randy was very upset about having to leave but he was keeping it all in inside.

Most of his clothes fit into a plastic garbage bag and I helped him lug it downstairs.

His mother stood up to go. She continued talking to my mother.

"I've got a god damn, good lawyer.  That son of a bitch is going to be paying me child support if I have to put him in prison, and don't think I won't do it!"

I watched the two walk to the curb. His mother upright and defiant and Randy behind her dragging his plastic bag of clothes.

She yelled at him, "GET IN THE CAR!"

About a week later I got a phone call from Randy. He gave me the number. I asked him how things were but he didn't say much. After that every time I called, his mother answered and she would always say that he couldn't come to the phone. Finally I stopped calling. I was devastated and gradually the loss of Randy turned into depression.

Several months later I awoke in the night to see Randy climbing in the window. I was so happy to see him but the next morning the police came to the door and took him away.

A few years later my mom married an older man she had met.  I don't think that she really loved him, I think she was just looking out for the two of us.  He was a good man but distant and we didn't really communicate.  We moved to a nicer house in a nicer neighborhood.  I sent Randy a postcard but I think they moved. 

Eventually, I settled down and concentrated on my grades.  At that time I didn't have much of an interest in girls or even boys. Maybe it was because of all the wild things we had done when I was younger.

I did see Billy once but it was awkward and we didn't seem to connect. The chemistry was all Randy's doing.

When I was 17 a letter appeared in the mail box. I held it in my hand and turning it over I saw that it had been opened and then taped shut.  It was from a correctional institution up state.

Trevor,

I hope this letter reaches you.  I am sorry to tell you that I am locked up maybe for a while, possibly 10 years.  I'm not really a bad person, it was just the people I was hangin out with that got me here.

Not much to tell about this place except that I have friends that look out for me so you don't need to worry.  My mother made sure I got locked up the first time for truancy and after that it was easy to keep comin back.  

I wrote his friend, Billy but he never wrote me back.  I wished he had. 

At the the end of the letter he said,

“I miss you so much. I can't stop thinking about the times we had together and I wish more than anything that we could have those times back..

Your brother, Randy”

Not long after I took a 4 hour bus trip up-state to see Randy.  When I got to the prison, I was turned away because I was under 18, and needed to have an adult with me.  I never got to see him.  Later in a letter, Randy told me he had waited all day.

2 years later:

"I didn't do nothin, I was just standing there."

Something happened and blame had to be issued.  Randy's sentence was extended 5 more years.  It wouldn't be the last time.

Dear Trevor,

Do you think that when I get out, you and me could live together? I know we would get along. Maybe a place to live near the sea shore or the ocean.  These are things I dream about.

Randy

His letters started coming back.  They were stamped deceased.  Randy had caught something and quickly died.  He never told me that he was sick and it really didn't matter what it was.

Now he is free and no one can ever rein him in again.