The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer by Lamar Giles & Dapo Adeola

Author:Lamar Giles & Dapo Adeola [Giles, Lamar & Adeola, Dapo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781328460837
Amazon: 1328460835
Publisher: Versify
Published: 2019-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

22

The Disappearing Downer

Completely gassed from the fast ride to Archie’s, Otto immediately went to the cooler near the door, unfroze two bottles of water, and handed one to Sheed. They were happy to discover their unfreezing ability worked perfectly on the liquid and gulped greedily until the bottles were empty.

“Mr. Archie”—Otto went for another couple of bottles—“could you add four waters to our tab?”

“Sure thing, fellas. Any luck on unsticking everything?”

“Actually, we think we found a big clue to solving the problem. It’s why we’re back. We need Petey.”

Anna Archie said, “Oh, really? Petey can help save the day! See, Petey? It’s like I always tell you—you’re destined for big things.”

Everyone waited for the inevitable and predictable response. Something sad, a downer. Petey having absolutely no confidence in himself or what he could do.

They waited. And waited.

Sheed said, “Hey, Petey? Did you hear Anna say something nice you can contradict?”

Still, Petey didn’t answer.

The boys rushed to the back of the store, where Petey had been during their earlier shopping spree. Only his broom and apron remained. The dour clerk was gone.

“Mr. Archie,” Otto said, “Anna, do you have any idea what happened to Petey?”

“No,” they answered.

Mr. Archie said, “I thought he’d gone mighty quiet, but figured maybe he’d dozed off.”

“Dad, that’s because you dozed off. I heard you snoring.”

Mr. Archie laughed a laugh that might have been accompanied by a thigh slap had he been mobile. “You got me there, honey.”

Anna said, “I don’t know where he could’ve gotten off to.”

Sheed searched the aisles, on guard, knowing today of all days, anything could happen. “Anna, no one came in here? No stranger in a black suit and a tall hat?”

“Nope. No suit and hat.”

Otto said, “Anybody with dreadlocks and weird not-from-here clothes?”

“Uh-unh. I like weird clothes, so I would’ve noticed that.”

No sign of Mr. Flux or TimeStar. The boys didn’t ask about the Clock Watchers. If the Archies knew anything, they would’ve told. Given how fast A.M. and P.M. moved, it was possible they, or someone like them, might’ve discovered the same yearbook photos they had and zipped Petey out of there faster than Mr. Archie or Anna would’ve noticed. That had to be it, since Petey was stuck in time like everyone else. There was no way of knowing where they might’ve taken him, so add Disappearing Petey to the list of mysteries needing solving.

“Can you give us Petey’s address?” Otto asked. If they couldn’t find him, maybe there’d be better clues where he lived.

Mr. Archie said, “He stays with his mama at 2814 Thompson Street.”

“Thank you!” said Sheed. “We’ll get this all sorted as soon as we can.”

Another bike ride took them over to Thompson Street, where all the houses were nearly identical. They were shaped the same—cottages with small square lawns. All painted pastel, alternating between blue, pink, green, and yellow. All the grass was the same length. No one had fences. There were no sidewalks, only wide, flat shale steppingstones arranged in the same curving path from the pale concrete driveways to the whitewashed porch steps.

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