• Note: This story is based on true events. Some characters' names have been changed and personality rewritten to better fit the story.

    Karl


    It is a sunny summer day. The kinda of day when boys go off skateboarding and girls to the mall. One would think that nothing wrong could happen on a day like this. However, one could also be very wrong.

    “This is all just a big bad dream.This is all just a big bad dream!” Justin opens his eyes. He finds himself leaning against the wall of a nearby arcade. “AARRRGGH! Why won't this go away!” he screams to no one in particular. He looks in his hands and a steak knife and a wad of cash. He picks the knife up, examines it, and says ,"Heh, who needs parents anyways. I'll tough it out here. I've got all the money I'll need." He recalls the events that happened over the past few days. His parents announcing their divorce, him grabbing all his money (which was about $11.53) , stealing a knife from his dad, and running away. He closes his eyes and thinks of what second grade would have been like if he stayed.

    A door flies open. A teenager walks out. "Stupid dad, dumb*** making me do s**t. Why I ought ta-eh?" His eyes fall onto the little boy sitting against the wall. Confused, the teenager questioningly says ,"Hey?" No reply. He speaks a little louder. "Who are you?" Justin is terrified of the man, but he puts on a brave face and replies ," Who are you?" The teenager, now really confused, smiled and says ,"I am Karl Baldemor. I am 14 and in junior high." Justin ponders over whether he should continue speaking to the man and says ,"I am Justin Lam. I am 7 and in grade school. I ran away." Karl is surprised at what this little boy has done and says ,"Why don't you come on in." Justin looks up at Karl and follows him into the arcade.

    The arcade is like nothing Justin has ever seen before. It was filled with noise and wonder. The gaming room was lit up a light shade of blue and full of cool electronics. Karl walks behind a counter, pulls out a stack of tokens, and places them in Justin's hand. He smiles and says ,"Stay here. I'll be back in a moment." Justin beams with happiness and runs around the arcade, playing like there's no tomorrow. About an hour later, Karl emerges, having changed out of his work uniform, and asks ,"So why did you run away?" The two have a long discussion on why running away was wrong a how stealing was immoral. In the end, when Karl asks Justin if he wanted to go home, he agrees.

    The two head outside, not knowing what their lives would end up like. Not knowing how in the end they will end up being best friends.