A Reunition With Home

“Ren- R- Renee! Ov– here!” Selena shouted, standing frozen, watching her best friend, Renee, run away from the tagger.

All of the other kids were frozen; Renee was their last hope at being unfrozen in the intense game of freeze tag. She watched Renee run at full speed, untagging a few kids on the way to her; inside, a cheer built. Renee finally made it over to her and untagged her.

“Y–Yes!” she yelped victoriously.

Selena ran hand in hand with Renee to escape the tagger when she whipped her head around, noticing the worn-out expression on the tagger’s face. He looked completely out of breath, like he was about to collapse, and stopped running.

“All– right, e– every– one!” she yelled. “Time out.”

All the kids stopped in their tracks and looked towards the tagger.

“I can’t do this, y’all. I’m going home!” the tagger shouted, hyperventilating and falling over-dramatically onto the grass.

Renee and Selena rolled their eyes in unison. Their eyes met, and they both shared an understanding that they were ready to leave. They both walked away from the scene and hopped onto their bikes. Renee asked Selena if she wanted to head back to her house, and Selena hesitated for a moment before saying yes.

When Selena and Renee left, one of the other kids they were playing with asked another kid,

“Why’d that girl talk like that?”

“Uh– I think she got a studder or sumthin..?” the other kid replied.

“A stutter? Oh. That’s weird.”

Renee and Selena rode their bikes through the city of Los Angeles as time passed.

“We shou– should g-go to the star wal–k” Selena jokingly suggested.

“Whaaaat!? The star walk? That’s so far! But, I heard Johnny Cash just got a star earlier this year, he’s so rad. Hopefully my sister’ll get one someday.”

They made a pit stop at a hot dog shop. As they walked in, the aroma of freshly cooked, perfectly seasoned, handmade hot dogs hit their noses like no other. Their eyes both lit up as they ran over to the hot dog display, taking in all the different types they could get. They picked out what they wanted and both skipped over to the cash register, only to meet face to face with a moody cashier whose lack of excitement was clear.

Renee spoke,

“Hi, sir! How much for 2 of those good-lookin’ dogs in there?” pointing to the display.

The cashier sighed heavily and glanced over at where Renee pointed.

“Eh, for two? Maybe about sixty cents.”

Selena and Renee turned to each other, both expecting the other to magically pull out sixty cents from her pocket. The cashier impatiently stared at the two girls after putting their hot dogs on the counter. He folded one arm and put his palm out to accept the money they didn’t have.

Without a word, the idea was set: go home, get the money, and come back to feast.

“W– Wait! I– think I hav– can get s–s–sixty cents fro– from– my house!”

“Okay, let’s go!” Renee exclaimed.

She turned back to the cashier and said,

“Save our dogs! We’ll be back.”

The cashier rolled his eyes and slid both of the hot dogs to the side of the counter, motioning to the girls that their hot dogs were safe.

“Thank you, sir!” Renee shouted as she and Selena darted out of the shop.

“W–We gotta go! H–Hur–Hurry! Hurry, R–Renee!” Selena shouted as they frantically picked up their bikes, leaped onto them, and pedalled intensely. They rode their bikes at lightning speed on the sidewalks, dodging pedestrians and bystanders. Many people cursed the two girls as they almost hit them. They shouted apologies, barely slowing, their main priority getting home for the money.

They arrived at Selena’s house, dropped their bikes on the front lawn, and ran to the front door. They both vigorously pounded on the door, but there was no answer.

“Your brother home?” Renee asked, panicked.

“I think s– so, I– I don’t kno– know!” Selena said, also panicked.

They continued pounding for a few more moments until Renee slid down the door, defeated. She sat on the front step and put her head in her knees.

“Goodness, Selena. We’re never getting those hot dogs! We rushed all the way here for nothing!”

“Renee! D– don’t… say that! I’ll give it a f– few more knocks! He’s got t– t– to– be here!” Selena said, refusing to give up.

She knocked on the door a few more times while Renee sat depressed on the step with her head buried in her knees. There was still no answer.

“Oh! Grr! Th– that darn Michael!” Selena stomped. “Where is he, for g– goodness' sake? I’m gonna b– break this d– door down!”

Just then, Selena grabbed and turned the door knob, and it opened. Her eyes lit up in surprise, and she screamed,

“R– Renee! It– opened!”

Renee lifted her head up and jumped up at the sight of the open door. They both ran in and headed straight for Selena’s room. They entered and they split up to find sixty cents. Renee looked in the messy clothing drawers, the closet, and the suitcases stuffed next to the bed, leaving Selena to look under her mattress and in her nightstand drawers. They searched and searched and weren’t able to find any money, and just as they were about to give up, Renee managed to find a dollar in Selena’s clothing drawer. She immediately snatched it up and held it up high as if it were a trophy, causing them to both scream and dash towards the front door. On the way out, Selena yelled,

“I– I’ll be… back soon, Mi– Michael!”

Renee stuffed the one-dollar bill into her shirt pocket, and they were on their way. They screamed with pure joy on the bikeride back to the shop. Selena felt more alive than she ever had before, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the good dinner she would be eating in a few moments. Just like when they first were on their way back to Selena’s house, they rushed past bystanders and pedestrians, being subjected to a plethora of curses, but they couldn’t care less, because they were about to eat gourmet hot dogs.

They arrived in front of the shop, jumped off their bikes, and ran in. They spotted both of their hot dogs on the counter still and shouted,

“We’re back!” in unison.

“We have the money!” Renee shouted, exhausted from pedalling so hard.

The cashier couldn’t help but laugh,

“Didn’t think y’all would actually come back. You kids got spirit.”

Grabbing their food, they walked their bikes and hot dogs over to an empty sidewalk, away from the busy street traffic. They sat on the curb, and as they both took a bite at the same time, they closed their eyes and sighed heavily. They were relieved! All of their hard work paid off. While eating, Selena thought back to a time when her parents would take her and her brother to eat out at fast food joints similar to the one they just went to.

“You know, R– Renee, my parents use– used to take me and my brother to get hotdogs all– all the time.” she said, sentimentally.

“You ever miss em’?” Renee asked, face stuffed with food.

“Always,” said Selena. “N– Now it’s jus– just me and M– Michael.”

“I remember– in, like– first grade, your mom bought us all candy for Halloween. That was awesome. She was so nice to me.” Renee giggled.

They shared a moment of silence, reminiscing to themselves.

Renee looked around. The sun was beginning its descent, and looked as if it would set in the next hour or two.

“Hm, we probably should get going. The sun’s going down. We’re still going to my house, right?” Renee asked.

“Yeah,” responded Selena, gazing at the half-set orange sun with her hand above her eyes.

They rode their bikes back to Renee’s house and went inside, where they saw Renee’s parents on the couch watching television. Renee’s mother turned to Selena, greeting her with a warm smile. She waved and made her way with Renee to her room. She looked around the room at all the new celebrity posters, magazines, and newspapers Renee had put up.

“Wow, y– your room’s so gr– grown up now!” Selena commented.

Renee looked around to see what Selena was looking at and replied,

“Oh, no. Don’t get it all wrong, Selena! After my sisters moved out, they gave me all their posters and stuff! I don’t even know half of these people or their songs.”

Selena snickered,

“Oh, okay.”

Meanwhile, Renee’s mother and father were discussing Selena in the living room.

“You know, I just feel so bad for the poor little thing. Her parents died, and now she and her brother are living on their own. Can you imagine? Oh God, I pray you and I are still around to finish raising Renee,” her mother expressed.

“Eight years to go, am I right?” her father chuckled.

Her mother’s eyes narrowed and shot a nasty glare at her father.

“Ey’ just sayin’.”

“I just–” she sighed. “I just want to help the poor girl. I can’t imagine what she and her brother are going through, and she’s got that sickening little stutter. Poor thing.”

“I think the girl’s doin’ jus’ fine!” her father spat. “They died two years ago! She was only what? Eight, nine? By her adulthood, she’ll be well over it.”

“Ugh, Rob, you’re sickening. Anyway, we’re leaving in about an hour, so start getting dressed for dinner. I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

Some time passed, and Renee and Selena sat on Renee’s bed, playing with dolls in her room. As they gave the dolls their own exclusive voices and personalities and played, Renee asked Selena a rather personal question. She set her doll down and questioned,

“Selena, so when’s your brother getting you those speaking lessons?”

Selena, now embarrassed by the question, shrugged and looked down at her hands and picking at her nails.

“Oh, well, I was just asking because I remember you telling me your brother was doing secret spy work at night to pay for lessons, so I asked my dad about jobs for people his age.”

While Renee explained, her mother happened to be passing by the door. When she heard Renee say spy work, her nerves shot up. She marched through the door yelling,

“Spy work? What are you talking about, Renee?”

“I don’t know, Mom, we’re talking about a comic,” she replied.

“Goodness, Renee,” she sighed in relief. “Hey, Selena. Sorry about that. You need any food to take hom–”

“Mom!” Renee interrupted.

“I’m just asking!” she yelled. Directing her attention back to Selena, she said, “Sorry, honey. I just wanted to know if you wanted to bring your brother something back home.”

“S– sure! I’ll take something bef– before I leave. Tha– Thank– Thank you, Mrs. Brown.” Selena said.

“My pleasure, honey,” she said. “Anyway, Renee, we’re leaving to go out to dinner in about forty minutes. It’s me and your father’s anniversary today, in case you forgot.”

Her mother walked out, and Renee immediately buried her head in her hands.

“Ugh, I’m sorry, Selena. She thinks you’re some type of charity case.”

“It’s fine,”

“Anyway, like I was saying. My dad’s job is hiring high school seniors for construction work, so I think he could give your brother a job so he could pay for your speech lessons!” Renee offered.

Selena jumped at the idea.

“Ooh! I– I’ll tell him when I get home!”

Time passed, and Selena eventually left Renee’s home. She took a loaf of bread and canned ravioli with her and hopped on her bike to head home. The sun wasn’t fully set, but it was getting there. It was a beautiful golden hour.

I wonder what time it is, thought Selena.

On her short bikeride back home, Selena imagined all the new comics her brother could buy for her if he started working with Renee’s dad. She could also hang out and be with Renee more. She imagined how she would be when she fixed her stutter. No more being misunderstood, no more being made fun of, and more talking, which she loved to do.

Selena arrived home, threw her bike on the front lawn, and entered the house. She called out to Michael as soon as she walked in.

“Michael! I’m ba… back!” she shouted.

There was no answer.

She placed the bread and can down on the table and called out again.

“R– Renee’s mom gave us s– some foo… food!”

Perplexed, she walked over to Michael’s room and put her mouth against the door to speak.

“Michael? G– guess what Renee t– tol– tol– Jesus! Told me?” she loudly whispered.

She waited for a response, but there was only silence for several seconds.

“Michael, are we playing this game ag– again? Y- you did the same thing earl- earlier!” she giggled.

No answer.

“‘Kay then, Mi– Michael! I’m coming in!”

Selena swung Michael’s bedroom door open, and the room was completely trashed. It was very dark in the room, but not dark enough to hide her brother Michael, lying flat on his back, on the ground, with his eyes wide open. Selena’s heart dropped when she looked at him, but her fear quickly turned into amusement as she cracked up laughing.

“Michael– Get up! Haha!”

She ran over to him and dropped to her knees to imitate fake crying. She put her hand on his chest and, just before dramatically screaming to play along with his prank, she felt a thick liquid on her hands.

“Ew, Michael wh– what is this stuff?”

She stood up and walked over to the light switch, turning it on. She then turned around to see her brother, dead, with a bullet wound in his chest. She screeched loudly, running to call 911. She reached the phone and snatched it off the wall, only to realize that the wire was cut. She dropped the phone in a panic and ran outside. By now, it was getting dark, and nobody who could help her was outside, so she jumped on her bike and rode back to Renee’s house. As soon as she got there, she remembered that they’d left for dinner, which made her panic even more, for wasting time. Out of breath, she jumped back on her bike and took a three-minute ride to the city. As soon as she arrived in a busy area, she dropped her bike and ran up to the nearest bystander. A woman was walking with her husband, and Selena ran up and grabbed her arm.

“P– P– lease! H– H– H– Damnit! D- Damnit! My– My Broth– Please!” she hyperventilated.

Selena was so emotionally distressed that her stutter worsened tenfold; she could barely get her words out.

“I don’t understand.” The woman stated, shaking her head in confusion.

The woman gave a concerned look, waiting for Selena to gather her words, when her husband pulled her away, whispered something, and continued walking. Selena screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face as people hurried past, their faces indifferent.

Next, she ran to a man sitting slumped against a building’s wall.

“S– Sir! Sir!” she shrieked.

“How… can I help… you, young lady..?” the man said, drunkenly. “Your laces are…. untied…”

Realizing this man was drunk, Selena’s heart began to pound even faster than it already was. She bolted to the second busiest street nearby, begging people for help, but every arm she grabbed was snatched away due to their inability to understand her stuttering. Tears flooded her eyes as she frantically searched for help. She ran across the busy street with cars zooming by, blinded by her tears and only trusting her feet, when she fell flat on her face, tripping over her untied laces. She lay there for a second before getting up and running across the other side of the street. As she made it to the other side, all of her emotions disappeared, turning into tranquility.

There suddenly was a hand placed on her shoulder. She whipped her head around in a panic, only to see her brother Michael standing there smiling.

“Michael! What the heck! I thought you were dead! Was that fake blood back there?” she yelped.

She punched him in the arm and continued,

“That wasn’t funny!” as she wept.

Michael said nothing, only pointing for her to turn around.

When she turned around, her eyes lit up and filled with tears.

In front of her were her mother and father. She ran into their arms, and they embraced her. She cried buckets of tears and felt a warmth like no other.

“Mom! Dad, what the–What are you doing here?”

She suddenly let go of her parents and looked around. It was a jaw-dropping sight. Every car on the road stopped in place, every person walking stopped in place, and every bird in the sky stopped in place. Everyone was stuck in time but her and her family. Usually, she’d be terrified experiencing this, but all she could feel was everlasting peace.

“Wow, are you guys seeing this?”

Her mother grabbed her father’s hand, her father grabbed her brother’s hand, and her mother lastly grabbed her hand, and in silence, they began to walk into an unexplainably bright light that’d suddenly appeared in front of them. Selena shaded her eyes from the light as they all walked.

“Mom, Dad! Michael! me and Renee ate two of the best hot dogs today, I’ve gotta tell you guys all about it! Also, I heard this really good song today!” she said as she began to hum Landslide by Fleetwood Mac.