Namely, anxiety.


    I must sound crazy to them…


    But, I know you weren''t expecting me to have company over. Is everything okay? Did you come here to tell me something they shouldn''t hear?”


    any time, and we can talk in private.”


    six years?!”


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    so good! It has action and adventure, and the script and acting are great! I even worked my butt off to get a VCR and record some episodes, if you guys want to watch some? Oh–but I didn''t get every episode…it would be better if you saw them in order before I show you the ones I''ve recorded. Hmm…”


    That''d be nice, except I don''t have a TV to catch the rest of the episodes on, Gadalik thought, suddenly feeling out of place.


    “I''m tellin’ you, James… This desert gets awfully dangerous at night. If you don''t let me go, I can''t help you face…them,” Eugene warned the sheriff.


    “Heh. You mean bandits? They''re nothing I can''t handle,” James dismissed him. “How''s a thief s’pposed to help me, anyway?”


    “You don''t know what I stole, do you, sheriff?”


    “‘Course I do. It was some custom-ordered silver. You took it and fled without paying.”


    “It wasn''t just any silver… If you don''t make use of it tonight, why, we''ll both be dead by dawn t’morrow.”


    As the sun set, Eugene grew more desperate, but James was convinced he was merely trying to get the stolen silver and escape.


    here. As in, while I''m here.”


    you,” sounded a gruff man’s voice from outside. “Micheal! Get your scrawny butt out here, now!”


    Sissy boys?


    “You don''t have to answer. I can tell just by looking at you: your stupid ponytail gives it away.”


    His mother is letting him take his brother''s bike? Just like that? What if he wrecks Mikey’s bike, too? “If he rode his bike here, how is he meant to go home without it?” Gadalik asked.


    Travis laughed. “He can walk on those skinny legs of his. We don''t live far away; it shouldn''t be an issue. But I have other places I need to be.”


    You''re the one who should be walking, pal!” Gretel defended her friend. “Mikey worked hard to get that bike. If you so much as touch it, I''ll–”


    me and I''m just trying to get it back. My mom will back me up. Maybe I''ll even press charges.”


    move!” Travis pushed at him again, but this time Gadalik ducked beneath his hands and head-butted his torso, knocking him backward where he teetered on the edge of the porch stairs. When he rebalanced, he seemed more impressed than mad. “You''re tougher than you look. Maybe I got you all wrong.” He extended a hand. “My name''s Travis.”


    Gadalik… You should learn to mind your own business.”


    is my business,” the spook pointed out.


    are Michael’s friend?”


    Oh… He was the only boy here before I arrived…


    “Maybe you can teach him a thing or two about defending himself, then.” Travis turned and walked off, leaving the bicycle unscathed.


    Gretel wasn''t kidding about everyone here having drama at home… Suddenly my situation doesn''t feel as bad.