Ah summer break! A time for leisure, recreation and takin' er easy . . . unless you're me. My name is Sarah. The teenage boy running franticly beside me is my partner in crime, Kyle. You're probably wondering why we're running for our lifes down the dark streets of Ney York. Reassured there's a perfectly logical explanation
It all started when Kyle and I finally realised that New York is full of the rich, the poor and . . . well stupid. Kyle and I have been conning these people for years, never caught once! Until one fateful day.
Kyle and I looked so innocent, well for fourteen year olds anyway. You would never think we were capable of such chaos. Also I was a straight A student. I had the brains and the guts and Kyle well he was uh strong. I mean we were not always on point. There may or may not have been a number of times we were escorted home by our local police officer but luckily my dad was very good at getting people out of sticky situations. When asked what had happened Kyle and I would do the classic 'blame each other' thing. You know what I'm on about. I'd say it was Kyle would say it was me, that is if Kyle's mother would put the bottle down long enough to listen. Kyle liked the freedom though. He could do whatever he wanted when he wanted but even so I still felt sorry for him. I had a pretty good life compared. I only did what we did for fun, the rush plus I was pretty good at it. Kyle on the other hand did it because he needed to. Sometimes his mother would go missing for days on end, leaving him to fend for himself. I wouldn't say I have the best life but at least I have parents who just want the best for me and brought home the pay check every week. I couldn't complain.
"So what do you think they'll do when they find out?" Kyle asked me out of breath as we sat down on a bench in Central Park. "flip out!" I laughed looking up at him. Man he was tall! We had just made $50 off two tourist doing our "world famous magic act" and boy were they dumb!
"You know Sarah, you're a great friend." Kyle pulled me into a hug. "I know!" I mocked. "I'm serious, you never let me down, promise nothing will ever come between us." "Kyle, what's going on?" I ask pulling away, by his voice there was clearly something wrong. He gulped and looked at the pavement. "there sending me into foster care, Sarah" I paused "Haha Kyle, you realy had me there" I say shoving him playfully, but as his expression did not change I realised what he was saying was no joke. "You're kidding right?" I asked. He said nothing. Frozen, just kept staring at the ground. "um okay, ah you'll still be in Ney York . . . wont you? I stuttered, tears forming. "Ya, maybe, I don't know. Ah, Sarah you need to help me!" he pleaded grabbing my shoulders. "I'll help you, Kyle. You're not leaving me. It's only the first week of summer. They can't do this, come on!" I say pulling him from the park bench. "Where are we going?" Kyle whines. "My house! My dad will get you out of this." "No he wont." Kyle says. "We both know how persuasive my dad can be." I say, hope in my voice.
"But daddy! There going to take Kyle away, he's like a brother to me. You can't do this to me or Kyle." I say in my 'angry spoiled girl' voice. Thank god I made Kyle wait outside. "okay sweetie, just because you feel so strongly about it . . . lets go then." "Thank you daddy" I say satisfied.
"I'm looking for . . . what's your social workers name, boy?" My dad says to Kyle in a voice that is clear he wants no part of this. He always felt Kyle was a bad influence and the reason the police would occasionally escort us home. "Ann" Kyle spoke over the desk to the grey haired, middle aged women sqinting at a computer screen. "okay, take a seat" She smiled.
"This boy does not deserve to be put into foster care" My dad slams his hands on the desk of the somewhat annoyed social worker. My dad sat down across from her, while Kyle and I stood there awkwardly. "He clearly has an unfit mother and it is my job to have Kyles best interest" she adds. "she may not have a job but that does not mean you can take her son away with no good reason." He shouts. "Sir I do believe robbery is a good reason" Ann says taking a tape from her desk. "Kyle, what's on that tape?." I whispered, angrily and scared. "I'm not sure. Don't get mad but it could be-" "No! you didn't get rid of the-" "Not yet. I was going to I just . . ." "You just what Kyle? Forgot to get rid of the tape that could get up arrested?!"
There it was. The tv screen lit up black and white. Kyle and I were busted. The tape ended and the room fell silent for what seemed like hours. "Daddy . . . I can explain." I say stuttering. "Kyle, Sarah, go wait in the car." My dad says not turning around. He was about to lose it completely. Without hesitation Kyle and I were out the door.
As Kyle and I walked down the grey halls side by side towards the reception area we were silent. As we walked by the front desk, between Kyle's hyperventilating and my spead walking, everyone was staring. The cold air hit my face as we walked out the front door. We got into my dad's car in silence, only the slight noise of the tugging on our seat belts. Minutes later Kyle broke the silence. "This could be the end of us, Sarah." He said, holding back tears. "I know." I said. I couldn't look at him. So many times I have been in trouble or gotten so close to losing Kyle but after today I had a gut feeling this may be my last fue moments with Kyle and I was spending it looking out the window, saying nothing. Say something! I say to myself. "Kyle, whatever happens just know you'll always be my best friend." I say turning towards him. "I know, but were ever I end up it's going to be horrible without you and you're going to spend all summer here, living it up. I'm going to miss you so much and even if I am still here in New York your dad will probably never let me see you again. He says. "Come on! How many times has my dad said that before and look at us. I say moving my hands indicating to us. "Nothing my dad says is ever 'final'." Air quotes on the final. I always got my way. Suddenly my heart sunk. The drivers door opened and my dad got in. Saying nothing he started driving. By how fast he was driving it was clear he was mad. "The tape will not get you two into any legal trouble, thankfully I convinced her to keep this incidence between us. Kyle, you are going into foster care. I never want to see you around my house or daughter ever again and Sarah, I called your mother. We will decide what your punishment will be when we get home." My dad said, angry. The car stoped outside Kyle's flat. My dad said nothing. "Bye, Kyle." I said. He hugged me. "Bye, Sarah." He whispered into my ear. He closed the door, suddenly that cold, dark atmosphere was back. In silence, we drove home. When we got home it was no different. I was told to go to my room so my parents could talk.
After about an hour I heard my name being called. Gulping, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. I entered the room. My mother and father were sitting at the kitchen table. "Sit down, Sarah" my mother said half hearted. Saying nothing, I sat down across from them. Well this was formal. "Okay Sarah, after talking it over your father and I have come to a decision. We were talking with your uncle over the phone and he has agreed to let you stay with him for the summer" My mother said. "You mean in Gravity Falls?" I say horrified. "Yes. You leave tomorrow." How was this happening, a fue days ago Kyle and I were making plans for the summer. Now Kyle was going into foster care and I would be spending my summer with my money grabbing uncle in the sleepy town of Gravity Falls.