It was seven o'clock on a Sunday night. The lampposts which lined the street flickered to life, casting golden pools of light on the pavement below. A hush had fallen over the cul-de-sac. The November air was still, not even daring to rattle the windows lest it should disturb the children sleeping peacefully in their beds. All, that is, except for one child. The boy in the backwards hat.
Kevin peered around the corner into his living room. A rapid, unfamiliar ticking had cut through the silence and roused the toddler from his bed. His mother reclined on the couch, too absorbed with the program on the television to notice his presence.
"Mama...?" The boy rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Kevin! What are you doing out of bed?" In an instant, his mother was on her feet and she scooped the child into her arms. Though the tone of her voice chastised the four-year old for neglecting his bedtime, she cradled him and patted his back in a conciliatory way.
"I heard a noise... woke me up," he mumbled into her shoulder. With a sigh, the slender red-head returned to her spot on the couch. Propping Kevin up on her lap, she returned her gaze to the television set.
"Whatcha watchin'?" Kevin asked, more alert than before. Pulling the cap from his head, the boy's mother began to run her fingers through the short, fine hair.
"The news," she answered back without straying her attention from the screen. Dissatisfied with her brief response, Kevin began to squirm in an attempt to make himself more comfortable.
"Kevin! I'm trying to watch my show! Sit still," his mother huffed. No sooner had she spoken the words, when the show went to a commercial. Kevin let out a small giggle. "So you think it's funny, huh? C'mere you!" Then her fingers were on him, tickling and prodding his sides from under his pajama top. Kevin screeched in laughter, wriggling under his mother's hands. The scuffle lasted the duration of the commercial break before the same fast-paced ticking resumed.
Laying his head in his mother's lap, Kevin looked at the television for the first time since he had come down from his bedroom. "Why's the t.v. sound like Papa's watch?"
"That's because the show is called '60 Minutes.' The whole thing is sixty minutes long and the ticking lets you know when a new story is beginning," she stated simply, once more stroking his hair. "The reporters investigate different things to let people know when something is wrong. It's very important to stay informed about what's going on in the world. "
She allowed her eyes to peer down at the boy nuzzled up to her side. She watched his face grow serious, his mouth set in a thin line as he concentrated on what the reporter was saying. She smiled. However, the smile soon faded as she once more looked to the television.
From that night on, Kevin would sneak out of bed every Sunday and cuddle up to his mother on the couch while his father slept. Even after she walked out on them, Kevin would settle down at seven o'clock to watch "60 Minutes."
"Catch you later, Pop!"
Kevin stepped out of his front door, shrugging deeper into his jacket against the biting September wind. Turning the lock, his ears pricked at the raucous laughter coming from across the street. Dorks... He chanced a look over his shoulder, his eyes searching. Ed and Eddy were doubled-over, their faces red with laughter. His eyes finally landed on a very flustered Double D. A faint blush dusted his cheeks. With a shake of his head, Kevin strode over to the garage and yanked the door up to reveal a bright red motorcycle adorned with flames. His childhood bicycle, his most prized possession, was tucked safely away in the very back, concealed by a white sheet.
Once he had walked the motorcycle out into the driveway and shut the garage door, Kevin cast a last glance at the three Ed's. He just caught sight of a black beanie ducking into Ed's junky purple van. Straddling his own ride, Kevin replaced his baseball cap with a helmet. The bike roared as he sped down the street, easily passing the retro van and its occupants.
Within minutes, Kevin arrived at school and parked his bike in an open space. Peach Creek High School was composed of several brick buildings and bore a striking resemblance to the Junior High. The teen tossed his backpack across one shoulder and started the trek up the front stairs into the main building. Here goes another year. And with that, Kevin pushed through the glass front doors to begin his Sophomore year.