"What are you doing here?" Max asked, giving his uncle a big hug.
"I was just in the neighborhood," said Kelbo pacing slowly around the room. "And I just wanted to pop to see one of my favorite nephews."
"Aww," said Max, trying to straighten up the room being less embarrassed as possible. "Why isn't that nice."
"It sure is sport," said Kelbo, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
It was certain that Max and Kelbo have a lot of things in common. That's why they were even closer than before. But that doesn't bother them both one bit.
"So, how's the life of the future owner of the magnificent Waverly Place substation Owner?" asked Kelb
"Well...it's alright I guess," said Max.
"Alright?" scoffed Kelbo. "What kind of talk is that?"
"I don't know," Max shrugged. "Another day, another dollar I guess."
"Well, at least you're being positive about it," said Kelbo.
Max took out his graded test for Kelbo to see it. He had a good feeling that he would be really proud of him for his hard work. At least there's one person in his family will give him some credit. And impressed he was, it was like he was holding his first newborn baby.
"Well, what do you know," beamed Kelbo. "We have another brain in the family after all."
"Yeah," said Max sarcastically. "Say that the folks out in the living room and they would be the laughing hyena's of Manhattan."
"Didn't go so well with the rest of the crew huh?" asked Kelbo, crossing his legs in the chair.
"Not at all," said Max, sternly. "I mean here I am pulling my own weight to support this family and they don't even notice it. Better yet they don't even believe me because they think that I'm some closed off person with no soul."
"Do you think that you are a closed off person with no soul?" asked Kelbo, sounding like a therapist.
"No," Max said. "It's just that it's so frustrating sometimes."
Max then talks to Kelbo about what went on at the dinner table filling him in on every detail that occurred that moment. At times Max would get worked up as he spoke about it, but eventually he calmed himself down. Kelbo just chuckles to himself off and on.
"Nah, don't worry about them folks," Kelbo said as he waved his hand. "There just being their old stuffy selves, with their old stuffy values. But I would give it some time, sport. Then throw it on them.
"Are you sure that would work?" asked Max with concern. "They're really are a tough crowd."
"I'm sure," said Kelbo happily. "But I will wait a couple of days."
"Gotcha!" Max said. "At least going to the party tomorrow would get my mind off of it for a while."
"What party?" Kelbo asked as he sat up.
"My friend Kevin is throwing this big party as his house tomorrow," said Max, going into his closet and finding what to wear. "Apparently he invited the whole junior class. Hey, you're not trying to show up looking hip are you? Wasn't you're prime time like two hundred years ago?"
"Ah, excuse me," Kelbo stated in unison. "First of all that wasn't two hundred years ago...That was the 80's. And second, I'm still hip."
The both of them laughed out loud. Kelbo then turned to him and give him a serious look. Max was now feeling uneasy about it.
"Listen, Max," he went on. "I know you're young and excited about everything like parties and stuff. But you must be very careful."
"But I know what I'm doing," said Max. "Nothing is going to happen to me, we're just having harmless fun gathering that's all."
"And there's nothing wrong with that, said Kelbo. "I'm just saying; always watch out for the unknown. That's the biggest part that gets you into a lot of trouble."
Something about what Kelbo had said kind of stuck with Max like lunch meat glued to the ceiling. 'Always watch out for the unknown.' By what did he mean by the unknown?
"Okay, I will," said Max, bewilderingly.
"Sometimes you let all of these things get in your head and you suddenly loose base of what's you're actual purpose," Kelbo said, like he was in a lecture of college students.
"Wow," Max said, "You sure have a lot of wisdom in you."
"Eh," Kelbo shrugs, "Whatever helps me sleep at night."
Max shakes his head and goes back to what he was doing, which Kelbo insists on helping him.
* * * * * * * * *
Later that night while sleeping, Max had a horrible nightmare that was too much to bear. He dreamed that he was a big fight with his parents because he somehow did something that was the lowest of their expectations and they have lost all of their faith and trust in him. It was like they transformed him from a son to an unwanted fugitive that did a terrible crime. He woke up covered in sweat, relieved that it was a dream after all. He goes to the bathroom and splash water on his face. He then recaps on what his uncle had said.
"Was uncle Kelbo right? Max thought to himself. "Is it possible to watch out for the unknown?"
The next evening Max arrived at the party a few minutes late because he made sure he freshened up really well before he left the house. A lot of people were going to be on the dance floor. Kevin house wasn't as big as a penthouse but it was medium sized three bedroom three baths with a pool in the back yard. There was also the basement where he currently holds the party. The basement is like another medium sized apartment with a bedroom and a mini kitchen, easily to rent out monthly for other individuals. But now, as people are pack in it like sardines, it look like a regular club. As Max and Collin came down the stairs the temperature started to rise and started to feel uncomfortable.
"Jeez, it's even hotter in here than it is outside," said Max fanning himself.
"Why do I smell fish and onions" Collin asked, as he wrinkled his nose. "Kevin actually serves that at parties?"
"Ah...that's no fish and onions that you're smelling, bro," chuckled Max.
"No fish?" asked Collin, confused. "What are you about, I could've sworn I smelled-"
Then Collin looked at the boys and girls on the dance floor looking hot and sweaty, bumping and grinding on each other.
"Dang, man," exclaimed Collin," "Don't they know how to wash their-...certain body parts?"
"Not really," said Max. "They were born and raised in a place where there were no soap and deodorant. I thought I was bad myself, but woooeeee!"
"I should've brought some extra cash then," joked Collin. "I could've gotten some talapia, some perch, and the Boston Blue for fewer than twenty dollars."
"Shoot, I don't know what fish market you talking about," chuckled Max. "Cause I'm sure as hell ain't getting sea food from here."
Kevin came out of the kitchen wearing a gold outfit with both of his arms around two beautiful women. Both Max and Collin smiled at them as they walked up.
"Hey, you guys finally made it," beamed Kevin. "What took you guys so long."
"Well, I don't know about him, but I with all these people here I had to shovel a path to get down these dog on steps," said Max, with a sense of humor.
"I got to say," Collin went on. "You sure made an invite."
"Told y'all I was right about this party," said Kevin. "It's officially the bomb. Now, it's time for us to celebrate the night away."
He goes over to the fridge and get out three bottles of beers. He tosses two of them over to Max and Collin, which they examine them.
"Two fresh ice cold beers on the house," Kevin smiled mischievously.
"Ice cold beers?" asked Max, eying Kevin cautiously.
"Yeah," said Kevin, blankly. "What? Should I have put a bikini on the bottles to surprise you all? Besides, what's a party without any beer?"
"Yeah, about that," Max went on. "We don't associate with any type of alcohol."
"What are you talking about bro," said Kevin. "It's only one beer, no one will know."
"You know how my parents are," said Max. "Let alone Collin's parents."
"Yeah," said Collin in unison. "What he said."
"Yeah," said Kevin dejectedly. "I see how it is. Now, it's time to get this party bumping!"
An hour later the music grew louder and people kept on dancing and mingling and trying to have the best time of their lives. Max was sitting at a table sipping a coke when he notice a figure sitting across from him at the far end of the corner. It was like he was staring directly into Max's face and was searching for something. With curiosity, Max decided to introduce himself. He didn't like to see people without any friends to hang out with. He was now writing in his notebook when Max approached him.
"Um...How do you do?" asked Max, trying to find the right words to say.
"Oh, hey," said the person.
Max realizes that he was the kid who he see around all the time in school. He's in the same grade as he is. The difference is that they are not in the same class together, but they see each other while they walk by in the hallway or at lunch.
"Nice to meet you, bro," he then said. "My name is Ruben."
"I'm Max," Max chuckled. "Max Russo."
"I heard," said Ruben, with a smile. "Mrs. Jones talks about you all the time. She say that you're one of her best students."
"Oh, she did?" Max beamed.
"Yeah," said Ruben. "She was saying that you're going places."
Ruben is African American, about five feet eight inches tall, with an average built shape. He a kind of person who keeps to himself, and he seems to humble himself with a lot of literature and writing. It wouldn't be a surprise if his life was built around a memoir if varieties of adventure.
"She happens to be one of my favorite teachers, too," said Max with a smile.
"I couldn't have been the person that I am today if it wasn't for her," Ruben stated. "She really has a way of making students do better in life."
"She sure does," said Max, who looks over at Ruben's notebook. "Hey, is that poetry?"
"Yeah," Ruben smiled. "I just made it up today. But this not my only poem, I have dozens of them stored in other archives that I made up as well."
"Wow, dude," said Max, excited. "That's amazing."
"Hopefully one day I would get my poetry published," Ruben said, closing his notebook. "Other than that, I read at open mike and other events that going on in the city."
"Wow, that is really something," said Max. "You really got what it takes."
"Why, thank you," Ruben beamed. "It's a matter a time, before everything goes platinum."
They spent almost an hour laughing and talking and getting to know each other. It turns out that Ruben just like Max has a big family as well. But he's the oldest of his two sisters. Max is the youngest in the family which means that Justin is the oldest and Alex is the second oldest. Ruben and his family grew up as Christians and they live their lives through the book and what God wants them to do. Max was really intrigued by what he is experienced. He always wants to get to know God more and be involved in doing things and talents that God wants him to do as well. Max realizes why Ruben is a good influence on people as well. After they concluded their conversation, they agreed to meet again sometime in school.
"Hey, maybe you could start eating at the substation," Max said, as they walked out on Kevin's front porch. "My parents own the place; they said that I will be taken over the shop someday."
"Wow, that's cool bro," Ruben beamed. "Maybe one day you would have me as one of your business partners as well."
"I don't see why not," Max laughed. "It looks like you are cut out for the job."
"Well in that case, I will look into it then," said Ruben, with a smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Max."
"You too, Ruben," exclaimed Max. "I wait to read one of your poems one day."
"Hey, I'll tell you what," Ruben went on, taking out his binder from his bag and flipping through its pockets. "Why don't you keep a copy for yourself?"
He took out a golden packet that is stapled together and handed it to Max. Max was intrigued and overwhelmed at the same time. In Max's perspective it all seemed so fast.
"Aww, Ruben I can't accept this," Max said, almost feeling bad. "It's one of your number 1 copies."
"No, no, no. I insist," Ruben stated boldly. "Besides, I have extra copies stored up, so I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Max asked almost in a whining tone.
"It's all yours dude," Ruben said with a chuckle. "Just have fun reading it, that's all."
"Thanks man," said Max. "I'll cherish this moment forever."
"Anytime bro," Ruben beamed. "Well, I guess I'll see you around soon."
"Certainly," said Max. "Later."
"Later," said Ruben. "Don't be out too late, and be safe."
"I will," said Max. "Nothing will go wrong.
After Ruben left, Max went back down to the basement to find Collin. It would be while when they are supposed to leave for curfew but Max thought it would be for the best if he has him close by. As he keeps searching for him, a lot of people kept offering him beer and cigarettes. But Max strongly declines on their offers with some help of his own judgment. After searching for Collin for several minutes he briefly took a break.
"Oh, where can he be?" asked Max desperately. "I bet he's up in the kitchen for some free grub."
Just as he went to get up, a tall stalky teenager with red hair came up to him with a smile on his face. Max started to get annoyed again with these offers.
"Hey, dude," the teen said. "The name is Mike, how do you do?"
"Listen Mike, or whatever your name is," said Max, in unison. "I'm not trying to be mean but I don't smoke or drink so I'm not interested."
"Oh no, it's not like that," said Mike, stopping Max at the path. "It's just that I see you running around like a chicken with his head cut off."
"Yes, that's because I'm looking for my friend," Max said clearly. "His name is Collin; he has blond hair, blue eyes, wears baggy clothing, and the same height as me."
"Oh, you're talking about that Major's kid aren't you?" asked Mike with a chuckle. "Is that his last name?"
"Yes," Max said gladly. "So did you see him."
"The last time I checked he was hanging out with Kevin upstairs in the living room," said Mike, looking back at the stairs.
"Good," Max said, as he tries to go past him.
"Woa, wait a minute, man," said Mike holding Max lightly by the arm. "I'm sure he be back down in a second. No need to wear yourself out. How about some water, dude? You look a little flushed."
He gave Max a cup that was in his other hand which he slowly accepted.
"Alright," said Max, as he leans on the arm of the couch. "I guess I'll wait for him to come down then."
"That's good," said Mike. "At least you got some ice cold water."
"I know," said Max, swirling the cup. "I haven't had anything but cherry coke's all night."
Then just as he took a big gulp of his drink, Max started to cough and wheeze. He felt a burning sensation go down his throat. Mike just stood there and smiled down at him.
"Man, this is some funny tasting water," said Max, in a croaky voice. "Where did you get this."
"Maybe Kevin's got a strange faucet," said Mike. "We are in a basement."
"Well, this taste terrible," said Max. "Why would he serve this at a party?"
"It seems like the other people like it," said Mike. "Just do what they do like chug it down dude."
Max chugged the whole thing down while plugging his nose. Mike patted him on his back before mingling with other guests. Then a couple of minutes later something strange happened to Max. He started to feel dizzy and lightheaded and it looked like everything was started to fade out of him. He just couldn't sit back and wait any longer. He had to find Collin now. But as got up from the couch he felt so dizzy that he couldn't walk straight. He finally reached the stairs, but he had to hold on the rail to keep himself up.
But his state became too much for him to handle. When he staggered into the kitchen everything became a blur to him. It was like he was in another world from anyone else. He could hear people laughing and joking but it was all in an echo. Then he saw a figure that looks like Collin but he couldn't make out the figure because of the state that he's in. He called out his name, but he was too weak to shout. All of a sudden, Max felt himself go down, and everything starts to turn into darkness. Nothing but darkness.
