Walter and Audrey had had a wonderful evening out. The restaurant they had gone to was a Mexican food place with a live Mariachi band. The movie was a comedy and had everyone laughing. They were all in a good mood when they left the theatre. In fact they were having such a good time that neither couple wanted the night to end. It was only 10:00 and the Schnieders suggested that they go and check out a new nightclub downtown that promised a 'Seventies Disco Experience.'
Walter and Audrey were in no hurry to get home. Megan was at Janie's house and Drake and Josh were on dates. They decided that going dancing would be the perfect ending to a lovely evening.
By midnight everyone was danced out. The happy couples said their good byes and headed home.
When Walter pushed the button to open the garage door about 20 minutes later, they were both shocked to see Drake and Josh's car parked inside.
"I guess their dates had to be home earlier than the boys thought." Audrey stated to her husband as they pulled their car into the garage.
"I guess so." Walter agreed.
When they exited the car Walter took a look around the garage. He noticed that his ladder, and several tools the boys had borrowed were not returned. He let out a sigh. The boys had promised to return his tools before they went out on their dates.
"The boys didn't put my stuff back." He lamented to Audrey as they entered the house. "I'm gonna go get them and make them go next door and get my things."
"Okay, but it doesn't look like anyone is home." Audrey stated.
Sure enough, Walter looked around and it did indeed look like the house was deserted.
"You don't think the boys are already asleep?" He asked his wife.
She chuckled. "On a Saturday night? I highly doubt it. I'll bet the girls came by the house and picked the boys up for their date. Josh said the girls had a new car."
"Yeah you're probably right." Walter agreed.
"Are you going to go next door and get your things?" Audrey asked.
"No," Walter said looking at his watch. "They'll be home soon. I'll wait up for them."
"Okay, I'm going to go take a bath and go to bed. I smell like smoke from the club. I'm gonna use the tub so the shower is going to be available for you to use"
"Are you saying I stink!" Walter joked.
"Well, honey you don't smell like a bed of roses!" Audrey giggled.
Walter laughed and together they headed toward the bedroom.
A few minutes later, Walter, dressed in a pair of long flannel pants and a large t-shirt, entered the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of milk and grabbed a few cookies from the cookie jar. He looked at the clock, 1:05. The boys were 5 minutes late.
Walter padded in bare feet to the couch. He put his cookies and milk down on the coffee table and picked up the Cat magazine that was also sitting there. He thumbed through the magazine until he came to an article and began to read. Before long he felt his eyes grow heavy. He couldn't fall asleep he told himself, but his exhausted body had other ideas. Before he realized it, Walter was snoring on the couch.
XXXXX
Drake was freezing. No he was beyond freezing. He had the shakes so bad he couldn't control them. His arm was continually throbbing. He was very nauseated but refused to let himself get sick because he knew he wouldn't be able to handle the smell of vomit in this closed in space. Luckily he had been able to control it so far. He didn't know how much longer he could hold it off though. The shaking in his body had also given him a slight headache. He was miserable, but his pain was nothing compared to his bother's.
Josh would sleep for a while then wake up screaming in pain. Drake would soothe him as well as he could, but Josh's pain was intense. Drake didn't know what to do to help.
At the moment, Josh was sleeping or unconscious. Drake didn't know what to call the times when Josh was out. They made him nervous thinking that Josh may not wake up again, but at least Josh wasn't in pain while he was out.
Drake looked at his watch. It was nearly 2:00 A.M. Surely his parents would be concerned that they were out after curfew. Drake shivered again. He was tired of just sitting and waiting. He was getting sleepy, but didn't dare close his eyes. What if Josh needed him?
As if on cue Josh began to stir.
"Drake!" He screamed.
"I'm here brotha." Drake croaked in response.
"Drake, where is mom? Why isn't she here?"
It was the same question Josh had asked every time he had woken up in the last 2 hours. Drake knew his brother was not thinking straight. Someone needed to find them soon.
"She's on her way Josh. She'll be here as soon as she can. How are you feeling?"
"It hurts Drake." Josh began to cry.
Drake wanted to cry too, but he was Drake, and Drake didn't cry. He stayed strong for Josh. Drake rubbed Josh's back.
"I know it hurts Josh but mom and dad will be here soon." Drake hoped.
"Promise?" Josh asked.
"Guaranteed." Drake answered.
Josh slipped back into darkness.
Drake sighed and continued to rub Josh's back.
XXXX
The magazine sitting on Walter's lap shifted. The ruffling of the pages caused Walter to sit up with a start. "Where am I he thought?" Gathering his whits he realized both where he was and what he was doing there. He looked at his watch, 2:20 A.M.
The boys were much too late. Walter was worried.
"Maybe they snuck in while I was sleeping," he thought. Walter didn't really think that the boys could have made it past him without waking him up, but he decided to go check in their room just incase they did.
When he walked in, sure enough, he saw that the boys were not home. His heart sank. Where in the world were his sons? He switched off the bedroom light and noticed that the room was a little brighter than it should have been. He looked toward the window and saw light coming in. He hurried toward the window and noticed that the boys had left a spotlight on next door and it was shining into their bedroom.
It took Walter a full 10 seconds to register the full scene before his eyes. "Where was the tree house?" he wondered. Then he saw it on the ground.
"Oh my God!" he said to himself as he rushed from the bedroom.
