I. Want. To. Read. Harry. Potter.

Ugh. I just saw the movie, and it was SO amazing, and now I reaaaaally want to reread the books… but no.

I'm forcing myself to wait until after my huge English test, so that I'm not distracted and have time to study.

Why? Why do I torture myself like this?

Chapter 21: Searching

"DARN IT!" Gazzy cried in frustration, throwing the map to the ground with a look of disgust. He had been searching for what felt like hours, but he still hadn't found any caves on this stupid map. How hard would it be to find the Flock's cave, when it could be anywhere in the entire stinking country? He wanted to kill whoever made the maps here. Honestly. They couldn't even draw in the spots where mass Eraser attacks usually occurred? People were in danger, Gazzy thought in irritation. Erasers are everywhere these days. Come on, mapmakers. Get with the times!

Someone must have noticed an eight year old boy muttering furiously to inanimate objects and looking like he wanted to throttle somebody, because suddenly a hush went over the people around him, and a few small children pointed fingers.

The Gasman figured that it was time to go… right about now.

. . .

Gazzy booked it out of there, and once he was safe in a cluster of tall trees, he untied his windbreaker and shook out his wings. Taking a few brisk steps, he shot off the ground and above the trees.

He had to resist the urge to let out a huge sigh. It felt so good to be up in the air, free as a bird.

Oh, wait.

He was a bird.

Well, 2% bird.

Close enough.

Sometimes, Gazzy wished he never had to come down from the sky. When he was this high up, soaring amongst the clouds… well, it was one of the few places where the Gasman felt like he belonged. Actually, it was probably the only place. Down on earth, he always felt awkward and clumsy. Usually, either everyone was staring at him, or he was practically invisible. He never felt as if he fit in.

But of course, all good things have to end sometime.

And this time, Gazzy was really craving a corn dog.

And thus, the goodness of flying ended. Only this time, what the Gasman didn't know was that he wouldn't be flying again for a very long time.

. . .

Chuck's Really Really Super Awesome Corn Dogs was right around the corner from where Gazzy landed. At the sight of the giant sign with a picture of a stalk of corn and a stubby orange dog with a really long body (what was it that they called dogs like that? Weiner dogs?), the Gasman's stomach gave a rumble. Before entering the restaurant, he fished around in his pockets for some money, and pulled out a few rumpled dollar bills that had been in there for who knows how long.

The Gasman stepped up to the counter, standing on his tiptoes in order to see the waiter. He puffed out his chest, and the waiter smiled kindly.

"What can I get you today, mister?"

Gazzy lowered his voice in an attempt to sound older. "I'll have one plain corndog, and some chocolate milk."

"Is that all for you today?"

Gazzy nodded.

"$4.28."

Gazzy thrust the money towards the waiter, and stood off to the side while he waited for his food.

A few minutes later, the waiter reappeared at the counter with his tray.

"Here you go – " the waiter started, but the Gasman had already grabbed the tray from his hands and ran out the door.

. . .

Gazzy plopped himself down on a park bench and unwrapped his corndog. He savored the taste of the hotdog, but Gazzy wasn't one to simply eat for enjoyment. Cramming bites of the meal into his mouth, he moaned in pleasure. Wow. Max never made corndogs.

He started to get angry, but then reminded himself what the entire purpose of this searching was.

The Gasman would have to ask Max to buy him some corndogs from the store when he saw her again.

. . .

An hour or so later, when Gazzy had finished his corndog and people-watched for awhile, he figured it was probably time to continue his search for the cave. He hopped off the park bench and wandered the sidewalks for awhile until he came across a police station. As the Gasman opened the doors, a bell jingled, and the man at the counter looked up in interest.

"Excuse me, sir. I have a question. Do you know where I could find a cave?"

"A what?"

"A cave."

"A cave? Sorry, son. There ain't any caves 'round here. This is the middle of the city. You'd have to go way east before you see any caves."

"East?"

"Yeah." The man smiled kindly, and pointed in the direction of the door. "That way."

"Oh. Thanks." The Gasman started to head out the door, but the policeman caught his arm.

"Wait a second, son. Where are your parents? What are you doing, wandering out alone in the middle of the city?"

"I – uh, I really gotta go-" Gazzy said hastily. When the policeman didn't release his grip, Gazzy wrenched his arm away and ran.

"Wait! Hey! Kid – wait a second!"

The Gasman didn't turn around. A few seconds later, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. Dang. These policemen didn't give up too easily.

A forest, a forest, I really need to find a forest where I can take off… Gazzy thought to himself. But looking around, he realized that what the policeman said was right. They were in the middle of a huge city. Not too many trees around here.

He could hear the policeman huffing and puffing behind him, but he still sounded pretty far away. Gazzy risked taking a glance behind him to see how much distance he had put between himself and the policeman, but suddenly –

Thud.

Whipping his head around, Gazzy saw that he had ran right into a tall woman standing outside the doors of a department store.

"I – I'm so sorry – " he started, when he heard the policeman wheeze to a halt behind him.

"Excuse me, miss, I'm really so sorry for the inconvenience, I've been trying to catch this boy, he's without his parents –"

Just then, the woman threw her arms around Gazzy and held him in an iron grip.

"My son! Oh, Mr. Policeman, thank you for returning my son to me! He ran away from home, we've been searching all over for him, and oh! We've missed you so much, Gregory…"

Wait. Gregory? How did this woman know the Gasman's real name?

The policeman grunted in surprise. "Oh! Well, if this is your son, than I'm glad I could be of assistance, miss. Now, young man, don't go running away from home again!"

"Nod!" the woman hissed in Gazzy's ear. He nodded, terrified.

"Thank you again, officer," the woman said. She locked her had around Gazzy and steered him away from the policeman.

. . .

The woman's high heels clicked on the ground, and she dragged Gazzy along behind her, the whole time, not releasing his hand. Gazzy stumbled across the sidewalk, and a few minutes later, they arrived in the empty back parking lot of Chuck's Really Really Super Awesome Corndogs. The woman turned around to face Gazzy.

"Now, now, Gregory. It was very naughty of you to leave your mother, wasn't it?"

Was it just his imagination, or were the woman's teeth growing sharper?

. . .

This was posted for Bookaholic711's Project PULL. Hope you enjoyed. :D