(2)-The Silver Sneakers.

Eight Days Later

Kansas

February 12th, (2000)

At the new Parker residence in the countryside of Kansas, Sharon was in the kitchen, cooking dinner for her and Aiden, using a wooden spoon to stir the boiling pot on the stove on the front left burner while Aiden was out searching for the supposed missing magic silver sneakers he used to get back home from Oz. Her purse was resting on the table, as she was getting ready to go somewhere after she finished cooking.

The front door opened and on the other side stood Aiden, holding the door-knob with his right hand. He wore a white sleeveless undershirt, black knee-length shorts, and black sandals.

"Still no luck, Aiden?" Sharon asked as she turned to her son.

"No, but i'll find them." Aiden said, referring to the silver sneakers. After his encounter with an adult Joey Oscar Diggs eight days ago, the 10-year old was now convinced more than ever that his trip to Oz wasn't a dream...but a reality. The boy took his right hand off the door-knob, entered inside the house, closed the door, and went over to the table and sat down.

"You know, i'd like to believe that Oz is real." Because if it did, Friday and i would be able to visit it too." Sharon said.

"Oh, wouldn't that be cool? Maybe all of us could even go to live there." Said Aiden.

"Now hold on there, Aiden. I said i'd like to believe that Oz was real, not that i did believe it." Sharon said.

"I know. But i'll make you believe in it when i find the magic silver shoes." Aiden said.

"I'll believe in Oz when i find the right school for you here in Kansas. You have to be rolled in one before we go any further into this new year/century so you won't fall behind. But so far i haven't been able to find one." Said Sharon.

"I can go online on the computer and look up the schools here in town if you'd like." Said Aiden.

"No, i'll do it when i get back. You just stay right here and keep planning out "move to Oz"." Said Sharon before turning off the front left burner the pot was on and placing the wooden spoon on the stove. "Food's ready, help yourself." She said before walking over to the table and getting her purse.

"You did remember about the 14th, right?" Aiden asked.

"The 14th?" Sharon asked.

"Yeah. Me? Your son? You? Movie night? Valintine's Day?" Aiden said.

"Oh, yeah. Remind me when i get back from work, will ya?" Sharon said.

"I saw a drive-in movie theater when we went into town eight days ago. I would love for us to go there." Aiden said.

"I can't make any promises. You know i can be pretty rung out after these long shifts at work." Said Sharon. The single divorced mother had gone into town by herself a week ago to apply for a job at a bank and she got one and started working there the very next day.

"Oh, Mom, they've never stopped you before." Aiden said.

"Fine. Is this really the discussion you wanna have before i leave?" Sharon asked. "Ever since you came out of your coma last year, everything has been about some dream you had about going to Oz."

"Mom..." Aiden began.

"And ever since then, everything has been about Oz, Oz, Oz." Sharon said.

"Mom..." Aiden repeated.

"I mean, really. Is that the only thing that's on your mind these days? I mean, good grief, Aiden, why can't you just be like other kids?" Sharon said.

"Mom...you're right. I don't wanna have this discussion with you before you leave. I don't wanna have it when you get back either. I just want you to know that i love you." Said Aiden.

"No promises about the 14th...but remind me about it when i get back. I'll see you later." Said Sharon before going to the front door, opening and exiting it, then closing it behind her.

"Goodbye, Mom." Aiden said in a sad tone. "I have to find those shoes so she'll believe me. And i want to see the friends i left behind." He thought.

Just then, Friday entered inside the house through the doggy-door, carrying two silver sneakers in his mouth, and went over to the table where Aiden was sitting and let out a bark.

"What is it, boy?" Aiden asked as he looked down at Friday.

Friday sat the silver sneakers down on the floor in front of Aiden and sat down.

"Whoa! The silver sneakers, you found them! Oh, you're awesome! Let's go see if they work." Aiden said before picking up the silver sneakers, getting up from the table, and running out of the kitchen with Friday and heading up the stairs to his bedroom. Once they made it there, they ran inside and went over to his bed. "I hope they're still magic. They've got to work." He said before sitting down on his bed. "Only one way to find out." He stated. "If they work, i'll go back to Oz and visit everybody. I can't wait! We're going to Oz, Friday! Weeeee!" He said before falling on the bed on his back. "And all i have to do is click the heels three times..." Said the 10-year old before sitting up. "and say we wanna go to Oz."

Friday barked two times.

"We'll go to Oz just to say hello...and figure out how to get Mom there later." Said Aiden.

Friday barked two more times.

"Oh, boy. Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow. Won't they all be so surprised?" Aiden said. "Hahahahahaha!" He laughed joyfully. "I think i'll click them together to see what happens, Friday. I need to make sure they work before we go for lunch." He said, referring to the food in the pot on the stove downstairs in the kitchen. "One click..." Aiden began as he clicked the heels of the shoes together.

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