T9: The Fox And The Boy.

Cameron, Rocco and Leo, all wet and shirtless, were outside in the lake in the backyard with Mickey, tossing a red rubber-ball back and forth to each other while talking, with Mickey at Cameron's side.

Cameron wore red knee-length shorts, Rocco wore orange knee-length shorts, Leo wore blue/pale blue mixed knee-length shorts, and all three boys were barefoot.

"Dude, what's up with your Mom?" Cameron asked before tossing the ball to Rocco, who caught it.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Rocco said before throwing the ball back at Cameron, with the 10-year old boy catching it.

"Yeah, you do?" Cameron said before tossing the ball back at Rocco, who caught it.

"No, i don't. Explain." Rocco said before throwing the ball at Cameron, who caught it.

"Rocco...is your Mom okay?" Cameron asked before tossing the ball to Leo, who caught it.

"Why would you ask that?" Rocco asked.

Leo tossed the ball back over to Cameron, who caught it.

"Cause she seemed a little upset when you mentioned your Dad's friend, Dustin. She was trying to hide it behind a smile...but i know she was really sad. What's that about?" Cameron asked before tossing the ball over to Rocco, who caught it.

"You're asking me?" Rocco asked before tossing the ball back over to Cameron, who caught it.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you do live with her, don't you?" Cameron said before tossing the ball over to Leo, who caught it.

"Yeah, i live with her, but that doesn't mean i know everything that goes on with her." Rocco said.

Leo tossed the ball back over to Cameron, who caught it.

"What is going on with her exactly?" Cameron asked before tossing the ball to Rocco, who caught it.

"You're asking the wrong person." Rocco said before throwing the ball back over to Cameron, who caught it.

"Apparently." Cameron said before throwing the ball to Leo, who caught it.

Leo threw the ball so hard, it flew right over Cameron's head.

Cameron and Mickey turned to see the ball land in a bush 24 feet away, then they turned back to face the other two boys. "Thanks a lot, Leo." Cameron said sarcastically before turning and swimming towards the bush, with Mickey following him.

"My bad!" Leo said before he and Rocco swam after Cameron and Mickey.

The three boys and the pup swam towards the bush, but soon stopped in their tracks when the red rubber-ball was tossed out of the bush and landed in front of them, making a splash.

"You saw that, right?" Cameron asked. This was very weird indeed. How could a ball just throw itself out of a bush?

"If by "that", you mean the rubber-ball that was just thrown out of the bush, then yes, we did." Rocco answered.

"Oh, good, i thought it was just me." Cameron said.

"Uh...hello? Is anybody in there?" Leo called. He knew that a ball couldn't have just thrown itself out of the bush, which meant that somebody had to be hiding inside it. But who would be hiding out here during the week of Thanksgiving? Didn't people have better things to do than spy on three kids and puppy playing in a lake? Bunch of perverts.

There was no reply. Whoever was hiding inside this bush didn't want to give themselves away. Little late for though.

"Only one way to find out." Cameron said before picking the ball up and tossing it back into the bush.

"OW!" Came a voice from inside the bush. There was no doubt that someone was in there now.

"Who's there?" Rocco demanded.

"Show yourself." Leo added.

"Yeah, right now! Or we're calling the cops!" Cameron said.

A shirtless, wet 10-year old boy came swimming out of the bush, holding the red rubber-ball. He had long light brown neck-length hair and blue eyes, as well as wore yellow knee-length shorts and was barefoot. "Please don't call the police. Please?"

"Who are you?" Cameron asked.

"William Manning. Will for short." Said the 10-year old boy now known as Will.

"Hi, Will, i'm Cameron. And this is my pup, Mickey."

Mickey barked.

"I'm Rocco, Cameron's cousin."

"And i'm Leo, his other cousin."

"Hello, Cameron...Mickey...Rocco...Leo. It's nice to meet you all." Will said.

"Likewise." Cameron said. "So, uh...what are you doing out here in the lake? Shouldn't you be at home with your family, getting ready for Thanks giving?" He asked. What was a 10-year old boy doing out here in the countryside all by himself? Where were his parents?

"Believe me, there's no place i'd rather be right now than at home." Will said.

"Then why aren't you?" Leo asked.

"Because of this?" Will said before turning back to the bush. "Come on out." He said.

A red fox kit then came swimming out of the bush.

"A fox? Dude, what are you doing out here in the backyard with a fox? You didn't catch him for Thanksgiving dinner, did you?" Rocco asked. This made no sense at all. Why was a 10-year old boy out here in the countryside by himself with a fox kit? This made no sense.

"No, i didn't. This is my pet fox, Todd...and we're hiding out here." Will corrected.

"Hiding out? Why?" Cameron asked. What reason could this kid have for hiding out here in the countryside with a fox kit?

"We ran away from home." Will answered.

"Ran away from home? What are you talking about?" Cameron asked. Why would this kid run away from home with a fox kit during the week of Thanksgiving?

"I can see i'm getting ahead of myself, so let me start where it makes sense." Will began. "You see, Todd and i have run away from home because my stepfather wanted to kill and cook him for Thanksgiving dinner. So i took Todd and ran. And we've been hiding out here at this house in the countryside ever since. We used the house as a place of refuge. But when you and your family showed up and moved in yesterday, we had to hide out here in the backyard."

"We haven't moved in, we're just here for the Thanksgiving holidays." Cameron corrected. At least this whole situation made sense now. Will had run away with the fox kit to save it's life. Then he thought about the boy's stepfather. What kind of person would want to kill a cute little fox kit and cook it for dinner? That was about as bad as when that woman stole and tried to kill those 103/104 Dalmatians and make them into a fur coat this year in June.

"How did you manage to get into the house?" Leo asked.

"I was able to pick the lock of the front door with a bobby-pin." Will answered.

"Oh. Nough said." Leo said.

"When did all this happen? You and Todd running away from home and coming here, i mean?" Cameron said.

"Four days ago." Will answered.

"Four days ago?!" Cameron shouted.

"Shhhhh!" Will shushed. "Do you want the grown-ups inside the hear you?"

"Sorry. It's just...four days ago...wow. That's a long time to be on your own. Don't you get lonely?" Cameron said.

"No. I have Todd to keep me company." Will said.

"How have you been able to sleep out here in the backyard since we've moved into the house for Thanksgiving week?" Rocco asked.

"Todd and i have been sleeping in the tree-house and i use my backpack for a pillow." Will answered.

"What about eating?" Leo asked.

"I have some snacks in my backpacks. I packed them before Todd and i left home." Will said.

"No more questions." Rocco said.

"Sustained." Leo agreed.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all." Cameron said. "How long do you plan on staying in hiding?"

"Just until Thanksgiving's over." Will answered.

"You mean you're gonna stay out here for three more days?" Cameron asked.

"That's right." Will said.

"I still don't like it. Look, why don't you just come into the house and stay with us? We have plenty of room." Cameron offered.

"Are you crazy? If i do that, i'll set off a domino effect. Your folks will call the cops, the cops will contact my Mom and step-Dad, they'll come get me and Todd, take us home, and Todd will be one of the meals on our table for Thanksgiving dinner. Not happening. I'm staying right out here where it's safe." Will said.

"Alright, suit yourself. But i think you should get some adult help in this type of situation." Cameron said.

"Yeah." Rocco agreed.

"Definitely." Leo added.

"Promise not to tell?" Will asked.

"I promise." Leo said.

"I promise." Rocco added. He then elbowed Cameron in the ribs.

"Ow!" Cameron said. "Okay, i promise too."

"Good. I'm glad we're all in agreement." Will said.

"So...ya like swimming?" Cameron asked.

"Are you kidding, i love swimming. Let's do it." Will said excitedly.

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