Chapter 4: Confirmation

T.J whistled as he walked to Randal's house. He often did that when he was alone. Also, it was an attempt to cheer him up, he always felt happier after whistling

He arrived at Randal's house, knocked thrice and waited. Soon, Mrs. Weems had answered the door.

"Oh hello T.J, why don't you come on in. Randal is playing upstairs,' she said.

"Thank you Mrs. Weems," said T.J.

T.J walked upstairs to Randal's room. The last time he was in here was because of some rumour he had made up about the Hustler Kid.

"Hello Randal," T.J said deeply.

"T.J Oh my god I swear they forced me into telling. If I didn't tell they would have killed me. I'm sorry, just please don't hurt me," cried Randal.

"What are you talking about? Wait, never mind, I don't think I want to know. Anyway you owe me more than a favour.

"Sure, anything."

"I want you to find out when Mundy and his gang are planning their meeting."

"That's it? Piece of cake."

"Well hurry, there may not be much time, it's two o'clock already!"

"Sure, I'll leave now."

T.J followed Randal downstairs. He shouted to his mum telling him he was going out and left.

"I'll call you at half past three with the details," told Randal.

"Good. You'd better."

"Uh, yeah sure. Well, I'm off."

Why Randal was so hasty and so petrified puzzled T.J. He knew he was hiding something. How was he going to get the details in half an hour, thought T.J. Maybe he'd get his answers some other time.

That's when T.J remembered something. The destination. He swore loudly, and then remembered about Butch. He usually knew a lot.

T.J started walking to Butch's house in mystery, anxiousness and concern. He wondered why he was so nervous his plan was going perfect so far.

When he arrived at Butch's house he saw him leaning on the front porch, legs crossed with a toothpick between his teeth.

"I've been expecting you," he said.

"You have?" T.J asked, not entirely surprised.

"Yep. It's 'bout time, Mundy 'aint it?"

"Yes it is."

"Yeah I thought so. They'll be headin' for the dumpsters in Oyster Way 7th street 'round seven o'clock."

"How did you-"

"I know quite a lot o' things. Don't know 'bout the time 'though. Should be 'round seven."

"Uh, thanks."

"Just get them good. Don't let 'em win. Make sure you don't blow the surprise attack, and think carefully 'bout what Mundy said: 'Watch your step', he might surprise you."

"How did you-"

"I know a lot o' things. You'd better hurry back home. You wouldn't want to miss Randal's call now would you."

"How the hell-"

"Hurry! Oh yeah, and one more thing, you've forgotten something"

"And what-"

"Just hurry!"

T.J was dumfounded. How the heck did Butch know everything? He seemed to know what T.J was going to do before he did. He checked his watch and decided to walk home.

The plan was going too perfect. Everything was prefect. What he wanted came to him. He'd wanted 'The Big Four' and got them. He'd wanted to know the time and destination of the meeting, and got them.

He knew he'd forgotten something. At the time he didn't know what. He went inside and went upstairs to his room, ignoring the shouts of his parents. He waited for the call.

It came. The phone rang and sure enough it was Randal.

"T.J"

"Yeah?"

"Seven fifteen, dumpsters, Oyster way 7th street. It's a dangerous alleyway. Be careful," and he hung up.

"What the-" shouted T.J to himself.

He was feeling too many emotions, anxiousness, concern, anger and bewilderment. It was too much. He decided to call the big four.

Mike answered the phone. T.J told him the details.

"Thanks, we'll be there," and he hung up.

T.J was getting sick of all this. He'd spoken to three people in the past half hour and not one single goodbye, just'hurry', and two hang-ups.

Next T.J called Spinelli, Vince and Gus, then told them the meeting place.

"Meet me at Kelso's in an hour," was his message to all of them.

He thought about what do now. He thought about playing his senor fusion video game, that usually took his mind off things, but the was not in the right mood.

"T.J are you alright, honey?" called his mum.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"O.K you seem a little quiet today."

"I'm fine mum!" He shouted.

"O.K if you don't want to talk we don't have to."

T.J didn't reply to that. Why did mums have to be so nosy all the time? Can't he just have some quiet time on his own for once? He stared at his 'Electro station 3' and all the games that Hustler kid had sold him cheap.

He thought about the Hustler kid now, and how he had made $500,000 on the stock market, and lost it all investing.

After fourty five minutes he looked at his watch and decided it was time to go.