It was a few days after the incident. Johnny had been staying at Todd's at night, but was often gone during the day. He had noticed that people no longer commented gratuitously on his appearance, except to compliment his boots and ask where he got them. Not being a waste-lock anymore, he no longer attracted their ill will. He had even run into Devi once or twice since the battle, and she was much calmer and seemed to trust him, which is to say she didn't react to him with a kick to the jaw and/or fleeing for her life. They had talked for a while, but they were both busy and in a rush. Devi had gotten her job back at the bookstore, and reported that Tenna was now emotionally balanced and stable. Best of all, she now rarely squeaked Spooky. Devi had even invited Johnny to stop by her place sometime after work. But at this particular moment, Johnny was talking to Todd. They were on the front steps of his house, when a car pulled into the driveway.
"I have to go back to my worker's place today," Todd said. Johnny nodded.
"Do you like it there?" he asked. Todd thought for a moment.
"It's not so bad. There's nothing really wrong with me, but they still want to keep an eye on me. I still have to go to school, but they're really nice to me. I get food, TV, and I can write all the stories I want."
"Bet you have a story to tell them now, eh?" said Johnny, and Todd laughed.
"They wouldn't believe me if I told them," he said, shaking his head.
"Well, maybe you'd get to live there longer if you told them," Johnny joked, and they both laughed at it. Todd's worker motioned to him, and Todd picked up his backpack and put it into the car.
"Well, I gotta go now. Drop by sometime, Nny," Todd asked, buckling himself in.
"I will, Squee. Bye!" he called, waving as the car drove away. Todd waved back, and they continued waving until the car rounded a corner and vanished out of sight. Nice kid, thought Johnny. I'm sure going to miss him right next door. But it's better this way.
Johnny turned around, whistling along with his diskman, as he walked down the street. Remembering the original purpose for his walk, he headed towards the shops downtown. There was a really nice art supply shop he knew of, and they had some brushes that Devi was looking at the other day. Nobody else Johnny knew could paint like Devi could. It was such a nice day, though, Johnny decided to dawdle a bit on the way back. Taking his time, Johnny noted the birds, the sky, the sun, drinking in every detail. Who knew a spring day in the city could be this nice? Suddenly, Johnny noticed Devi's car going into the underground parking lot. Smiling, Johnny ran off to beat her to her apartment. It was just such a good day for him.
And, for the first time in his life, things looked like they could only get better.
"I have to go back to my worker's place today," Todd said. Johnny nodded.
"Do you like it there?" he asked. Todd thought for a moment.
"It's not so bad. There's nothing really wrong with me, but they still want to keep an eye on me. I still have to go to school, but they're really nice to me. I get food, TV, and I can write all the stories I want."
"Bet you have a story to tell them now, eh?" said Johnny, and Todd laughed.
"They wouldn't believe me if I told them," he said, shaking his head.
"Well, maybe you'd get to live there longer if you told them," Johnny joked, and they both laughed at it. Todd's worker motioned to him, and Todd picked up his backpack and put it into the car.
"Well, I gotta go now. Drop by sometime, Nny," Todd asked, buckling himself in.
"I will, Squee. Bye!" he called, waving as the car drove away. Todd waved back, and they continued waving until the car rounded a corner and vanished out of sight. Nice kid, thought Johnny. I'm sure going to miss him right next door. But it's better this way.
Johnny turned around, whistling along with his diskman, as he walked down the street. Remembering the original purpose for his walk, he headed towards the shops downtown. There was a really nice art supply shop he knew of, and they had some brushes that Devi was looking at the other day. Nobody else Johnny knew could paint like Devi could. It was such a nice day, though, Johnny decided to dawdle a bit on the way back. Taking his time, Johnny noted the birds, the sky, the sun, drinking in every detail. Who knew a spring day in the city could be this nice? Suddenly, Johnny noticed Devi's car going into the underground parking lot. Smiling, Johnny ran off to beat her to her apartment. It was just such a good day for him.
And, for the first time in his life, things looked like they could only get better.