Lars walked down the street, absentmindedly kicking an old soda can. He came up with another plan. If his mother and father didn't want him around, he could just move in with one of his other relatives. But who? Certainly not Aunt Cliotilda; Lars was allergic to cats. Aunt Rosa and Uncle Franciso, the parents of his cousin Little Scotty? No, that wouldn't work either. Lars didn't want to trade one little brother for another. Besides, Aunt Rosa would just bring him home. Then the answer hit him, Uncle Eduardo.
He lives in Mexico, so I better get to steppin', Lars thought.
He didn't stop to think about how far Mexico was from Ocean Shores or the fact that he was flat broke. He was trying to think of a credible story to use on his uncle when he got to Mexico. Meanwhile....
"Lars!" Sandy yelled in the direction of the ceiling. "Dinner is ready! You can come out of your room now!" Getting no answer, she asked, "You aren't going to sulk up there all night, are you?"
Twister got up and walked up the stairs, pausing in front of his brother's door. He had a funny feeling in the pit of stomach, like something was very wrong.
"Lars?" he called. "Are you in there?"
He opened the door slowly. The dirty laundry that was usually all over the floor was gone, so was Lars's comic book collection. His hockey bag was missing too.
"MOM!" Twister bellowed. "I think Lars ran away!"
Raoul and Sandy crashed up the stairs. When Sandy realized it was true, she began sobbing hysterically.
"How could he do this to me?!" she wailed. "I've fed him; I've housed him! I stayed up all night with him when he was sick!"
"I'm sure he didn't get far," said Raoul, his voice a bit shaky. "We can ask the neighbors if they've seen him. We can make some flyers. We'll--we'll find him."
"Maurice," Sandy said firmly, "You stay here in case Lars wanders back home."
She and Raoul talked to all the neighbors. No one had seen him, but Ray Rocket and Violet Stimpleton volunteered to join the search party. With Sam's help, they printed up a batch of flyers with Lars's picture on them, asking anyone who saw him to call Raoul Rodriguez.